The Red Sox were one of the finalists for Gio Gonzalez, but GM Ben Cherington was "not motivated" to deal four prospects for Gonzalez, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. With Gonzalez now on his way to Washington, the Sox will look at other pitching targets like Gavin Floyd, Roy Oswalt, Hiroki Kuroda and Andrew Bailey, all of whom have drawn some interest from Boston this winter.
Here's the latest from the AL East…
- The Red Sox will hire Bob McClure as the club's new pitching coach, reports Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. McClure has spent the last six seasons as the Royals' pitching coach and was hired by Boston last month as a minor league instructor and special assignment scout.
- The Yankees' chances of signing Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes are "slim to none," according to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger (Twitter link).
- The Yankees weren't close to a deal for John Danks, a source tells Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York. Brian Cashman and Kenny Williams "haven't spoken in weeks" after some initial contact, but the Yankees weren't interested in meeting Chicago's demands for their left-hander. Danks and the White Sox agreed to a five-year contract extension yesterday, ending the Danks trade rumors for the foreseeable future.
- The Yankees and Red Sox were the only teams that paid a luxury tax penalty for 2011, reports The Associated Press. New York paid a $13.9MM penalty (the team's lowest since 2003) while Boston paid $3.4MM.
- The Rays fell out of the race for Carlos Beltran due to Beltran's concerns about playing on turf and spending too much time as a designated hitter, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The Cardinals, Indians and Blue Jays appear to be the finalists for Beltran, though the Jays could be similarly hampered by the turf and DH issues.
- The Blue Jays are looking for bullpen help in the form of a lefty specialist and a right-handed setup option, reports MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. Also as part of this mailbag piece, Chisholm answers a reader question about Prince Fielder by noting that the Jays are "extremely unlikely" to pursue the free agent slugger unless his "market completely collapses." The major stumbling block is the Jays' club policy against not giving a player more than five guaranteed years on a contract, while Fielder is looking for a 10-year deal.
renegadeisback
This off-season for the Jays is turning out to be pretty meh.
jljr222
I feel like that has been the AL East in general. West making us look bad :(.
roberty
I think one big that that has hurt teams over the past decade is trying to make a big splash in the offseason just for the sake of making a big splash. It’s nice to see teams resist the urge when they have few needs to address.
jljr222
True, it’s just those very same needs can be big ones. It’s disappointing when you get your hopes up before the off-season that you can solve them and then you can’t. Everyone loves progress, but you’re right…doing something for the sake of doing it isn’t progress.
tycobb
Jays fans and their expectations I felt were high to begin with.
renegadeisback
Not looking to trade for every starter or sign every FA. Not even looking to compete next year. It’s just a shame that we have one of top 3 players in baseball and are letting Adam Lind bat behind him.
slider32
Hey, you had Roy Halladay!
Dylan Kain Fraser
If the Jays were smart they wouldn’t of given Wells’ a big contract and instead signed him to a shorter term and then they could of afforded to resign Halladay. Then if Wells’ declines like he ended up doing, you ship him off. Halladay was our go to guy, I only hope someday Halladay returns before he retires… but I guess I’m dreaming.
allisauce
The Jays could have afforded to sign Halladay. Halladay didn’t want to resign, and requested a trade.
Big difference.
Reaper87
The team has seemed to be much more realistic in what they’ve been doing, which I expect from AA at this point. Don’t overpay for anything and see if a deal falls into your lap. If the Prince market keeps falling apart with his insane demands, or Beltran to the Cards doesn’t work out, they may still swoop in last minute. They seem like they’ve been lurking for awhile waiting to pounce
Lunchbox45
Its pretty disheartening…
and I’m a pretty patient fan, I’ve loved whats been done so far.. but this offseason has gone a long way in showing what kind of commitment the ownership is really prepared to make with this team…
(forgot where i read it) but how the ownership wants fans to come back to the park and THEN spend money is ridiculous. Its the equivalent to a restaurant saying that once the restaurant is more than half full, they will hire a good chef. Completely backwards. Really disappointing.
Eric Ashby
You probably read that in one of many places: Jays president Paul Beeston said it!
Lunchbox45
i meant the restaurant analogy part.
slider32
AA has to take a hit for this, he is always looking to win the deal. That is not someone other GMs might want to deal with. The turf hurt him with Beltran, along with being in the AL East. I think the Jays have the same problem the A’s have, lack of attendance, and most players just don’t want to play there.
blurnandez
“AA has to take a hit for this, he is always looking to win the deal”
That’s some BS right there.
ice_hawk1002
yea especially when he has repeatedly said that the best deals are the ones that work for both teams.
slider probably has a point about players not wanting to come here if everything is equal. its a tough truth but there it is. puts an even higher premium on building the team through trades and draft, cause i dont like the idea of overpaying to make guys come. players never have an issue signing with a winner.
Lunchbox45
Fielder wants to play here. . so what other excuse should we go with?
ice_hawk1002
does he? i’m not trying to be rude or anything, but i dont think he has much connection to the city other than his father who he apparently doesnt talk to. if its been reported that he likes the city, i’ve obviously missed it.
Lunchbox45
one of the reports from boras’s camp was that Toronto was on his short list..
I look around the league, and ya teams might be more competitive, teams might play in better weather. but Toronto is a first class city . You can live really nicely here, and somewhat under the radar.
Lunchbox45
this is moronic.. Toronto is a first class city..
would players rather play for the angels, or new york? ya, but even the yankees and angels dont get a discount for being good destinations..
10 years ago no one wanted to play in Philly or Texas, now players are willing to turn down money to play there.
so no offense, actually ya take offense. as always, you don’t know what you’re talking about
HerbertAnchovy
True, but AA knows what he’s doing. I’m glad he didn’t overpay for Gio or anyone else as of yet, Darvish’s posting fee was ridiculous, and giving Fielder those kind of years is asking for trouble. The Blue Jays do need to aquire a starter, but I don’t want them giving away good pieces for the sake of making a splash.
Lunchbox45
I fail to see a serious downfall to signing Fielder
a) he fits a need, you need an elite bat at 1B. Lind left his in 09
b) he’s 27
c) very few impact bats on the way up in the system or coming up in free agency.
I’m glad he didn’t overpay for gio, I didn’t want darvish to begin with.. but Prince is going to end up signing for 7 years in Seattle, and Jays fans should be pissed about it.
renegadeisback
A) He’s fat. (even though he’s a vegan and has missed about ONE game in 3 years)
B) Lind has potential (even though he can’t even post a .300 OBP anymore)
C) 6 years is too long a comittment! (even though AA got rid of Vernon freaking Wells’ contract)
Lunchbox45
a) who cares about his weight, he plays 1B.. if he was a center fielder, I’d be concerned..
b) Lind is OLDER than prince fielder, I like lind, and I hope we keep him around to dh and play lf, but when the teams you are trying to beat have Teixera, Gonzalez & Pujols, Lind just doesn’t cut it.
c) 6 years is too long because Rogers has brainwashed us in to thinking so.. reality is you’re seldom going to get a quality FA on less than a 5 year deal, especially a position player.
If he was 33 and wanted a 7 year deal, than ya, forget that.. but dude is 27 years old..
stl_cards16
This is a brilliant post. Fielder has been bad-mouthed so much I think he is underrated now. Any team that can get him on a 6 year deal at around $22MM is getting a good deal.
Lunchbox45
Were not selling underwear, we’re trying to win baseball games!
Dylan Kain Fraser
Agreed. Fielder @ 5 years and 120million with an option for a 6th year would be fine with me, but he might want even more money….. yikes lol
MaineSox
Underrated by certain fans, probably. I don’t think he’s underrated by most people inside the game though.
Sniderlover
If Fielder was looking for a 6 year deal, I’d imagine it would be done already.
Lunchbox45
another potential destination just flopped in the cubs (if the rebuild is true)
so we’re down to do Seattle, Orioles? Brewers? and Toronto..
Its not a big market, he may be looking for 10 but he’s going to have to settle.
Morley C
Any legitimacy to your posts in this story went out the window when you said “Lind in left field”.
Lunchbox45
Solid analysis considering Eric Thames was sent out there for half the season.
Unless they start Snider in LF, Lind provides the best option when factoring offense and defense
Reaper87
No way should they go 7 years for Prince. I don’t care that he plays 1B, there’s a long line of players who have been big guys like him and flamed out by age 32… Mo Vaughn, John Kruk, Prince’s own dad Cecil. If he’s fine with DHing then maybe, but not everyone can be Frank Thomas (another guy whose career would have been done by about age 33 without the DH position). Prince’s weight should be a big concern for prospective teams
Shawn McLaughlin 2
Prince WAS a vegetarian, not a Vegan. Now he is eating meat again.
OrangeCards
Really? Does he like crab cakes?
roberty
I wish I could like that one twice.
HerbertAnchovy
I really don’t see Fielder staying healthy for 7 seasons. Either he’ll develop diabetes, destroy his legs, or have other issues. I think he’d be a great acquisition for a shorter term, but that contract might look worse down the line.
Lunchbox45
CC sabathia, 6’7 290 lbs.
I know 29 other teams that would love CC, that said CC won’t stay healthy, that said he’s fat and won’t last. Hows that looking now?
Theres a ton of athletes that are just big.. If Fielder was 190 lbs in his first year and ballooned up, then ya be veryyyy worried.. But he’s big.. he was a big kid, he was a big teen and now he’s a big man.. He’s been one of the most durable players in the league.. and realistically, similar to pujols, if he can help bring the team to a WS or 2, the contract doesn’t look so bad in the end.. especially with a Dh
nictonjr
Fielder has missed 13 games in his 6 years as a regular. That’s not a 15 day DL stint for his career. Just for reference, that’s how many games Jose Bautista missed LAST season.
ice_hawk1002
not to nitpick, cause i like your points overall, but fielder carries nearly the same weight as sabathia on a frame thats 8-9 inches shorter. i dont find them especially comparable.
and without doing any research i would say overweight pitchers seem to have more late career success than overweight hitters.
Lunchbox45
true.. but I bet you that Prince beats CC in a race..
he’s big, but he’s athletic.
ice_hawk1002
haha yea i always thought prince moved pretty well for a fat guy. his baserunning skills are horrendous according to fangraphs tho.
User 4245925809
Still stick to the same old line.. Go ahead and give him 6 years (or more) and see exactly what you end up with after the 1st 3 or so.
This is a big risk, not like signing someone who has a reasonable chance of staying in shape who play 1B, like Tex, Gonzalez, even Pujols as other premier 1B who either did, or didn’t quite make FA and were on the market.
This guy wants the same contract length as those people, more dollars, less of a glove (by a ton) and that is just hard IMP to justify for a guy so huge in bad places.
Lunchbox45
i agree… but teix got 10 years, gonzalez got 8 years, and pujols got 10..
fielder’s market has pretty much crashed…
a 6 or 7 year deal definitely doable..
Fielder would also be younger than all 3 at the time of their last contract..
teix and gonzalez were both 28 and Pujols is 32.
User 4245925809
It is kind of funny to think here that of all the premier FA 1b who came available over the last 3 years of so that the NYY and Boston would be the ones it looks like got the bargains?
Age, bat and glove combined with what they will end up paying them contract wise all together.
Lunchbox45
boston got the gem for sure.
ice_hawk1002
teix got 8 yrs i thought?
pujols got paid mostly cause of the mystique and past successes surrounding him. the angels fully know that they’re going to take that one on the chin somewhere down the line.
that would leave gonzo and teix as his comparables. but i dont think fielder is as good as either of those players anyways (more limited skill set), so even in a good market he shouldnt (theoretically) top those deals.
Lunchbox45
my mistake it was 8 years.
Nicholas
Prince is a vegetarian. He will have no problem staying healthy. He’s big naturally.
HerbertAnchovy
I really hope this is a joke/sarcasm. You can be vegetarian (or vegan) and be fat- I have friends that are. Carbs anyone?
YanksFanSince78
I’ll take a bowl.
Morley C
It’s only December.
Kevin Taaffe
So now it’s down to the Cardinals and the Indians for Carlos Beltran?
joeybw
I’m curious if money wasn’t an issue for once. I think it was, I doubt it was only the turf issue, honestly.
Onetimeaccount
Combined with not wanting to be just a DH full time.
Infield Fly
The guy’s still got a nice glove and takes pride in using it. You can’t really blame him for that. I’m sure he wash’t in a mad rush to play on ‘turf either after that serious knee injury and all those surgeries.
randyova
In breaking news the sky is wet when it’s raining, snow is white and the sea is salty.. More rumors in about a half a hour..
stl_cards16
So is it breaking news or rumors?
joeybw
You know, for no other reason that I’m bored, I want Andrew Bailey. We really only need hitters but that’s what happens when you’re bored. Bailey please. Also don’t want the Red Sox getting him, of course.
Edward Williams
Not a shocker that the Rays are out. I guess they have to try and get damon back
joeybw
If you read what it said, it had to do with turf and him not wanting to be DH. And yeah, we can play him in the field and he can hurt in the first week on that turf, seems worth it, right? Yeah, Damon is probably going to come back but Friedman is at least trying to find someone better.
randyova
This guys haven’t said anything new. They add the red sox or the yankees to waste my time reading
Lunchbox45
similar to how your post is a waste of time?
Lefty
Floyd, Oswalt, Kuroda, and Bailey
Who’s willing to wager that the Red Sox gets at least two of the four listed here?
As for the Orioles they will get the “Golden Sombrero”! Duquette is supposed to have all this experience and be a smart guy. Cherington is young and green around the ears a bit.Experience is supposed to count for something isn’t it? Can someone tell me why Duquette wanted the job if he’s going to do nothing?Yeah, he revamped the Front Office, he brought in a lot of minor league free agents, rule 5 guys and traded for a “Non Tender Candidate” and possible disaster for 2012 in Eveland. He’s done nothing to revive a once passionate fan base and Angelos is still counting his money that he earns with his very successful law firm.
PS Does anyone know Duquette’s Sombrero size? I will Overnight him a Golden One in time for Christmas! Bah Humbug!
JacksTigers
I don’t think that they get any of them. I think that they’ll get Edwin Jackson to start and Cordero to close. I think that Floyd will stay, Oswalt will go to Detroit, Kuroda will go to the Angels, and Bailey will go to the Reds.
slider32
Oswalt to the Marlins, Jackson to the Nats, Kuroda to the Yanks, and Bailey to the Jays, Floyd to the Sox
dc21892
Jays got Santos, no need for Bailey.
JacksTigers
Miami is probably not looking for a guy like Oswalt. The Nats have filled out their rotation, they need offense. Kuroda would prefer the west coast and I’m sure someone will give him the option. And the Jays have Santos. I think the BoSox can do better than Floyd.
OrangeCards
I know, I was expecting a ring or two by now. What’s his deal?
Leonard Washington
Honestly do you think any one or two of those guys would help the Orioles contend? It won’t see he is being smart by not making a signing to make a signing. Floyd would cost prospects that Baltimore needs because prospects working out is about their only shot at future success. Oswalt isn’t going there he will want to win, ditto for Kuroda. Bailey is again an unnecessary move and won’t happen. Closers are for contenders and teams without candidates which Baltimore has. Cherrington on the other hand has been involved in everything Theo does for a long time and isn’t making a move unless its to adress a need or the price is right. He will be better at drawing your Oswalts and Kurodas because they will know they can run support and bailey makes sense for us because we are contenders.
JacksTigers
Bro, if you can overnight me a golden sombrero, that would be awesome. It would make an amazingly awkward gift for my Mexican step-mom.
nyjose
right now the FA left on the market you pretty much gambling. i think the good player left out there beltran and he is to fragile to invest that much money no one question when he is healthy he is one of the best. if you can sign him to 1 year and a team opt that would be great . if your team havent done anything yet they re better off not doing anything
Dock_Elvis
The Red Sox, using quantitative analysis, determined to hire the pitching coach with most mound visits in recent years…landing on Bob McClure. Staff health care costs were probably also taken into consideration, as McClure is likely is a top physical specimen given the amount of walking he did between the months of March-October.
Leonard Washington
He is the hire for lack of a better option. He was on the Royals though lets keep that in mind. Right now there is little you can do with all the talent in the world to make their rotation look anything more than what it is……below average.
randyova
Correct you are my friend…..total waste of my time
YankeeBaseball
Yankees should sign Karoda, 1yr 15mil. They they will be free to shop in next years more rich free agent starter market.
Also sign Cepedes AND Soler! Money is the Yankees biggest advantage and this is the last year they can use that advantage on international free agents… (Yes I know Cepedes wouldn’t count under the new rules anyway). Cepedes can play a year in AAA, then take Swisher’s place next year. Soler will add outfield depth for the longer term future.
MB923
If they’re going to sign a player to only a 1 year deal, I’d rather it be Oswalt than Karoda. They’re contracts will be just about the same, assuming they both get 1 year deals
nictonjr
While the TOTAL payroll is a huge advantage to the Yanks, AVAILABLE payroll is not. They have around $195 mil spent. If they stay in their normal 205-210 range, they don’t have enough available space for Kuroda at the price you specified…
Rex_Chestington
“The major stumbling block is the Jays’ club policy against not giving a player more than five guaranteed years on a contract, while Fielder is looking for a 10-year deal.”
This is AA’s way of saying to Jays fans that we’ll never sign a Pujols/Fielder type of free agent because he won’t offer more than five years and the big names will always be able to get a longer term elsewhere.
Rex_Chestington
“The major stumbling block is the Jays’ club policy against not giving a player more than five guaranteed years on a contract, while Fielder is looking for a 10-year deal.”
This is AA’s way of saying to Jays fans that we’ll never sign a Pujols/Fielder type of free agent because he won’t offer more than five years and the big names will always be able to get a longer term elsewhere.