Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Your Afternoon Dump...The Sox wrap things up with Breslow

 

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 afternoon dump.

According to multiple reports, the Red Sox reached an agreement (pending a physical) with left-hander Craig Breslow on a two-year deal that includes an option for a third year. Breslow, who was eligible for salary arbitration in 2013 — his final year under team control before reaching free agency, receives a guaranteed $6.25 million with the chance to earn as much as $10.15 million over three years, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, who first reported the deal (via twitter).

Breslow, 32, was re-acquired by the Sox at the trade deadline in a trade that sent right-hander Matt Albers and outfielder Scott Podsednik to the Diamondbacks. The left-hander had a 2.70 ERA, 19 strikeouts and nine walks in 23 games (20 innings) with the Sox, continuing a strong five-year run in the big leagues that commenced in 2008, when the Indians claimed him off waivers from the Sox. In that time, he’s gone 15-15 with a 3.01 ERA while striking out 7.7 batters per nine innings and walking 3.4 batters per nine.

WEEI: Reports: Craig Breslow agrees to two-year deal with Red Sox

Yeah, that guy with the pretty left hand is going to be in Boston for a few more years. Eat your heart out Rex Ryan. Actually, he doesn't give a damn.

Breslow is a good choice for a middle reliever and even a set-up guy if needed. Breslow is not an over-powering pitcher and will not get the "ooo's" and "ahhhh's" as a Daniel Bard of 2011. Craig Breslow is someone that will likely give you consistency, resulting in holds.

The deal seems to be reasonable and will probably not result in any dislike from Red Sox fans. Odds are, some or many Red Sox fans didn't remember that Breslow is a member for the Red Sox.

The most important thing about the signing is the Red Sox have taken care of all the arbitration eligible players. As Aaron said yesterday, arbitration is boring and stupid, and I am glad we won't have anything dragging on as we had last year. 

Related: Globe: Breslow agrees to two-year deal | Herald: Source: Craig Breslow, Red Sox agree to multiyear contract extension | CSNNE: Report: Red Sox, Breslow agree to deal

The rest of the links:

Globe: At charity event, young and older Red Sox express eagerness for spring | Herald: Tito: Book no hatchet job | Hill a big fan of Dempster signing | Power of the first order 

Your Morning Dump... Where arbitration is boring and stupid

This image from duhaime.org is way cooler than any of these one-year deals

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.

The Red Sox reached agreements with all but one of their arbitration eligible players today.

On the heels of agreements with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia ($4.5 million on Thursday) and Jacoby Ellsbury ($9 million earlier today), the Sox also avoided arbitration with the following:

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  • Right-hander Alfredo Aceves ($2.65 million)
  • Right-hander Andrew Bailey ($4.1 million)
  • Right-hander Daniel Bard ($1.8625 million)
  • Right-hander Joel Hanrahan ($7.04 million)
  • Left-hander Andrew Miller ($1.475 million)
  • Left-hander Franklin Morales ($1.4875 million)

That leaves only left-hander Craig Breslow, who filed at $2.375 million, while the Sox countered at $2.325 million. That's only a difference of $50,000, which means the Sox are all but guaranteed of maintaining their streak of avoiding arbitration hearings. Their last hearing came in 2002, when they beat Rolando Arrojo.

Herald - Red Sox avoid arbitration with everyone except Breslow

I was never one to get myself worked up over arbitration.  I know that some people are highly interested it in, but not me.  It lets baseball grab a headline or two in the middle of winter, but that's about it.  The whole 'drama' around it is absurd. 

Will the Red Sox have to pay Craig Breslow the extra $50,000 he's asking?  Can they sort it out before someone else makes the decision for them?  Stay tuned!

*Yawn*

And the Sox streak of avoiding arbitration is just as silly.  I could rattle off five made-up reasons why it matters, but that would all be nonsense.  The Sox and their players are able to come to mutually-agreeable terms on their own, without someone forcing them to.  That's all it means.  No reason to hold a parade.

Arbitration is one of those things that makes baseball 'unique' in the American sports landscape.  It's also stupid.  But with the way baseball is set-up, there's probably not a better way.  At least not for players whose talent and production elevate quickly. Slightly imperfect, but very fair.

Next year, around the same time, we'll do this same dance.  We'll applaud the Red Sox for avoiding hearings.  We'll be taken aback that player X got a million dollar raise.  And then we'll go back to our regular lives, because those guys who are arbitration-eligible were always going to be playing for the Sox the following year anyway.  Regardless of any of this.

Rest of the links:

Herald - Jacoby Ellsbury takes the $9M | ESPN - Red Sox avoid arbitration drama | WEEI - Shane Victorino discusses Manti Te’o situation, playing in World Baseball Classic | CSNNE - Full rotation makes Sox a 'tough sell' to veterans | Sox nearly done with arbitration to-do list | Globe - Red Sox sign Jacoby Ellsbury, six others to one-year deals