After seven seasons and a World Series title with the Red Sox, Jonathan Papelbon is leaving Boston for the Phillies and $50MM. Here's the latest on the Red Sox, starting with an update on the bullpen…
- The Red Sox will be in on Ryan Madson and Heath Bell, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Boston isn't yet committed to Daniel Bard as the closer.
- The Red Sox had preliminary talks with Michael Cuddyer's representatives, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
- They’ve also been in touch with Grady Sizemore’s agents, Bradford reports (on Twitter).
Sox should go after Heath Bell, who is proven over multiple years as a closer. Madson may be a one-hit wonder, and certainly not worth $44M over 4 years.
Could sign Bell and Sizemore for the same money as Papelbon. Bell should be 3 years at 10-11 million a year. Based on his age (34) you cannot go any higher than that. Pads are happy they get another first round-pick and the salary relief.
I don’t see K-Rod fitting into another high pressure place like Boston after he imploded in NYC.
Bell is going to stay with the Padres and Sizemore is a gamble I’m not sure the Sox want to take.
Why would he stay with the Pads? If he was going to get a multi-year deal, it would have been done. If he accepts arbitration, sure he may get an 11 million dollar one year deal, but will be shipped off in June to who knows where.
He would be far smarter to decline, and choose where he wants to go. This is his one and only chance (based on his age) for a multi-year deal playing where he chooses.
No way the Pads spend approximately 20% of their 50 million dollar payroll on a closer. No point in having a high-end closer if you never have the lead.
Bell is from San Diego. he has already said he wanted to stay there. question is, is money going to lure him away from San Diego? and Sizemore is a big risk for any team to take the guy is a big health risk and anything one who signs him for more thne league minimum might as well have a player ready to bring up or put in his contract that if he gets hurt and is out for more then 30 days his contract is voided with no money guarenteed lol.
Of course he would like to stay in San Diego, few people don’t want to stay in San Diego. But he has to think that when (not if) he gets traded it may be to someplace like Toronto or Cleveland, as far as possible from his family.
Why not decline arb, and choose where you go?
Of course he would like to stay in San Diego, few people don’t want to stay in San Diego. But he has to think that when (not if) he gets traded it may be to someplace like Toronto or Cleveland, as far as possible from his family.
Why not decline arb, and choose where you go?
Ummm doubtful that you could get both for the same or less.
In the ballpark for Paps 50 mil (60 with incentives). Bell signs for three years at 11 million (33 million total). No way you give Sizemore anything more than one year with an option for 9 million (which was the option amount Cleveland declined).
Based on Sizemores injury history he needs am injury free year to try for one more mega-contract. Bell is at the end of his career. I think its reasonable.
In the ballpark for Paps 50 mil (60 with incentives). Bell signs for three years at 11 million (33 million total). No way you give Sizemore anything more than one year with an option for 9 million (which was the option amount Cleveland declined).
Based on Sizemores injury history he needs am injury free year to try for one more mega-contract. Bell is at the end of his career. I think its reasonable.
Agree….Bell and Sizemore would be great for the Sox. Beltran is as injury prone as Sizemore, is no better, and Sizemore will come cheaper.
You just said quite a few dumb things sir.
Harvard grad, I assume?
Harvard grad, I assume?
Bell would get crushed in the AL East.
Couldn’t do any worse than Bard.
Well his strike out rate has been declining for years, he’s helped out by Petco Park (see his road/home splits) & he was lucky on balls in play. He’s also 34, which is 3 years older than Papelbon. Most of his numbers, although a small sample, against the AL East are terrible.
At least Bard can do that at a lot cheaper price and has better velocity.
Seriously, since Papelbon’s gone, just sign Nathan. Giving Bell 3/36 or anything near that is ridiculous.
declining for years?
8.19
10.21
11.06
7.32
declined last year*. i’m not interested in bell and his 2011 drop was alarming, but let’s not get carried away. he’s got a very good track record, even when you adjust for his home park
Signing Nathan is a big risk – not sure if he’ll ever get back to being what he was, or close to it. Bell still throws the ball hard, and declining strikeouts is usually a function of a pitcher getting older and a bit smarter. Has not impacted his capability to save games. Madson is an option, but he’s only done it one year. Rodriguez is the other option but I think he’s more on the decline than Bell. Would give Bell 2 years and $20M with a mutual option for a 3rd year.
Couldn’t do any worse than Bard.
Yep.. Smartest move yet. No way Papelbon is worth 4 years at 12.5m a season. Check up on Bell, even Rodriquez, possibly even broxton to go along with Bard and a healthy Jenks next season.
Take the picks for papelbon, wave adios and move on.
He got around 12.5 million in 2011.
he’s definitely worth 1-year/12.5M
I think K-Rod or Madson would be good fits for Boston
Sure up RF now that Paps is gone and money has been saved.
I could definetely see sizemore goin to the Red Sox and pulling a Beltre by having a Monster year then gettting a fat contract the next year.
Highly unlikely. Sizemore has been hurt a lot with major injuries. Beltre had one year with injuries. Other than that, he suffered greatly at Saefco and that’s why his numbers weren’t good.
so long paps. now if they just cut loose papi
Be careful what you wish for Papi had a good year last year.
Red sox sign madson , and give phillies higher first round pick than what they got for paps, sounds like desperation to me
Right because this post clearly states that they are about to sign Madson.
mlbtr says they are in on madson , i was simply pointing out how foolish it seems to do that , thats all . relax, take deep breaths man, I know your team just lost its closer
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he does seem very upset, well played
rightfully so , sux losing a player you like or one your team needs
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Pretty sure he was being sarcastic. Plus, the Sox didn’t just lose a player they particularly needed, or one I particularly liked.
So you dont need a closer , gonna go with jenks, bard and hope . I dont particularly like him either and that stupid dance he did when you probably did like him
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I’ve never really been a fan of Papelbon; I appreciate what he does, and how good he is, but I was never really a fan.
Yes the Sox need a closer, Bard is their closer now as far as I’m concerned, until/unless they sign someone else specifically to be their closer.
take deep breaths man
“Red sox sign madson… sounds like desperation to me” doesn’t really sound like just pointing out how foolish that would be. Sounds more like taking joy in pointing out the “desperation” of a team you don’t like, for doing something that isn’t anything more than a rumor of something they’ll look at doing.
Premature glee is all man.
Red Sox arent even on my radar , I could care less about what goes on in Boston , and if the site I’m looking at is called MLB traderumors than why can’t
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You can (what ever you were going to say), but it comes across as very premature since this is a rumor that they are going to talk to someone; you’re already talking about their “desperation” like it’s eminent when we don’t even know if it’s true that they are even interested in him, let alone plan on trying to sign him.
( I ) should have been at the end of my last statement. I think it would have been better had i put IF in front of my statement , then it might not have sounded so snarky , I thought it was kinda understood my fault 100%
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mlbtr says they are in on madson , i was simply pointing out how foolish it seems to do that , thats all . relax, take deep breaths man, I know your team just lost its closer
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No, desperation was trying to win in Sept!
Yes very true but downgrading your closer isnt a good way to start that , and its more important to win in october
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downgrading your closer is almost as bad as giving your closer a record-breaking contract
boston signs crawford to huge deal: “omg lol boston is so dumb, think about the long-term”
boston lets papelbon sign elsewhere for huge deal: “omg lol boston is so dumb, think about next season”
yes and no, Id rather win , than save somebody else’s money and lets face it boston and philly arent poor so really what is a few million amongst friends . I never say anybody is stupid for spending money trying to win except for the angels when they traded for vernon wells
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The Sox have’nt been smart with their risk vs reward way of signing players.
Yes very true but downgrading your closer isnt a good way to start that , and its more important to win in october
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Call me crazy, but with the Sox willingness to spend big money on picks outside of the top of the draft, I bet they’d trade the 24th pick for the 31st & 39th pick any day of the week, which is the end result if they were to sign Madson. The Phillies turn their 31st pick into the 24th & 36th pick by signing Pap and lettting Madson walk, which is a nice bonus to the signing.
Call me crazy, but with the Sox willingness to spend big money on picks outside of the top of the draft, I bet they’d trade the 24th pick for the 31st & 39th pick any day of the week, which is the end result if they were to sign Madson. The Phillies turn their 31st pick into the 24th & 36th pick by signing Pap and lettting Madson walk, which is a nice bonus to the signing.
Who’s the DH if Papi is gone and Cuddyer plays RF?
Lavernaway(spelling?) I would assume he would be the cost controlled dh and split time at catcher with salty. It let’s the sawx know if he is fully ready without hurting their defense. Remember they are going to likely do a semi rebuild. More of a re tooling. Also you don’t want cuddy playing right in fenway. It’s way to big of a right field for the aging slowing cuddy. Left maybe but I doubt they move Crawford to right( should because it utilizes his speed more). My guess is no big free agent signings other than a pitcher. They will more than likely sign a second tier bp arm. A set up type and go with a platoon of bard and jenks.
Cuddyer is deaf in his left ear, not a good fit in LF
Cuddyer is deaf in his left ear, not a good fit in LF
Are there any Sox fans who think that committing to Daniel Bard now wouldn’t be such a terrible move?
I think they should (and likely will) make Bard their closer next year.
I think they should let Bard go out and close.
I’m not a sawx fan but I pay attention to as many teams/ players as I can. And bard has closer written all over him. Great stuff and a short memory. He was miss used by Tito at the end of the season which skewed his stats
the worst possible outcome now is for boston to give a free agent closer a big contract. you either completely forego the decision that is a huge deal for a reliever or you give it to the best of the bunch, which was papelbon
Bard is not in the ball park with Papelbon!
I realize that, but he’s off the table. I don’t see that Madson or Bell offer enough of an upgrade when you consider that to sign either would cost much more money than what Bard will as well as the 24th overall pick in next year’s draft. Plus Madson and Bell are on the wrong end of 30, while Bard’s still fairly young.
I’d rather sign Bell than Madson.
And any ballpark numbers on what it would take to sign Cuddyer?
He’s probably looking for at LEAST 8-10M a year over 3 years.
Hmm 3 years? That wouldn’t work out too well if Kalish/Reddick are close to being ready. Especially since Middlebrooks may be ready for 2013 as well, and first base is occupied for the many years to come. And at the price of $10M, Cuddyer would become quite an expensive utility player if it comes to that.
But on the other hand, it doesn’t seem too bad either. What I’ve said above is all considering that Middlebrooks and Kalish/Reddick all transition smoothly…
I think a better option is to sign Sizemore to a one year deal (if possible)…because I truly believe that Reddick/Kalish (at least one of them…most likely Kalish) will be ready by 2013.
I’m split on Cuddyer. He’s a great fit cause of his versatiliy and the fact he’s right handed, but at the same time we have outfielders in the minors ready to play every day.
I’d be shocked if Adrian Gonzalez was still the everyday first baseman when he starts getting up there in age. He’s got DH written all over him. They have future flexibility at that position once Ortiz leaves (which could be as soon as 2012)
Gonzo is 29…and I don’t see how he’s got DH written all over him. He’s a great defensive first basemen (just won a GG). Even if it comes to that, that will be in the last couple years of his contract.
Hmm 3 years? That wouldn’t work out too well if Kalish/Reddick are close to being ready. Especially since Middlebrooks may be ready for 2013 as well, and first base is occupied for the many years to come. And at the price of $10M, Cuddyer would become quite an expensive utility player if it comes to that.
But on the other hand, it doesn’t seem too bad either. What I’ve said above is all considering that Middlebrooks and Kalish/Reddick all transition smoothly…
Right now I bet he is looking for 3-4 years at 10-12 per. As the market pans out and teams realize he is a below average to poor fielder with a nice bat, not great or elite at all but nice non the less, he will probably sign for 2-3 with a vesting option for a 4th year at 5-8 per.
Cuddyear or Beltran for RF, Sizemore for DH and 4th OF. Bell might not wanna leave SD, if so, get him, if not, K Rod or Nathan. Let Papi walk, wheel out Wake, bring up Ryan L for either 3rd catcher and DH or let Tek walk and Ryan be backup C and DH. Maybe move Youk in a deal for David Wright, might lose Reddick or Kalish and a minor leaguer to get that done. If Cuddyear signs elsewhere, look into Prado or Willingham. Starting pitcher can come from the White Sox. One of their 2 they have been listening on or Mark B. as a free agent.
3rd catcher? no team in the league goes a full season with 3 catchers…he would be the back up/ platoon catcher, full time DH/C platoon or AAA….Also dealing youlk for wright makes no sense for the mets, they get an older more injury prone player closer to his decline than his prime and dont save any money
3rd catcher? no team in the league goes a full season with 3 catchers…he would be the back up/ platoon catcher, full time DH/C platoon or AAA….Also dealing youlk for wright makes no sense for the mets, they get an older more injury prone player closer to his decline than his prime and dont save any money
Cherrington you snooze you lose, Papelbon was the best closer on the market! I’m sure Madson was their second choice. This is fall out from the collapse and the way it was handled by the upper administration of the Sox.
No it isn’t, people have been saying for 3 years now that Papelbon was gone when he hit free agency, now all of a sudden it’s somehow a “failure” when he really does leave?
Hm, funny thing about this list, there’s no starting pitching on it. I mean obviously we need a closer now that Papelbons gone, but I think we have more of a need at starting pitching then right field. I do not want Cuddyer, I like him, but not for the sox.
I think the sox should sign sizemore to a 2 year deal for short base money and a very incentive based contract..he has already said he is willing to play a corner outfield spot..then you can let reddick and kalish battle out the 4th outfield position..i think they should also bring back tek for 1 year as a backup, but let lavarnway dh and let papi walk..offer madson 3/27-30mill..if he doesnt accept that, then let bard get the chance and go after a few other bullpen arms to tighten up the pen..with a new manager in place, and with the speed of ellsbury, crawford, and sizemore, i think we could be looking at a very fun team to watch that can also produce plenty of runs..anyone that thinks crawford wont bounce back is out of their mind..
I think the sox should sign sizemore to a 2 year deal for short base money and a very incentive based contract..he has already said he is willing to play a corner outfield spot..then you can let reddick and kalish battle out the 4th outfield position..i think they should also bring back tek for 1 year as a backup, but let lavarnway dh and let papi walk..offer madson 3/27-30mill..if he doesnt accept that, then let bard get the chance and go after a few other bullpen arms to tighten up the pen..with a new manager in place, and with the speed of ellsbury, crawford, and sizemore, i think we could be looking at a very fun team to watch that can also produce plenty of runs..anyone that thinks crawford wont bounce back is out of their mind..
With Papelbon getting that kind of money, Bell would be a lunatic to accept arbitration from the Padres. The money he would be turning down would be huge. I’ve been to San Diego and it isn’t $25-30 million nice, if you know what I mean.
fo sho , if you like the place so much move back there when you retire at 38
Will be interesting to see if he does end up accepting their arbitration offer. Wouldn’t call him a lunatic though, maybe he’s got his priorities strait. With a bunch of young kids in the house being able to spend an extra 80-90 days at home is worth a ton, particularly if he’s making 12m for that one year. Think offers will top out in the 3/30-33m range, at most. If he’s able to turn his arbitration acceptance into a 2/20m deal with SD with a vesting option for the third year, the money wouldn’t be THAT different and I’d say that’s a real possibility. From Bell’s perspective he probably figures if they offer arbitration this year, they’ll probably offer it next year as well, if a multi-year deal isn’t agreed upon. So the cost is real in terms of guaranteed dollars right now, but sticking around for a year or two or more on one year deals will pay him plenty, similar to what he’d get signing a three year deal, while being able to stay home.
Don’t blame the Padres for wanting to see if he’ll accept arbitration before signing him for multiple years. Think there’s a very good chance he’s back in SD. As much as I’d like the extra two picks in next years draft, particularly with Moorad’s willingness to pay above-slot, him sticking around isn’t a bad consolation prize. Their young & cheap pitching staff is better off with him then without, even considering the salary at hand, so me thinks.
hanrahan for lavarnway and iglesias
I think Bell is a good direction or Joe Nathan. However, I’m not sold for Sizemore. I’d much rather have Beltran. We don’t need another left handed bat.