Hot Stove Rumors - The Fenway Edition

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Dubront + Gomes? That sounds like a crazy underpay. Sign me up if that ever became concrete, but I'll be busy coping with the freezing over of hell (and a quick stop at the mixed metaphor store), 'cause that's nuts.

Edit: sorry, not a rumor. Unless you count the freezing over of hell part.

 

[rodderick]

People, it's DOubrOnt. Really, I know it's a minor thing but the guy has been on the team for two full seasons now.

 

[soxhop411]

Nick Cafardo ‏@nickcafardo3m
Red Sox like the potential for a righty-lefty catching set-up which makes A.J. Pierzynski an attractive short-term choice.

 

[Jaylach]

 
Nick Cafardo ‏@nickcafardo3m
Red Sox like the potential for a righty-lefty catching set-up which makes A.J. Pierzynski an attractive short-term choice.
 

 
So the Sox made this big effort to change the club house culture.. only to bring in A.J?
 
Something doesn't sit right (or well) with me here...

 

[CaskNFappin]

Might as well bring in Jack Parkman from Major League 2 if we are trying to destroy the clubhouse culture.

 

[rembrat]

 
So the Sox made this big effort to change the club house culture.. only to bring in A.J?
 
Something doesn't sit right (or well) with me here...

 
There has never been any question about AJ's desire to play baseball. Is he dirty and nasty? Maybe if you have competed against him but he's never not been a 'gamer.' 
 
I would not be against AJ Pierzynski catching the lion share of games in 2014 if Salty is gone.

 

[rodderick]

Might as well bring in Jack Parkman from Major League 2 if we are trying to destroy the clubhouse culture.

Where are you guys getting this notion that AJ's a clubhouse cancer? He's annoying, sure, but I fucking hated Gomes when he was with the Rays too.

 

[soxhop411]

Red Sox Stats ‏@redsoxstats37m
Per sources, ESPNNY says the Red Sox and Rockies are aggressively pursuing Carlos Ruiz. Would be a very good 2 year (hopefully) bridge.
 
Would prefer Ruiz over  AJ Pierzynski to be honest. Would seem to be a better fit

 

[JimBoSox9]

People, it's DOubrOnt. Really, I know it's a minor thing but the guy has been on the team for two full seasons now.

 
I'll cop to that one.  At this point my only hope is for Felix to get his name officially changed to drop that dastardly first "o".  But hey, I'm over 30, I'm forgetting things, this is great, right?

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Where are you guys getting this notion that AJ's a clubhouse cancer? He's annoying, sure, but I fucking hated Gomes when he was with the Rays too.

 
Seems to me I've been reading references to how unpopular Pierzynski is with everybody, including his own teammates, for the last decade. You put up with that for somebody who's a difference-maker on the field. I don't see PIerzynski as being that any more, if he ever was. The guy had a .297 OBP last year playing in one of the best offensive environments in baseball.
 
Also, I don't understand why platoon potential would be a priority at the one position where maintaining anything close to a strict platoon arrangement is most problematic (caddy preferences, night/day games, etc.).
 
Ruiz makes more sense. Or Hanigan, if we're willing to keep our offensive expectations low.

 

[rodderick]

 
Seems to me I've been reading references to how unpopular Pierzynski is with everybody, including his own teammates, for the last decade. You put up with that for somebody who's a difference-maker on the field. I don't see PIerzynski as being that any more, if he ever was. The guy had a .297 OBP last year playing in one of the best offensive environments in baseball.
 
Also, I don't understand why platoon potential would be a priority at the one position where maintaining anything close to a strict platoon arrangement is most problematic (caddy preferences, night/day games, etc.).
 
Ruiz makes more sense. Or Hanigan, if we're willing to keep our offensive expectations low.

I don't like AJ for this team as a player, and I agree both Ruiz and Hanigan would be much better options. Maybe it's because I don't live in the US and don't have much contact with other baseball fans, but I've never heard any complaints about him as a teammate. But maybe I'm wrong on that.

 

[rembrat]

 
I'll cop to that one.  At this point my only hope is for Felix to get his name officially changed to drop that dastardly first "o".  But hey, I'm over 30, I'm forgetting things, this is great, right?

 
Fat chance, gramps. Felix has his last name tattooed on his forearm.

 

[soxhop411]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal3s
Free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz's agent has told at least one suitor that he has a two-year, $20M offer.
 
Wonder If this is the Sox or COL

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Maybe it's because I don't live in the US and don't have much contact with other baseball fans, but I've never heard any complaints about him as a teammate. But maybe I'm wrong on that.

 
Here's a good ESPN article from back in 2006 that pretty well sums up my memories of how he was seen in his bad-boy heyday. Here are some of the money quotes--all from guys who were, at the time, his teammates or coaches, and who all spoke on the record:
 
"If you play against him, you hate him. If you play with him, you hate him a little less."
 
"I don't think he's a smartass. I think he's an ass without the smart."
 
"I'm so tired of A.J.'s stuff....ask around—I'm sure everybody else feels the same way.""
 
"Once Barrett hit him, I think the whole league wanted to give Barrett a pat on the back."
 
Maybe he's mellowed, but that does not seem like a good fit to me.

 

[rodderick]

 
Here's a good ESPN article from back in 2006 that pretty well sums up my memories of how he was seen in his bad-boy heyday. Here are some of the money quotes--all from guys who were, at the time, his teammates or coaches, and who all spoke on the record:
 
"If you play against him, you hate him. If you play with him, you hate him a little less."
 
"I don't think he's a smartass. I think he's an ass without the smart."
 
"I'm so tired of A.J.'s stuff....ask around—I'm sure everybody else feels the same way.""
 
"Once Barrett hit him, I think the whole league wanted to give Barrett a pat on the back."
 
Maybe he's mellowed, but that does not seem like a good fit to me.

I stand corrected, then. It appears he is indeed an utter douche.

 

[steveluck7]

Felger and Mazz just got duped by a fake Joel Sherman tweet that said the Sox had signed Carlos Ruiz. Announced it and are now retracting it... awesome.
What's more disturbing is that they were running down Ruiz's game splayed by year:
Felger: "... 2013 92 games played. Was he hurt?"
mazz: "yeah"
no mention of his suspension

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

 
Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal3s
Free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz's agent has told at least one suitor that he has a two-year, $20M offer.
 
Wonder If this is the Sox or COL
 

 
 
2 years makes sense for the Sox, with Vazquez and Swihart coming along.  I don't know Colorado's situation, though.

 

[ivanvamp]

 
 
2 years makes sense for the Sox, with Vazquez and Swihart coming along.  I don't know Colorado's situation, though.

 
At first I didn't think so, but then I re-looked at his b-ref page.  Pretty solid.  Last 3 seasons - which includes both his best (2012) and a bad one (2013) - he's put up this line:  
 
.293/.365/.432/.797, 117 ops+, 9.0 WAR, 2.7 dWAR
 
Not a lot of HR power (despite his 16 in 2012), but he's got a pretty decent bat and he's solid defensively.  In other words, you could do a lot worse for 2 seasons to bridge to Vazquez and Swihart than Ruiz.

 

[glennhoffmania]

 
 
2 years makes sense for the Sox, with Vazquez and Swihart coming along.  I don't know Colorado's situation, though.

 
Well they have this guy, who's pretty good and only 24.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

2 years makes sense for the Sox, with Vazquez and Swihart coming along.  I don't know Colorado's situation, though.

Given the Rockies' limited $80M payroll, the presence of Wilin Rosario on their roster, and the roughly 0% likelihood of them contending next year, Carlos Ruiz at 2/20 makes no sense whatsoever to me. But who knows.

I'd love to pair Ruiz with Ross this year with the plan being to go Ruiz/Vazquez in 2015 and, potentially, Vazquez/Swihart in 2016.

 

[pjr]

It could be the Red Sox.
 
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
The Rockies offered Ruiz a two-year, $15MM deal with a buyout (presumably on a club option for year three), according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter).  The Rockies won't go to $20MM, however, and they're prepared to move on to the outfield/first base market if they can't strike a deal with Ruiz.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal3s
Free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz's agent has told at least one suitor that he has a two-year, $20M offer.

Wonder If this is the Sox or COL


Why not include what's in the tweet here? If I'm perusing the thread a few hours after the post, there could be dozens of tweets after the relevant one.

 

[chrisfont9]

Given the Rockies' limited $80M payroll, the presence of Wilin Rosario on their roster, and the roughly 0% likelihood of them contending next year, Carlos Ruiz at 2/20 makes no sense whatsoever to me. But who knows.

According to this, signing Ruiz would prompt the Rox to move Rosario to OF, with some 1B/C appearances. So not insane on its face, I suppose.

 

[iowacityiconoclast]

Would the Sox be interested in Ike Davis if Napoli leaves?
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24219241/report-mets-shopping-ike-davis-four-or-five-teams-interested

 
I would love this.
 
From April to mid-June, Davis was terrible: .161/.242/.258 batting line, 66 strikeouts, 19 walks. The Mets shipped him down because he was struggling to do anything right.
 
I don't know what he worked on in the minors, but he was excellent when he came back, posting a .267/.429/.443 line, with 38 walks and 35 strikeouts.
 
He's exactly the kind of player smart teams should be targetting: a former blue-chip talent coming off a disaster season that masks (to an extent) some growth. He should be entering his prime, and the Mets seem to have soured on the guy. I'd love to see him in Boston.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

 
Here's a good ESPN article from back in 2006 that pretty well sums up my memories of how he was seen in his bad-boy heyday. Here are some of the money quotes--all from guys who were, at the time, his teammates or coaches, and who all spoke on the record:
 
"If you play against him, you hate him. If you play with him, you hate him a little less."
 
"I don't think he's a smartass. I think he's an ass without the smart."
 
"I'm so tired of A.J.'s stuff....ask around—I'm sure everybody else feels the same way.""
 
"Once Barrett hit him, I think the whole league wanted to give Barrett a pat on the back."
 
Maybe he's mellowed, but that does not seem like a good fit to me.

 
Image of AJP, from a Giants blog in 2004:
 

 
In a similar feel-good story, Yorvit Torrealba returned to the lineup, and had a succession of huge hits. A.J. Pierzynski apparently spends the time before games chomping on a big cigar, and blowing the smoke in the faces of orphans. What better way to get psyched up to hit into double plays, indeed. 

 

[RedOctober3829]

Scott Lauber says Sox, Jays, Rockies, and Phillies in on Carlos Ruiz.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Sign me up as someone who's not thrilled by either Ruiz or AJ. Why not give Vazquez a legitimate shot at starting? I'll be honest, I haven't read many scouting reports but he looks competent at the plate and damn good defensively. I know he's young and he hasn't had any time in AAA but he looked great in ST last year and he had a great year in AA. I don't want to come across as a prospect humper but he legitimately looked like the real deal. I came away from ST very impressed.

 

[soxhop411]

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN1m
Red Sox have not offered Carlos Ruiz a $20 million deal.

 

[mBiferi]

 
Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal3s
Free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz's agent has told at least one suitor that he has a two-year, $20M offer.
 
Wonder If this is the Sox or COL

 
Buster says the Sox didn't offer him that:
 
 

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN44s
Red Sox have not offered Carlos Ruiz a $20 million deal.

 
EDIT: Too slow, beaten by soxhop411.

 

[MartyBarrettMVP]

Nothing yet per Buster:
 

 
Red Sox have not offered Carlos Ruiz a $20 million deal.

 
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/400407708094169088
 
Edit:  slow fingers

 

[someoneanywhere]

Sign me up as someone who's not thrilled by either Ruiz or AJ. Why not give Vazquez a legitimate shot at starting? I'll be honest, I haven't read many scouting reports but he looks competent at the plate and damn good defensively. I know he's young and he hasn't had any time in AAA but he looked great in ST last year and he had a great year in AA. I don't want to come across as a prospect humper but he legitimately looked like the real deal. I came away from ST very impressed.

He will be the real deal. The knock on him, aside occasionally from letting the game speed up on him sometimes defensively, has always been the bat; it's a slow developing tool. I think it will be better than people believe -- he'll eventually hit .260, get on base at a decent clip, and pop 12-15 homers. I think, though, that you sit on him precisely because you want to see he can develop his ceiling. The open spot is going to need someone who gets 90 games or so. That would expose him offensively and perhaps overwhelm him to the point of permanently impairing or stunting his development.

The guy has a legitimate chance to be a solid big league regular and if it all comes together an occasional all star. It's prudence, I think, to give him a shot at that by letting him continue to grow at AAA.

 

[Cowboys Idiots N Beards]

My problem with Ruiz is the positive test. I know its for ADHD and he has a prescription now, but I hear enough bullshit from Yankees fans/Red Sox haters about how Ortiz failed a test and he's a juicer. I'm sure we all do. It was bull but we still hear about that. Hell, we still hear about 86 years and 1918 and 27 titles because asswipes live in the past.
 
Anyhow, I would rather have Salty, then Ruiz, or another option. AJ is a VERY BAD IDEA! I loved the Parkman reference, I think that'd work better...

 

[absintheofmalaise]

My problem with Ruiz is the positive test. I know its for ADHD and he has a prescription now, but I hear enough bullshit from Yankees fans/Red Sox haters about how Ortiz failed a test and he's a juicer. I'm sure we all do. It was bull but we still hear about that. Hell, we still hear about 86 years and 1918 and 27 titles because asswipes live in the past.
 
Anyhow, I would rather have Salty, then Ruiz, or another option. AJ is a VERY BAD IDEA! I loved the Parkman reference, I think that'd work better...

Why do you care what fans of other teams say about Ortiz or any other player on the Sox? It's not like the Yankees, and many other teams, live in glass houses. Why do you prefer Salty over Ruiz? 

 

[JimBoSox9]

 It's not like the Yankees, and many other teams, live in glass houses. 

 
Agree to disagree, you MFY apologist you.

 

[JimD]

I take the Pierzynski rumors as Sox FO negotiating leverage, nothing more.   

 

[absintheofmalaise]

 
Agree to disagree, you MFY apologist you.

Well crap. Forgot the "don't" in there.

 

[Cowboys Idiots N Beards]

I like Salty because he fits in well, has some pop and knows the staff well. Anyone know of these two, which is better defensively?

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Let's try this again. How does Ruiz compare to Salty using some information other than, "has some pop". Maybe some of those pesky stat things.

 

[ivanvamp]

Let's try this again. How does Ruiz compare to Salty using some information other than, "has some pop". Maybe some of those pesky stat things.

 
Last 3 seasons, their per-162 game numbers (thanks, b-ref):
 
Salty:  559 ab, 83 r, 137 h, 38 2b, 2 3b, 26 hr, 85 rbi, .244/.306/.457/.763, 104 ops+
Ruiz:  524 ab, 65 r, 154 h, 35 2b, 0 3b, 13 hr, 70 rbi, .293/.365/.432/.797, 117 ops+
 
Salty will turn 29 on May 2.  Ruiz will turn 35 on Jan 22, so it's reasonable from this point on to expect Salty's numbers to go up a tick, while Ruiz' go down.  Long story short, there's a reasonable chance that they are pretty equal from a offensive production standpoint over 2014-15.  If you give up Salty and get back Ruiz, you're giving up slugging and getting back obp, which I'm totally fine with.  Ruiz also appears to be a better defender (+2.7 dWAR vs. +0.4 dWAR over the past 3 seasons).  

 

[TomRicardo]

Let's try this again. How does Ruiz compare to Salty using some information other than, "has some pop". Maybe some of those pesky stat things.

 
Salty is an incredible LHH against RHP for a catcher and a horrific RHH against LHP.  He is almost a reverse Victorino.
 
Ruiz is a decent RHH bat against righties and lefties with a small split.  He doesn't make a lot of sense with Ross and Lavarnway though.
 
Edit - Ruiz has better plate patience while Salty has more power.
 
Salty would be a terrific platoon partner with Ross or Lavarnway.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Thanks guys. I was asking Cowboys. Sorry I didn't quote him. Good examples. 

 

[Doctor G]

 
Salty is an incredible LHH against RHP for a catcher and a horrific RHH against LHP.  He is almost a reverse Victorino.
 
Ruiz is a decent RHH bat against righties and lefties with a small split.  He doesn't make a lot of sense with Ross and Lavarnway though.
 
Edit - Ruiz has better plate patience while Salty has more power.
 
Salty would be a terrific platoon partner with Ross or Lavarnway.

The time might be ripe to switch Lavarnway to first. He seems to have fallen behind Butler and Vasquez. If he is going to be in Pawtucket  he might be more valuable  as a potential option at first.

 

[soxhop411]

“@GordonEdes: Sox have used time here to gauge clubs" interests in their veteran starting pitchers, including Lackey”

 

[MoGator71]

“@GordonEdes: Sox have used time here to gauge clubs" interests in their veteran starting pitchers, including Lackey”

I like them exploring Lackey's market. I have no idea how much of an issue/distraction Lackey's 2015 salary will be, but expecting him to be the "good soldier" and play out the contract as currently written is probably a mistake. And the fact that they're apparently willing to move him suggests they are concerned. 

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

It also suggests they have 6 starters with another 5 major league ready (or nearly ready) guys in AAA. Lackey's contract is incredibly valuable right now -
 
If it weren't for the intra-divisional concerns a Lackey/Joey Bats deal would be perfect for all parties. The Blue Jays are desperate to acquire quality starting pitching while their "window" is still open - and Batista is rumoured to be on the block.
 
Probably have to throw in someone like Britton.

 

[smastroyin]

It also suggests they have 6 starters with another 5 major league ready (or nearly ready) guys in AAA. Lackey's contract is incredibly valuable right now -
 
If it weren't for the intra-divisional concerns a Lackey/Joey Bats deal would be perfect for all parties. The Blue Jays are desperate to acquire quality starting pitching while their "window" is still open - and Batista is rumoured to be on the block.
 
Probably have to throw in someone like Britton.

 
Felix Doubront likes this.

 

[TOleary25]

I like them exploring Lackey's market. I have no idea how much of an issue/distraction Lackey's 2015 salary will be, but expecting him to be the "good soldier" and play out the contract as currently written is probably a mistake. And the fact that they're apparently willing to move him suggests they are concerned. 

 
People keeping saying this but I don't agree. He signed the contract, he has no valid argument against it. He made $16M for a year he didn't even pitch in. What are his options? Either retire or purposely suck? I just don't see it based on Lackey's personality.
 
I think it's more about dealing from a surplus and taking advantage of an expensive free agent pitching market. His value will likely never be this high again. I feel the Sox should be open to moving any of the starters if the return is right. 

 

[chrisfont9]

I like them exploring Lackey's market. I have no idea how much of an issue/distraction Lackey's 2015 salary will be, but expecting him to be the "good soldier" and play out the contract as currently written is probably a mistake. And the fact that they're apparently willing to move him suggests they are concerned. 

Really? I thought Lackey agreed to this to show he was willing to earn any pay he received during a dead year?

 

[rembrat]

For starters, 2015 isn't a guaranteed year in his contract, it's a club option. And while, yes, Lackey agreed to that deal nothing says the Red Sox are forced to exercise that option. IMO, doing so is a opening a can of worms for both sides. The Sox would look petty, a billion dollar organization pinching pennies and Lackey's ego would take a hit, making just north of the league minimum. It's something I'd like to avoid entirely. 
 
I hope if he isn't traded they tear up 2014's deal and do something like 2yr/10MM.
 
edit: That is 2yr/20MM total and $10MM per.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

edit: That is 2yr/20MM total and $10MM per.

 
The only difference between this and the current deal with 2015 option is that Lackey would have to wait an extra year for $5M of it. He's supposed to see that as a plus?
 
EDIT: I'm good at arithmetic, I swear I am. Jesus.