Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Sox finalize Dempster deal; Hamilton signs with Angels

The Sox have finalized a deal with right-handed starter, Ryan Dempster. The deal is for 2-years and $26.5 million, which is $750K more per season than the first offer.

"We're working on a number of fronts,'' said GM Ben Cherington on the team's search for pitching before news of Dempster's deal emerged. "We have nothing to announce, but we feel like we're a little further ahead than we were when we left Nashville. We're engaged on a pitcher, but that's all I can say at this point. We're still working on a number of things.''

Initially, Dempster and agent Craig Landis were telling teams they were expecting a three-year deal. But the Red Sox may have overcome that issue by doing what they did with both Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli: Offering more in terms of average annual value (AAV) than the market dictates in exchange for a shorter-term deal.

It is hard to get excited about a deal like this. Dempster is 35, has only had one notable season in his 15-year career, and he is going to be over-paid. Aside from that one really good season in 2008, where Dempster went 17-6, with a 2.96 ERA, everything else has been mediocre.

I wouldn't call it a desperation move, though it is on the borderline of calling it one. Screw it, it is a desperation move. Why else would you throw $13.25 million ($13 million is becoming too common) at a guy that is worth half of that? I would also call it a John Lackey move, but it is only for 2 seasons, so we won't insult him like that. Though, John Lackey may have a better season than Dempster.

While the Sox were over-paying Ryan Dempster, the Angels signed Josh Hamilton for 5-years and $125 million.

Well, I guess we can put that story to rest. Look on the bright side, Nick Swisher is still available...

Your Morning Dump...Where the Sox still have Hamilton on their mind

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, according to a baseball source, remain in a holding pattern on Josh Hamilton, the free-agent outfielder who reportedly has designs on a long-term contract of at least six years.

He won’t get a deal of that length from the Red Sox, but Boston officials will remain in the mix for Hamilton as long as the possibility, however slim, exists that he could be had for a shorter deal.

Hamilton’s former team, the Texas Rangers, would still appear the most likely landing spot for Hamilton, whose chances of returning to Texas probably increased when the Rangers failed in their attempt to sign free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke, who became the highest-paid right-handed pitcher ever with a six-year, $147 million deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Rangers, however, have been connected to trade speculation involving Arizona outfielder Justin Upton, and appear committed to adding another starting pitcher. Hamilton reportedly has told the Rangers that he will give them a chance to match any offer he receives from another team before he signs, but so far, at least, Texas has not felt obligated to offer Hamilton the six years (or more) he is seeking.

The Red Sox went into the winter meetings with a strategy of offering Hamilton no more than a three-year deal, but perhaps with an average annual value commensurate with the highest-paid players in the game. Think $25 million per and up, and you get the idea.

ESPN Boston: Source: Sox still in mix for Hamilton

This is going to bum the rest of the Ted's Army crew out. I am the odd man out in this and I want the Sox to continue pursuit of Hamilton. I don't care if they are not front-runners, at least they are somewhere in the mix.

No team wants to give someone with the history of Hamilton's a six-year deal. Will someone? Probably. It will likely be the Rangers. They can dip into the fund they had set aside for Greinke.

Even though the Sox are still in the hunt for Hamilton, the odds are not in their favor. They don't want to meet his terms, and that doesn't go well with any free agents.

The rest of the links:

Globe: Red Sox claim Sandy Rosario | Where will Red Sox find a pitcher? | ESPN Boston: Iglesias training with Pedroia | Sox reacquire RHP Rosario off waivers | Herald: Jason Bay hoping for a fresh start in Seattle | Japanese club set to sign former Yankee Andruw Jones | WEEI: Jacoby ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia get animated | CSNNE: Is Youkiilis waitnig for a non-Yankee offer? | Merloni: Sox should have gone after Myers | Red Sox claim Rosario off waivers from A's

Cherington expects to have a high payroll in 2013. Where's the money going?

 

(NSFW language)

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington went on WEEI today and had some scary interesting things to say. 

First, he admitted to talking to Miami about some players, but then implied that any deal wouldn't fit the team's approach. Which is something good for once. Taking a slow & steady approach. Jose Reyes & Josh Johnson would've been nice additions for 2013 but with Boegarts almost ready & Johnson slowly morphing into Josh Beckett 2.0, it wouldn't help the team long term. Sounds smart.

Then he started talking about 2013. 

First he talked about the payroll: 

"I know that we'll have a very strong payroll, a large payroll," he said. "I know that we're going to add to it this winter. I'm confident in saying that it will be amongst the larger payrolls in the game. … It depends on what we do. We're not going to shoot for an arbitrary payroll number just to say that we're going to get to this. We just have to look at each opportunity as it comes and figure out, is this the right thing for the Red Sox?"

So the key thing is we need to define: what exactly would a "large payroll" entail? Looking at the payroll committments thus far: Three teams are already commited in paying $120 million (the Dodgers are already committed to $193 million! We really can't thank them enough.) Five more teams are a few more signings away from hitting the nine figure range.  The Sox are in the middle of the pack, having only committed $45.6 million. 

So let's figure that estimate that in order to be one of the higher payrolls in the league, around top five where they have been for nearly a decade, the Sox would have a $150 million payroll. That's nearly $105 million they have available to them. What in the hell happened to slow and steady? 

Red Sox not out on Hamilton

It's a terrifying concept, but CBS' Jon Heyman says the Red Sox are considering making a run at Josh Hamilton. The fact that it is "unlikely" gives me a little relief.

Hamilton's situation is well documented so I won't exhaust it here. Suffice it to say, I think it would be a tremendous mistake to sign him. Want proof? Texas, where he has thrived despite his copious issues, is only offering him a three-year contract. Best of a luck to the team that ends up giving him seven years.

In other contract news, Heyman notes that Tigers SP Anibal Sanchez, allegedly a Red Sox target, told one team he was seeking seven years, $100 million. Free agency is amazing.

Your Morning Dump...where Sandy blew away Red Sox news

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.

Willingham received a three-year, $21 million free agent deal from the Twins. Ross, meanwhile, took a one-year, $3 million deal with the Red Sox, opting to pass on two-year offers that would have given him more than $3 million per year (but less than $5 million per year) in hopes of going to a favorable hitting environment (a departure from Florida and San Francisco, both of whom play in parks and divisions that tend to be hostile to big power numbers) where he could boost his numbers in anticipation of another run at free agency following the 2012 season.

The strategy paid off, as Ross slammed 22 homers in 130 games while hitting .267 with a .326 OBP, .481 slugging mark and .807 OPS, with his OBP and OPS both ranking as career-best marks for any season in which he had at least 200 plate appearances. That line closely resembled the one that Willingham delivered with the A’s (albeit in more challenging hitting environment) prior to getting his three-year deal from Minnesota.

“I felt like this was a perfect spot for me to get my value back up and basically I rolled the dice on a one-year deal,” Ross said of Boston. “Hopefully it pays off.”

WEEI | Cody Ross and the pursuit of a Josh Willingham deal

OK, maybe it isn't Sandy, maybe it's just the time of year. But there is not much going on out there about the Olde Towne Team. 

Which leads us back to Cody Ross speculation. I feared/expected this is what he would want. As usual with free agency, it's a tough higher than I'd like to pay for a guy with a low OBP, but we might not have much choice. Sure, it's better to get Cody for two years, maybe $10-12 million, but what if it's 3/21 or let him go?

I think I would still bring him back. We've found that it's important that the Sox have a few gamers on the roster, and Cody Ross is a gamer. I know it's a hacky bit of analysis, but I think it's necessary in Boston. He won't be fazed if things start to go bad -- but things won't go as badly as they did the last 13 months. I think he's part of the solution.

It also might keep them from making a bigger mistake -- read, Josh Hamilton. A quick signing of Ross (not to mention Ortiz), might help keep the fan base from freaking out, and I don't trust the ownership to react properly if the fan base does.

Herald | Among best in their field | Series manager-GM relationships a blueprint | WEEI | Pedroia, Gonzalez AL Gold Glove finalists

Your Morning Dump... Where we're still talking about beer

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.

WHDH TV (Channel 7) in Boston said Josh Beckett, John Lackey and Jon Lester would leave the dugout for the clubhouse late in the game and return to the dugout with plastic cups filled with beer.

Said Lester: "The accusation that we were drinking in the dugout during games is completely false. Anonymous sources are continuing to provide exaggerated and, in this case, inaccurate information to the media."
  
"I cannot let this allegation go without response; enough is enough," added Beckett. "I admit that I made mistakes along the way this season, but this has gone too far. To say that we drank in the dugout during the game is not true."

Added Lackey: "There are things that went on this season that shouldn't have happened, but this latest rumor is not true, and I felt that it was important to try to stop this from going any further."

CSNNE - Players, Francona deny WHDH report

Watch that video clip above.  Those three words summarize my feelings about this.

Enough is enough.  We get it. Last year was a joke.  Players acted like children, took advantage of their manager, and behaved unprofessionally.  Players drank beer, there was infighting, fried chicken was involved.  Probably a few rounds of Call of Duty. 

There's probably some more gritty details that haven't been uncovered yet.  But let them stay uncovered.  The whole organization, except for a few individuals, looks like a bunch of buffoons.  The damage has been done.  Fans want the team sold.  They want player's heads.  Telling me that John Lackey gave Josh Reddick a swirly before the final game isn't going to change our opinion of him.  We hate John Lackey.  You're not going to get us to hate him any more.  So just let it go.

And it's about time we hear from Beckett and Lackey.  Although it's only to deny this latest rumor.  If this is what pulls them out of hiding, one must assume all other reports are accurate.  And guys, could you try something a little more sincere then, "Yes, I made mistakes.  But I didn't make this mistake."?

This offseason is already tedious and the freaking World Series hasn't even started yet.  Ugh.

On Page 2, we're not the only ones sick of all this Red Sox talk