Contract talks between the Red Sox and Cody Ross have gained “some momentum,” Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. The Red Sox are attempting to re-sign the outfielder, who is on track to hit free agency once the World Series ends.
The Red Sox had some preliminary extension talks with Ross throughout the second half of the season, but the team never presented the SFX client with a formal offer, according to Bradford. Boston’s front office executives continued talks with Ross and fellow free agent David Ortiz earlier in the month.
Ross, 31, posted a .267/.326/.481 batting line in 528 plate appearances for the Red Sox this past season. He contributed 22 home runs and 34 doubles while playing all three outfield positions and earning $3MM.
2 yrs at 6 mill per with a third yr player option at 5 mil. Cant see too much more then that. Love ross but thats a 100% raise. He fits fenway and and not many other places. Lets not overpay
I agree but given the weak OF FA market I think Ben & Co will go 3 years at $7 per.
He is worth that. Just dont want them to overpay. With him papi and some pitching upgrades needed just throw right money at right people
I agree. I’d even go 2/16 just to save the 5 (3×7=21) and that we might have a similar internal option (Brentz) or someone even better, and would also be better if he declines.
Yeah front load it heard. Overpay for tge first 2 and even make yr 3 a team option for 5 mill. Like brentz as an option if ross starts to regress
$7… or $7m? haha
they are trying to cut their budget even more.
I agree, but would add a club option at 7 or 8, too. I know the tendency is not to overpay, but Boston’s biggest issue the last few years has been letting guys who prove they can perform in Boston go (Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Beltre) and replacing them with guys who could not (admittedly they had decent track records, just not in Boston). (for example, Orlando Cabrera walks and is replaced by Lugo/Renteria).
Nobody’s going to give him $10 per year. Both sides know it. But 2/12 with a 3rd year player/club option at 5/8 would be fair IMO.
Vmart they let walk bc he cant catch everyday and they had a dh. Beltre was going to bridge till middlebrooks and the now departed agone were there. Beltre never really fit yes he could play but would have crumbled under media in boston. And shortstop will never be right. Call it curse of the nomar. But ut isnt pretty. But love ross want to keep him around. Josh willingham money is fine by me
Eronious on all acounts!
Beltre crumbled? Didnt do to bad his first yr! He also wasnt moved for Middlebrooks, he was moved bc of Youkilis.
Curse of Nomar?? Really?
Beltre would of first bit of struggle. Yes let him walk bc of youk and agon. Which turned into agon and middlebrooks. If they would have given beltre the 5 yr deal no more middlebrooks. So not erronious. The curse of nomar meaning never to have a franchise shortstop. And so far we are 8 for 8 in yrs since he left.
Beltre wasnt signed so we could get draft picks, not because the plan was for middlebrooks to take over. WMB was probably going to be in AAA all year but youk sucked and WMB was on fire. Im still not sold on him and would have rather kept Beltre and traded WMB for a starter at some point in time!
Curse of Nomar=World Series, then sign me up and ill trade a fan favorite every year if it nets us a ring!
Dude, Middlebrooks was still in A ball in 2010, when Beltre was with Boston. What the hell are you talking about? If anything Youk and the acquisition of AGon was the reason Beltre was not signed.
The only legitimate gripe you can have is Youk being let go in favor of Middlebrooks. Not Beltre. No way!
Also, Beltre’s production and Middlebrooks’ production (and small sample size) are not even comparable right now.
I do agree with the Nomar curse though. Lowrie could have broken it, when healthy. Doesn’t look like Iglesias’ bat is going to cut it in the bigs. Boegarts up next, let’s see what he does.
I agree with everything but the curse 🙂
How making a great trade a curse? Noma fell apart! Perfect timing!
No denying it was a good move at the time. Jyst saying no luck in filling the shortstop position since he was sent to the cubs
I would love to stay and argue but I have to go make a big deal out of ARod not being in the starting line up tonight so I can fit in with everyone else. #ridiculous
Fair just dont think beltre really fit in and knowing the sox run of contracts at the time im sure he would have been struggling. Would liketo see if middlebrooks can produce. Think he can. Also wouldnt mind maybe seeing will at 1st if he cant pull off the defense. But im ok with beltre being gone he did sign the best deal at the best ball park for him.
Bit of sarcasm about contracts. Just in case.
“The curse of nomar meaning never to have a franchise shortstop”
Woah.. Rico Petrocelli..’66-71 and would have played SS longer had Boston not acquired super slick fielding Luis Aparicio from the ChiSox and moved Petrocelli to 3b…
uhh… he means AFTER Nomar. lol
You could make the case that at the time of Nomar’s being traded there were what, four elite SS in baseball? Jeter, Nomar, A-Rod and Tejada. Of all of them, only Jeter still plays and is relatively productive. There hasn’t been a massive amount of big time hitting SS since that strange moment in time (lest we forget that before those guys there was exactly one that hit similar batting stats in the 20 years before them, Barry Larkin) and when you look around the league, there’s not really anybody playing to that level.
So I don’t consider it a curse on the Sox. I consider it the beginning of the end of an era.
I wish he’d get to Free Agency. Braves should consider him at least, we need a guy who hits lefties. I’d go 2 or 3 years at 6-7mil a year, with an extra year as an option (5mil)
Easy when you’re not writing the checks huh?
what do you mean? The Braves have 20-25+ mil to spend this offseason, on 2 spots really. LF and CF. We’ve needed a guy who can mash lefties for years. Ross would be a good piece to fit in.
You said “I’d go” it was just sarcasm… Relax.
This really needs to get done. Ross showed that 2011 was an anomaly and put up numbers that were stunningly similar to his career averages. If the Red Sox administration wants to prove that they’re dedicated to change and to a new roster-management paradigm, they need to start by giving fair-yet-generous contracts to guys like Cody Ross. I’d say something in the neighborhood of 3/20 should wrap this up.
I can’t believe Ross’s agents aren’t advising him to test the market. Maybe they are, and he just loves Boston, but it seems like he could really cash in this offseason if other teams got involved.
Maybe the ability to put up decent numbers in a offensive stadium for a change, rather than horrid places like Land Shark at Miami and SF where his entire career had been prior. Maybe a few dollars less he figures is worth the trade off to seeing 310-350′ FB either leaving the stadium/off the wall for XBH than easy outs that are true at places like Atlanta also.
it’s not all greed. Ross said he even understands fenway is perfect for his swing. Maybe he is one of the smart players around the league that won’t jump to a rotten situation for a few extra bucks at a stadium like New Fulton County that isn’t nearly as nice on offensive players, such as Ross whose power is to LF/LCF.
Testing the market doesn’t always mean the player gets more money. If Boston offers him a Josh Willingham type deal, he should take it now.
Ross gives the Red Sox the most offense they have had in RF for a number of years. Of course his defense could stand improvement. Perhaps more time spent in RF will help in this regard…$20M/3 seems about right. Now if Jerry Sands could offer up the same production levels, or slightly better, in LF, the Sox, with Ellsbury in CF, would have a decent OF to start of the 2013 season.
lets get this done sign Ross sign Papi get these signings over with