Tim Wakefield has been the elder statesman on the Red Sox for years now, and with the knuckler only 18 wins shy of the Red Sox career win record, the Boston brass were extremely classy by giving him a 2 year deal. Wake was a bit weary at first when it wasn't as much guaranteed money, but when you factor in security (years) it is a phenomenal deal and I love that they kept him so that he could obtain that goal. The one thing many people are asking, however, is why did they cut his pay? I will answer this in two ways. If he stays healthy he actually has the incentives to make MORE over the next 2 years at 10 million max, rather than the 4 mil base with no other increase factors. The other reason is that they are trying to save money. Now most of you are probably thinking, "This kid knows nothing, the cash cow that is the Red Sox do NOT need to save money." That's true, and it isn't. With the last few player negotiations that they have lost out on (Mark Teixeira, most notably) the deciding factors has been just a few extra million over the duration of the contract so if we can save a few dollars here (Wakefield) and there (declining Tek and Gonzo's option) then we have the means to put those extra dollars into the contracts of the winter thus far.
With that in mind, I'm starting to believe myself even more that the Red Sox are in for a LARGE splash on the Free Agent market. It makes sense to me that they are freeing up MORE money in order for them to be able to have to take on at least one massive contract without going over the luxury tax cap.
While it may seem like a given that Jason Varitek picks up his player option, am I the only one that thinks that he doesn't want the backup role for a whole season? Unlike players like Brad Ausmus and Jason Kendall he has essentially been with one team his entire career, and been the cornerstone of his position for a decade. Jason Varitek is a prideful man and he isn't stupid. He realizes that his skill set is diminished, and that it won't get better with one more year under his belt. I'm very much on the fence about his return to the Sox as a bench player, and I could see him calling it quits. As my chess instructor used to say, as he dismantled EVERY ONE of my attack pieces with a measly pawn with an unsuspecting en passant; " A Gentleman Would Retire." (Words that still haunt my dreams, mostly because he said it in a James Earl Jones voice.)
As stated in yesterday's post, I said that it would take considerably less to obtain Roy Halladay than it would have at the 2009 trade deadline and now my pipe dreams are starting to come to fruition when Toronto has went on record saying that, "they want 2 draft picks, so top young talent in ANY trade is a must." Halladay also made it a point to say that the Red Sox are one of the teams that he would approve a trade to. This is not the first time he said this and I may even make the inference that he wants to play for Boston. Anyone for a 'Doc' on the Sox, I for one approve.
Sort of like when you say OJ, the first thing you think of is murder, when you mention the Red Sox you almost have to mention what the Yankees front office is doing. From everything that I've seen, they are leaning towards keeping Damon and Matsui. While the Yankees have a habit of retaining ("rewarding" as Damon would call it) with contracts after a job well done, I really think this would be a step back from the business model (think Boston) that they have tried to emulate over the last few years. Damon and Matsui were fantastic Yankees, but you need to fish or cut bait, it's not like its Derek Jeter. Wait who am I kidding? Sign all the DH's you can find and then stick them in the outfield. It has also come to my attention that they are "intrigued" by John Lackey. I knew that they would covet him all along, and his potential acquisition could weigh VERY heavily on the Red Sox landing a legit Ace this offseason so that they could match their Front 3 with New York's.
Stay Tuned
Ryan
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