THE BIG BOSTON MONSTAH

Here find out latest news, stats, and rumors on your hometown Boston Red Sox.

Even before the start of spring training the Red Sox have a injured player.  Backup first baseman and outfielder Mark Kotsay had back surgery late January and is expected to be out until May. 

Finally after  months of on and off again talks catcher Jason Varitek and the Red Sox have agreed to a 1-year deal with a player and team option for a 2nd year in 2010.  The 1st year is worth 5 million and the team option for 2010 is 5 million, the player option is 3 million with 2 million in incentives.   Around the beginning of the offseason the Red Sox offered Varitek arbitration, but he eventually declined which turned out to cost him more than 4 million.  The Red Sox made their second offer to the captain once again at the top of the week and Varitek was given a deadline of Friday.  There were reports that Varitek was threatening to retire or sit out the 2009 season and not accept the Red Sox offer, .  Varitek will enter his 13th MLB season all with the Red Sox.

Former Red Sox first basemen Sean Casey has retired.  He recently announced on WEEI.  Casey is one of the most likable guys in the MLB.  He is known as the "Mayor".  Casey, 34, played 12 MLB seasons, only 1 with the Red Sox (2008).  Casey will join MLB Network as a baseball analyst.

After a 16-year career and a 15 year wait, former Red Sox slugger Jim Rice has been elected to the baseball hall of fame in his 15th and final year on the ballot.  Rice, 54, has was a dominant slugger with the Red Sox and played all of his career in Boston.  For a 10-12 year span Rice was one of the most feared hitters in baseball.  Rice had a .298 career avg., 382 homeruns and 1451 RBI.  Rice was a 8-time all-star and his case has been debated for many years about wether he should be in the hall.  Rice was dominant before the steriod era began.  The numbers he put up before that time are fascinating and appear much smaller because of the era.  Rice received 76.4 percent of votes.  He was also elected with Rickey Henderson who spent a year with the Red Sox in 2002.  Finally after 15 years of waiting Jim Rice has gotten what he deserves.

Today the Red Sox added depth to their bull-pen by adding 39 year-old reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal worth about 1.5 or 2.5 million.  Ken Rosenthal of foxsports.com reported that Saito could earn up 7 million in bonuses and has already passed his physical.  The right handed reliever spent parts of three seasons as the Dodgers closer.  He saved 39 games for the Dodgers in 2007 but missed most of last year with a elbow injury.  Saito did not return to the Dodgers for 2009 and will most likely serve as a mid or late-inning reliever since the Red Sox have star closer Jonathan Papelbon closing out the 9th for them.  The Red Sox have already confirmed the signing in a press- release today.  

According to a report from Boston.com the Red Sox have agreed to a contract to free agent left hitting outfielder/first baseman Mark Kotsay.  The 33 year old is expected to finalize the deal when he returns from his vacation in Aruba.  The contract is reportedly a one-year deal worth about 1.5 million.  Kotsay was traded to Boston on August 27, 2008 from the Braves.  He served as a backup outfielder and first baseman.  Kotsay wouldn't rule out a return to the Red Sox after the season ended, but said he wanted to start.  But that didn't work out for Kotsay as the free agent market is very slow.

Today the Red Sox signed 27 year old Rocco Baldelli to a one-year contract worth about $500,000.  Baldelli who last played with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2003-2008.  Baldelli will most likely play in the 4th outfielders spot.  Baldelli missed some of last year due to his disorder which makes him tire quicker then normal.  Baldelli will wear former Red Sox Nomar Garciapara's number 5.  Baldelli, Red Sox manager Terry Francona, and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein spoke to the media today about the deal.  Baldelli said he was fine and feeling good and the Red Sox have already tried to help him with his disorder.  The Red Sox are also reportedly close to signing former Cy Young award winner John Smoltz. Smoltz ,41 , has spent his whole career with the Braves.  Though after 21 years with the Braves, Smoltz decided to leave for the Red Sox.  It was reported that Smoltz would call the Braves Thursday morning saying he was signing with the Red Sox.  Smoltz will sign a guarenteed 5 million one-year deal with the Red Sox and with a extra 5 million in bonuses.  The AP reported that the deal will most likely be finalized Thursday or Friday.  Smoltz won't be able to pitch until late May or early June because of last years surgery on his shoulder.  Smoltz will join Boston starting rotation of Josh Beckett, Daiskue Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, and Brad Penny.  We will have more on Smoltz when the deal is finalized.

The Red Sox have agreed to deals with pitcher Brad Penny and catcher Josh Bard.  Both are reported to be one -year deals.  Penny's worth about 5 million plus 3 million in bonuses.  Bard's deal is reported to be about 1.6 million with a one -year non-guaranteed major league contract. This will be Bard's second stint with the Red Sox the first coming in 2006 when he was traded to Boston from the Indians.  He only played 7 games with the Red Sox until being traded to the Padres, his most recent team.  Bard will most likely be viewed as a back up catcher.  As for Penny he confirmed his deal to WEEI.com.  “There were a lot of teams involved,” said Penny in a phone conversation, “but I wanted to go somewhere where I knew we had a great chance at winning and Boston is that place.”  Penny was hurt last season because of shoulder pain and was shut down in September.   Signing Penny will mean that he will join the Red Sox starting staff.  Possibly as a 4th starter.  Both deals are pending physicals and should be finalized as soon as today.

Today the Red Sox gave their second baseman and 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia a 6- year contract extension.  Pedroia who was named 2008 AL MVP in November will recieve 40.5 million dollars over those 6 years.  Pedroia strongly deserved this extension, because of the thrilling numbers he put up last year and winning the AL MVP."I'm extremely excited." "I definitely wanted to be here a long time and help the Red Sox win," said Pedroia during a press conference confirming the signing.  Pedroia also has a club option for 2015 for 11 million.

The Red Sox offered catcher and team captain Jason Varitek and pitcher Paul Byrd salary arbitration Monday before the deadline of 12p.m.  Varitek, 36 has spent all of his 11 MLB seasons with the Red Sox.  While Byrd, 38 has just spent nearly 2 months with the Red Sox as he was picked up by the Red Sox early last August.  While Byrd is likely to decline to explore the market, Varitek might not have the market he hopes for.  It is obvious Varitek wants to return to the Red Sox since he is captain and Boston has been his home for 11 years.  Both players have till Sunday to either accept or decline the offer.

Today Tim Bogar will be named the new first base coach of the Red Sox.  Bogar will replace Luis Alicea who was let go by the team after the season ended.  Last year Bogar served as a assistant major league coach for the Rays.  Bogar was also a minor league manager with the Indians and Astros organizations.  Bogar played in the major leagues for 9 years mostly at shortstop.  Bogar and Red Sox manager Terry Francona will address the media at 2:00.

Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa who has recently drawn interest from many major league clubs is expected to sign as soon as December 1st with the Red Sox.  The deal is a major league deal, but Tazawa will most likely start off in the minors.  Tazawa who is 22 is expected to sign a 3-year deal reportedly for 6 million.  

Today Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp was traded to the Kansas City Royals for relief pitcher Ramon Ramirez.  Crisp played with the Red Sox for 3 years.  General Manager Theo Epstein had this to say on his new pitcher,"In Ramirez, we believe we've acquired a young,  controllable reliever that can really help our bullpen."  Ramirez had a great season last year posting a 2.64 ERA in 71.2 innings, striking out 70 and allowed just two homeruns on the season.  Defensively Crisp was almost perfect in Boston, but he struggled at the plate.  That led to the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury who shared the center field job with Crisp last season.  During 2008 spring training Crisp asked to be traded because he lost his starting job to Ellsbury and wanted to play everyday.  

Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills and third base coach DeMarlo Hale will return to the Red Sox in 2009.  Both of the coaches were some of the final candidates for the Seattle Mariners manager position.  Both will return though since Oakland A's bench coach Don Wakamatsu will be hired for the job.  Mills and Hale both expressed disapointment but were still excited to return to the Red Sox in 2009.  Mills will return for his 6th season as Red Sox bench coach and Hale will return for his 4th year.

According to a report by ESPN's Pedro Gomez former Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez was to be suspended by the club, said many baseball sources.  Ramirez recieved a letter from the team stating his suspension, for his unwillingness to play.  Ramirez had sat out that last 2 games.  It was obvious that Ramirez was not really hurt and was just unhappy with Red Sox management.  Although, the suspension would become effective on July 26, Ramirez called the club and said he would play.  He did end up playing anyways, none of that matters now as Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers on the July 31 trading deadline.

Two Red Sox coaches are candidates for the Seattle Mariners manager job.  Red Sox Bench Coach Brad Mills and DeMarlo Hale will be interviewed by Seattle executives for the manager job.  Mills has been the Red Sox Bench Coach since Manager Terry Francona took over in 2004.  Hale on the other hand became the 3B Coach in 2006 for the Red Sox.  Both have also managed on the Red Sox farm system.  Mills has already been interviewed and Hale's interview is expected to be this Thursday.  Red Sox Pitching Coach John Farrell who was a candidate for the Pirates Manager job last year, but declined to be interviewed because he had made a commitment to the Red Sox organization did the same today.  After speculation he was also a candidate for the Mariners job Farrell said he will not be interviewed and stay the Red Sox Pitching Coach for the 2009 season.  Here is the statement from Farrell released by the Red Sox.

Red Sox First Base Coach Luis Alicea won't return to the Red Sox next season, as he was not offered a 2009 contract by the club.  The other 5 members of the coaching staff , John Farrell(pitching coach), Dave Magadan(hitting coach), Gary Tuck(bullpen coach), DeMarlo Hale(third base coach) and Brad Mills (bench coach) were all offered a invitiation to come back.  Alicea had this to say:"I was proud to wear the Red Sox uniform. "My experiences there will make me a better coach in the future. I was able to go to Japan, win a World Series with a great group of guys. We all worked together. I think the players responded to everything I tried to do with them."  Some possible replacements for Alicea could be former Red Sox third base coach Dale Sveum who was let go by the Brewers last week after he was informed he would not return as manager of the team in 2009.  Sveum served as the acting manager for the Brewers ,but some say he might stay in the Brewers organization.  Another candidate could be NESN Red Sox analyst Ken Macha.  Macha is a former manager of the Oakland Athletics,but currently Macha is being interviewed by both the Mariners and Brewers for the managerial position. If Macha doesn't recieve either job it is possible that he could be the new Red Sox 1st base coach.

Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell had surgery today for the injury that took him out of the 2008 postseason.  Lowell had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right hip, and he also had a bone spur removed according to Red Sox spokesman John Blake. 

*General Manager Theo Epstein also had a press conference today and said that some of the Red Sox free agents such as Alex Cora and Sean Casey have both said they want to return.  Mark Kotsay who is a free agent wants to play regulary which will probably be with another team.  Vetran pitcher Mike Timlin who will likely retire reportedly gave his teammates hugs probably his last time in the clubhouse as a player.

Game over season over. Sadly the Red Sox lost last night in Game 7 of ALCS.  It was a painfull loss since Boston came back against the Rays to force Game 7 after they were down in the series 3-1.  Unlike 2004 and 2007 when the Red Sox came back to win the ALCS after they were down 3-0(2004) and 3-1(2007) they lost this with a 3-1 score.  There are many things that might happen this offseason and maybe theres not even some.  Some rumors that are floating around the baseball world are very interesting.  First, former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe who's 4 year contract he signed in 2005 is up with the Dodgers has said that Boston is first on his list in places he would like to play in 2009.  Lowe was on the 2004 Red Sox championship team and played 7 years with the club.  2004 was his last season with the Red Sox.  Then, you have the Jason Varitek drama.  Varitek who just finished his 12th season as a Red Sox 4 year contract expired when the Red Sox lost and ended there season.  Rumors are floating that Varitek who is the catcher and team captain might not be back for the Red Sox next season.  He is 37 which is old for a catcher and was in a season long offensive slump this year.  Some just say it couldn't happen because without Varitek the young guns wouldn't be what they are today.........great.  Varitek gives so much confidence behind the plate for young players its staggering.  There are reports that the Red Sox are also looking into San Diego ace Jake Peavy and have talked to the Padres about making a  deal.   Finally the Julio Lugo question comes up what are the Red Sox gonna do with their SS and I personally think they eat up the contract and ship him away.  Just think for the first time in the last 4-5 years there will be no Manny rumors this offseason....finally.