The Rest of the Off Season
The Sox may, as Larry Lucchino said, have nearly four months left to this offseason but the time left to fill their holes at first, short, and center field is much shorter than that. This team needs time to come together. With so little of their team left from 2005 they will need time to work together and begin to anticipate one anothers' moves. With that in mind here are three moves that seem reasonable for the Sox to complete and answer these questions.
Tony Graffanino to St. Louis for Jason Marquis
Marquis' control was off by the end of the year and he was the odd man out in LaRussa's playoff rotation. With the signing of sidney Ponson the Cardinals made at least one spot in their rotation expendable and Marquis would seem to be the one. The Cards need an everyday 2B and at last check the Sox had at least three of them. Given a choice Alex Cora would be the best to go but may not be enough to budge Marquis. Hence Graffanino, the odd man out before he accepted arbitration, could be the bait the Sox did not know they had. Marquis' K/9 and K/BB ratios don't inspire a lot of confidence but he has managed to average double-digit wins and eat up 200IP. Decent stats for a #4/5 starter.
David Wells to San Diego for CF Dave Robers and 1B Adrian Gonzalez
The SDP deal with the Rangers that sent Eaton and Otsuku to the Rangers made little sense to me because they gave up their best starter for a package including promising starter Young. But then it hit me that Gonzalez was in the deal. The Sox liked him earlier but did not match up well to pry him from TEX. The Sox considered Roberts earlier but he was not enough compensation for Wells -- a 15-game winner from the south side with great control. Gonzalez does not overly impress me but in a package with Roberts it might make sense for both sides. SDP will get a rotation presence who wants to pitch in San Diego and may help a guy like Young develop. The Sox get the LH 1B they wanted to compliment Youkillis and a short term solution in CF. If you can't get Damon could there be a better solution than the guy with The Stolen Base?
Sox Sign free agent SS Alex Gonzalez
He is not the best possible option at short but he is the most realistic. The Sox could overpay for a couple of years with an option and look to the future. With so much of the offense leaving the Sox need to concentrate on defense behind their pitching staff and Gonzo is the best option available.
If this all came together the lineup would probably be:
2B Loretta
1B Youkillis
DH Ortiz
LF Ramirez
3B Lowell
RF Nixon
C Varitek
RF Roberts
SS Gonzalez
'Tek could bat higher but I'd rather see him lower in the order to reduce his AB and save him for later in the season. Loretta has better OBP numbers than Damon that will climb further at Fenway. Hoyer indicated the Sox might have some "grinders" at the top of the order and "The Greek God of Walks" Youkillis seems to fit that bill. The table setters would be on base a respectable amount of time for Ortiz and Ramirez to knock them in and will wear down starters.
Tony Graffanino to St. Louis for Jason Marquis
Marquis' control was off by the end of the year and he was the odd man out in LaRussa's playoff rotation. With the signing of sidney Ponson the Cardinals made at least one spot in their rotation expendable and Marquis would seem to be the one. The Cards need an everyday 2B and at last check the Sox had at least three of them. Given a choice Alex Cora would be the best to go but may not be enough to budge Marquis. Hence Graffanino, the odd man out before he accepted arbitration, could be the bait the Sox did not know they had. Marquis' K/9 and K/BB ratios don't inspire a lot of confidence but he has managed to average double-digit wins and eat up 200IP. Decent stats for a #4/5 starter.
David Wells to San Diego for CF Dave Robers and 1B Adrian Gonzalez
The SDP deal with the Rangers that sent Eaton and Otsuku to the Rangers made little sense to me because they gave up their best starter for a package including promising starter Young. But then it hit me that Gonzalez was in the deal. The Sox liked him earlier but did not match up well to pry him from TEX. The Sox considered Roberts earlier but he was not enough compensation for Wells -- a 15-game winner from the south side with great control. Gonzalez does not overly impress me but in a package with Roberts it might make sense for both sides. SDP will get a rotation presence who wants to pitch in San Diego and may help a guy like Young develop. The Sox get the LH 1B they wanted to compliment Youkillis and a short term solution in CF. If you can't get Damon could there be a better solution than the guy with The Stolen Base?
Sox Sign free agent SS Alex Gonzalez
He is not the best possible option at short but he is the most realistic. The Sox could overpay for a couple of years with an option and look to the future. With so much of the offense leaving the Sox need to concentrate on defense behind their pitching staff and Gonzo is the best option available.
If this all came together the lineup would probably be:
2B Loretta
1B Youkillis
DH Ortiz
LF Ramirez
3B Lowell
RF Nixon
C Varitek
RF Roberts
SS Gonzalez
'Tek could bat higher but I'd rather see him lower in the order to reduce his AB and save him for later in the season. Loretta has better OBP numbers than Damon that will climb further at Fenway. Hoyer indicated the Sox might have some "grinders" at the top of the order and "The Greek God of Walks" Youkillis seems to fit that bill. The table setters would be on base a respectable amount of time for Ortiz and Ramirez to knock them in and will wear down starters.
posted by Andy Vanasse at 8:03 PM
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