Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Your Morning Dump... Where the Sox tried to dump Scutaro

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...

Just because the Red Sox [team stats] have not been able to bring in another starter on a major league deal does not mean they have abandoned hope of doing so.

That is why they are still maintaining contact with the agent for free agent starter Roy Oswalt, an alluring remedy for the club’s starting pitching blues. Oswalt may be amenable to a one-year deal worth roughly $8 million.

The fact the Red Sox have not yet made a bold run to lock up Oswalt at that price could be a sign of how close the team is to breaking the $178 million luxury tax threshold.

That could help explain why word spread from the Rocky Mountains yesterday that the Rockies and the Red Sox had spoken about a deal to send shortstop Marco Scutaro and his $6 million salary to Colorado. A low-cost return would likely have been the Red Sox’ goal but the talks fizzled, according to the Denver Post.

Herald - Red Sox still searching

As Scott mentioned last week, Scutaro and Youk are about the only players whose salary we could dump if we wanted to make a run at Oswalt.  And it appears as though the Sox attempted to do just that by offering Marco to the Rockies.  And while I have no real attachment to Scutaro, creating a new hole to plug another isn't exactly wise.  Sure, you could make Punto the everyday short stop (ugh) or slide Aviles in there, or even hand the reigns over to Iglesias prematurely.  But none of those options are exactly appealing.

This does show us that the Sox are in no way content to head into the upcoming season with the rotation they currently have.  Cherington has to be sweating right now, having the fate of his first season rest on the arm of a Cook, Silva or Padilla; not to mention Bard's successful transition from the pen.  But this trade also shows us that the Sox are serious about needing to dump salary to take on a substantial contract. 

But if Oswalt wants to come to Boston (and I have a good feeling he does.  This really is the best situation for him), perhaps he'll be willing to give us a huge discount.  This is a guy that earned $82 million over his past 6 seasons.  Surely he can afford to pitch for $3 or $4 million for a season before cashing in one last time.  What do you say, Roy? 

On Page 2, Manny may actually get a job

Your Morning Dump... Where 2012 Is The Year of Iglesias

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.

According to team sources, the Red Sox are still debating whether to have top prospect Jose Iglesias open the 2011 season in Double-A Portland or Triple-A Pawtucket. The team wants to assign Iglesias to a level that will maximize the likelihood of his being big league ready for the 2012 campaign.

Because the shortstop -- already considered a defensive star -- lost a couple months of his 2010 season with Portland due to a broken finger, the team might want him to get more at-bats in Double-A before an early season promotion to Triple-A. That said, the team might also decide that Iglesias is better served by a challenge at a more advanced level.

WEEI - Sox still deciding where Iglesias will play

Whether he plays in Portland or Pawtucket really is of little significance at this time (unless you frequent one of those team's games).  I have no doubt that the Sox are going to give him the best road to be prepped when the time comes.

I'm ready for the Jose Iglesias era.  We're a few shortstops removed from having a player that can make jaw-dropping catches, dives and throws on a regular basis.  Say what you will about his bat, but he's no joke in the field. 

What's interesting is how this will all play out for Jed Lowrie.  Scutaro is gone after this year, regardless.  He was signed to be a stop-gap until Iglesias was ready.  What the Sox weren't sure about was what type of player Jed Lowrie was going to become.  And really, we still don't know.  He was pretty damn good in those 55 games last year.  Good enough that he doesn't deserve to play the utility role. 

If Lowrie has a solid first half, and Iglesias is progressing nicely (whether it be in AA or AAA), I don't think it's a stretch to see Theo flip Lowrie somewhere for whatever the Sox most pressing need is at that time.  I don't want to see him go, but that infield isn't big enough for the both of them.

On Page 2, the Sox finally rid themselves of that pesky Turpen