Cherington effective despite distractions by Mike Ghika
First-year GM has performed admirably amidst manager debacle and financial restrictions


New Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington’s first bit of business in his new role with the team was an important one – hiring a new manager.

But it was a managerial process like no other. After receiving public backing from ownership to carry out the interview process,Cherington met with a number of low-key candidates, many of which were seeking their first managerial job.

Then came the announcement of a second interview for former Sox third base coach Dale Sveum, whose only tenure as manager came with an interim tag during the Milwaukee Brewers’ playoff run in 2008. The meeting took place in Milwaukee – the site of the GM Meetings – with Cherington, Sveum, John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner all present.

With Cherington’s sights clearly set on Sveum, an agreement seemed imminent when the Sox brass announced they would seek an individual with more managerial experience. In other words, Sox ownership put down the gavel, and overruled was the verdict on Cherington’s decision.

And with that, Cherington’s puppet-like offseason began after weeks of wasting time and resources on the managerial search.

While the eventual hiring of Bobby Valentine as manager better fits the organization’s branding and image philosophy, Sox ownership continued to pump out propaganda through the media when in reality, the team did not identify what it wanted in the first place – a superstar manager. That created another mess following the team’s September collapse and the exits of Terry Francona and Theo Epstein in October, as the team took 60 days to make a hire.

Pair that with the fact that ownership has given Cherington the red light on free agent spending as to not exceed the luxury threshold any further. While many fans feel slighted by that fact given the circumstances of a tumultuous last few months, it falls in line with ownership’s long withstanding viewpoint to not grossly overspend beyond the payroll limit, which would call for tens of millions in additional tax dollars spent.

But despite the ongoing craziness this offseason, Cherington has remained professional, never once publicly questioning his bosses. He has been a loyal soldier through and through, even despite criticism from fans that say he has been asleep at the wheel this offseason.

He stood pat as Jonathan Papelbon signed a record deal for a closer with the Philadelphia Phillies, he refused to part with four prospects in a possible trade for lefthander Gio Gonzalez, and he had no interest in giving multi-year deals to free agent outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Carlos Beltran. Nor was he in on starter Mark Buehrle or closer Heath Bell, both of whom would have addressed needs and been logical fits.

But as is the norm in a sports crazed city like Boston, all the questioning seems to be over the moves he has not made. Meanwhile, there is little talk over the deals of value that he has pulled off, as Cherington recently earned a pair of victories in separate deals for relievers Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey.

“The deals were in the hands of Ben and his baseball department,” said Valentine, “and I think they’ve done a heck of a job of being patient, of being diligent, knowing what they want and going after it.”

Bailey, the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year, battled a forearm injury last season but has saved 75 games over his first three seasons. He had a 3.24 ERA in 42 appearances last year after entering the season with a 1.70 ERA for his career. As for Melancon, he converted 20 of 25 opportunities in 2011 and had 2.78 ERA while striking out 66 in 74.1 innings.

While it is no secret that Bailey had been on the Sox radar for some time now, it was a somewhat of a surprise to see the Houston Astros part with Melancon. The right-hander will be only 27 next season and is under contractual control for four more years, which means he won’t see a pay raise through arbitration until 2013 (he will make a mere $421,000 next season). As for Bailey, he hits arbitration for the first time in 2012 and will be under contract with the team for the next three seasons.

And acquiring the pair of righty relievers to fortify the bullpen came at little to no cost, as Cherington sent away prospects that had reached the end of the line with the organization. With little left to prove in the minors and no room for them on the major league club, Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland were shuttled out in the Melancon trade while Josh Reddick and two prospects went to the Oakland Athletics for Bailey.

This isn’t a new craft of the Red Sox baseball ops department, which has also traded the likes of Yamaico Navarro, Dustin Richardson, George Kottaras, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen, David Pauley, David Murphy and Kason Gabbard when the time came.

Lowrie, the oft-injured 27-year-old, was a utility man in Boston in need of a change of scenery. The right-hander Weiland, only 24, was less than stellar when called upon due to injury in 2011 and is not expected to amount to much more than a No. 5 starter on a bad team or a reliever at best at the MLB level.

As for Reddick, the 24-year-old put up good numbers in 2011, hitting .280 in 254 at-bats with a .457 slugging percentage (he had seven home runs, three triples, and 18 doubles). But ultimately, the Sox consider rehabbing outfielder Ryan Kalish the much better prospect and addressed thebackend of the bullpen as a greater area of need.

For those worried about who will play right field in 2012, is it really a major concern over who hits eighth in a lineup that is going toboast a top-3 lineup in the game either way? Adding arms to the bullpen to make up for the losses of Papelbon and Daniel Bard had to be the team’s top priority, as Bailey and Melancon now join Alfredo Aceves, Bobby Jenks, Franklin Morales, Matt Albers and Andrew Miller in the relief core.

Also coming to Boston in the Bailey deal was left-handed hitting outfielder Ryan Sweeney, a former second-round pick who will fit into the equation in right field in 2012. While he may not do anything great, hedoes do many things well and is a perfect option as a fourth outfielder on this team. The Sox will also monitor Kalish, who hopes to return in May/June, and will be in on low cost, free agent outfielders like Ryan Ludwick and Cody Ross.

Cherington’s other large move of the offseason was a rather easy one: pay the one-year premium through arbitration on 36-year-old DavidOrtiz instead of making a two-year commitment.

But do not underwhelm the signing of infielder Nick Punto, a nine-year veteran, who was brought in on a two-year deal for $3 million. Punto plays three infield positions, can play the outfield in a pinch, and is well known as a force in the clubhouse. On a team with a $180 million payroll, sometimes it’s the little guys who make a world of difference.

In grading Cherington’s performance, we are forced to scrape through the mud before seeing the cleanliness in his work this winter. The first-year GM has done something with nothing after his predecessor in Epstein did nothing with everything from a financial standpoint, committing nearly $225 million to Carl Crawford and John Lackey in recent years.

What is even more impressive is the handling of it all by the 37-year-old New Hampshire native.

Published on January 02, 2012

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