Every morning we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has tweeted that the Red Sox are among the interested parties in former Pirates lefty Paul Maholm. The Mariners, Cubs and Orioles also have interest.
Maholm is 29 and amassed a 6-14 record and a 3.66 ERA for the Pirates in 2011. He was on the disabled list after recovering from shoulder surgery.
The Pirates declined a $9.75 million option in October and bought him out for $750,00.
Sox general manager Ben Cherington said earlier today the team is looking for more than one "low-cost" starting pitcher who will enter a competition for the final two starter spots in spring training. It doesn't appear that Cherington will opt for any of the higher priced starters at this time like Hiroki Kuroda, Edwin Jackson or Joe Saunders.
Globe -Sox after low-cost starters
Not a lot of Red Sox news this Saturday morning, so we're stuck with the "Boston looking for cheap pitchers" storyline.
As far as Paul Maholm is concerned, Ben did a good job of covering him, and the other pitching options remaining, a couple days ago. Maholm isn't a bad pitcher (he's never really been that good either), but he's also a guy that's spend his entire career in the NL Central. So I'm not sure what to make of him. He did pitch one game in the Rogers Centre last season and only gave up a single home run (7 IP 9 hits 2 ER 1 K), so you can try to hang your hat on that if you must.
I've been championing the "Spend Money, Get Us A Legit Pitcher" campaign, but it looks like Cherington is ignoring my pleas. And if he's not going to get us someone with the ability to be good, I guess I'm happy that he plans on bringing in "more than one" starter to compete. We will get hit with injuries. We will need some depth.
And just to throw a fun scenario out there: Would it shock you if, half-way through the season, the Sox are desperate for a 5th starter and ring up old pal (and still unemployed) Tim Wakefield? Couldn't you see him making his triumphant return to Boston, riding in on his white horse, ready to save the season? And then, immediately implode giving up 6 home runs in his first 3 innings? If we were to bet on that scenario, what would the odds be? 5-to-1?
Rest of the links:
Baseball America: 2012 Boston Red Sox Top 10 Prospects | CSNNE - Valentine juggling tasks before spring training
