A couple of Spring Training notes from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- The White Sox are open to trading Mark Teahen, who is set to earn $4.75MM this season and $5.5MM in 2012. At the moment, the veteran is little more than a pricey utility man, though he could serve as insurance for rookie third baseman Brent Morel. The youngster is viewed as an outstanding defender who might not be able to produce at the plate immediately. Manager Ozzie Guillen is likely in favor of keeping Teahen as he believes that he can find significant playing time for him if Morel wins the starting job at third base.
- Teams are asking the Red Sox about right-handed hitting outfielder Juan Carlos Linares. Boston signed the Cuban defector 2009 for $750K. Linares is currently set to open the season in Triple-A but the club doesn't want to sacrifice any depth. Because of that, we probably won't see them move any significant pieces before Opening Day.
JacksTigers
The Sox should wait till the deadline and see if there are any catchers available then trade him.
whatever
Is he a good defender? Or is he just able to play many positions?
notsureifsrs
he’s a plus defender. average arm
whatever
According to what though?
evenyoudorn
Wait, what?! Did someone just say Mark Teahen is a plus defender?!?!
MY MIND JUST EXPLODED.
MaineSox
“he” who? Are you talking about Linares or Teahen?
notsureifsrs
i can’t read or write
MaineSox
Happens to the best of us man. On a related note: I can’t hear the conversations going on inside of “whatever’s” mind well enough to know which “he” he is talking about…
dc21892
Linares has shown good pop this spring, he would be a good guy to keep around in the minors unless the right deal came along. There is no real pressing need worth trading for. Maybe a catcher if one becomes available but Salty/Tek are fine for now.
SpaldingBalls 2
The White Sox are looking to trade Teahen? A backup being payed 5 Million +? Shocking.
woadude
There is no need to trade Linares, that guy is awesome, I also saw a lot of potential in Oscar Tejada, that guy had some good pop in his bat, and the Sox don’t need a catcher, Lavarnway is going to rocket through the minors.
dc21892
It’s not only Lavarnway. Exposito, Wagner, Federowicz and the Cuban catcher we signed (can’t think of his name) all have a shot in the next year or two.
Redsox1324
Ya know, there is a shot that Salty works out and is our catcher for a while.
dc21892
I never said he might not. I said above Salty/Tek were fine for now. But at some point or another, these guys are going to get a shot.
MaineSox
Yeah, I believe them when they say that they are okay with the combination of Salty and Varitek behind the plate (with the other offensive players they have one relative “hole” in the offense is livable) but I would have to imagine that if Lavarnway progresses with his defense enough to be a passable catcher they would be more than happy to give him a shot at the job.
Fangaffes
Man, Montero sure looked awful behind the plate last night. No wonder he has the “future DH” label.
woadude
Out of all of them though I feel Lavarnway has the best shot, the others are going to be career minor leaguers imo.
BoSoXaddict
The word is that Lavarnway has a ways to go defensively. His bat is very good however and he could potentially see time at DH in 2012 and beyond if we still have him..
MaineSox
Actually the last I heard he had progressed a lot defensively and if he continues to progress this season he has a real chance to stick at catcher
Redsox1324
Loved watching Oscar Tejada, he’s gonna be another all star infielder out of the sox system if his defense improves. I also like Louis Exposito and Ryan Lavarnway.
woadude
Fun thought is in a couple of years the Sox could actually put together a package that would actually net them Hanley Ramirez back from the Marlins and it would be with Linares, Oscar Tejada, and probably some other players, but that remains to be seen on how a couple years plays out, just fun to think about because Florida and Cubans are like peanut butter and jelly.
MaineSox
I doubt Linares ever has a great amount of trade value; he is a useful piece to have around but isn’t likely to turn into much more than that. His numbers in the AFL looked good and he’s had a good spring so far but you have to remember that it was only 17 games in the AFL and a handful of at-bats so far this spring; add to that the fact that he is already 26 and played in less than 50 professional games and expectations have to be tempered, probably quite a lot.
woadude
All I am saying is he has potential to be great and cost controlled and Hanley’s deal will be up around that time and boy you know Theo wants Hanley back.
Fangaffes
If Iglesias continues to hit for average, I think Theo will finally get over Hanley. He really gets up the line in a hurry, which will be useful.
Holidayjesus
April 1st, 2011: Red Sox trade Jose Iglesias, Oscar Tejada, Alfredo Aceves, for Hanley Ramirez.
Then Jose Iglesias traded to NYY to become the second coming of Derek Jeter.
#Sox Cursed Again
dc21892
…Really?
MaineSox
Second coming of Derek Jeter? Seriously? Otherworldly defense with a weak bat; yep sounds like Jeter to me!
Holidayjesus
Haha, it’s a joke but I have seen Jeter make some slick defensive plays.
MaineSox
I saw Manny make some slick defensive plays too…
Holidayjesus
haha, i just remembered this play.
youtube.com/watch?v=LisV9qU2NFs&feature=playe…
EarlG
I still love the one he climbed the fence, caught the ball, and high fived the fan sitting there, and still got the ball in to keep the runner from advancing
vonhayesdays
quick powerball numbers , 80 / 20 me
woadude
Yet the Sox would still snap their curse before the Cubs.
wickedkevin
I will be at a lot of Pawtucket Red Sox games this year.
dc21892
I loved going to Paw Sox games. Haven’t been since I was a kid. It’s been all Fenway for the last couple years. Pawtucket is only like 30 min away from me too -_-.
Fangaffes
There will be a lot of decent OF depth at Pawucket this year: Kalish, Reddick, Linares, and Nava. I’m assuming McDonald starts the year as the Sox 5th outfielder.
Ryan Pimentel
I think Kalish will be in Boston for much of the season.
Alan J
White Sox are open to trading Teahen.
This just in…White Sox hope Peavy wins 20 this year
mgsports
Dusty Brown to as a Red Sox Catcher of the future. Dew might retire so tehir will be less depth.
BoSoXaddict
Dusty Brown is in the Pirates organization now.
BoSoXaddict
Linares hurt himself in BP today and apparently has right biceps tendinitis 🙁