| 02 December 2009
The team reached preliminary agreement Tuesday with free-agent left-hander Billy Wagner on a one-year, $7 million contract with a vesting option for a second season, according to a major-league source. The deal will become official once Wagner passes a physical, which he will take in Atlanta on Wednesday. The vesting option, worth $6.5 million, will become guaranteed if Wagner finishes 50 games next season.I didn't really expect the Red Sox to re-sign Wagner, but his arrival did seem to balance out our bullpen in 2009. With Wagner signing to Atlanta, former closers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez will be up for grabs and the Sox have already expressed interest. Both are younger and cheaper than Wagner would have been.
MLB Trade Rumors expects the Red Sox to earn the Braves' 52nd overall pick since they offered Wagner arbitration yesterday.
MLB Trade Rumors - They also have the full list of players that were offered, or not offered arbitration yesterday.
<a href="">MLB Trade Rumors - There were also a number of players that did not receive and arbitration offer... some of whom have already been connected to the Red Sox this offseason:
Orlando Hudson, a Type A FA, was not offered an arb deal by the Dodgers and can now be signed by another team without costing them a draft pick. The Red Sox aren't likely to move Dustin Pedroia to shortstop, but it is a last resort and Hudson might be a nice fit at second base if they do.
So would Palcido Polanco, who was not offered an arb deal by the Tigers after four very good years in Detroit.
Jason Bay and Matt Holliday did receive arbitration deal, but Johnny Damon did not. Jermaine Dye (Type A) and Xavier Nady (Type B) were not offered arb deals either and both could be share time with Jeremy Hermida in left field if the Sox don't sign Bay or Holliday.
And some very interesting pitchers were not offered arb deals, including Erik Bedard (Type B), Rich Harden (Type B), Jon Garland (Type B), Randy Wolf (Type A) and Andy Pettitte (Type B).
Rosenthal says the Red Sox are already pushing hard to sign Harden, but Bedard is another low cost/high reward possibility. And Randy Wolf become much more attractive now that his cost will not include a high draft pick. Wolf was 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA for the Dodgers in 2009.
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