Get the Chopping Block

No coach/manager/GM likes to make cuts but when players are forcing their employer's hands the Boston Red Sox were made to cut a 15 year player in the league. Mike Cameron was designated for assignment and he will not be back with the Boston, yet the Sox are still paying out 3+ million throughout the rest of the year. This signing could go down as the all-around worst signing of the Theo regime. I would put this above Lackey and JD Drew, and right on par with Julio Lugo and Edgar Renteria.

Let's think about everything that went into this signing. A bunch of stat head's told Theo that Cameron's UZR was better than Jacoby Ellsbury's so they tried to justify shifting 'Ells' to left field, and essentially nullifying the one true talent he was blessed with, speed. So you have a 37-year-old (at the time of signing) that just got let go by the Brewers, patrolling one of the largest outfields in baseball, and you've moved the younger 26-year old player to left. Because of this move Jacoby Ellsbury met Adrian Beltre and you lost your leadoff hitter for the entire year. Cameron got injured because, here's a shocker, he's 37 friggin years old, so we lost 2/3 of the starting outfield and were scrambling to play catch up before the beginning of May. I'm all for occasionally throwing shit up against the wall hoping it sticks, but you signed a 37 year old that hadn't produced like he used to in 4 years, for not one but 2 years. Oh, not only 2 years but at 7 million per year. Let's put that into perspective, that's more than Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester have made in each of the last 2 years. Alas, I firmly believe you are worth what someone is willing to pay you.

Coming into this year, Mike Cameron's job was to be a platoon player in right and just rake on lefties this year but he's hitting well below (.143) the Mendoza Line against southpaws and his defense this year hasn't been anything like he's used to. Because of his albatross of a salary, lack of production at the plate, and clearly declining range in the outfield he is the quintessential meaning of "no trade value".

Some people have asked me why you DFA Cameron instead of a lower salaried, non-established player. My answer is that I don't think their done extracting from their roster. I think once Crawford comes back, the corresponding move will be to DFA McDonald as well. Their skill-set was too redundant and neither of them have any value but I would say that the reason you keep Darnell now is that McDonald's defense has been better this year than the Gold Glover's, McDonald has a better track record of producing with limited playing time, and McDonald has a step on the old man if it came down to stealing a base. It basically came down to who has sucked more. After realizing that no one AT ALL would take on any part of a dead 3+ million dollars it made sense to cut ties. For some reason his pride says that he can/should still be a starter in this league (his bat speed disagrees, ZING!) and on this team he is not going to get his desired playing time.

Going forward the Red Sox still have needs and issues in Right Field, potentially Shortstop, the starting rotation, and a late inning power reliever.

• Looks can be deceiving but from 2007-2010 Drew has actually been one of the most productive Right fielders in the game. But in 2011 he has been one of the worst. To the point, where the Red Sox production in right field between Drew, Cameron and McDonald is last in Major League Baseball. However, conflicting reports about the Red Sox ability to add payroll if needed at the deadline. And for the first time I can't say that I blame them with regards to right field. Ownership just this year had 21 million dollars invested in right field between Drew and Cameron and I doubt they feel comfortable allocating any more funds to that black hole. This player will probably be right handed. The names that are surfacing are Michael Cuddyer (his versatility makes this a great move if they could), Josh Willingham ( This would cost more in prospects than Cuddyer because of the lower salary, but he can hit), and Ryan Spillborghs (I'd rather catch AIDS).
  


• Jed Lowrie's shoulder appears to be worse than expected and his annual inability to not keep himself on the field really is starting to become a burden for his career and this team. I don't think Marco Scutaro can be the SS for a World Series winning team. I think you may see a move here whether it's calling up 'The Kid' or making a move for a SS not named Jose Reyes.
  


• Bobby Jenks' health and ineffectiveness must be weighing on Theo's mind. So much so that he needs another reliever and I think this solution comes internally. When Buchholz comes back presumably after the All-Star Break you have a logjam in the rotation with Beckett, Buchholz, Lester, Lackey, Wakefield, Miller. I think Miller moves into the pen and spot starts occasionally if someone needs rest or gets injured and then you have two power lefties with Morales and Miller. Wakefield's value is not out of the 'pen it is eating innings as a starter. Lackey is a mental midget and if you put him in the bullpen you will lose him for the rest of the year, and probably for the duration of his contract.
  

One of the final things that has been stuck in my craw lately is the constant bitching, woe is me garbage they are doling out in their interviews with regards to interleague play. Kevin Youkilis saying, "It's not fair that we have to play without our DH". When Papi isn't hitting, this isn't a big deal, but all of a sudden he starts hitting again, and we need to "pump his tires" like he's Ted goddamn Williams. Please. The Boston Red Sox are not at a disadvantage against ANY TEAM. It is the rules. For 9 games in a row the DH can't play, its part of your schedule, it has been for 14 years, deal with it. The constant whining is not becoming as a player and I don't like it as a fan. The whole Gonzalez to right field debate (if we had a workable right fielder) shouldn't have been up for discussion. You keep the AL MVP at first base, and you tell David to sit on the bench till the 7^th, 8^th or 9^th when you will pinch hit every game. That's what should have happens. The constant Ortiz fellatiating is really getting tiresome. Thanks for '04 and you're still an important member of the team, but when the rules say that you're "position" isn't allowed to play that day, then shut your jib, and ride the pine until the manager says to swing a stick. Rant done.

Stay Tuned

Norton