Ben Cherington in, Theo Epstein out. I would be disingenuous saying that Theo looked comfortable sitting in front of a Chicago logo, because he didn't. While delivering his statement he looked nervous, and apprehensive. Once he read his prepared statement and people started asking him baseball related questions he started to warm up to the market, and the media and looked a little more at peace. Seeing that, I ask you this, wouldn't you feel the same way?
While being trite in nature, Theo painted a picture of being that kid from Brookline that lived and breathed Red Sox and watching the 1986 World Series and "writhing" on the floor with emotion after Game 6. He accomplished what every young New England baseball savant wants to do. Run the Red Sox.
His boyhood team became his place of employment. Not like everyone's regular job, he got the privilege to tinker with the team he grew up rooting for and knows firsthand the heartache that Red Sox nation had grown accustomed to for 86 years, and his job was to fix it.
Now when his team needed the most tinkering he left for Chicago.
Why would Theo Epstein not feel the guilt of leaving a team, his team, in disarray? Answer: He does.
Ben Cherington, another born and bred New Englander, it is now your turn. Do New Hampshire proud.
With a swift flick of his wand his first order of business was not finding a new manager, it was not looking into a new medical staff; it was convincing John Lackey to preemptively elect for Tommy John surgery. Score 1 for the new guy.
This is the best move for Lackey on multiple levels. John Lackey was a broken individual at the end of 2011. Snapping at the media, performance nowhere near equal to the salary, and his personal life was in shambles. Just about anything that can go wrong did for him in 2011. A year away from baseball is probably the best thing for a guy who is action-packed with issues. Also from the Red Sox point of view, one of their biggest points of emphasis like any business is as simple as three letters, ROI, Return on Investment. This move should enable them to maximize, or at least put into place a plan to maximize John Lackey's tenure in Boston.
The best part of John Lackey's albatross of a contract however is the injury insurance, Thank you Theo. It states that with any significant time missed with an elbow injury it triggers an option for another year at the league's minimum salary. You may be thinking, "Ew another year", but you get to average the money owed over the length of the contract for the salary cap hit. So, instead of $45.75 million over the next 3 years ($15.25 mil AAV) add another year and the league minimum (approx. 400K) and then average it out ($10.75 mil AAV), a savings of almost 5 million dollars.
With this development, you can be sure that the Red Sox will be active in the free agent market for pitching. Boston needs 1.5 starters, a 4/5 starter and a 5/6 starter. 1.5 you ask? Because the all-important Daisuke Matsuzaka is slated to be back in the majors sometime in mid-2012. There should be a list of about 3 guys the Red Sox should be looking at for the 4th slot in their rotation:
Mark Buehrle- If you look up consistency in the baseball dictionary his stat sheet would be right there. For the last 10 years he's won atleast 10 games, and in 8 of those years he's won 13 or more, including this past year. He has thrown at least 200 innings every year since 2001. He would also add 'pace' to the game, which has been becoming increasingly arduous with the likes of Josh Beckett and John Lackey taking over a minute between pitches at times. Chicago has not made public whether or not Buehrle would be a priority for them, but for Boston he would be the perfect fit. 2 years 25 million should be enough compensation to get a deal done.
Edwin Jackson- He has pitched for 6 teams in his brief Major League career but his remarkably smooth throwing motion makes me think that he is one of the only pitchers in this year's free agent crop that I would give more than a 2 year deal to. He has flashes of brilliance, but also has trouble with command at times. Would definitely be a perfect 4 starter in Boston. I would seriously consider a 3 year deal for Jackson at around 10 million per year.
Jason Marquis- He suffered a broken shin bone this year after getting punished with a line drive but was finally getting more consistent results and his career average for innings pitched per season is 192. He is more affordable than the 2 listed above and could definitely be had for a 2 year deal, maybe even a 1 year deal at around 7-8 million per year.
Daisuke Matsuzaka should provide the Sox with some relief in the second half of the season as far as a starting pitcher. But this is where the Red Sox should take a chance on one or two individuals that have had a little bit of an injury history but could be the classic, low-risk high-reward signings. The following guys I don't expect to throw anywhere near 200 innings but coupled with Daisuke could make a great 4/5 starter:
Roy Oswalt- Once one of the most distinguished pitchers in baseball he has been hampered by a bad back that even had him contemplating retirement. But at 34, he still has a 94 mph fastball, a hammer curve and a plus changeup. If he would take a 1 year incentive-laden deal up to 12 million, he would provide instant leadership in the rotation and in the clubhouse.
Rich Harden- A deal for him fell through in the summer so you would have to believe that interest is still there especially now that they wouldn't have to give up prospects for him. He has some of the best pure stuff in baseball when he's on, but his inability to stay healthy the past half-decade puts him on this list. Incentive laden deal of up to 6 million would probably be more than enough to entice him to come to Boston.
Erik Bedard- While underwhelming in his first 2 month stint with Boston, he won't be needed to be a horse, just a body to be able to pitch into June. That pretty much seems like Bedard in a nutshell.
The rotation probably needed the most revamping out of anything in the Red Sox, and the Lackey news just may be the blessing in disguise.
Stay Tuned
Norton
No comments:
Post a Comment
Let us know what you think!