After a flurry of signings last week, the Red Sox [team stats] are expected to keep up the hectic pace this week by signing new players and potentially making progress on the catching front, as well as acclimating their top rookies.
Veteran starter John Smoltz is expected to be introduced as the latest member of the rotation. It could happen today, but tomorrow seems more likely in the aftermath of potential Hall of Fame news involving Jim Rice this afternoon.
The signing of outfielder-first baseman Mark Kotsay could also occur this week as well. Kotsay is being brought aboard as a fifth outfielder, left-handed bat off the bench and backup first baseman. Both Kotsay and Smoltz will be signing one-year deals.
On a couple of occasions last week, GM Theo Epstein mentioned the possibility of trading for a young catcher. According to one baseball source, the team has been intensifying talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks concerning 25-year-old catcher Miguel Montero. The Red Sox still believe that the price for gifted Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamachia is too high because it still includes pitcher Clay Buchholz. The Diamondbacks are not believed to be asking for Buchholz, making a return package of pitching that could include Michael Bowden and/or Daniel Bard feasible.
Trading for a catcher would not preclude the club from striking a deal with free agent Jason Varitek [stats].
The market for Varitek appears to have taken a severe hit and no obvious suitors have been identified outside of the Red Sox. And they are not believed to be anxious at all about sweetening any offer they have on the table for Varitek. The club felt that making the arbitration offer, which would have meant a salary of approximately $10 million this season for Varitek, was a good-faith effort on their part. Since Varitek rejected the offer, the club has not been inclined to up the ante.
Not helping those talks was the negative outcome of the Mark Teixeira negotiations, as Varitek and Teixeira share the same agent, Scott Boras. Also, the club has already signed catcher Josh Bard to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.
On Wednesday, the Red Sox will hold a media session with some of their most promising prospects. Among them will be first baseman Lars Anderson, the young slugger who is the closest to making the big club and is deemed as close to an untouchable as there is among position prospects. Also expected: shortstop Argenis Diaz, outfielders Josh Reddick and Zach Daeges, catcher Mark Wagner, as well as pitchers Bard, Felix Doubront, Kris Johnson, Richie Lentz, Adam Mills and Dustin Richardson.
Last week, the Sox agreed to deals with outfielder Rocco Baldelli, starter Brad Penny and reliever Takashi Saito.
Veteran starter John Smoltz is expected to be introduced as the latest member of the rotation. It could happen today, but tomorrow seems more likely in the aftermath of potential Hall of Fame news involving Jim Rice this afternoon.
The signing of outfielder-first baseman Mark Kotsay could also occur this week as well. Kotsay is being brought aboard as a fifth outfielder, left-handed bat off the bench and backup first baseman. Both Kotsay and Smoltz will be signing one-year deals.
On a couple of occasions last week, GM Theo Epstein mentioned the possibility of trading for a young catcher. According to one baseball source, the team has been intensifying talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks concerning 25-year-old catcher Miguel Montero. The Red Sox still believe that the price for gifted Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamachia is too high because it still includes pitcher Clay Buchholz. The Diamondbacks are not believed to be asking for Buchholz, making a return package of pitching that could include Michael Bowden and/or Daniel Bard feasible.
Trading for a catcher would not preclude the club from striking a deal with free agent Jason Varitek [stats].
The market for Varitek appears to have taken a severe hit and no obvious suitors have been identified outside of the Red Sox. And they are not believed to be anxious at all about sweetening any offer they have on the table for Varitek. The club felt that making the arbitration offer, which would have meant a salary of approximately $10 million this season for Varitek, was a good-faith effort on their part. Since Varitek rejected the offer, the club has not been inclined to up the ante.
Not helping those talks was the negative outcome of the Mark Teixeira negotiations, as Varitek and Teixeira share the same agent, Scott Boras. Also, the club has already signed catcher Josh Bard to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.
On Wednesday, the Red Sox will hold a media session with some of their most promising prospects. Among them will be first baseman Lars Anderson, the young slugger who is the closest to making the big club and is deemed as close to an untouchable as there is among position prospects. Also expected: shortstop Argenis Diaz, outfielders Josh Reddick and Zach Daeges, catcher Mark Wagner, as well as pitchers Bard, Felix Doubront, Kris Johnson, Richie Lentz, Adam Mills and Dustin Richardson.
Last week, the Sox agreed to deals with outfielder Rocco Baldelli, starter Brad Penny and reliever Takashi Saito.
