| 09 January 2009
Sean McAdam and Michael Silverman of the Herald:
"Mark Kotsay, whom the Sox obtained from Atlanta last August, has agreed in principle on a one-year deal to return to the club, pending a physical and completion of the contract. Kotsay will earn $1.5 million plus incentives.
Kotsay was expected to command a salary of $3 million to $4 million as an everyday outfielder for another team. But the collapsed free agent market offered him few alternatives, and when his asking price dropped, the Sox were in a position to offer him a lesser deal."
Bottom Line: Kotsay was at the top of our list in the Battle for the Bench feature. He proved he can handle firstbase with some great plays in the 2008 playoffs and he's still speedy enough to play centerfield. If you want more on Kotsay click the link...
The Herald guys also checked in with Sean Casey, who is still looking for a job:
"I'll wait and see what happens, my agent's been talking to a few clubs, but I'm looking for something that would really make it worth my while," Casey said. "Something more than a bench role, maybe platoon or full-time - something I can justify a year of the grind again for."
And had postive feedback on the health of Brad Penny and Mike Lowell:
Penny: "The Red Sox are expected to officially announce the signing of free agent pitcher Brad Penny today. [Penny] missed significant time last season with the Dodgers due to shoulder tendinitis, agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with incentives ... However, it couldn't be completed until he passed a physical, which he did here yesterday morning."
Lowell: "The doctors are optimistic, and he generally has been very positive," Theo Epstein said. The GM reiterated Lowell was unlikely to be game-ready at the start of spring training but should be close by the end of it."
Theo: "There's still some unfinished business," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. "Jason is still out there. As I said at the beginning of the offseason, he's been a really important guy here to this organization and by no means have we shut the door on him. There's still some unfinished business there. And also, in the pursuit of a younger catcher."
"We have the two young guys who combined to form a pretty good platoon last year at Pawtucket in George Kottaras and Dusty Brown," Epstein said. "And we brought in Josh Bard on a one-year deal, someone that we really trust to run a staff and call a game and has been a significant part of the catching solution for a good team in this league and done a nice job. We see him factoring into the equation for sure."
Francona: "When a guy earns the right to be a free agent and he's a high-profile player in a high-profile city with a high-profile agent, there has to be some patience," Francona said. "It's just not going to get done overnight. That's just the way it is. It can be a little unsettling, probably for everybody -- for me, for 'Tek. But that's just the way it is. The players have earned that right to go through free agency. We'll have to kind of be patient."
Bottom Line: Things seem to be moving quickly now with the Red Sox. With Rocc onboard ast he 4th outfielder, Kotsay back as the 1B/OF guy and Lugo and Lowrie expected to share the infield and Penny and Smoltz added to the pitching staff... all that's left is a catcher.
I fully expect Varietk to beback with the Red Sox before the spring - the only question is: When Scott Boras come crawling back to Theo, how much of a pay cut is he going to accept?
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