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Help Is On the Way by Jared Carrabis
Sox sign Brad Penny, Josh Bard


This past week, the Red Sox lost out on their opportunity to sign free agent slugger Mark Teixeira. Their offer to the switch-hitting Gold Glover was around the $175 million range but the offer was all for not when the New York Yankees swooped in and signed the first baseman/DH to an 8-year deal. Would Teixeira have bolstered the Sox offense? Without question. However, first base and the designated hitter positions are not a void that the Red Sox needed to fill.

With Teixeira off the free agent market, the Red Sox front office looked to address areas that actually needed to be addressed rather than improved. With the top three slots in the rotation a lock and Tim Wakefield likely to start the season at the back end of the rotation, the fourth starter was an issue that needed to be and now has been addressed.

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com personally spoke to free agent pitcher, Brad Penny, who con...READ MORE!

Published on December 28, 2008 See Comment(s)
How The Yanks Stole Christmas by Jared Carrabis
Teixeira agrees to terms with the New York Yankees


Can’t say I’m surprised. Disappointed is more like it. It has been well over a decade since the last time the New York Yankees have failed to make the postseason. They have made it loud and clear that these are the repercussions following a baseball free month of October in the Bronx. They have always been known for their cash-spending habits and also for taking prize free agents right out of the hands of the Boston Red Sox. Well, they have done it again.

ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that Mark Teixeira has taken the eight-year offer from the New York Yankees worth $180 million. His new contract will pay the first baseman $22.5 million annually but he still isn’t even the highest paid player in the Yankee infield. He’s not even the highest paid player to get a new contract from the Yankees in the past month. In fact, New York has dished out $423.5 million in just the past month alon...READ MORE!

Published on December 23, 2008 See Comment(s)
Smarts is the name of the game by Mike Ghika
Common sense still says Sox are the favorites for Teixeira


Did Theo and company travel to Arizona on Thanksgiving 2003 only to fail to convince Curt Schilling to come to town? Did they panic while ‘Red Sox Nation’ shivered and shook when Scott Boras held out until the final hour with the Daisuke Matzuaka deal back in December 2006? Note: The Sox won titles in each of the following seasons.

There is really only one way to describe the management of the Sox front office: Smarts. Ever since they closed Larry Lucchino’s mouth (seriously, when has he gotten in the news since Gorillagate?), Theo refuses to comment on any free agent discussions at any point of the winter until a deal is done. Why? No, it’s not to upset reporters; it is because it’s the smart thing to do. It utters a personal defiance of Epstein’s character – something that the Steinbrenner family should maybe take a look at.

And so you have it. The Red Sox announced that they were out of the bidding and would not be a factor in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. Nonetheless, th...READ MORE!

Published on December 19, 2008 See Comment(s)
Henry: Sox 'Are Not Going To Be A Factor' For Teixeira by Jared Carrabis
Sox owner says the Sox are out of Teixeira sweepstakes, or are they?


Some disheartening news pouring out of the meeting held in Dallas, Texas tonight where John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Theo Epstein met with Mark Teixeria’s agent, Scott Boras. Adam Kilgore of Boston.com is reporting what those who had Teixeira on their Christmas lists feared most. The owner of the Boston Red Sox, John Henry, has issued a statement in an email to several members of the media stating, "We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."

This is either the end of Boston’s run at the free agent slugger, or it very well could be a ploy to prove to Scott Boras that the Red Sox refuse to play his games and jump through his hoops. Analysts on ESPN said Thursday night to “not count the Red Sox out” of the Teixeira sweepstakes altogether.

There are a few ...READ MORE!

Published on December 19, 2008 See Comment(s)
The Brass Heads Down South by Jared Carrabis
John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Theo Epstein meet with Boras


Tonight could very well be the night we’ve been waiting for since the offseason began. Mike Lynch of Channel 5 Boston is reporting tonight that the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, John Henry, along with the President and CEO, Larry Lucchino and general manager, Theo Epstein have flown out to Dallas, Texas tonight to meet with Mark Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras. Both sides are expecting to close a deal for the free agent slugger late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

The Red Sox offered Teixeira an 8-year deal on Tuesday with the terms and cash amount unknown at the time but it has been said that the contract is worth $184 million that would dish out $23 million to Teixeira annually.

If the story breaks tonight that a deal has been made I will post something up as soon as the information becomes available to me.

-Jared Carrabis...READ MORE!

Published on December 18, 2008 See Comment(s)
Report: Sox Make Offer To Teixeira by Jared Carrabis
Boston reportedly makes "historic" offer to Teixeira


Since the Winter Meetings came to a close in Las Vegas last week, the Hot Stove has been rather cold. However, the ice began to thaw out on Tuesday when Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reported that the Red Sox have in fact made an offer to free agent, Mark Teixeira. The Herald goes on to say that the amount offered to Teixeira could cost the Sox a “historic” amount of money. What are we basing this historic salary off of? If Teixeira’s contract has what it takes to make Red Sox contractual history, it will have to exceed the contract given to Manny Ramirez in 2000 in which the outfielder was rewarded with an 8-year, $160 million deal.

As we all heard this past summer over and over again, Ramirez had $20 million options for 2009 and 2010 bringing the contract’s total value to a whopping 10-years, $200 million. Will Mark Teixeira see these kinds of dollar signs ...READ MORE!

Published on December 16, 2008 See Comment(s)
Fashion Statement? by Jared Carrabis
Sox unveil their new line of jerseys and headgear


Alright, so I just got back from Fenway, here’s the run down on what went down. Fans were invited to Game On to be the first to see the new jerseys that the Sox will don in the 2009 season. It was basically set up like a fashion show with a Red Sox twist. The designers of the new uniforms introduced their first model, manager Terry Francona, sporting the new road gray jerseys with “BOSTON” written in blue font, similar to the jerseys worn by the Red Sox in the 70’s and 80’s.

Next to come down the runway was soon to be Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Rice. Rice was one of many to have worn a jersey similar to this in his time spent here in Boston and was one of the first to be seen wearing the updated version of the vintage road jersey. Coming down the runway following Jim Ed was former Red Sox second baseman and NESN commentator, Jerry Remy who also was wearing the new Red Sox road jersey.

After those three were introduced, a lucky fan selected at random wore a new home alternate je...READ MORE!

Published on December 11, 2008 See Comment(s)
Winter Meetings, Day 4 by Jared Carrabis
Varitek, Lugo, Byrnes, Smoltz, Teixeira, and more!


Waking up every morning during the Winter Meetings for me is like waking up on a Christmas morning that I didn’t make a Christmas list prior to. You’re excited because you know that something is going to be there for you when you wake up, but you won’t know if that something is going to be something that you actually want or don’t want. Today’s rumor mill coming from Las Vegas was a mix of some presents that I liked, and some I’m going to ask if they kept the receipt.

Let’s kick this blog off with a topic that I was not pleased with and will be going back to the store immediately. It seems that we have conflicting stories on the Varitek free agency front. So it was yesterday that agent Scott Boras “inferred” that the Red Sox had made an offer to his client, Jason Varitek, that was reportedly a two-year deal. READ MORE!

Published on December 11, 2008 See Comment(s)
Winter Meetings, Day 3 by Jared Carrabis
Scared of Sabathia? Don't be. Mark Teixeira could be the next to go


With the chance to return home to pitch in his home state of California and remain in the National League where he could continue to hit tape measure home runs, CC Sabathia instead has officially ran towards the dollar signs in New York. The contract that brought Sabathia to the Bronx is a record deal worth $161 million over the next seven years. The contract will exceed the annual pay that Johan Santana receives from the New York Mets.

The Yankees initial offer of 6-years and $140 million dollars was bumped up to 7-years, $161 million but the seventh year wasn’t the kicker for the hefty lefty. In Sabathia’s new record setting contract, the big man has an opt-out clause after the first three years. After the 2011 season, Sabathia has the choice to opt-out of his contract leaving four years and $92 million on the table. If he feels that he is worth more than that amount at t...READ MORE!

Published on December 10, 2008 See Comment(s)
Winter Meetings, Day 2 by Jared Carrabis
Teixeira, Lowell, Lugo, Burnett and more!


The Day 1 buzz for Red Sox fans at the Winter Meetings was seemingly all about Jason Varitek. Day 2, not so much. On Tuesday it seems as if though the hot stove spotlight in Boston shined brightly on free agent prize, Mark Teixeira. Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports reported early Tuesday morning that he had surveyed several club officials and they believe that Mark Teixeira will be in a Red Sox uniform come Opening Day. Whether or not this becomes true remains to be seen as to the general public’s knowledge, no team has made an offer to the switch-hitting slugger.

An official from a team not in the Teixeira sweepstakes spoke to Edes and was quoted as saying, “I think he’ll sign with the Red Sox,” music to the ears of a majority of Red Sox Nation. The official went on to say, “They want him. They have a good relationship with (agent Scott) Boras, and in the end, they have the dollars to make...READ MORE!

Published on December 09, 2008 See Comment(s)
Winter Meetings, Day 1 by Jared Carrabis
Varitek, Sabathia, Teixeira, Shoppach, Baldelli and more!


As the Winter Meetings officially began on Monday, the Red Sox were making quite a few headlines. As we all had expected, Jason Varitek has declined Boston’s offer of salary arbitration. If Varitek had accepted the offer, his arbitration hearing likely would have resulted in just a one-year deal worth a figure close to his 2008 salary ($10.4 million). Scott Boras is simply doing his job by seeking a multi-year deal for his agent instead of settling for a one-year deal. The declining of salary arbitration from Boston officially cuts his ties to negotiating with the Red Sox exclusively. The Red Sox captain of four seasons is now free to negotiate with any team that he and his agent so choose to discuss a contract with.

So as we try and break down the future of Jason Varitek and the likelihood of a return to his baseball home of over a decade. His decision to decline the Red Sox offer of ...READ MORE!

Published on December 08, 2008 See Comment(s)
The Captain To Decline Arbitration by Jared Carrabis
Varitek reportedly will turn down Red Sox offer of arbitration


A report coming from SI.com has announced that catcher Jason Varitek will decline the Red Sox offer of arbitration to him before tonight’s midnight deadline. Of course this does not make much sense for Varitek to do, which leads me to believe that his agent, Scott Boras, may have had a hand in this decision if it ultimately becomes true. Varitek signed a 4-year, $40 million contract following the 2004 season and was owed $10.4 million in the final year of that contract in 2008.

Varitek is coming off a season in which he hit a career worst, .220, drove in the fewest RBI in a season that he played 100 games or more and posted a career worst OBP with .313. The Sox captain was expected to accept Boston’s arbitration offer and likely would have surpassed his 2008 salary even after the horrendous season he had at the plate. Now that there are reports claiming that he will reject the Red Sox offer of arbitration to him...READ MORE!

Published on December 07, 2008 See Comment(s)
Welcome To America by Jared Carrabis
Sox unveil their latest Japanese pitcher


It’s official, the ink is dry and Junichi Tazawa is the newest addition to the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have signed the 22-year-old Japanese right-hander to a three-year, $3.3 million contract. In signing his contract with Boston, Tazawa has earned a signing bonus of $1.8 million ($450,000 in 2009, $500,000 in 2010 and $550,000 in 2011).

The Red Sox held a press conference with the media at 3 PM on Thursday to announce his signing to be official. Through a translator, Tazawa proclaimed that one of the main reasons that he chose Boston over all other teams was that the Red Sox were the first team that scouted him back when he was lesser known. Those same scouts believe that the Japanese right-hander will start 2009 with AA Portland. The Red Sox organization are still unsure as to whether he will serve best in the Major Leagues as a starter or as a reliever....READ MORE!

Published on December 04, 2008 See Comment(s)
Payday For Pedey by Jared Carrabis
Pedroia rewarded with six-year extension


Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com has reported that the Boston Red Sox have officially signed second baseman Dustin Pedroia to a six-year extension worth what is said to be around $40.5 million. The deal includes a buyout for two years of free agency and it also includes a club option for the 2015 season.

The reward in the form of dollar signs has been confirmed by both Boston.com and ESPN.com This is a deal that has been in the works between both sides since mid-August and now that both sides are happy, so is Red Sox Nation.

The eventful offseason continues for Pedroia as we are all sure that he had plenty to be thankful for this past Thursday and with an early Christmas bonus, ...READ MORE!

Published on December 03, 2008 See Comment(s)





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