2010 Boston Red Sox - Beckett signs $68 million extension

[Gwynar]

Theo's thoughts
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein spoke candidly about the sudden end to his team's season, his thoughts on moving the club forward, Jason Bay's free agency, J.D. Drew's value, David Ortiz, Daniel Bard, and other players and topics during an interview on WEEI’s "Dennis and Callahan" program this morning.

Boston.com

[Gwynar]

Beckett, Red Sox to talk
Josh Beckett, who was in Boston to be honored for his commitment to Children’s Hospital, told WEEI.com that he and his agent, Michael Moye, are planning to meet with Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein in the coming weeks to discuss the pitcher’s future with the team.

WEEI

Beckett and Bay's Boston Futures
On a night when Josh Beckett was honored at the Champions for Children’s event in recognition of his foundation’s contributions to Children’s Hospital Boston, both Beckett and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein spoke briefly about the pitcher’s future in Boston, as well as that of free-agent outfielder Jason Bay.

WEEI

Ortiz is entering the final year of a four-year, $52 million deal that will pay him $12.5 million for 2010. The club holds a $12.5 million option for 2011, but it's a safe bet the Sox won't exercise it if he repeats last year's performance.
[...]
That said, Ortiz made it clear he hopes to remain with the Red Sox next year and beyond.

"I want to finish my career here," he said. "I think I still have another three or four good years in me. It's not like I’m going to play until I'm 50, but I know I can still swing the bat. All I know is last year I had the worst two months of my career and still almost ended up at 30 and 100."

BostonHerald.com

[JMDurron]

Sorry, Papi, but if you're a dedicated DH, you need to be able to roll out of bed with the flu and hit better than league average to cut it in the AL East. He can be a great asset with only one skill, but for a one-dimensional player, any degredation in that skill whatsoever can be a real killer for his value to the team. A .794 OPS (OPS+ of 100 even) is just not good enough. At the same time, he's too expensive to dump this offseason, so I find myself hoping that the Red Sox upgrade at 3B (Yo, Adrian!) and platoon Lowell and Ortiz at DH in 2010. Defense at 3B and offense at DH are two ways to upgrade to compensate for what I expect to be a disappointing offseason at LF and SS.

[Gwynar]

Beckett will be free agent after 2010
If Beckett at 30 can stay away from the back, oblique, elbow or shoulder ailments that have sidetracked him, he could win 20 games and pitch the Red Sox deep into October 2010. But tie on five years and that carries him through the age of 35. It's a very difficult call for the Red Sox.

As much as anyone who knows Beckett believes in him and his ability to rise to any occasion, there are some facts to consider:

ESPN (Gammons)

[Gwynar]

Sox decline option on Gonzalez
The Red Sox have declined a $6 million option on shortstop Alex Gonzalez, according to a source, but the club still may have interest in bringing the player back in 2010 on a lesser salary.

News of the Sox' decision to forgo the option on Gonzalez comes just two days after the Milwaukee Brewers traded shortstop J.J. Hardy to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Carlos Gomez. A different baseball source indicated that the Sox had been having ongoing discussions with the Brewers about Hardy since just before the July 31 trading deadline, but that Milwaukee's interest was primarily in either starter Clay Buchholz or reliever Daniel Bard, neither of whom the Sox were willing to sacrifice.

boston.com

[JMDurron]

Buchholz or Bard for Hardy, sure thing Milwaukee. :lol:

I think that Gonzalez is the right idea for SS. Hope for Lowrie to be healthy and hit, but if he doesn't, you have a cheap, decent fielding option who can occasionally hit during home games. If LF is maintained (one way or another), a couple of extra starters are signed for depth (Harden/Bedard/Sheets types, not Lackey) and 1B/3B is upgraded, the Sox will have a fine roster heading into 2010.

[knucklehead7]

Sox keep Wakefield with two-year deal
Pact with knuckleballer sealed at deadline to pick up option

By Ian Browne / MLB.com
BOSTON -- Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will not only be back for a 16th season with the Red Sox, but likely a 17th.

Facing a Monday deadline to pick up Wakefield's $4 million club option, the Red Sox instead agreed to a two-year pact with the veteran right-hander.

While the Red Sox, as is their club policy, did not reveal terms of the deal, WEEI.com reported that it was worth a guaranteed $5 million. Wakefield will reportedly make $3.5 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in '11, with incentives giving the righty a chance to bring the total value of the contract to $10 million.

MLB.com

[Gwynar]

Full details on Wakefield's contract at WEEI.com.

Also...

Sox pick up V-Mart option
CHICAGO -- It does not come as a surprise, but it's pleasant news for Red Sox fans nonetheless.

Victor Martinez is officially under contract for next season.

The club has exercised its $7.1 million 2010 option for the 30-year-old catcher/first baseman, according to his agent Alan Nero.

Boston.com

And...

Varitek still waiting
Just spoke to Theo Epstein. Contrary to a report, Jason Varitek has not yet exercised his $3 million player option for 2010. At least as far as the Sox know.

Boston.com

[JMDurron]

I hope Varitek agrees to come back as Martinez's backup. As bad as last year was, Varitek hit the ball well in the first two months, and against LHP, so being the backup over the whole season could keep him healthier and more productive over the course of a full season. It's not like there are many better backup catchers lying around out there, and he already knows the pitching staff.

[knucklehead7]

Varitek exercises option, will stay with BoSox

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek chose on Wednesday to remain with the only team he has known in the major leagues, agreeing to exercise his $3 million player option for 2010.

Jon Paul Morosi

[Gwynar]

Matsui a possibility for Red Sox
All indications point to the Red Sox wanting to bring free-agent outfielder Jason Bay back into the fold next season, and Matt Holliday has been brought up as an intriguing Plan B if that falls through.

But a Japanese Web site has added a new wrinkle: Hideki Matsui.

MLB.com

I honestly wouldn't put too much into what Japanese news sites post about Japanese players in the Majors. They pump a lot of even the smallest stories into something much bigger.

Still, it's an interesting development...

[JMDurron]

Ha, ha...ahah, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah, the Red Sox need a LHH who can't field or stay healthy. That's either random reporting by a Japanese site, or a blatantly transparent ploy by a desperate agent to get the Yankees to keep Matsui.

[Gwynar]

Ha, ha...ahah, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah, the Red Sox need a LHH who can't field or stay healthy. That's either random reporting by a Japanese site, or a blatantly transparent ploy by a desperate agent to get the Yankees to keep Matsui.

I knew you'd get a nice kick out of that.

[JMDurron]

Also, I shudder to think about what might happen if Papelbon ever found Matsui's porn collection. Bad times.

[Gwynar]

A look at Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly
One of the more intriguing two-way prospects in the minor leagues is Red Sox shortstop and pitcher Casey Kelly. Kelly, just 20 years of age, was a first round pick in 2008 out of Sarasota High School. He made his debut in 2008 as a shortstop and in 130 at-bats between Rookie-A and Low-A he struggled with a .255 on-base percentage and .331 slugging percentage. He walked just six times and struck out a whopping 42 times.

Hardball Times

[JMDurron]

He's really not much of a two-way prospect, he just hasn't realized it yet. He needs to give up the SS dream and concentrate on his pitching.

[Gwynar]

Red Sox increase prices for some tickets
The Red Sox raised ticket prices for eight sections of Fenway Park including the popular infield grandstand seats and loge boxes by an average of $3.50.

After freezing ticket prices a year ago in recognition of the national recession, the Sox raised the rates on nearly 50 percent of the park. Infield grandstand seats were increased from $50 to $52. Loge boxes went up $5 to $95. The Green Monster seats now will be $165 with standing room in that section $35, a hike of $5 in both cases.

Boston Globe

[JMDurron]

Everything still sold out last year in spite of the economy, but a bunch of the tickets that were snatched up by the secondary market didn't get re-sold to fans because they weren't willing to pay the normal markups. I wonder if the StubHub/Ace Ticket/Ebay crowd will take a bit of a bath again this season, even if every ticket sells out again.

[Gwynar]

Red Sox release catcher Kottaras
With Victor Martinez already entrenched as the starter behind the plate in 2010 and Jason Varitek guaranteed to return as his backup, the Red Sox have released catcher George Kottaras, according to a team spokesman.

MLB.com

[Gwynar]

Bay tops Epstein's free-agent priorities
While the Red Sox had exclusive rights with Bay -- and still do until the clock strikes midnight on Friday morning -- it has been clear from the outset that the star left fielder won't sign until, as Epstein put it several times, he goes "through the process."

For Bay, that process is being out on the open market and seeing if his best fit is to stay in Boston or move on. And that is also part of the process for the Red Sox, as they determine how their perceived value of Bay compares to other teams around the Majors.

MLB.com

[Gwynar]

Bay declines Boston's initial offer, heading to full free agency
Star free agent outfielder Jason Bay has declined Boston's initial contract offer and will head to full free agency, SI.com has learned.

Boston's offer to Bay was believed to be for four years and "close to $60 million,'' according to sources. Bay thus will join star outfielder Matt Holliday and ace pitcher John Lackey as the biggest free agents on this year's market. The exclusive period for incumbent teams expires Friday at 12:01 a.m., when free agents can begin negotiating with other teams.

SI.com (Jon Heyman)

[Gwynar]

Papi gearing up for big return in 2010
BOSTON -- As evidenced by his wardrobe, David Ortiz didn't need to make an extra trip into Fenway Park on Thursday to promote his upcoming charity golf tournament. Big Papi was wearing workout shorts and a sweatshirt, serving as an obvious clue of what he was going to be doing next once his interviews were complete.

Both general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona have indicated that Ortiz has been at the ballpark just about every day since the Red Sox were swept by the Angels in the American League Division Series.

MLB.com

[Gwynar]

Sox claim Manuel on waivers from Mariners
BOSTON -- With several hours remaining before Friday's deadline to submit their final 40-man roster in preparation for the Dec. 10 Rule 5 Draft, the Red Sox acquired Minor League right-hander Robert Manuel off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.

The addition of Manuel, a reliever, put the Red Sox's roster at 32, with the likelihood that there would be no other tweaks before the midnight ET deadline.

MLB.com

[JMDurron]

Somehow, I won't be surprised if Ortiz hurts himself again while trying to gear up for an improved 2010 campaign. Structural issues can't really be helped by even more batting practice.

[Gwynar]

Red Sox weigh options for Lowell
The Red Sox not only are shopping third baseman Mike Lowell but also are willing to pay $6 million of his $12 million salary for next season, according to major-league sources.

One rival executive, however, says he would be surprised if a team was willing to pay Lowell even $6 million.

FoxSports