Red Sox Cut SS Julio Lugo

Because of Nick Green's emergence from non-roster invitee to key contributor, and Jed Lowrie's imminent return, the Red Sox essentially didn't have a spot for SS Julio Lugo.

The Red Sox now have 10 days to either trade Lugo, release him or re-assign him.

The Red Sox have sought a potential trade partner for Lugo, though they'd likely be on the hook for the most -- if not all -- of the $13.5 million the shortstop is owed through the end of 2010.

Randy Wolf Signs With Dodgers

Randy Wolf, who last year carried the Astros in the second half of the season, signed, as expected, with the Los Angeles Dodgers for one year, $5 million guaranteed with $3 million in incentives. Wolf had originally been offered bthree years, $28.5 million from the Astros before they pulled the offer off the table during the economic collapse. It was reported that Wolf wanted three years, $30 million guaranteed but had to readjust after the collapse. Wolf, who was 12-12 last year with the Padres and Astros, pitched for the Dodgers in 2007, and the Dodgers sought his return this offseason after losing Brad Penny to the Red Sox, Derek Lowe to the Braves ang Greg Maddux to retirement.

Jason Varitek signs with Red Sox, Standoff Ends

The Red Sox and free-agent catcher Jason Varitek agreed on a contract according to a report out of MLB.com. The deal is for one year at $5 million with an option for 2010 that Boston could activate at $5 million (or Varitek could at $3 million).

Varitek could make another $2 million in 2010 via incentive clauses, as reported by the Boston Globe, meaning the total value of the contract will be as low as $8 million or as high as $12 million.

Rumor that Red Sox, Jason Varitek Showdown Tonight

Looks like Jason Varitek and the Boston Red Sox will be sitting down to discuss potential contract terms in a meeting. Varitek had rejected the reported one year deal, seeking a multiyear deal worth Jorge Posada type money. One wonders, after testing the market under these trying conditions, if perhaps Varitek will come off those demands. Time will tell.

Red Sox Sign Kevin Youkilis to Four Year Deal

The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration with 1B Kevin Youkilis with a four year, $40 million contract with a club option for 2013. Youkilis, a Gold Glover, was third in the balloting last year for Most Valuable Player and hit .312 with 29 HR's and 115 RBI's.

Mets to Sign Infielder Alex Cora

According to a report on WEEI.com, the New York Mets have reached a deal with 2B/ SS Alex Cora on a one year, $2 million contract to be the Mets' utility middle infielder. Cora played last year with the Boston Red Sox and hit .270 in 75 games.

Atlanta Braves and Derek Lowe Talks Getting Serious

There are many reports that the Atlanta Braves, after feeling much fan blowback after letting John Smoltz sign with the Red Sox, are showing some real Benjamins to try to land Derek Lowe. Reportedly the Braves have offered Lowe 4 years, $60 million in an attempt to bring the former Red Sox and Dodger pitcher into the fold. The 35 year old right handed Lowe was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA last year with the Dodgers.

UPDATE: Many reports that Lowe has agreed to the four year deal, pending physical.

Red Sox Keep the Signings Coming With Takashi Saito

The Boston Red Sox remained busy with the signing of Takashi Saito, the right handed reliever who spent the last three years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Saito's deal is reported to be guaranteed $1.5 million for the first year, but with incentives that could make it worth $7 million. It is a one year deal with the Red Sox, with a club option for 2010.

Braves Nearing Deal with Kenshin Kamakawi

The Atlanta Braves, clearing becoming a little more active after John Smoltz took the deal with the Boston Red Sox, are reportedly nearing a deal with 33 year old Kenshin Kamakawi from Japan to be a starter in their rotation. No rumors yet on the size of the deal (although original reports that the demand was in the 3 year, $30 million plus range). Previously the Mets, Orioles, Angels, Cardinals and Twins had been rumored to have been previously interested in Kamakawi's services. Kamakawi's fastball is supposed to be clocked around 92 with a nasty splitter, 2 seam fastball and curve that keeps batters off guard. He also, apparently, can handle a bat, which is definitely helpful in the National League.

Red Sox, Mark Kotsay Agree to One Year Deal

Continuing the news out of Boston, the Red Sox have agree to a one year, $1.5 million deal with OF/1B Mark Kotsay. It was thought that Kotsay would not be re-signed due to the recent signing of Rocco Baldelli, but the deal did indeed get done. Kotsay, 33, was acquired by the Sox from the Atlanta Braves last year and hit .226 in the 33 games he played in the AL, but was hitting .289 with the Braves when he was acquired. He is expecte to be a left handed bat off the bench and reserve OF.

John Smoltz to sign with Boston Red Sox

Reports abound that John Smoltz's days with the Atlanta Braves may be over, as the 41 year old right handed pitcher will sign with the Boston Red Sox. Smoltz, formerly a starter, had been moved to the pen in Atlanta (a team he has been with since he broke into the majors), and is coming off shoulder surgery. The deal is reportedly worth a guaranteed $5.5 million with incentives that could reach $10 million, and they are projecting him to be in the rotation when his rehab is complete.

Red Sox and Rocco Baldelli Reportedly Close to Deal

Rocco Baldelli, recent recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming adversity (he had been diagnosed with mitochondrial disorder which causes chronic fatigue), is reportedly close to signing with the Boston Red Sox to be their fourth outfielder. Baldelli was limited in action last year due to the disease, but reportedly Baldelli was recently diagnosed with a different disorder that is more treatable, channelopathy. Baldelli had also battled injuries in other years since his impressive debut in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Rays, but is a lifetime .280 ish hitter with decent speed.

Pat Burrell Takes Pay Cut, Signs with Tampa Bay Rays

Pat Burrell, who made nearly $14 million last year (but was not offered arbitration by the Philadelphia Phillies), took a pretty massive pay cut by signing a two year, $16 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. It had been expected that Burrell's locations were limited, as he was looking like a DH candidate, but he did receive more than a one year deal. This is probably a win, win...The Rays, in a division with the Red Sox and Yankees, needed an extra right handed power bat, and Burrell gets a two year deal to be a DH for a contender.

This is showing, however, the difference that free agents on the market are facing this off season. With the car makers struggling (one of the most dedicated advertisers and promotions industry for middle and smaller market teams), teams are projecting significantly less revenue and are therefore holding down the number of years and keeping their offers significantly lower as a rule. Ultimately Burrell signing for $8 million may make the Ty Wiggington's of the world think twice about asking for too much in their negotiations. Burrell is a pretty consistent bat that is well proven (and has playoff and World Series experience), and if he's taking $8 million, some of the less proven players are likely trying to get the coal out of their Christmas stockings.

Report: Brad Penny to sign one year deal with Red Sox

WEEI.com is reporting that RHP Brad Penny has confirmed a one year contract with the Boston Red Sox. The big right hander had previously shown a promise for top of the rotation stuff before going down with an injury, missing much of last year. Penny has previously confirmed he wanted a deal with Red Sox, despite other suitors, since he wanted to play for a team with a likely chance to be in the post season. If this is, indeed, a $5 million base salary deal, as is being reported, this is a decent investment on a guy with large upside and has shown the ability to throw 200 plus innings as a hard thrower.

Rich Get Richer III: Mark Teixeira Goes to NY Yankees

And it is done. Mark Teixeira has agreed to an 8 year, $180 million contract to be the first baseman for the New York Yankees. Obviously this does not mean that the Yankees will win the World Series, of course, but they certainly made a few Yankee fans happy. But as I read somewhere, being a Yankee fan, unless you grew up in NYC, is a little like cheering for Brad Pitt to get the girl at the end of the movie. Teixeira, Sabathia and Burnett were the girls, and Brad Pitt got them all.

Frankly, I'm wondering if other MLB owners aren't a little excited about the spending spree, given the luxury tax money going to the other clubs. If I were an owner of a small ballclub in this market and economy, I might hope NY continues to spend, spend, spend.

Anyway, there will be rumbling, but essentially the problem is with the ownership structure and lack of salary cap in baseball. I think a system like the NBA makes sense, with the allowance for guaranteed money and "Larry Bird" exceptions. But I don't foresee Boston and NY agreeing to that anytime soon.

So for now, Yankees and Red Sox will build through free agency, smaller clubs will build through signing their young talent to long term deals before they know how good they are, and that will be baseball.

Teixeira: Decision before Christmas?

There have been many reports that Mark Teixeira will be making a decision on which team with which he will sign before December 25, 2008. The Washington Nationals are reported to have offered Mark Teixeira an 8 year deal worth $178-184 million according to Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), with discussion of a ten year deal. It may be the length of time that made the Red Sox and Angels seemingly back down this past week, but the Red Sox and the Nationals are the front runners, according to Peter Gammons of ESPN. I'm guessing it is now down to opt out and no trade clauses if it is indeed the Nationals. Time will tell.

Red Sox say they are out of Teixeira Sweepstakes

After a meeting with Mark Teixeira and his agent, Scott Boras, the Red Sox, through their principal owner John Henry has stated, "We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him," Henry said in an e-mail time-stamped 10:45 p.m. "After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."  This basically puts the Orioles back in the spotlight, given Teixeira is a Baltimore native and owner Peter Angelos has indicated he is interesting in signing Teixeira, who hit .308 with 33 home runs and 121 RBIs, and 97 walks last season.  Given Boras is his agent, I would not count out the fact that this may all be a plan by the Sox to really see what Boras has on the table, and to see if a split with Boras might be in Teixeira's future.

Yankees Sign A.J. Burnett: The Rich Get Richer

The Yankees have landed their top two choices from the free agent pitching market. A.J. Burnett has reached a preliminary agreement on a five-year, $82.5 million contract with New York, as first reported by ESPN.com, and they also landed C.C. Sabathia during the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Looks like Boston, you've been served.

Nats and O's offer Texeira big deals; Sox, Halos, Yanks also interested

According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, via a major league source, the Washington Nationals have offered the switch-hitting first baseman an eight-year, $160 million contract that would pay Teixeira an average of $20 million per season. The Nationals would not confirm the dollar figures.

The Angels, Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees are also in the mix. A published report said that the Orioles offered Teixeira a seven-year, $150 million contract.

Tazawa to sign with the Red Sox

According to Japanese newspapers, Junichi Tazawa, the amateur right handed pitcher from the corporate team Eneos (Nippon Oil), will sign with the Boston Red Sox. Apparently the Texas Rangers made a longer term deal for more money, but Tazawa chose to join the BoSox due to their "development program", and due to the fact that Diasuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima have been there before to help transition.
This signing apparently is causing some in Japan to stir, in that Japanese and American teams had previously not actively sought amateur players from the others' countries. Tazawa chose to forego the Japanese draft to sign with the Red Sox, which may provide more impetus for a international draft in baseball (particularly if relations with Cuba become less hostile).