Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports wrote that Mark Teixeira's decision to sign with the Yankees was a staggering blow. That he authored this article is no surprise. He is a longtime Boston media personality, and the Boston media is known for its sensationalism. The New York Post has nothing on the New England print and broadcast media.
That Teixeira is in pinstripes, and not with the Red Sox, is a shocker - at least to me. I thought that he was open to playing in Boston, but apparently that wasn't the case. The Sox could have used Teixeira's bat in the heart of the order. Without him, the lineup will still be productive in 2009 - even if Theo Epstein does not make a major move. David Ortiz's wrist is reportedly healing nicely, and he is poised for a Big Papi-like season. Remember, even in an injury-plagued 2008 that limited him to 416 at-bats, Ortiz still banged out 23 home runs and 89 RBI. As for Mike Lowell, reports indicate that he will be ready for spring training, and that he is effectively recovering from hip surgery. With a healthy Ortiz and Lowell, and Jed Lowrie opening the year with a healthy wrist, Boston's lineup looks solid in every spot but catcher.
I have two trade suggestions to remedy the catching situation, which interestingly was in the news yesterday as well when the Yankees signed Kevin Cash to a minor league deal.
I mentioned the first trade proposal in yesterday's post. It involves the Red Sox acquiring catcher Miguel Montero and outfielder Eric Byrnes from Arizona. This is a trade that has actually been discussed, and I believe that Daniel Bard (Boston's top relief pitching prospect) is the main player who would go to Arizona. Since the Diamondbacks must slash salary, Byrnes would be a throw-in. He is due $11 million in 2009 and $11 million in 2010. At the least, this trade would give the Red Sox a promising backup catcher who could develop into a solid starter. Ideally, Montero would serve as a backup to either Jason Varitek or a veteran like Brian Schneider (who could be acquired from the Mets). Byrnes would give the Red Sox a fourth outfielder with a productive bat, strong defense and speed.
The second trade scenario has not been discussed, to my knowledge, but it would make sense for both teams. This one has Boston sending Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard and Jed Lowrie (and perhaps a Single-A prospect) to Texas for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and shortstop Michael Young. Most die-hards in Red Sox Nation know Salty's story. He is a young catcher with tremendous upside at the plate and behind the plate. Young is one of the game's best players that only serious baseball fans know about. In his eight-year career, the 32-year-old Young has a .300 average along with 15 home runs and 87 RBI per season. He is proficient - not spectacular, but proficient - in the field, and he is durable (he has played at least 155 games each year since 2002).
Why would Texas want to trade Young, you ask? Well, the Rangers are not keen on big salaries, and Young's five-year, $80 million extension (that was signed in 2007; Texas picked up his $5 million option for 2008 as part of the deal) begins in 2009 at $16 million per season through 2013. The Rangers have phenom Elvis Andrus poised to take over at shortstop, and since they might not resign Hank Blalock (who is a free agent after 2009), Lowrie could play shortstop in 2009 and then move over to third base in 2010.
Young is not as potent as Teixeira at the plate, but he would provide more firepower in the Red Sox lineup. Make no mistake. I am a Lowrie supporter. The guy is proficient at shortstop, and he can play second base and third base. In 260 at-bats, he had several clutch hits and knocked in 46 runs. He did all of this with a microfracture in his left wrist. Lowrie will likely never display home run power, but he can drive in runs and hit for average. His .258 mark in 2008 was not indicative of what he can do. Lowrie is capable of being a .300 hitter, as he was in 2007, when he was named Boston's Minor League Offensive Player of the Year.
Either of the aforementioned trades would benefit the Red Sox. One would bring a solid young catcher in Montero and a fourth outfielder in Byrnes who is capable of producing as a starter, if needed. The other, which I prefer, would give the Sox a catcher of the near future (who could step in as a capable backup in 2009) in Saltalamacchia and an All-Star shortstop in Young.
Whether Epstein keeps the lineup as is - or if he makes a trade - the Red Sox need another starting pitcher. Boston could go with a rotation of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and either Clay Buchholz or Justin Masterson. The Beckett, Lester and Dice-K trio is one of the best 1-2-3 punches in baseball. However, I would feel more comfortable if the Sox signed Ben Sheets to a two-year deal (no more than two years because of his injury history) or inked Japanese right-hander Kenshin Kawakami.
The bottom line is this. Though the Yankees have improved their rotation with CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and they have bolstered their lineup and first base defense with Teixeira, Boston is the better team. I stress the word "team." Keep in mind that a collection of all-star free agents does not guarantee a championship, as the Yankees have learned (or, apparently, they have not). Still, the Red Sox need to either add another starting pitcher, or acquire another reliever if they choose to move Masterson into the rotation. The Sox also need a fourth outfielder capable of effectively filling in for J.D. Drew, and spelling Jacoby Ellsbury. It would also be ideal to sign Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay to long-term deals. If Boston does not extend Bay beyond 2009, that gives me the impression that Matt Holliday is on the radar. Holliday, who was traded to Oakland this off-season, will be a free agent after the 2009 season.
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