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Only 2 Boston prospects make ESPN’s top 100 list

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:00:57 EST

Everyone loves a good list, especially when it comes to baseball prospects. Thursday, ESPN.com’s Keith Law published his fifth annual list of the top 100 players in the minor leagues. It’s subjective, of course, but Law, a former Toronto Blue Jays executive, explains his rankings, which include only two Red Sox players: infielder Xander Bogaerts (No. 62) and catcher Blake Swihart (No.

Wakefield close to decision

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:32 EST

By the weekend, Tim Wakefield likely will decide whether he intends to pitch this season. “We’re discussing the options – and he has some options – and over the next few days, we’re going to try to figure it out,” agent Barry Meister said by phone Thursday. “These next few days is just a period of introspection, where he’s trying to decide what to do, whether to play, who to play for.” Wakefield has stated his preference for pitching one more season for the Red Sox, but the team hasn’t reciprocated with as much enthusiasm. The 45-year-old right-hander has 200 career wins, 186 with the Red Sox. The club record of 192 wins is shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. A few months ago, Meister said Wakefield may benefit from pitching in the National League if an opportunity with the Red Sox doesn’t present itself.

MLB GMs put premium on smart shopping

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:02:37 EST

This winter’s free-agent class included a Prince (Fielder) who got a deal fit for a king and a reliever who came away looking like a pauper by major league salary standards. Closer Ryan Madson nearly had a four-year, $44-million agreement with Philadelphia in November, but talks broke down and the Phillies signed Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon for four years and $50 million. The demand for closers drying up, Madson settled in January for a one-year, $8.25-million contract with Cincinnati. A tough break for Madson? Sure, but a stroke of genius for the Reds, who got a key piece for a potential division contender at a cut-rate price. Free agency isn’t just about who throws the most money around, though it often seems that way for teams such as the Angels, Phillies, Red Sox, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers, who snagged Fielder with a nine-year, $214-million deal. It’s about value, getting bang for the buck and, as Papelbon-Madson shows, the Phillies paid a premium in dollars and years for an asset that doesn’t look like much of an upgrade over what the Reds got on the cheap. With that in mind, here’s a look by position at the best and worst free-agent values of the off-season: FIRST BASE Best: Carlos Pena, one year, $7.25 million, Tampa Bay. No team stretches a $60-million budget like the Rays, who contend in the American League East despite puny payrolls. In Pena, 33, they have another low-cost, high-impact player. Pena had a .357 on-base percentage and 28 home runs for the Chicago Cubs in 2011 after averaging 36 homers with a .368 OBP in four seasons at Tampa Bay. He’s also a Gold Glove-caliber defender and a strong clubhouse presence. Worst: Albert Pujols, 10 years, $240 million, Angels. This contract will look great if the slugger leads the Angels to a World Series or two in the next five years. If not, it could become a financial albatross. Pujols, 32, will make $12 million this season.

2012 (and ’13) Red Sox: What you see is what you get

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:02:51 EST

The Red Sox didn’t suddenly get stingy. They’re just confronting the reality of a payroll that could end up near $190 million this year. And that reality has the potential to get ugly. Since the end of last season, the Angels have added C.J. Wilson and three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols.

Cherington says Sox rotation is fine

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:02:21 EST

The Red Sox rotation is good to go, general manager Ben Cherington said Monday night. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and some combination of Daniel Bard, Alfredo Aceves, Aaron Cook and Carlos Silva comprise the main contenders for starting roles. “We’re going to keep our eyes open and continue to talk to teams or free agents as things present themselves – I don’t know if we’ll do anything in the short term,” Cherington said. “If there are ways to add to the rotation now, we’ll do it now; if it’s in spring training or in-season, we’ll do it then.” The team remains interested in pitcher Roy Oswalt. Oswalt was reportedly meeting with the Texas Rangers on Monday. GM, Cubs disagree Cherington was on a “Hot Stove Cool Music” panel at Fenway Park with his former boss and current Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein, who along with his brother, Paul Epstein, heads “The Foundation To Be Named Later.” Before the sports roundtable, moderated by Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons, Cherington addressed the lingering, unresolved compensation talks between the clubs over Epstein’s departure. “It’s hard to quantify – it’s a disagreement,” Cherington said. “There was an expectation when Theo left that the Red Sox would receive significant compensation for allowing the Cubs to hire him.

A’s may consider signing Manny

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:00:39 EST

OAKLAND, Calif. – Fans were introduced to some of the Oakland A’s new players during FanFest on Sunday, but the most high-profile newcomer might still be on the way. Assistant general manager David Forst acknowledged the possibility of signing designated hitter Manny Ramirez during a fan question-and-answer session. “We’re open to it,” Forst told an announced crowd of more than 7,000 inside Oracle Arena. “We do have other things going on, and we expect other additions between now and opening day. We have never been in a situation where we had too many good players.” It was the first public acknowledgment by anyone in the A’s baseball operations that Ramirez is an option. A’s co-owner Lew Wolff said last week that he was receptive to signing Ramirez, who would have to serve a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy for a second time. Were the A’s to sign him, Ramirez would become eligible for a May 30 game at Minnesota.