Well CC Is Off The Market

The Yankees and starting pitcher CC Sabathia came to an agreement on a contract extension yesterday night to that adds $30 million and one season to his existing contract, giving him a package that pays $122 million over the next five years.

Anyone who thought that CC was going anywhere other than New York this offseason was foolish. There is no way that the Yankees were going to let this kid go. People will say that CC is going to eventually break down because of his weight and because he throws a bazillion innings a year, but not going to happen. This guy is an old school pitcher who will be able to go up there and be effective for a majority of his contract. The good news for this means that the Yankees may not overspend on other SP out there, so the Sox may get a fair shot at whoever they desire (hopefully not CJ Wilson). I say trade our whole minor leagues to Seattle for Felix but whatever.

Indians Trade For Derek Lowe

"The Indians acquired Derek Lowe from the Braves, tweets John Kreger. The Braves will pay all but $5MM of Lowe's $15MM salary, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. Olney says the Braves will receive a second-line player in return, and ESPN's Keith Law tweets that it's an A-ball reliever (MLBTradeRumors)."

There were people who wanted the Sox to land this guy last year, and I'm glad they didn't. Derek Lowe is washed up, and I think he is going to get lit up now that he is back in the AL. Lowe, 38, posted a 5.05 ERA, and had an 8.75 ERA is September which was one of the reasons for the Braves collapse. I guess the Indians didn't give up much of anything, and paying $5 million for a starting pitcher is a pretty good deal.

Latest On Red Sox Manager Search

Cherington confirmed that the team will begin talking to candidates in the coming days, with Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum set to interview for the job this week. The Red Sox haven't named anyone else, but I am sure there will be more. It is really hard to me to really know who would be better. I don't know anything about these guys really, but I just want this over ASAP. It's not like I can sit here and tell you I knew a lot about Francona before they hired them, so I just have to trust Cherington knows what he is doing.

I am looking forward to the rest of the offseason, and see what the Red Sox do. Who will be their 4/5 starter? Who will be their RF? Is Papelbon/Ortiz coming back? Do we want them back? Can Youk play 3B everyday? If he can't does that mean Ortiz needs to go? All of these things interest me more then the search for the manager.

Tony La Russa Retires

I am not a Tony La Russa guy at all. In fact I despise the man, however, I think he did one of the better jobs I have ever seen this year and to go out with a World Series win is pretty good. It was his third championship. He also won the 1989 World Series with Oakland and the 2006 Series with St. Louis.

The four-time Manager of the Year won six pennants, three in the AL with the Athletics and three more in the NL with the Cardinals, and his 2,728 victories trail John McGraw by only 35 for second on the all-time managerial list.

Like I said, not a big fan, but this year he did a hell of a job.

Gronk's Porn Girl Is A Giver

"Former Marlin Dan Uggla and Terry Bross, his Gaylord Sports agent, are at the center of an alleged porn star scandal. Bibi Jones, a k a Britney Beth, told Boston radio station 98.5 The Sports Hub on Monday a Phoenix-based agent would "kind of use me to get baseball players to sign him as an agent." Maury Brown of the Business of Sports Network and Business Insider later reported that agent was Bross. Jones in an interview with Business Insider said she slept with at least 10 baseball players she met through Bross. During her radio interview with The Sports Hub, Jones named Uggla (Sun-Sentinel)."

She said that she loved doing it, so can they actually be in trouble for this. I mean is it prostitution if no money was exchanged? I mean maybe she is just a whore who loves baseball players, and this guy was like "Well, I know some baseball players", and BAM we get the greatest agent ever. This agent got Uggla a five-year, $62 million extension and his cock sucked, what more would you want?

Teams Taking Note Of CJ Wilson's Struggles

I know DP touched on this the other day, but I was reading reading an article earlier today, and couldn't help myself.

Wilson is winless in five postseason starts with a 6.08 ERA, that has lead many team to be very hesitant in how much they are going to offer him. There is no question he is still the #1 pitcher on the market (not including CC), but he really need to come out that last start and blow the doors off the Cardinals.

The Yankees are the obvious team that will have a lot of interest, and before the playoffs started it sounded as if they would be driving up the cost for Wilson. Now, Buster Olney explains why teams are starting to back off...

"I know of at least three teams that will tone down their interest in the lefthander in large part because of what they have seen this October -- the issues of fastball command. 'That doesn't get better as a pitcher gets older,' said one scout. 'It gets worse.'"

To add to that Wilson isn't as young as a lot of people think he is. He will be 31 next year (basically the same age as Beckett), and not that that's old or anything, but you don't want to get caught in a dog fight for this guy and shell out a 6 year deal.

Wilson will make his money, but I don't think the deal with be for as much or as long as we thought going into the postseason. If I was to venture a guess I would say he ends up stay with the Rangers.

Red Sox To Pickup Marco Scutaro's Option

There are reports going around today that the Red Sox are leaning toward picking up Marco Scutaro's $6 million option for 2012. I am a big Scutaro fan, but I wasn't so sure about picking up his option. I just felt there are probably better defensive SS out there, but the more I think about it this makes sense.

Iglesias is supposed to be the SS of the future, but even if he is able to come up at some point and take over Scutaro is a good guy to have on your bench. He can play 3rd, SS, and 2nd, and the Red Sox that flexibility. Plus, Iglesias in not a good hitter, so Scutaro is a great replacement for him.

On top of that Scutaro is coming off one of his best year. Has proven time and again that he is tough and will play through injury, and is one of maybe 3 guys that didn't choke in September this year. Plus, it's just a one year deal, so I think it's worth it, because Lowrie doesn't like to play baseball and I'm not sold on Iglesias being 100% ready.

Should We Feel Different About John Lackey?

As I posted yesterday John Lackey needs Tommy John. There is no doubt in my mind that he needed it all year, because Peter Gammons reported it back in June. The question now is, should be now feel different about him?

In a way we should. He battled through this all year, because the Red Sox had already lost Clay and Dice-K. They didn't have any minor league arms to come up, either due to injury or just being awful. Maybe this is the reason we hear every Red Sox player standing up for Lackey. So, for being a "tough guy" we have to give him credit.

Still, he was just such an asshole that I can't just get over it. Ok, let's forgive his on the field issues for a second. That doesn't excuse showing up the other players on the team any time he lets up a hit. It doesn't excuse the way he treats the media. It doesn't excuse his stupid face, and voice. It doesn't excuse leaving his wife while she fights cancer. It doesn't excuse using Fenway as an excuse for his troubles. It doesn't excuse drinking during his off days, and getting fat.

Red Sox fans hated John Lackey for more reasons then just his on the field performances. It's his actions, overall being an awful person, and then being a terrible pitcher.

DP doesn't think we will see Lackey in a Red Sox jersey again. I have to disagree. I fully expect to hear the 2013 John Lackey comeback story, because no one is going to take him till he proves he's healthy, and now the Red Sox (and Lackey) have their excuse of why he was so terrible.

I do agree with DP that this is a victory for the Red Sox tough. With him getting hurt it kicks in the option for Lackey, which adds a year, but he only makes a little over $400,000 that year. So, yes we have Lackey a little longer, but what it does is lower the Red Sox luxury tax. Taxes on team don't just look at what a guy makes over 1 year, but rather the average salary over the course of the deal. Basically, because he makes the league minimum now for the final year his contract his average salary of $15 million/year goes to $12 million/year. Not the biggest victory ever, but when coupled with the fact we don't have to deal with him next year I see it overall as the best thing that could've happened for the Red Sox.

Was Gammons Right About Tommy John For Lackey? (UPDATED - YES)

There was a report that came out somewhere around midseason from Peter Gammons that said the Red Sox were worried that Lackey was going to need Tommy John. The Red Sox and John Lackey both called this report bogus, yet now that the year is over we have already heard from Tek that there was some kind of injury with Lackey, and now we are getting word that John Lackey ‬recently visited Dr. Lewis Yocum in California to have his right elbow examined.

This is very interesting a bunch of different levels. If Lackey does need Tommy John it would mean that his 6th year with the Red Sox would be at the major league minimum ($414,000). Even Lackey acknowledged that the was a preexisting condition, which is why it affects his contract.

Beyond that this could be yet another black eye for the Red Sox medical staff. If he needed this surgery, and it had to do with why he was so bad, why wasn't he shutdown like Dice-K?

Before anyone get excited that the Lackey era could at the very least go away for awhile, think about this. If it was hard to trade this guy before, how hard is it going to be to deal him now that he might need Tommy John? Basically impossible.

If he does need surgery I think the Red Sox owe Peter Gammons an apology, because they made him sound like a crazy old man that just makes up stories.


***UPDATE***

Ben Cherington has confirmed that Lackey needs Tommy John surgery. That means Lackey will be out all of next season. Just when I thought there would be no way we would ever see Lackey in a Red Sox uniform again...

With Lackey out all of next season there is no chance the Sox will be able to deal him, so we can all sit back and look forward to the Lackey comeback story for 2013.

Well, this means a couple things...

1. Red Sox need to fill 2 out of the 5 spots in their rotation (Dice-K's and Lackey's).
2. Peter Gammons was right, and one of the best reporters around.
3. Lackey's last year of his contract will be for the minimum.
4. The Red Sox knew he needed this surgery and let him pitch anyways.
5. Lackey is a tough guy? Ugh, I still hate him and hopes he gets runs over by a bus.

Blue Jays Won't Let Red Sox Take John Farrell

Blue Jays president Paul Beeston and general manager Alex Anthopolous issued a joint statement Tuesday declaring the Jays have altered its policy regarding employees moving to another organization if it is considered a lateral move. The change would seem to be in response to the rumors regarding Toronto manager John Farrell potentially talking to the Red Sox about their vacant managerial opening.

"The Toronto Blue Jays have amended their policy and will not grant permission for lateral moves," the statement read (WEEI).

This is a complete 180 from what he had heard in the past. They would allow anyone to leave if they wanted to without any compensation. I am sure if the Sox gave up enough they could still get Ferrell, but I don't see it happening anymore.

Ben Cherington is being introduced today, so I wouldn't expect any kind of update on the compensation for Theo, or the search for a new manager until after that.

4 Rangers, 2 St. Louis

Both the Angels and Blue Jays are dumb for letting Mike Napoli go. Napoli's hit a go ahead 2 run double off of Marc Rzepczynski in the 8th inning to put the score at 4-2 and that's where it stayed.

Bob mentioned yesterday that CJ Wilson needed to step up big time, and he didn't. Sure he didn't let up more than 2 runs, but he constantly had the Rangers in danger. He went 5.1 innings let up 4 hits and walked 5. The Rangers induced a ton of double plays and played unbelievable defense. I wonder how much money his playoff performance has cost him. I bet the max contract he gets will be 85 million dollars.

Chris Carpeter pitched a gem, going 7 letting up 2 runs and scoring 4. Too bad they couldn't hold the lead.

George Bush is 1 win away from a World Series victory.

CJ Wilson Needs To Pull A Derek Holland

DP already talked about what Derek Holland did last night... dominate. He turned around his postseason performances in one night. Before last night he had an ERA of over 8 in the series before, and yet was able to come out and change this season, and maybe his entire career.

Now comes CJ Wilson. He needs to do the same. If the Rangers win this I guarantee they win this series, but it goes even beyond that for Wilson. Wilson is a free agent after this season and is in line to be the #1 free agent SP. Nothing will change that (unless CC bolts NY), but I do feel there are millions of dollars on the line tonight. Wilson has an ERA over 7 so far this playoffs. He has basically choked. Whether he is getting rocked, or walking a bunch of guys like he did last time out he just isn't acting like an ace. Yet, if he pulls a Holland tonight all of that goes away. Suddenly, he is a big time pitcher.

So tonight for Wilson, there is a chance to put his team within 1 win of a World Series, make millions more money next season, and define his career. Holland was up for it, are you Mr. Wilson?

MLB To Ban Drinking

According to multiple reports, the Red Sox are one of 12 major league teams that allow alcohol in the clubhouse. After this controversy, there might be none.

"I want people to understand the nature of, if we do happen to bar alcohol from the clubhouses, you have to understand the intent of this thing and what it looks like," Torre said. "We should be role models for the youngsters and how they behave. Some clubs have done it on their own. It's something we'll certainly look at (WEEI)."

Well, I guess there is going to be 11 teams that really hate the Red Sox if drinking gets banned. I am a little torn on the subject. One one hand if a guy wants to have a couple beers and he doesn't pitch for 5 more days, what's the harm. On the other hand this is a place of work and maybe it's not the best idea to be knocking back casuals. Yea, I think I'm going with that. You get paid millions of dollars to play baseball, not drinks beers.

I don't care about being a role model thing, but I do buy into the professionalism, and that they can really drink whenever they want do they really need to be doing at the ballpark. I don't think so, I think while they are at work they should be doing work. I know, I'm a little surprised I came down on this side of the fence too.

NY Post The New Dueling Couches?

Hahaha, "Gunman had more hits the A-Rod" is fucking priceless. All the oversensitive people are going crazy about this. I'll admit I am surprised any newspaper would actually put that as a tag line on a leading story, but it got a chuckle out of me so I say good job.

They must have been reading this site.

Red Sox Pitching Coach Runs Back To Oakland

We talked about it the other day that Curt Young was rumored to be heading back to Oakland, well today it's official. His time here was terrible. He really couldn't come back after all the stories that came out about the Red Sox starting pitching, and how bad they were, especially in September.

The good news for Young is that he gets to now work with a pitching staff that might be better then Boston's, and in a ballpark that is very pitcher friendly anyways. I said it before the Red Sox are better off bringing in a new staff behind whoever is made manager, because after all that has happened you have to do a changing of the guard.

How Much Does It Cost To Talk To An Asian? Roughly $50 Million

The posting fee to talk to Yu Darvish (this year's Dice-K) is roughly $50 million. Remember that's what you pay before you even start with whatever the contract you are going to sign him for costs.

Thank Christ, the Sox seem to have no interest. Right now the rumored teams are Rangers, Blue Jays, Nationals, Mariners and Royals. Out of that I think you can take out the Royals, they have enough young arms and really don't need to go spend crazy money.

Darvish has been rumored for years, he is just 25 years old and is supposed to be sick. Still, bringing these guys over hardly works out the way we all think. For every Nomo, there are a bunch if Irabu's.

Though if he grows back that awesome mustache from the picture above, I might be alright with the Sox getting involved.

David Ortiz Wants To Come Back

Ortiz says he would like to come back to the Red Sox, and I don't have a problem with it if he does. Ortiz knows the deal, he's a DH and the Red Sox are really the only ones that would give him the amount that would be in his ballpark, I don't think the Yankees would, so as much as he pretends not to need the Sox, he needs them as much as they need him.

I see two options with David, the 1st is re-sign him to a short term 2 year with a 3 year option for about 7 million a year or let him go and start Wil Middlebrooks. I know the Captain was pessimistic about assuming triple AAA players can transition to the minors, but from everything I'm reading he's ready to go. Why not roll the dice with him? If he works out fine, if not, fuck it trade for someone or get someone the following offseason.

I don't believe the Red Sox will be in the Albert Pujols/ Prince Fielder sweepstakes so we can let go of that dream.

But sure, if Ortiz wants to come back, why not, he has good production and seemed to do well batting after AGon.

Padres Talk Trading For Lackey

According to a San Diego source (San Diego Union-Tribune) the Padres have internally discussed the possibility of acquiring John Lackey from the Red Sox if Boston takes on most of the right-hander's salary. We can all dream that maybe we will get something in return (Wells, Rios, Soriano, ect), but in the end it will most likely that they will get nothing (or a players to be named later). The bottom line is that Lackey can't comeback. There is just no way he can be allowed to wear a Red Sox jersey again, because for one he sucks and two fans will riot.

I wonder if Lackey would be decent if he went to San Diego. NL always helps, and that is a pretty big field out there.

Sounds Like Red Sox Pitching Coach Heading Back To Oakland

MLB.com is reporting that the A's have made Red Sox pitching coach Curt Young their "top target" in their search for a pitching coach to replace the fired Ron Romanick. Young spent seven years as the A's pitching coach from 2004-10 before leaving Oakland to join the Red Sox for the 2011 season.

With all that happened with this starting rotation there is really no way the Red Sox can bring him back, and I expect he will go back to the A's. When the Red Sox hire a new manager I feel they are better off on having a entirely new staff as well. I clean slate is basically the best thing the Red Sox can do for themselves at this point, and this is just another domino.

Latest On Theo Epstein Talks (UPDATED)

Last night a Chicago based source (CSN Chicago) said there has been significant progress made on the Theo to Cubs talks. There are no reports on exactly what that means, but it seems as if there could be a deal announced before the end of the World Series (most likely during an off day).

As DP pointed out before the Red Sox are going hard after a pitching prospect named McNutt. He just got lit up his last night out, and you have to wonder if maybe the Cubs caved due to his latest struggle. We can't be sure about that, but it is interesting.

I just want this done, so the Red Sox can start to move on. Boston is not going to be able to move on at all from all this beer and chicken crap until they have something else to report. Trading Theo is step 1, hiring a new manager is step 2, trading Lackey is step 3 (more on that later), and reworking the rest of the roster is step 4. All of that hinges on the Red Sox being able to move on from Theo, and today it sounds like we are very close to doing that.

***UPDATE***

"The Red Sox and Cubs are "finalizing" the deal, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. They're expected to announce the deal tomorrow. It which would not include Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt, Matt Szczur or cash. MLB has told the Cubs they can have a news conference tomorrow, a World Series travel day, according to Levine (MLBTRADERUMORS)."

I wonder what the hell the Sox are going to get out of this deal then. Guess we will kind out tomorrow.