Red Sox Re-Sign Rich Hill

Today, the Red Sox added another cog to what is looking like a very formidable bullpen by re-signing lefty Rich Hill. Hill was on pace for an excellent season in Boston last year-- allowing no runs and striking out 12 in 8 innings early this year. However, as he walked off the field clutching his elbow one summer night, the Red Sox lost one of the key members of the bullpen as Hill went down with Tommy John Surgery about the same time as Dice-K. Despite the recovery time for Tommy John Surgery usually being about a year, Hill is raring to go and could be ready for spring training. The deal is a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Hill will be 31 in 2012 and was having a promising but unsuccessful career as a starter before the Red Sox converted him to a reliever in 2010. He excelled there, striking out over a batter per inning in AAA Pawtucket before the Sox called him up late. This could potentially be a big steal for the Sox, as Hill was on pace for an excellent year in 2011.

The Right Field Situation Post-Bailey Trade

Earlier this offseason, the Red Sox were rumored to be in the mix for  some right fielders with Reddick being unproven in the majors. Carlos Beltran's name was thrown around, but he signed with the Cardinals. Michael Cuddyer's name was as well, but he signed with the Rockies. Since the Red Sox traded Josh Reddick over the Oakland in return for Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney, they are in serious need of a right fielder. However, since they waited so long, there is only a small market of cheap, mediocre right fielders. Let's look at some options to how the Red Sox could fill the Red Sox right field vacancy in 2012. On the team right now, they have Darnell McDonald and Ryan Sweeney (right) who could potentially fill that spot. This could work perfectly for the Red Sox as Sweeney is a lefty and McDonald is a righty. Each were bad against their pitchers of their respective hands, batting .159 and .189 off of lefties and righties, respectively. However, off of the opposite pitchers, they batted .286 and .260- something which could make an above average platooning partnership. Going out for acquisitions, some available options are Magglio Ordonez (.255/5/32), Ryan Spilborghs (.210/3/22), Andruw Jones (.247/13/33), Ryan Ludwick (.237/13/75), Cody Ross (.240/14/52), Scott Hairston (.235/7/24), and Yoennis Cespedes (.333/33/99 in 90 games in Cuba). Of these, Ordonez and Cespedes would be the most expensive. The least expensive would be Spilborghs and Hairston. In the middle of these would be Andruw Jones, Ryan Ludwick, and Cody Ross. All three are righties, which is what the Red Sox need in their lineup. Against lefties: Ross batted .234, Jones batted .286, and Ludwick batted .264. By these stats, Jones would be the best option for the Red Sox. By fielding statistics, Ludwick has managed a 3.7 UZR/150, Jones has managed a 9.3, and Ross has managed a -0.4. By all my stats together, I would say that Jones would be a great move to fill that position for the Red Sox. However, they could easily manage with platooning McDonald and Sweeney.

Red Sox Pick Up Andrew Bailey, Ryan Sweeney In Trade With A's

Today, Ben Cherington has won my favor with a magnificent trade with the Oakland A's. The Red Sox will acquire Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney for Josh Reddick (.280/7/28 in MLB), Miles Head (.254/7/29 in A+), and Raul Alcantara (0-3/6.23/14 in A-). Bailey had his worst year in the majors last year, going a pretty good 0-4/3.24/41 and saving 24/26 chances. This gets the Red Sox a proven closer in Bailey who won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2009. He also has three more seasons under team control and is eligible for arbitration for the first time-- giving the Sox three more affordable years with a proven closer. Bailey was troubled by a forearm injury in 2011 but still managed 41 games. Sweeney played 108 games for the A's last year, going .265/1/25 and plays all three outfield positions. Sweeney injured his hand in September of last year but didn't miss a whole lot of time. Well, the bullpen is now set and the Red Sox can fully focus on starting pitching; great move by Cherington!!!

Conor Says... Trade For Jake Peavy

First off: merry Christmas, second off: it's still Sunday so I still have to do the Conor Says. This week's edition will be about the possibility of trading for Jake Peavy. So, the other day I was reading an article about how the Sox should go after White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. Mentioned in the article was the fact that the White Sox may trade Floyd because with Jake Peavy's bloated contract and lack of success, they needed a salary drop. I quickly looked at Peavy's stats to find that in 2011 he had an unimpressive line of 7-7/4.92/95. However, I looked a bit beyond his ERA of 4.92 and saw his gleaming peripheral stats of a 3.21 FIP and 3.52 xFIP. These were not too far off of the 2.84 and 3.34 he posted in his Cy Young season of 2007, in which he went 19-6/2.54/240. Not only that, but his K/9 of 7.66 and his BB/9 of 1.93 are both very impressive. A deal earlier this offseason where the Braves ate some of Derek Lowe's contract and shipped him to Cleveland for just a low-level prospect. Peavy is slated to make $17 million in 2012. If the White Sox could eat about $10, then I think Peavy would be a great shot to fill one of the holes in our rotation.

Merry Christmas To Red Sox Nation

I got Red Sox vs. Indians tickets and a Fenway Tour!!!
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It would appear that Santa is not a Red Sox fan and you could consider that September '11 was our coal, which we could sell to the electric companies for a small profit. Sorry, sorry, bad joke. In any case, there's always next year for Red Sox Nation to rejoice over a hopeful championship. Santa hasn't given the Sox a whole lot under the tree this offseason, the biggest present would be Mark Melancon. Hopefully, he could be a decent gift to us at the price of Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland. Meanwhile, Kelly Shoppach and Nick Punto were pretty much sweaters. By this I mean, you're glad you got something, but not necessarily that. In any case, Merry Christmas to anybody reading this post and a happy new year. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good... day?

Offseason Coaching News

Update: Red Sox also hire Jerry Noyster as their third base coach and Alex Ochoa as their first base coach.
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The Red Sox are, reportedly, close to hiring Bob McClure as their next pitching coach. For the past six years, McClure has been the Royals pitching coach and, this offseason, the Red Sox hired him in a scouting role. The Red Sox are expected to promote him to the role of pitching coach. Curt Young, the Red Sox pitching coach in 2011, returned to Oakland to rejoin the A's, who he had coached for several years prior to joining the Sox. Young didn't seem to be able to adjust to a big market team like Boston and the Red Sox were 22nd in the league with a 4.20 ERA.
     On a different note, the Red Sox have moved Tim Bogar from the 3rd base coach role to the bench coach role. Now, Bogar has been praised for his excellent baseball mind; however, that obviously didn't translate into third base coaching skills. Bogar often found a way to fail the visual test of third base coaching skills by randomly waving Sox players around the bases when they were clearly out and holding them up when they would've been clearly safe. Hopefully Bogar will be better as a bench coach than he was as a third base coach. Go Sox!

Red Sox Jonesing For Andruw

Some reports have indicated that the Red Sox could be interested in free agent outfielder Andruw Jones. Last year, Jones was the 4th outfielder for the Yankees and did a pretty good job of it, going .247/13/33 in 77 games and 190 at bats. He also reached base at a very good .356 clip, fitting him with the Red Sox' patient approach. However, Jones is 34 years old and this has been his first solid year since 2006 with the Braves. From 1998-2006 with the Braves, Jones was one of the best players in baseball and over his career, his 162 game average is a very good .256/32/97. Jones also has a decent glove for a corner outfielder and could relieve Josh Reddick (or a newcomer) and Carl Crawford fairly well. He is considerably better than the 4th outfielder the Sox currently have, in Darnell McDonald, who went .236/6/24 in 79 games and 159 at bats last year. If the Sox could land Jones on something like a 1 year/$4 million contract, I'd be impressed.

Red Sox In Talks With Francisco Cordero

Allegedly, the Red Sox are looking to keep improving their bullpen and are interested in free agent closer Francisco Cordero. Apparently, the Red Sox had been interested in him earlier in the offseason and talks have picked back up. Cordero had an excellent season as the Reds' closer in 2011, going 5-3/2.45/42 in 68 games and 69 2/3 innings-- also saving 37/43 opportunities. However, his season may have had a bit of luck involved with a 4.02 FIP and 4.14 xFIP. His strikeout rates also dropped by almost 2 per nine innings. However, his walk rates also dropped over 1.5 per nine innings-- balancing things nicely. Even if his ERA and other great stats return to his career averages, he would still be a great option for the Red Sox closer. He averages a 3.17 ERA, 3.51 FIP, and 3.72 xFIP over his career. I would definitely support this move for the Sox to go out and get a proven closer like Cordero.

Conor Says... Sign Jon Garland

The Red Sox' pitching troubles have been well documented this offseason. While they have gotten to improving their bullpen lately, they still need to improve upon their rotation. I think that a fairly cheap and effective way to do that would be to sign Jon Garland. Garland was injured for much of 2011, only starting 9 games for the Dodgers. In those 9 games, he was typical Jon Garland-- going 1-5/4.33/28. Other than 2011, however, Garland has been very consistent as a workhorse. From 2004-2010, he pitched 200+ innings in every year except 2008 (he still had 196 2/3). The Red Sox really need some innings eaters after nobody seemingly was able to go more than 5 innings in September '11. Garland is solid but unspectacular, with a career 4.32 ERA and 4.68 FIP. He doesn't strike out very many people (his career high was 136 in 2010) at just 4.86 K/9 over his career. However, he walks even fewer with just 3.02 BB/9 over his career. I think Garland would be a solid option for the #4 spot in the Red Sox rotation-- plus he'd be cheap.

Red Sox Potentially Interested in Joakim Soria

A report has surfaced that the Red Sox have called on the Royals about the possibility of trading for Royals closer Joakim Soria. Soria had his worst season in 2011, going 5-5/4.03/60 in 60 games and 60 1/3 innings, also saving 28/35 chances. However, his career stats are much better-- as his 162-game average is 3-3/2.40/78 in 68 games and 72 innings. However, apparently the Royals asked for too much in return and the Red Sox rejected the potential deal. I'd feel the same way, as after trading for Melancon, the Red Sox don't need to spend a whole lot of talent on developing the back end of their bullpen. On the contrary, however, having Soria, Melancon, and potentially Bard would make a very formidable bullpen. I think the Sox should wait the Royals out to see if they can get a better deal. If they cannot, they should just nix it. I'd be happy if the Sox got Soria, but not for a huge price.