The Red Sox have plenty of money to spend but a soft free agent market means that General Manager Ben Cherington will have to get creative to improve the club heading into 2013. Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald looks at some of the available options, including Yankees first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher. It doesn't seem likely that Swisher would be a fit for the Red Sox as he will turn 32 in November and believes that he's in store for a Jayson Werth-type deal. While executives don't see the veteran getting something in the neighborhood of $126MM over seven years, he's still likely to net a lucrative multi-year pact. Here's more out of the AL East..
- The Blue Jays continue to suggest that they won't let manager John Farrell go to the Red Sox, but Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com isn't sure why as they don't seem to be sure about him in the long term. Several people around baseball suggest that things are less-than-perfect between Farrell and the Toronto front office.
- Of course, the Blue Jays could have a change of heart, and Alex Speier of WEEI.com looks at what it might cost the Red Sox to pry Farrell away. The two deals that happened last year involving decision-makers suggest that Boston wouldn't have to forfeit an elite prospect in a trade. While the Marlins shipped right-hander Jhan Marinez and infielder Osvaldo Martinez, ranked fourth and fifth in their farm system, to the White Sox for Ozzie Guillen, Jim Callis of Baseball America notes that their rankings were a reflection of Marlins' lack of minor league talent.
- The union between Ichiro Suzuki and the Yankees has turned out to be an ideal marriage, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. General Manager Brian Cashman told Ichiro prior to the trade that he would have to shift to left field and hit towards the bottom of the lineup. However, the outfielder has since moved up to second in the order and has seen time at all three outfield spots.
Boston needs to move on from this. It’s funny that all the lobbyists / media for the Red Sox Front Office have been so aggressive in banging the Farrell drum & now they don’t like the price. What did they think?…that the Blue Jays were going to acquiesce just cuz Boston asked nicely? As a divisional rival, you’ll have to pay more or move on.
And I say MOVE ON!
I think there is something to this story. Reports from Peter Gammons give it a lot of credibility. If Toronto doesn’t co-operate, it will be hard for Boston to move to Plan B because that person will know they are a lame duck until Farrell becomes available after 2013 season.
If they fail to land Farrell for a second consecutive off-season, would it not dawn on them that it’s just not going to happen? While it’s possible that the Blue Jays & Farrell have had disagreements, who is suggesting that any difference can’t be repaired? I haven’t seen one pundit say the relationship is broken beyond repair. People have disagreements all the time in life & don’t divorce.
At some point Boston has to realize they can’t continue to chase John Farrell down the rabbit hole. It’s futile. You either pay the Blue Jays what they want for his services or you hire someone else long-term.
Of course it has nothing to do with the last 2 seasons (2012 and upcoming 2013) Farrell was under contract to Toronto and for 2014 Farrell is not and will be free to choose who his employer will be.
Curious to know who agrees to manage the Red Sox on a one year deal in the circumstance that the Red Sox “wait” a year?
IMO Bosox painted themselves into a corner with their aggressive pursuit of Farrell. Although Blue Jays have pressure to resolve Farrell situation before spring training, Bosox have more pressure to acquire Farrell by the end of this month.
Edit – Maybe Bosox hire Tony Lovullo to keep Farrell’s seat warm in 2013 and becomes Farrell’s coach in 2014.
No way. If we can’t get Farrell, we need a head coach.
Toronto has zero pressure to do anything. They’re the ones with all the leverage. Don’t want to deal/can’t come to a deal? They continue on with the coach they hired. He doesn’t want to sign? Let him walk (Boston will likely have a manager under contract) and hire someone else.
Really think the reports of ‘friction’ between Farrell and Anthopolous are fiction/over blown. It’s no surprise those rumours are coming out of Boston, and no where else…. including Toronto.
Toronto does have some pressure. BUT, Boston must meet its deadline before Toronto. This affords AA a lot of patience.
I suspect Farrell is the source of the friction rumour. He is good friends with Peter Gammons. Whether the rumour is true or exaggerated to apply pressure to AA is open to speculation.
Ben Cherington?
This is why Arnie Beyeler makes sense. Even if they go to Farrell a year later, Beyeler stays in the organization either back with the PawSox or as bench coach. Free agents? Something in my gut says they talk to Guthrie and Wigginton.
Yep, an “organization man” makes complete sense for Plan B. This situation reminds me of the trade discussions between Jays and Bosox over Scott Downs. AA felt no need to unload Downs at the deadline because the guy was a Type A free agent. He wasn’t going to settle for average prospects. I suspect he has a similar mindset in this situation.
I can’t wait for an MLBTR update to which the Jays are tagged, and has absolutely nothing to do with Farrell.
I have said this in a few other post before. The first thing they are going to look for is a Number 1 starter. I think they will trade for Tim Lincecum. They have money to spend and his 22 million is too much for Giants if they try and lock up Posey.
A couple things wrong with this:
1. Lincecum isn’t a #1 starter.
2. The Giants have plenty of $$$ to extend Posey as is, especially considering they are finally out from under the Rowand contract.
That would be a change for the Red Sox pitching Staff. Instead of retreating to the clubhouse for beers Timmy could Break out his “pinch hitter” and the Staff could do “oney’s on the bench.
as much as i dislike the yankees, i wish irchiro best of luck
I’m really thrilled about Yankees making a good run. It’s a shame after the career that Ichiro has had that he hasn’t been to the postseason since his first season. Was a good move for him and the Yankees.
No one is going to give swish a “Werth” contract. He is a good player and I would be happy if they brought him back year, but I have a hard time seeing him get over $75M and that is only if the market is really robust. It is helpful though that he can play a few different positions. At the end of the day he is a 32 year old, he is not elite enough to pay him until he is 39. Votto, Pujols, etc you have to make a contract that long, swish isn’t in their league.
He is a similiar player to ethier, only ethier is 2 years younger when signed to extension, and got overpaid.
nick swisher will go to the sox only if hell freezes over.
Hull, Quebec gets fairly cold in the winter.
It’s so cute that all the usual Boston lobbyists wrote articles on this very subject today. It’s *almost* like they got the Directive straight from the Front Office.
I like Nick Swisher, but there is nothing ELITE about his game!!!
Swisher is the mirror image of Cody Ross but with an attitude and experience making shaving commercials….
If only Swisher could mirror some of Ross’ postseason production…