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Report: Red Sox among teams interested in Stephen Drew

FOX Sports (via MLBTR) is reporting that the Red Sox have joined the Pirates and Tigers as teams looking to acquire Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew. Yes, JD's brother.

If you're like me, your first question is: Why?

Drew has been a massive disappointment, hurt for all but 15 games and bad (.496 OPS) in those he's appeared in. That's just this year; like his brother, Stephen was expected to be an All-Star caliber player, and generally he has been a let-down.

Further, the Red Sox have been getting adequate production out of Mike Aviles.

Further, Jose Iglesias is waiting in the wings.

Further, Drew makes $7.75 million and has a $1.35 buyout on his contract next year.

These dots just don't connect, unless it's part of a much bigger plan that involves unloading salaries and players.

The Wily Mo Pena bidding war is officially underway

Old friend Wily Mo Pena was released by the Diamondbacks earlier today after the team found no takers in a trade over the last ten days since he was designated for assignment.

Pena's all-or-nothing approach at the plate resulted in no walks, 19 strikeouts, and five homers in his 46 plate appearances for the D'Backs this season. Pena, who is now free to sign with any club, drew interest from the Tigers, White Sox, Orioles, and Astros this past winter before he agreed to a minor league deal with Arizona.

Not that we need him (as while I write this we're currently demolishing the Mariners, yet again) or even have a reasonable place for him on the roster, I've always felt a fondness for Wily Mo. The power in his swing used to just cause me to laugh; I didn't marvel like I did at Manny, or at Ortiz's clutchness. The brute force Pena exhibited seemed cartoonish, especially when contrasted with his inability to do pretty much everything else that comprises being a professional baseball player.

He'll probably catch on somewhere and provide a few more highlight-reel homers (and many more multiples of strikeouts), but I wish him well. If only Theo could throw him a minor-league deal so the fine residents of Pawtucket could benefit from his entertainment.

Buck Showalter should shut his damn mouth

I passed on this Buck Showalter comments about Theo Epstein's wisdom and talent because I thought he just wanted to get some attention, and attention is what he is getting. Well, this has been the talk all day and the more I hear about it, the more it is pissing me off.  Here are the comments made:

"I'd like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay [Rays'] payroll," Showalter told the magazine, according to the Record. "You got Carl Crawford 'cause you paid more than anyone else, and that's what makes you smarter? That's why I like whipping their butt. It's great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, 'How the hell are they beating us?'"

Buck Showalter is the manager of the team that is projected to finish at the bottom of the AL East and is likely to get little to no attention during the season. So why not get crap stirred up now to get people saying your name and maybe get some people to watch Red Sox/Orioles games.

Take the shot at Theo because he was given the money to spend and build an elite team to battle the Yankees. What is Theo supposed to do? Not spend the money they tell him to spend. Buck wants Theo to go to a system like KC, Pittsburgh, or Tampa and prove himself there. Maybe Showalter should prove himself as a manager in Baltimore before he starts talking s--t about other execs. 

Hey Buck, the only reason your 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks won 100 games ('98 Diamondbacks won 65 games under Showalter) is because the team spent money and the payroll increased by over $35 million for the season (including Randy Johnson), not because of your damn managing. I would say you are a good manager, but I can't. You have only had 3 of 11 winning seasons you fraud.

Enjoy listening to yourself talk, Uncle Buck, and enjoy last place for many years to come.