Let's take a look at a few American League notes:
- A return of shortstop Stephen Drew to Red Sox seems more and more likely with each passing day, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. Most of his potential landing spots appear to have alternative, in-house options that make it hard to justify a big contract and the sacrifice of a draft pick, says MacPherson: the Mets have Ruben Tejada, the Pirates have Jordy Mercer, the Twins have Pedro Florimon, and the Yankees have Derek Jeter.
- Former Angels swingman Jerome Williams expects to field offers over the next week or two, reports MLBTR's Zach Links, after having already received a few offers during the Winter Meetings. Primary interest in Williams has come from clubs in the AL West and Central. (Links to Twitter.) Williams was non-tendered when the Halos decided they did not want to pay a projected $3.9MM arbitration price tag, though we heard recently that he is expected to beat that figure on the open market.
- After being claimed off of waivers by the Angels in mid-October, southpaw reliever Robert Carson will look to harness his big arm and make a run at a MLB relief role, Mike DiGiovanna writes for Baseball America (subscription required). The club likes his live arm and makeup, according to farm director Bobby Scales, leading DiGiovanna to suggest that Carson could follow the path of Dane De La Rosa in combining raw ability with a change of scenery to have a big league impact for the Halos.
I hope the Sox don’t re-sign Drew. Compensation picks have done well for the Sox the past few years and in my opinion, the Sox got away with Bogaerts playing out of his natural position. So, with that being said, Twins, go sign Drew. Florimon isn’t starting material. Will Middlebrooks might not fit the mould of being patience at the plate and he had a bad year, but I value compensation picks more than I value Drew.
I’ve heard a number of reports that Bogaerts is probably better suited to third anyway. It’s not like he’s an elite defender at shortstop.
Yes but they have Middlebrooks already and Garin Cecchini coming too so giving Drew two years doesn’t make a ton of sense for the Red Sox.
The Mets have an obvious need at SS with how poorly Tejada played last year.
Maybe so despite playing at third for the first time in 2013. However, It’s best to keep him at shortstop so Garin Cecchini won’t be blocked and to possibly increase Middlebrooks’ value.
Florimon isn’t starting material but Middlebrooks is? The Twins front office has made it clear they are of your opinion when it comes to draft picks and Stephen Drew.
I never said Middlebrooks was starting material but he’s still young and has potential. Stephen Drew is also a large improvement over Florimon. People give Middlebrooks bad rep because of a bad sophmore year. The Sox would only have to live with Middlebrooks, who will be inexpensive, at third for a year or two if Cecchini makes his way to the majors.
Drew should just hold out until mid June. He does not owe the Red Sox a favor and he is not a “slave” bound by the QO system. Boras should understand this.
Drew will be playing somewhere other than Boston next season, but the Red Sox will get no compensation pick due to the Drew/Boras plan. Boston counts too many compensation picks before they hatch and will be playing a rookie at short and an “unproven” at third base.
I am waiting for the Yankees to sign Stephen Drew next June. The Red Sox get no compensation pick and New York loses no pick, Boston misses the playoffs.
Tejada is not a great in house option. The Pirates don’t have the budget flexibility to make a move like Drew and presumably don’t want to give up the first round pick. The Twins are focusing more on Garza and the Yankees are out on Drew according to this website and Cashman’s comments.
The Mets and Red Sox make the most sense and the Mets could presumably get him on a 2 year deal if the Red Sox are only willing to go one year. Don’t count the Mets out.
Another reason it’d fit for the Mets is that their only decent SS prospects (Cecchini and Tovar) are at least another season away at best (more likely 2-3 for Cecchini). I actually wouldn’t be surprised if the Mets came around and signed him, especially considering that it would be such an instant improvement.
Yeah even if you wanted to include Ahmed Rosario, he’s still a ways away as well.I think the Mets will give him that extra year which will probably be the difference. I don’t see the Twins being in it if they are going to focus their money and effort on Garza.
The only use Carson will have on a major league team is serving as the team’s batting practice pitcher. I think every appearance he made in the 2013 season he served up a home run.
Being a Mets fan, I had a similar memory, so I looked it up. In 2013, he had 14 appearances and gave up a HR in 7 of them, and in two of those he gave up two. Nine HR in 19.2 innings.
Honestly, I would put Anthony Recker on the mound before Carson. I don’t think I have ever seen someone pitch so poorly on a consistent basis. I wish him well because apparently he is a great clubhouse guy and very likeable, but letting him pitch was cruelty not only to the fans but also Carson.
Stephen Drew should have taken the $14M. Geeeeeeeeeeeeez
Jack Z could offer him that kind of money to sign w/ the Mariners and move either Nick Franklin or Brad Miller w/ a player to be named to the Yankees for Brett Gardner.
He’s talking about the QO Red Sox offered him. Drew would have been best served taking the 1yr QO and retrying next year. But Boras is a bit too predictable. He should’ve taken it last year with Lohse and now this time around with Drew.
So many mixed articles on Drew. Some say the Red Sox are ok with not having him because they have Bogaerts and Middlebrooks and some say he is most likely to end up back with the Sox.
Doubt he’ll be back. Red Sox don’t want a long-term commitment and Boras would completely lose face if he came back for one year at less than the QO.
The Mariners can sign Stephen Drew if Brad Miller can move to first or third base (Seager can slide to first base if Miller shifts to third base to accommodate Drew at shortstop). Then, trading Nick Franklin or Kyle Seager, Tyler Pike or Carson Smith, and a player to be named to the Yankees for outfielder Brett Gardner would make sense as Seager can fill the void by A-Rod at third base or Franklin can play second base moving Kelly Johnson to third if he has experience there, while Pike or Smith is a future starting pitcher for the Yanks in 2015 or 2016. Gardner can fill the outfield spot for the Mariners instead of going after Jose Batista or Giancarlo Stanton. Hope Cherrington can also consider of acquiring Brad a Miller and a player to be named for Uehara that can set up for Farquhar or as a closer. Who do you think would be a good fit for the Yanks between Franklin, Miller, or Seager?
I want to down vote this 10 times.
Why do you suggest PTBNL’s in fantasy scenarios in the middle of the offseason?
Instead of PTBNL, either Patrick Kivelhan or Stefan Romero would be better offer.
Why on earth would Cherington ever consider trading Uehara?
If Breslow is still on the team and is not a free agent, he would be better option than Uehara as a trade chip.
“…and the Yankees have Derek Jeter.”
They’ll be lucky to get the whole season out of him. Not only was he an average defender in his prime, but he has clearly declined significantly in the past couple seasons.
That’s why the Yanks should consider of acquiring Nick Franklin or Brad Miller and a player from the Mariners for Brett Gardner as the move makes sense for both teams.
Indeed. Brett Gardner is no longer necessary now that they have a better player in Ellsbury and Seattle can use all the help they can get. Something they seem to be acknowledging and attempting to fix as it is.
Especially if Stephen Drew replaces Miller or Franklin on the Mariners roster.
I don’t see that happening unless the Sox re-sign Drew and then trade him.
Declined significantly at what? He led the AL in base hits in 2012. As far as his defense, he never had great range and the ankle injury can only make it worse, I see him at 3rd if he his healthy.
Um…his defense. That’s kinda what I was talking about.
Stephen Drew is best SS available and Sox can get him at cheap price, due to lack of demand. Signing him anywhere close to the QO would be excellent. Challenge Middlebrooks at 3B with Bogaerts
Doubt Drew turned down a one-year deal to sign for less money than the QO, with the same team. More likely he’ll look to sign a Lohse type deal.
Someone will swoop in and offer him multiple years. He won’t go back to Boston on a one year deal with Boras as his agent.
I think the Mets sign him at 2 yrs/22-24 million in the end. Don’t see Boston going 2 years, the Yankees said they are out on Drew, and the Twins presumably will aim for Garza.
Mike Napoli to the Seattle Mariners for Brad Miller (shortstop), Julio Morban (outfielder), first baseman Patrick Kivelhan, and pitcher James Paxton or Erasmo Ramirez would make sense. If Taijuan Walker is also included in the trade, please consider either Lackey or Dempster to also join Napoli to Seattle.
This makes zero sense from the M’s perspective. After the recent signings of LoMo and Corey Hart (both better suited for 1b to of) the team has zero room for Naps. Due to his hip problem discovered last year Naps also has no value as a catcher anymore. As for the asking price of 4 prospects not even the Garza deal of last season as a rental netted that many decent prospects. I doubt any team would entertain such a trade scenario.
Yup, LoMo and Hart were great signings on top of bringing back Morales to DH of Hart can play first base and LoMo going back to the outfield. Trading Smoak to the Pirates for pitching help may not be a bad move if Melancon would be available to be the closer in Seattle by replacing him w/ Balfour signing w/ the Pirates.
IMO, Red Sox shouldn’t re-sign Drew:
1) Value: Red Sox would only be marginally better for 10-14mil more per season. Drew would be an improvement defensively, but offensively it would be a push. Middlebrooks will probably have a better season offensively than last year, while Drew’s ceiling is pretty well defined. That money could be more wisely spent on other areas of need.
2) Logjam: Red Sox already have an internal options with Middlebrooks, Cecchini and Bogaerts. Re-signing Drew would in effect make Middlebrooks useless, canceling any value he has going forward whether sitting on the bench or in the trade market. Also, Drew would probably want more than one year, so that would create a problem with bringing up Cecchini.
3) Draft pick: Red Sox would lose the comp pick they were going to receive if he re-signs. It would be nice to get that additional draft pick. Having 3 picks before the Yankees make their first pick would go a long way in keeping the farm system edge they have.
The Red Sox should look for a low-cost veteran back-up in the trade market and move Carp to make room.
In re: picks, it depends who signs him. For example, if the Mets signed him, the Sox would be getting a 3rd round pick, as their 1st round is protected and their 2nd round belongs to the Yankees due to the Granderson signing. A 3rd round pick isn’t much.
Nah the new compensation rules would mean the Mets give up their 3rd rounder but the Red Sox get a sandwich compensation pick that’s a 1st rounder. That’s why the Red Sox are not overly worried about losing Drew.
Ah, thanks. That makes much more sense. Although, the OP said that the Sox would have three picks before the Yankees, which seems incorrect due to the Grandy deal.