Boys of Summer, Men of Winter...
2005 came to a close with the Red Sox being swept by the Chicago White Sox in a best of five series. While it wasn’t the end we were all hoping for, enough time has passed for me to be able to look back at this season and consider it a success. After all, considering the absence of a legitimate ace, the loss of our closer, and some all around sloppy baseball (thanks Edgar), the team still made it to the post-season. In all honesty, we didn’t even deserve to be there, but, thanks to monumental collapses by the Orioles, and a last-minute nosedive by the Cleveland Indians, the Red Sox squeaked by, despite the fact that this was a tired and ineffective team for much of the last month of the season.
So now we must look ahead to 2006 and what is going to be one of the busiest off-seasons in years. Fan favorites Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Mike Timlin, Mike Myers and role players like Kevin Millar, John Olerud, and Tony Graffanino are all eligible for free agency, and the eternal question mark that is Manny Ramirez may or may not find himself back out on the market by the time winter meetings roll around in December.
The Boston Herald reports that Ramirez has recently requested a meeting with ownership to discuss the team’s direction, and a source authorized to speak for Ramirez says that the slugger is more than happy in Boston and wants to finish his career here. Other sources, however, state that a trade to the New York Mets is imminent, and one report says that Pedro Martinez ended his season by passing out cards to the New York media that say “Call Me When We Get Manny.”
As for Damon, he is seeking a deal in the range of five years/fifty million dollars, similar to the package Jason Varitek sought last season. Damon is represented by Scott Boras, who negotiated Varitek’s deal last season that saw the catcher waving a demand for a no-trade clause, and accepting four years/forty million. While the Red Sox would love to bring Damon back, it is generally thought that his asking price is too steep for a player his age, and that a long term deal with the centerfielder may be out of the question. Potential suitors for Damon’s services could include the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as well as the New York Yankees, especially now that it is assumed that Bernie Williams has played his last game in pinstripes.
Millar is as good as gone, as the first basemen put up career low numbers in 2005, while back-up first basemen, John Olerud could be a cheap platoon partner for someone like Kevin Youkillis (if the Sox decide to offer Bill Mueller another contract). Meanwhile, Graffanino will most likely be passed on as the team is looking at Pawtucket’s Dustin Pedroia as their starting second baseman for 2006, with Alex Cora serving as a utility option off the bench. If the Sox don’t tender an offer to Mueller, Youkillis will take over duties at third, while the team makes a run at a power hitting first baseman, such as the White Sox’ Paul Konerko, Tampa Bay’s Aubrey Huff, or Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn (the latter of the choices possibly coming as part of a trade involving Ramirez).
As for the starting rotation, the Sox may stand pat, with Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, David Wells, Matt Clement, and Jon Papelbon under the team’s control for next season, and Bronson Arroyo eligible for salary arbitration. Wade Miller may also be offered a contract, making Arroyo potential trade bait. The team may need to address holes in the bullpen if they don’t offer contracts to lefty specialist Mike Myers and this year’s most consistent reliever, Mike Timlin, but sources think a deal for Timlin is imminent, and Myers services will also be retained. Foulke, who had a disastrous season, is expected to be at full-strength in time for Spring training following off-season knee surgery, anchoring a bullpen bolstered by rookie phenoms Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen.
However, nothing will be accomplished until ownership addresses the situation of the team’s general manager, Theo Epstein, whose contract also expires this year. Reports have the team and Epstein at the negotiating table, but finds the sides far apart on a deal that would bring the wunderkind back to the Fenway front office (by as much as $700,000 per year, according to some reports). This comes at a time when many teams, including the Yankees, may be shopping for new general managers themselves.
So, even though the 2005 season is over, there will be no rest for Red Sox Nation during the long, hard winter ahead. Stay tuned for special Hot Stove State of the Nation reports in the coming months!
2005 came to a close with the Red Sox being swept by the Chicago White Sox in a best of five series. While it wasn’t the end we were all hoping for, enough time has passed for me to be able to look back at this season and consider it a success. After all, considering the absence of a legitimate ace, the loss of our closer, and some all around sloppy baseball (thanks Edgar), the team still made it to the post-season. In all honesty, we didn’t even deserve to be there, but, thanks to monumental collapses by the Orioles, and a last-minute nosedive by the Cleveland Indians, the Red Sox squeaked by, despite the fact that this was a tired and ineffective team for much of the last month of the season.
