Red Sox, Ortiz, agree to two year deal

The Red Sox and David Ortiz have agreed to a two year contract worth $26 million that will keep the first baseman/designated hitter in Boston through the 2014 season. Bonus incentives can boost the total value of the deal to $30 million if certain requirements are met.

Ortiz hit .318 with 23 home runs and 60 RBI in 383 plate appearances for Boston in 2012. In ten seasons with the Red Sox, Ortiz has a combined .290 batting average, and has netted himself eight All-Star selections.

Analysis: This is a good deal for the Red Sox. Now that they have this payroll flexibility, they can afford to overpay for some players. I don't know if Ortiz is worth $13 million per season at this point in his career, but keeping him around his really important because he is a cornerstone player on that team. I just hope that he can stay healthy enough to live up to his contract.

Astros claim Lin off of waivers

The Astros have claimed outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin off of waivers from the Red Sox. Boston designated Lin for assignment last week.

Lin made his MLB debut in 2012, but spent most of the season in Triple-A, hitting .247 in 445 plate appearances.

Analysis: Ok well this makes sense I suppose. Lin has a decent amount of upside and is pretty much a major league ready prospect. Is he going to be great and live up to his potential? I don't know. All I know is that the Astros are rebuilding and Lin will certainly get a chance to prove himself there.

Red Sox hire John Farrell

The Red Sox have announced that they have hired John Farrell as their new manager, and his contract with be a three year deal that will keep him in Boston through the 2015 season. As compensation to the Blue Jays, the Red Sox have traded shortstop Mike Aviles to Toronto in exchange for pitcher David Carpenter.

The Red Sox confirmed in a press release that they received permission from the Blue Jays to talk directly to Farrell. Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said that Farrell talked to him a week after the season ended and said that if the opportunity to manage in Boston came up, he wanted to pursue it, calling it his dream job.

"I'm extremely excited to be returning to the Red Sox and to Boston," said Farrell, who was previously Boston's pitching coach, "I love this organization. It's a great franchise in a special city and region, with great fans, and we want nothing more than to reward their faith in us."

As for Aviles, he saw a reduced role in 2012 due to the emergence of top prospect Jose Iglesias. He hit .250 with 13 homers during the 2012 season, but is a career .277 hitter during five big league seasons with the Royals and Red Sox. Aviles will be arbitration eligible this winter and is set to become a free agent after the 2014 season.

Carpenter was previously traded to Toronto in the ten-player deal this summer that involved Brandon Lyon and J.A. Happ. He appeared in 33 games with Houston and Toronto in 2012, posting an 8.07 ERA. He also posted a 3.08 ERA in 23 Triple-A appearances as well.

Analysis: Wow this is a lot to take it. Farrell's name has been linked to the Red Sox over the past few weeks, so it isn't surprising that they hired him. Three years is quite a commitment, so they obviously liked what he did when he was their pitching coach a few years ago. As for the Blue Jays, I guess getting something out of Farrell is good, considering that his contract was set to expire after the 2013 season. Aviles is a nice player but a backup at best. Perhaps this means that Yunel Escobar could be traded and Aviles could slide in as the everyday shortstop, but it is too early to speculate on that. Carpenter is a decent relief pitcher, but had a rough 2012 season in the majors probably due to the tough hitters in the American League. I like the addition though, because he has some upside and Boston is looking to rebuild their bullpen.

Red Sox designate Lin for assignment

The Red Sox have designated outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin for assignment to create roster space for Sandy Rosario, who was recently claimed off of waivers from the Marlins.

Lin has hit a combined .256 over 2,750 career minor league plate appearances. He has named the MVP of the futures game in 2008 when he hit a two-run homer off of Ryan Mattheus.

Analysis: The hype is definitely there, but the numbers aren't. Lin really hasn't lived up to expectations but some team may take a flier on him considering he's only 24 years old. 

Red Sox claim Sandy Rosario

The Red Sox have claimed pitcher Sandy Rosario off of waivers from the Marlins.

Rosario appeared in four games with the Marlins in 2012, but spent most of the year in the minor leagues, posting a combined 1.99 ERA across Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.

Analysis: Rosario's major league stats are horrible so don't look at them. He had a very good year in 2012, and seems to have a decent arsenal of pitches. The Red Sox are looking to rebuild their bullpen, and Rosario should definitely consider him in Spring Training next season.

Quiroz elects free agency

The Red Sox announced that catcher Guillermo Quiroz has cleared waivers and will elect free agency instead of accepting his outright assignment to the minor leagues. Boston designated Quiroz for assignment earlier in the month.

Quiroz spent most of the season with the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, hitting .278 with 15 homers in 347 plate appearances.

Analysis: Quiroz is really a backup catcher at best, but does have some pop to hit bat. However, this move won't seriously affect the Red Sox, because they have Lavarnway and Saltalamacchia.

Red Sox officially acquire De La Rosa, Sands, from Dodgers

The Red Sox have officially acquired pitcher Rubby De La Rosa (pictured) and outfielder Jerry Sands from the Dodgers to complete the blockbuster deal with the Dodgers from earlier on in the season. In a corresponding move, catcher Guillermo Quiroz was designated for assignment.

De La Rosa and Sands were already known as the players to be named later in the trade, but the two sides had to wait until the end of the season to make it official. The other two prospects in the trade, pitcher Allen Webster and infielder Ivan De Jesus already joined the Red Sox organization.

De La Rosa has missed most of the 2012 season following Tommy John surgery. but looked very good in the 2011 season, posting a 3.71 ERA in ten starts and three relief outings. Sands hit .244 with four homers in 251 plate appearances for Los Angeles over the last two seasons.

Quiroz spent most of the season in Seattle's Triple-A affiliate, where he hit .278 in 89 games.

Analysis: Well we already knew that these two prospects were going to the Red Sox, but they had to wait until the season was over to officially announce them as the players to be named later, literally. Both have some upside and I would imagine that they will be in the big leagues next year. As for Quiroz, he'll clear waivers because he honestly isn't anything special. His minor league numbers aren't terrible but no one is going to claim anyone on waivers now.

Red Sox fire Bobby Valentine

This picture sums up the entire 2012 season for Boston.

The Red Sox have officially fired manager Bobby Valentine. GM Ben Cherington will immediately search for a replacement.

"This year's win-loss record reflects a season of agony," said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino in a press release. "It begs for changes, some of which have already transpired. More will come. We are determined to fix that which is broken and return the Red Sox to the level of success we have experienced over the past decade."

Valentine has had an interesting season to say the least, getting in trouble with his players, especially Kevin Youkilis. He led his squad to a 69-93 record this year, and is under contract through next season for $2.5 million, and the team will still have to pay him that money.

Analysis: We ALL had to see this one coming. The Red Sox have had a horrible season, and when a team plays poorly they look directly at their manager for answers. I can't tell you that all of this was Valentine's fault, but his outspoken attitude certainly didn't help at all. Anyway look for Valentine to go back to ESPN or something like that. I definitely can't see him getting another managerial job. As for the Red Sox, I doubt that they will be willing to bring back Terry Francona, so it will be interesting to see who they decide to make their manager.

Red Sox acquire Quiroz

The Red Sox have acquired catcher Guillermo Quiroz from the Mariners in exchange for cash considerations. Quiroz last appeared in the majors with the 2010 Mariners.

Quiroz hit .278 in 347 plate appearances in Triple-A this season. He signed as a free agent last December.

Analysis: Quiroz is pretty much a third-string catcher on an MLB team, at best. He does have some pop to his bat, but the Red Sox have better options.

Dice-K placed on waivers

The Red Sox have placed veteran Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on revocable waivers. One MLB GM told ESPN's Buster Olney that Matsuzaka, as well as Mark Buehrle of the Marlins, may be available for little return.

Matsuzaka will earn $10 million this season, the final year of his infamous six-year, $52 million deal he signed with Boston. In six starts this year, he has posted a 5.10 ERA with 7.8 K/9. He started against Kansas City last night, allowing one unearned run in seven innings.

The Red Sox have been aggressive in placing their players on waivers this summer. If Masuzaka clears waivers, Boston will be able to work out a trade with any team just like they could before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline. 

Analysis: Look for Dice-K to get claimed by another team. Matsuzaka has post-season experience but has trouble staying healthy. With $2 million remaining on his contract, I'm sure a team will take a chance on him. As for the Red Sox, this is the definition of selling high. They have put him on waivers fresh off a solid start against the Royals, thus making his value pretty high at the moment. Getting younger is the priority for Boston, and I'm happy to see GM Ben Cherington making a bunch of moves. I still don't have much faith in Dice-K, but he still provides a decent veteran precense to a contending team for a relatively cheap price. Some team's that could claim them could be, the Dodgers, Giants, or the Angels.

Aceves suspended 3 games following disagreement with Valentine

The Red Sox have had a horrible season. They have traded away many of their star players, and their clubhouse has gotten the reputation as one of the worst, if not the worst, in the game. Today, Boston announced that they suspended their closer Alfredo Aceves after an incident where he disagreed with Manager Bobby Valentine.

Apparently Aceves wanted to come in the game to close out the game but Valentine ultimately gave Andrew Bailey the call. Aceves was visibly upset in the clubhouse, and slammed the door on his way out of Bobby Valentine's office.

Red Sox, Dodgers, complete massive nine-player deal

The Red Sox and Dodgers have completed a nine-player trade that will sent Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto to the Dodgers in exchange for James Loney, and four prospects. The four prospects are Allen Webster, Ivan De Jesus, Jerry Sands, and Rubby De La Rosa. Boston will pay just $12 million of the over $270 million owed to Beckett, Crawford, Gonzalez and Punto.

Adding these four players will definitely be a big financial commitment by the Dodgers:

• Gonzalez will earn $21 million per season through 2016, and will earn $21.5 million in 2017 and 2018. 
• Beckett is set to earn $15.75 million per season through 2014. 
• Crawford will earn $20 million in 2013, $20.25 million in 2014, $20.5 million in 2015, $20.75 million in 2016, and $21 million in 2017. 
• Punto will earn $1.5 per season through 2013. 

The Dodgers have made several deals over the last few months, and have added $300 million in future payroll obligations in the process. The club now has a $193.75 million payroll for 2013. The Red Sox, on the other hand, will have a payroll of $45.6 million for the 2013 season.

Both Beckett (10-and-5 rights) and Crawford (no-trade clause) had to approve the deal. Los Angeles claimed both Gonzalez and Beckett off of waivers yesterday, and Punto and Crawford cleared waivers last month, making them eligible to be in the deal. 

Gonzalez has hit .300 with 15 homers this season. He is actually having a down year, considering that he usually hits 30+ homers annually. Dodgers' first basemen have hit just .244 this year, so Gonzalez is a huge upgrade. 

Beckett has posted a 5.23 ERA in 21 starts with Boston this year. He has battled several thumb and back issues. Dodger Stadium is generally considered as a pitcher-friendly park, so Beckett should find a way to have some success there. Beckett also has post-season experience, and that gives Los Angeles a player with a proven track record down the stretch. 

Crawford had Tommy John surgery two days ago and will miss the remainder of the season. He hit .260 with 14 homers and 23 steals in 161 career games with Boston. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training next year, meaning that recently-acquired outfielder Shane Victorino will likely leave via free agency this fall.

The Dodgers recently lost Jerry Hairston Jr. for the remainder of the season, and he served as a super utility man while he was in Los Angeles. Punto will take his spot on the roster, and provide much needed depth for the infield. He has hit just .200 with 5 stolen bases in 148 plate appearances for Boston this year.

Loney has spent his entire career with the Dodgers, and has hit just .254 with four homers in 359 plate appearances this season. He will be a free agent in six weeks, so he'll probably be a temporary stopgap first baseman for Boston. 

Webster posted a 3.55 ERA in 121 1/3 innings in Double-A this season. De Jesus, has been a top prospect for the Dodgers for several years, and has been up and down between Triple-A and Double-A over the last few years. He has hit .295 in 243 plate appearances in Triple-A this year as shortstop. Sands has had a few cups of coffee with the Dodgers over the last few years. He has hit .291 in nearly 900 career Triple-A plate appearances. De La Rosa just returned from Tommy John surgery this year, and posted a 3.71 ERA in ten starts and three relief appearances for L.A. this season. 

Analysis: Wow. That's really all I have to say. This is easily one of the biggest trades of this decade, and will seriously impact both teams. Lets start with the players going to the Dodgers. So, obviously Gonzalez is a huge upgrade over Loney, but the problem is that he has a gigantic contract that the Dodgers are going to have to deal with. I'm sure he'll play well with Los Angeles. As for Beckett, I'm surprised that they are taking on his big contract. Beckett is washed up and has an attitude problem. However, like I mentioned earlier, he has post-season experience, so that is appealing to the Dodgers. Next is Crawford, and I'm assuming that the Dodgers didn't want him, but Boston kind of threw him in to facilitate a deal. He is owed a lot of money over the next 5 years or so, and I doubt that he will return to the player he once was with the Rays. Also, Punto is a nice throw in because he will fill in the role that Hairston Jr. left once he went down for season with a hip injury. I even said that Los Angeles was going to go after a utility player. Now, for the players going to Boston, I'll start with James Loney. Loney isn't your typical first baseman, because he is a contact hitter and only hits about 10 homers per season. He'll just serve as a stopgap, and I'm sure he'll get a multiyear deal from someone in the off-season, despite his poor performance. Who knows, he could return to the Dodgers and serve as the club's backup first baseman, but that is unlikely. Next is Allen Webster, who is a nice prospect to have. He isn't anything overly special, but he might serve as a serviceable starter in the big leagues in the next few years. I don't understand why Boston wants De Jesus, considering that they already have prospect Jose Inglesias set as their shortstop of the future. They could move De Jesus to second base, then they would have to trade their All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Jerry Sands seems like a decent outfielder, and he has some pop to his bat. He should be yet another outfielder that should get an everyday gig with Boston next season. Finally, Rubby De La Rosa seems like he is actually an above-average prospect, throwing in the mid-high 90's and still very young (23 years old.) Overall, good trade for both sides but even better deal for the Red Sox, who free up about $260 million in future payroll obligations. 

Fantasy talk: Josh Beckett status report

Following the collapse of the Red Sox last season, there were several reports that indicated that pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey had trouble staying focused on baseball. Supposedly they were playing video games, drinking beer, and eating fried chicken in the team's clubhouse. This angered many baseball fans, and rightfully so. Some could say that this began the downfall of Josh Beckett. 

Beckett was drafted in the first round, 2nd overall, by the Marlins in the 1999 draft. He put up unbelievable numbers in the minors, and got the call to the big leagues in 2001. That season he had a brief cup of coffee with Florida, and pitched well in his four starts down the stretch. Before the 2002 season, Baseball America ranked him as the #1 prospect in baseball. At the time, the future of the Marlins looked great. Beckett was set to be a cornerstone player along with Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. That didn't quite go as well as Florida's front office imagined. After the 2007 season, Willis and Cabrera was shipped to Detroit, and the Marlins' future was in doubt. Two years prior to that, Beckett was coming off of 3 injury prone seasons and Florida decided to package him in the blockbuster deal. They traded him to Boston, and Florida ultimately got Hanley Ramirez in return. In his first few years in Boston, Beckett would have several inconsistent starts and would drive us fantasy owners crazy. Last season, he posted very nice numbers. His ERA was 2.89 and he struck out 175 hitters while winning 13 games. 

Coming into this season, I doubt that many fantasy baseball players trusted Beckett, despite his great performance in 2011. Everyone knows that he is one of the most inconsistent players in the MLB, so I would imagine that he didn't get drafted very early. Today is August 20, and Beckett has a 5.23 ERA in 21 starts. He hasn't been able to stay healthy, and his work ethic has been questioned several times. Boston has tried to trade him, and may find a taker in the next few days or weeks. 

Fantasy-wise, Beckett has been one big headache. He is a clubhouse cancer and a fantasy team killer. I wouldn't recommend you getting him, even if you are buying him low. There is no telling on when he might have a good start, sort of like James Shields and Francisco Liriano. The only way I see Beckett putting up consistent numbers would be if you have him pitch in PETCO Park, which is notorious for having great pitching duels due to its pitcher-friendly confines. Obviously a trade to San Diego is unlikely, so in other words, do yourself a favor and don't even consider this guy. 

Carl Crawford to have surgery, out for rest of season

The Red Sox have announced that outfielder Carl Crawford has requested to get season-ending Tommy John surgery to fix a torn UCL in his throwing arm. Crawford has been playing with the injury for the entire season, and will undergo the operation tomorrow.

Crawford will most likely return to the Red Sox nine months from now, and GM Ben Cherington seems okay with this decision.

"We'll focus the decision more on what's best for Carl," Cherington said. "What gives him the best chance to be the player that we know he can be for the longest period of time." 

Crawford signed a $142 million deal with Boston two off-seasons ago, and has been a major disappointment since. He finished this season with a .282 batting average, along with 3 homers and 5 stolen bases in 31 games.

Analysis: Tough break for Crawford and I was really hoping that he would have a nice comeback season in 2012. 2012, however, has been a mess for the guy and it's a shame that he is going to have to miss part of next season as well. Hopefully he comes back as the old Carl Crawford because if he doesn't, I can certainly see him being traded.

Red Sox release Mark Prior

The Red Sox have released pitcher Mark Prior. The move creates roster space for the newly-acquired relief pitcher Pedro Beato.

Prior signed a minor league deal with Boston in May as he looked to turn his career around, yet again. While in Triple-A this season, he has posted a 3.96 ERA with 13.7 K/9 and 8.3 BB/9 in 25 innings of work. Prior is a former first round pick by the Cubs, and was very successful in the early stages of his career. He hasn't seen time in the Majors since 2006 due to several shoulder problems.

Analysis: Man, I feel bad for Mark Prior. The guy used to be one of the best pitchers in baseball, and BAM!, his career just went down the toilet. Here I looked at his Triple-A stats and thought, Hey, 13.7 K/9 that's really good. But then I saw the 8.3 walks per nine innings, which is horrific. Anyway, I expect that Prior will get a minor league deal from a club out there, assuming he still wants to play. I also wouldn't be surprised if he called it quits.

Red Sox acquire Beato to complete Shoppach deal

The Red Sox have completed the Kelly Shoppach deal by acquiring relief pitcher Pedro Beato from the Mets. The Mets claimed Shoppach off of waivers from Boston a couple of days ago.

Beato has posted a 4.67 ERA in 71 1/3 relief innings for New York over the last two seasons. The Mets originally acquired him as a Rule 5 draft pick from the Orioles last year, and they managed to keep him all summer. Beato has posted a 4.14 ERA in 37 Triple-A innings this season, and missed quite a bit of playing time with a shoulder injury.

Mets acquire Shoppach from Red Sox

The Mets have acquired veteran catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Red Sox on a waiver claim in exchange for a player to be named later.

Shoppach has hit .250 in 158 plate appearances with the Red Sox this season, and is a career .227 hitter. He is generally tougher on lefties, hitting .270 in his career against them. He is usually used in platoon situations. He will earn $1.35 million this season, and will be a free agent at season's end.

Analysis: As a Met fan, I really like this deal. I am excited that GM Sandy Alderson has finally made a move. Now, I realize that Shoppach isn't an All-Star by any means, but he is definitely an upgrade over Mike Nickeas and Rob Johnson. He'll probably platoon with Josh Thole, and will be a free agent at the end of the season. Hopefully the Mets keep him, but if they don't, it's not a big deal because all we gave up for him was a PTBNL.

Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky passes away at 92 years old

Johnny Pesky was been associated with the Red Sox for about six decades, serving as the team's player, manager, broadcaster, coach and executive. On Monday afternoon, he passed away at the age of 92 years old.

Pesky was a lifetime .307 hitter, and his primary position was shortstop. He also played third base and second base. In 2008, his number, 6, was retired by the Red Sox. Pesky never made the Hall of Fame, due to the fact that he stopped playing for three years to serve in World War II.

Analysis: I never really knew that much about Pesky, and his playing career. However, it really seems like he was an icon in the city of Boston and in the baseball world in general. Many people say that he had such passion for the game and always had a positive outlook on things. Its a shame that he never got a Hall of Fame plaque, because he served in World War II at the time. In my opinion, it feels like Pesky was overshadowed by other Red Sox icons like Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams. Pesky's presence will certainly be missed in Boston, and baseball needs more players/personnel like him. I know that sounds really cliche but it's true.

Middlebrooks has broken wrist, possibly out for rest of season

Will Middlebrooks has been placed on the 15 day disabled list by the Red Sox with a broken right wrist, and will most likely be out for the rest of the season. Middlebrooks got hit on the right wrist by a fastball by Indians relief pitcher Esmil Rogers Friday night.

Middlebrooks has been very good this year, hitting .288 with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 75 games.

Red Sox sign Scott Podsednik

The Red Sox have signed outfielder Scott Podsednik to a Major League deal. Boston traded him to Arizona in the Craig Breslow deal a couple weeks ago, but Arizona released him a couple days later.

Podsednik has hit .387 in 70 plate appearances this season, and hit .242 in Triple-A. He missed more than two weeks with a groin strain earlier this season.