The Rest of'em
You may want to read "Tek" before you read this.
As I mentioned below, with the exception of Tek, all of the other free agents are replaceable, even Pedro. Sure Pedro is the best free agent starting pitcher on the market, but he's not the best pitcher available. There are still a few out there that can be had in a trade, most notably Tim Hudson, who I wouldn't mind seeing in a Sox uniform.
Sure Beane says he wants to sign him and would probably rather deal Zito (I'd take him too, he may have had an off year, but he's 3 years younger than Hudson and he's a lefty), but I think he would make the move if the right offer came along. Hudson (or Zito for that matter) would fit right in with this team. He's another wacko who gets along with all his teammates.
Anyway, as far as Pedro goes, he's still a very good pitcher and I would love to see him stay, but I don't think the Sox should overpay him and I doubt they will. He claims he wants to stay here and the Sox have already offered him a fair deal, we'll have to see what else he gets and then see if he stays true to his word. He'll probably get a better offer somewhere else but I think, as with Varitek, the Sox will be willing to come close to whatever it is.
Cabrera's probably gone. Too bad cuz I would have liked to see him stick around. He's worth a 3 or 4 year deal and someone will give it to him, but with Hanley Ramirez being ready in the next year or 2, the Sox probably won't go more than 2 for him.
I don't think Lowe will be back either. Another one who would like to stay but I think he'll end up getting a better offer somewhere else. This guy is an enigma anyway. You just don't know what you're gonna get from him. He was unbelievable in the playoffs but just terrible in the regular season. I will say this though, all the guys love him which goes a long way with this team, and it wouldn't bother me at all if he stayed.
Gabe Kapler loves being here so much that he signed last year knowing he would only be a part time player and didn't even bother looking for a starting job anywhere. It seems like he still feels that way but I think he's gonna see what kind of offers he gets and if someone garauntees him a starting spot he might take it. I think it would depend on who it was and what they offered compared to what we offer. With Nixon back, he's still only a 4th outfielder here, but he's a nice 4th outfielder to have and I'd love to see him stick around.
Dave Roberts is a factor here as well. I thought he was a free agent but he's not listed on any of the lists I've looked at. He must have at least another year left. I can see them keeping him as a 4th outfielder, but not both him and Kapler. Both of these guys could start on another team. Roberts is nice because of the speed he can provide off the bench when he's not starting, as we saw in the playoffs. I'd be happy with either one of these guys as the 4th outfielder and hopefully one of them will be around.
Doug Mirabelli's in a similar situation. Another one who really likes it here but could get more playing time somewhere else. I have a feeling he'll get that offer and this time he'll take it. He deserves it too. I'd like to see him stick around but I don't see it happening and I'm sure we'll find someone to fill in for him and do as good a job as any other backup catcher, except for him.
I'm sure they'll offer Leskanic and Adams contracts and maybe Reese depending on what happens with Cabrera. Nothing against any of these guys, they can all be helpful if they stick around, but they can all also be replaced.
We know Ellis Burks is retiring. I hope they keep him around as a coach somewhere. I was happy to be a part of the standing ovation we gave him during the last regular season home game, and it was great to see him holding the World Series Trophy on "the Duck". He never got the chance to contribute with his bat the way I thought he would, but he was still a contributing force in the clubhouse all year. He's been nothing but class for his entire career and it would be nice to keep him around in some capacity.
Dough Mientkiewicz and Kevin Millar are both under contract for next year but I don't see both of them sticking around. They should both be everyday players but that won't happen in Boston. Something's gonna have to give here. Minky is my favorite kind of player. He's a gamer, he always plays hard and always gives it everything he's got. If he gets 500 AB's he'll put up a decent average and drive in some runs, plus he's a gold glover at first. I like Millar too. He's got more power than Minky and he's always got something to say, although it gets him into trouble occasionally. I'm happy with whichever one they keep, but one of them is gonna go.
As I mentioned below, with the exception of Tek, all of the other free agents are replaceable, even Pedro. Sure Pedro is the best free agent starting pitcher on the market, but he's not the best pitcher available. There are still a few out there that can be had in a trade, most notably Tim Hudson, who I wouldn't mind seeing in a Sox uniform.
Sure Beane says he wants to sign him and would probably rather deal Zito (I'd take him too, he may have had an off year, but he's 3 years younger than Hudson and he's a lefty), but I think he would make the move if the right offer came along. Hudson (or Zito for that matter) would fit right in with this team. He's another wacko who gets along with all his teammates.
Anyway, as far as Pedro goes, he's still a very good pitcher and I would love to see him stay, but I don't think the Sox should overpay him and I doubt they will. He claims he wants to stay here and the Sox have already offered him a fair deal, we'll have to see what else he gets and then see if he stays true to his word. He'll probably get a better offer somewhere else but I think, as with Varitek, the Sox will be willing to come close to whatever it is.
Cabrera's probably gone. Too bad cuz I would have liked to see him stick around. He's worth a 3 or 4 year deal and someone will give it to him, but with Hanley Ramirez being ready in the next year or 2, the Sox probably won't go more than 2 for him.
I don't think Lowe will be back either. Another one who would like to stay but I think he'll end up getting a better offer somewhere else. This guy is an enigma anyway. You just don't know what you're gonna get from him. He was unbelievable in the playoffs but just terrible in the regular season. I will say this though, all the guys love him which goes a long way with this team, and it wouldn't bother me at all if he stayed.
Gabe Kapler loves being here so much that he signed last year knowing he would only be a part time player and didn't even bother looking for a starting job anywhere. It seems like he still feels that way but I think he's gonna see what kind of offers he gets and if someone garauntees him a starting spot he might take it. I think it would depend on who it was and what they offered compared to what we offer. With Nixon back, he's still only a 4th outfielder here, but he's a nice 4th outfielder to have and I'd love to see him stick around.
Dave Roberts is a factor here as well. I thought he was a free agent but he's not listed on any of the lists I've looked at. He must have at least another year left. I can see them keeping him as a 4th outfielder, but not both him and Kapler. Both of these guys could start on another team. Roberts is nice because of the speed he can provide off the bench when he's not starting, as we saw in the playoffs. I'd be happy with either one of these guys as the 4th outfielder and hopefully one of them will be around.
Doug Mirabelli's in a similar situation. Another one who really likes it here but could get more playing time somewhere else. I have a feeling he'll get that offer and this time he'll take it. He deserves it too. I'd like to see him stick around but I don't see it happening and I'm sure we'll find someone to fill in for him and do as good a job as any other backup catcher, except for him.
I'm sure they'll offer Leskanic and Adams contracts and maybe Reese depending on what happens with Cabrera. Nothing against any of these guys, they can all be helpful if they stick around, but they can all also be replaced.
We know Ellis Burks is retiring. I hope they keep him around as a coach somewhere. I was happy to be a part of the standing ovation we gave him during the last regular season home game, and it was great to see him holding the World Series Trophy on "the Duck". He never got the chance to contribute with his bat the way I thought he would, but he was still a contributing force in the clubhouse all year. He's been nothing but class for his entire career and it would be nice to keep him around in some capacity.
Dough Mientkiewicz and Kevin Millar are both under contract for next year but I don't see both of them sticking around. They should both be everyday players but that won't happen in Boston. Something's gonna have to give here. Minky is my favorite kind of player. He's a gamer, he always plays hard and always gives it everything he's got. If he gets 500 AB's he'll put up a decent average and drive in some runs, plus he's a gold glover at first. I like Millar too. He's got more power than Minky and he's always got something to say, although it gets him into trouble occasionally. I'm happy with whichever one they keep, but one of them is gonna go.
posted by Bob at 11/12/2004 09:11:00 AM
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