Red Sox Free Agency Breakdown
It is the end of another season for the Boston Red Sox. This year’s free agents will determine the future success of New England’s greatest franchise. Big names like Jason Bay and Victor Martinez have Sox fans gnawing their fingernails to see if they will re-sign with Boston.
Jason Bay is no doubt the best-ranked free agent heading into the 2010 season. His 2009 season was a season any player would want to have before going to free agency. Despite batting .267, Bay set new career highs in Home Runs (36) and RBI’s (119). Since being traded to Boston, Red Sox fans have welcomed Bay with open arms. Since there is a good chance the Red Sox organization will pay Bay whatever he wants, Red Sox Nation will likely see number 44 in left field for another season.
It is fact, that Victor Martinez has been the big bat Red Sox fans have been waiting for. In 56 games since joining Boston, Martinez batted .336 with 8 Home Runs and 41 RBI’s. Martinez has also been sharing catching duties with Captain Jason Varitek. MLB experts see the catcher/first baseman to have an 80+ RBI season in 2010. The Red Sox have a 7.5 million dollar option for Martinez for 2010, so Martinez will most likely stay in Boston.
Billy Wagner is an unlikely vote to stay in Boston. The 38-year-old pitcher, who spent fifteen years as a closer for 3 different teams, is not too thrilled of the idea of being a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. Wagner pitched in 15 games with the Red Sox and had an impressive Earned Run Average of 1.98. With 385 career saves, Wagner is second on the active list and sixth on the All-Time list in saves. With 15 saves left until the historic mark, it is easy to understand why Wagner would not re-sign with Boston. However, with Wagner gone, the Red Sox would have plenty of backup pitching in Daniel Bard, Ramon Ramirez, Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito to help set up Papelbon.
Since the days of Nomar Garciaparra, the spot for shortstop has been anything but kind to the Boston Red Sox organization. But for current shortstop Alex Gonzalez, it has been nearly perfect for him. In 155 career games with Boston, Gonzalez has a .987 field percentage with only 8 committed errors. Nick Green, who also played shortstop in 2009, made 14 errors in just 81 games played. Gonzalez has a $6 million dollar mutual option with a $5 hundred thousand-dollar buyout. If the Red Sox were to buyout his contract and pay him $ 3 million, there is a good chance Gonzalez will play for the Red Sox in 2010.
Rocco Baldelli has been more productive as a pinch hitter than a starter this season. In 2009, Baldelli hit just .253 with 7 Home Runs and 23 RBI’s in 62 games played. The Red Sox outfield has been fully loaded with Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew. With stars on the rise down in the minors, it is hard to say when and where Baldelli would get some playing time. Josh Reddick and Brian Anderson have shown their success in the outfield when they were needed. Along with the acquiring of Joey Gathright from Baltimore, the chances of Baldelli re-signing with the Red Sox are slim to none.
If Bay, Martinez and Gonzalez were to re-sign, Boston would once again become a huge threat within the American League. Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek are the other two free agents. However, it is difficult to say that either one will re-sign. If the two were not to re-sign, they would certainly be a fit for bench coaches to assist the younger talent.
article by Joe Sousa
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