EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS
With Victor Martinez heading for Detroit, the Boston Red Sox are turning up the heat on their pursuit of free agent outfielder Carl Crawford.
Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein and Manager Terry Francona met with Crawford and his agent earlier this week in Houston, Texas. It seems as though Boston has become more serious about turning every Sox fan’s dream into a reality.
Crawford will be seeking a deal in the 6-7 year range worth just around 120 million dollars. Just last off-season, Matt Holliday raked in a 7-year 120 million dollar contract from the Cardinals. Crawford is considered at least equally as talented as Holliday, and his contract will most likely be for similar figures.
The Red Sox are publicly against giving out contracts exceeding 4 years, and rightfully so. The last three deals that the Sox have shelled out for 5 years or more have been to JD Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and John Lackey. Crawford, however, may prove to be worth the risk.
Even with the Crawford talks heating up, the Red Sox aren’t forgetting about Jayson Werth.
Just days after meeting with Crawford in Houston, Epstein and Francona met with Werth and super-agent Scott Boras in Chicago. It has been almost assumed that the Sox would end up with Werth for the start of the 2011 season, and this is just another step in that direction.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been rumored front runners in the Crawford sweepstakes, and if they drive the price too high for Boston’s liking, the Sox could end up with an outfield of Werth, Ellsbury, and Drew. Werth would prove to be a cheaper fix for the Sox, and his power from the right side would fill the void left by potential ex-Sox Adrian Beltre and now Detroit Tiger, Victor Martinez.
Whether its Crawford or Werth, the Sox will end up with a fresh new outfielder for the 2011 season. Still, the problems don’t stop there. While Boston is still in the running to bring back Adrian Beltre, it is perceived as a long-shot. If Beltre walks, the Sox will need to either add a new third baseman, or sign a first baseman and move Youkilis to the hot corner.
With the resigning of Varitek at the backstop, the Sox have at least assured they have the veteran to fall back on if the Saltalamacchia experiment fails.
Whatever the case, Boston has a lot of work to do before opening day hits us in April. Stay tuned.
If the Season Started Today:
1B – K. Youkilis
2B – D. Pedroia
SS – M. Scutaro
3B – J. Lowrie
LF – J. Ellsbury
CF – M. Cameron
RF – J. Drew
C – J. Saltalamacchia
DH – D. Ortiz
No comments:
Post a Comment