As insurance if the club does not re-sign left fielder Jason Bay. The Sox traded lefty reliever Hunter Jones to the Marlins for underachieving outfielder Jeremy Heredia. This seems to be a low risk trade. If Heredia is the everyday left fielder we are in trouble.
Grade -- C
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez does not wait too long and signs for two years with the Blue Jays. Theo plucks free agent shortstop Marco Scutaro for two years. Scutaro is coming off of a career year in Toronto. He is just a stop gap until 20 year old, Cuban defector Jose Iglesias is ready. I like the acquisition. Scutaro is not as good defensively than Gonzalez but is a superior offensive player. The idea of going into the year hoping Jed Lowire would be healthy was not the most comforting thought. Scutaro will hit in the either the eight or nine hole in the line up.
Grade -- B
While the signing of Scutaro was almost expected, John Lackey joining the starting rotation was not. The Sox add the former Angels' ace with a five year contract worth $82.5 million. Lackey's career numbers are very similar to Josh Beckett's. A rotation of Lackey, Beckett, Jon Lester, Dice-K and Clay Buchholz with Tim Wakefield and Michael Bowden in reserve is baseball's best. There is speculation that Lackey's signing may pave the way for trading Buchholz to acquire a hitter (Adrian Gonzalez, Miguel Cabrera). Also with Beckett in the last year of his contract, Lackey gives the organization the option of not being cornered into re-signing Beckett.
Grade -- A-
Thirty-seven year old Mike Cameron was signed for two years, $15.5 million. Cameron is a Gold Glove outfielder with some pop in his bat and reportedly a great clubhouse guy . He does strike out a great deal. At worst, Cameron is the right handed part of the left field platoon. The guess is he gets more at bats than Heredia. Like Scutaro, Cameron is a bottom of the order guy. Again, there is speculation that this signing may result in another deal this time involving involving Jacoby Ellsbury. Cameron, though willing to play left field, is a center fielder by trade.
Grade -- C+
A couple of thoughts ....
- I would trade Buchholz and Ellsbury for Adrian Gonzalez only if a long term deal with the sweet hitting first baseman could be worked out. I am a big fan of Ellsbury's athleticism and potential. I am not sold on Buchholz. Gonzalez is a star and they cost something to get. He would give us a threesome of Kevin Youkilis, Gonzalez and Victor Martinez hitting in the middle of the line up.
- I like the idea of holding onto the promising minor leaguers like pitcher Casey Kelly, and outfielder Ryan Westmoreland. I realize they do not always pan out (consider the fall of Lars Anderson, and names from the past like Frankie Rodriguez, Andy Marte) but we must have faith in the farm system and the scouting department.
- "Me no likey" the idea of bringing back Johnny Damon. Ditto for signing free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.
- I enjoyed watching Jason Bay for the last year and a half. The price was simply too high. His absence does leave a void in the line up. My advice to him is to not sign with the Mets. That franchise is where free agents sign and get bad.
