Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston will continue in his current role after the end of October, when his contract had been set to expire, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. Beeston and the Blue Jays are believed to be working toward a two-year extension. The 67-year-old acknowledged to Davidi that the sides are "in discussion" and that he's "committed to seeing this thing through." Here are more notes from the AL East…
- Rays bench coach Dave Martinez hasn't heard from the Red Sox or Rockies about possible manager interviews, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Martinez was one of the top candidates to manage the Astros before they hired Bo Porter last month.
- The Red Sox shouldn't have any regrets about dealing Marco Scutaro last winter, writes WEEI.com's Alex Speier, despite Scutaro's strong performance down the stretch with the Giants.
- Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun lists the five biggest questions facing the Orioles this winter.
- It doesn’t appear that Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar will be interviewed for the team’s managerial opening, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).
- Jon Lester just completed a disappointing season, but as Rob Bradford points out at WEEI.com it could be a good time for the Red Sox to approach the left-hander about another contract extension. Lester, who's under team control through 2014, has said he's "always open" to extension talks. So far the sides haven't discussed a new deal, Bradford reports.
- Outfielder Nate McLouth would like to re-sign with Baltimore when he hits free agency this offseason, but the Orioles could decide to stick with internal options and try to find another McLouth-like performer next year, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun writes. In case you missed it, Mike Axisa examined McLouth’s free agent stock over the weekend.
MLBTR's Mark Polishuk also contributed to this post
If Beeston is staying, it means he believes in the process. This is encouraging news for Blue Jays fans.
this is the time to put up or shut up for the front office.
Agreed. Wouldn’t bode well for what they are selling if he just ups and leaves in the middle of it. Especially in what may be the most crucial offseason in recent years for Toronto. I really hope they deliver…whether it be through trade or free agency.
Read the Bradford article earlier and cannot agree at all.. 1st off? lester isn’t going to finish 1-2 in Cy Young next year in all likelihood 2nd? Lester was throwing 95-7 and sitting 94-5 when he signed that deal. Now he is throwing 93-4 and sitting 91-2.. BIG difference there.
Unless Lester is willing to extend until say.. Just 2015 w.’14 just guaranteed and making it a total.. Say 3/42 (2013-15) and giving Boston another option year for 2016? i say forget it, 28(29 next year) or not.
How do you see Red Sox? Retooling or Rebuilding? The prospect funnel seems to be healthy. It appears special care was taken to add guys who are close to being on the 40-man.
What would like to see and pressure from the rabid NE media and a element of the fan base is a huge difference unfortunately.
I want them to rebuild. To do it the *right* way and 80%+ from within would only take a couple of years to get back to a PO caliber team with just what they have at High A+
The media and mostly fans that understand nothing but wins and loses are not going to understand that is the best way and push for making for moves, some over the winter and more during the 2013 season. I just hope it does not involve moving the top prospects. That is one of the ways teams stay stuck in eternal mediocrity and that same media and fan base will still be screaming.
If they go the rebuild way, perhaps sign 1 or so extra (other than resign Ross/Ortiz) who is a veteran SP along the Haren, Peavy line who makes sense and is not expensive? That is as far as I would like to see them go and myself really not even that far, but that move would stave off the vocal fans/media somewhat who think the team is doing nothing.
A rebuild would take more than a couple of years.
A retool takes 1 – 2 years.
A rebuild takes 3 – 4 years.
A true rebuild takes 5+ years.
They are not as far off as you think.
Bogaerts, Bradley and Barnes within 2 years, Cecchini, Owens, Swihart, Jacobs, Coyle, Shaw.. They have multiple other people who are possibly MLB players, some with impact skills who could make it within 3 and several would be top 5 in other systems easilly, like Garin Cecchini and Henry Owens.
I left out the people who are close. Lavrnway, Iglesias, DeLaCruz and Brentz. All of those should help some next year and Alex Wilson, plus Allen Webster probably would break ST with other teams out of the pen, but Boston has a loaded one already.
Left out Lin (SS Lin, not their OF) Vinicio,Montas, Couch, Kukuk.. They are really, really deep at High A on down.
I see this as a semi rebuild. There are no unexposed players on the Sox in my rebuild. If someone wants Pedroia–the Sox most valuable player–make an offer we can’t refuse. I could see the Dodgers making a play for him–it will cost your #1 or #2 starter and perhaps we would include a top pitching prospect.
In my rebuild I don’t sign Ross or Ortiz unless the team commits to obtaining a legit # 1 or 2 top of the rotation guy and a strong 1 B in addition to a minimum of a 4 or 5 tool corner OF’der.
Hire Pena or Ausmus or Wallach.
I should have elaborated.
The Red Sox need to retool, and not rebuild, because I think they are only 1 – 2 years away.
Interesting numbers/projections. Thank you for sharing. How did you come about them? Funny how AA is not getting the benefit of this expectation.
A retool means that there is something missing from the team but should be easily fixed in 1 or 2 years.
A rebuild takes 3 – 4 years because it means that you plan on having the younger players and prospects take the helm, while allowing veterans to leave.
Young players typically take 1 – 2 years before they have things sorted out. For the current prospects, give them an additional 1 – 2 years in the minors and another 1 – 2 years to establish themselves in the majors.
A true rebuild is associated with drafting. The hope is focused with the prospects already in place and the newly drafted prospects to reach the big leagues. That takes 5 years or more.
Those are just my definitions.
I think the organization is setup to pursue either option. I suspect its choice depends on some contract negotiations. In my opinion, retooling only makes sense if Boston regains team control of some key players.
Wouldn’t be surprised if a manager is picked by the end of the World Series.
Now is a good time to extend a guy showing serious signs of decline, even as he’s under contract for two more years?
This planet you live on, Rob Bradford, what’s the weather like?
Haha nevermind. Comment was completely off base.
I’m not saying he’s a bad pitcher, mind you. Or that his peripherals don’t show signs of hope. I’m just saying that with the difference between his fastball and changeup shrinking, his HR/FB going up, and him starting to rely heavily on a sinker that’s giving his mixed results at best… why extend him? They’ve already got him for two more years. At least let one of those pass and see if he course corrects.
This may actually be a good time to trade Mr.Lester for Josh Johnson. Both have roughly the same time left on their contracts and Jon Boy could use a change of scenery. Like Beckett the NL may be suited nicely to his game–the NL East is similar to the AL East, several tough teams–I think he would make a good adjustment.
Why would the Marlins do that?
I remember the rumor last year was the Sox didn’t think Martinez could handle the media in Boston and handling the media in cities like Boston, New York, etc is a major part of the job. That said, I’m a little surprised that Martinez hasn’t been considered by the Rockies. Maybe Detroit will give him a shot of Leyland decides to retire.
I dont know why Martinez is overlooked every time an opening comes up. Is he the “manager in waiting” in Tampa when Maddon retires?
It is kinda weird, for a while he was reported to be on everyone’s short list. Makes one wonder.
“The Red Sox shouldn’t have any regrets about dealing Marco Scutaro last winter…”
…but they should feel free to facepalm about trading Jed Lowrie.
Internal options for the O’s = LJ Hoes who has nothing left to prove in the minors after this past season. Too bad he hasn’t flashed a lot of speed or power yet, however, a lot of people think he can develop that later in his career.