Cornering Some Offense in Boston

November 24th, 2009 | by Darryl Johnston |

Fenway Park

The possibilities seem endless this time of year.

If you are a Red Sox fan, you have spent countless discussions conjuring up trade possibilities and evaluating free agent options for the 2010 season.

At this point, it’s the general consensus that the Red Sox need a left-fielder, a shortstop and another power-hitting corner infielder. The hope is that the Red Sox will find a away to bring back Jason Bay and then move on to finding a legitimate bat at either first or third base. As for shortstop? Most fans I talk with are content with bringing back Alex Gonzalez, although I read a lot of other posts online that are against it, due to his low OBP.

So who is on the short list of corner infielders?

Miguel Cabrera
Prince Fielder
Adrian Gonzalez
Adrian Beltre
Mike Lowell

Kevin Youkilis is a given. He can play either side of the diamond. The real question lies in Lowell, who at age 35, is hampered by late-career injuries and diminishing offensive skills. Boston cannot simply sit back in 2010 and roll the dice on Lowell. He is still a decent defender who can bang balls off the wall in left field, but how much can you trust that he will be there for you for a full season? He might even grind it out some nights where he is in pain, but you’d have to think that you are looking at a diminished offensive line and a year full of GIDPs.

Yeah, maybe I’m a little burned out on Lowell and ready for a new bat in the lineup, but it appears the Red Sox are ready to move on as well.

According to a report on FoxSports.com, the Red Sox are offering third baseman Mike Lowell around the league and are willing to pay half of his $12 million salary, though a rival executive told the site he doubted anyone would be willing to take on $6 million for Lowell given the defensive shortcomings related to his surgically repaired hip.

– Boston Herald

The Red Sox will need to be smart in what they choose to do. Running out and signing Beltre may not be an upgrade worthy of spending the cash on. Boston is just $25m under the luxury tax in 2010 and are still on the hook for Julio Lugo’s $9.5m contract after essentially handing the maligned shortstop to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Beltre wouldn’t get anyone in Boston excited anyway. Fans want another ‘Thanksgiving 2003′ moment where Theo Epstein went above and beyond to make a splash signing Curt Schilling. Red Sox fans are looking for a big trade announcement that nets Prince Fielder or Miguel Cabrera. I believe most fans are in agreement that Adrian Gonzalez is nearly untouchable at this point.

Cabrera lends itself to ‘this week’s most likely’ to be traded to Boston.

According to The Detroit News, the Tigers’ financial issues are hamstringing the organization enough that the team is considering dealing Cabrera and are eyeing the Red Sox as the top trade-target.

Cabrera’s salary was $15 million in 2009 and jumps to $20 million in 2010 and again in 2011. He climbs to $21 million in 2012 and 2013, and to $22 million in 2014 and in 2015, after which he will be a 32-year-old free agent. The hard part about dealing for Cabrera is that it will probably require Clay Buchholz in return.

What it will do is provide the Red Sox a huge bat in the lineup at a stop-gap corner infielder. Cabrera, for all he is offensively, is slightly below average as a first-baseman. This means you are looking at Cabrera as a replacement for David Ortiz at DH after 2010 and you start looking for another 3B in 2011, so you can move Youkilis back to 1B.

Right now though, this offseason is like accelerating to a stop light. Hurry up and wait.

But…

Thanksgiving IS just two days away.

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Share and Enjoy: