According to baseball sources, the Red Sox and Cleveland Indians have agreed in principle on a deal that will bring outfielder Crisp to the Sox in a multi-player trade. The deal was agreed upon several days ago under the condition that Cleveland be able to acquire another outfielder to replace Crisp, presumably Jason Michaels from the Philadelphia Phillies. ...I do not like dealing Marte, but Crisp (26) is not bad. And with Lowell and Yook at the corners, Marte was seen by some in the Sox front office as a top-notch chip to acquire exactly what they needed.
The Red Sox will send a package including reliever Guillermo Mota and prospect Andy Marte to the Indians. ... Beyond the acquisition of Crisp, the Sox also are about to sign free agent Gonzalez.
Crisp has some pop (though he seems a bit allergic to walks) and he won't be a free agent until after 2009. He hit .323/.370/.518 on the road last season in about 300 PA (his road OPS from 2003-05 is .780). He hasn't hit that well in the leadoff spot, though the Sox will likely play him there. While he played left field for Cleveland, he was a center fielder in the minors.
The lineup should look something like this:
Crisp, cfChris Snow reports that
Loretta, 2b
Ortiz, dh
Ramirez, lf
Varitek, c
Nixon, rf
Lowell, 3b
Youkilis, 1b
Gonzalez, ss
conversations with a handful of general managers and agents indicate that Epstein never completely left, inasmuch as co-GMs Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington regularly consulted with Epstein and operated this offseason much as he would have ...Which is just what I've been saying all along! :>)
[T]he perception widely held within Red Sox Nation that the team's baseball operations department was rudderless is not an opinion shared by San Diego GM Kevin Towers, Oakland GM Billy Beane, Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro, Ricciardi, and prominent agent Scott Boras, all of whom have dealt with the Sox this offseason.
Two things:
ReplyDelete1) The deal does indeed seem too expensive, but we are supposed to be getting something along with Crisp if we move Marte and Mota, and
2) how can you get lucky with a .300 BA? I really want an explanation. You can go 3 for 5 in a game getting lucky. You might make ESPN Player of the Week getting lucky. Can you tell me how you bat .300 for a season through luck?
sean o:
ReplyDeleteI think you are selling Crisp short. He had a 119 OPS+ last year and will be 26 this year. Just entering his prime.
By comparison, Damon was 113 and Varitek 125 last season. Another CF candidate, Jeremy Reed, was 89 with Seattle.
Just checked the OPS+ of some 2005 MFY: Jeter 121 and Shemp 125.
ReplyDeleteI'd say Crisp is underrated as a hitter.
Hey, I don't want to trade Marte either, but give us a better option for centerfield.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll admit Crisp isn't going to shine in centerfield with his glove, but he's adequate. I wish he'd walk more, but he's still developing with the stick.. He's got a real shot at .300/20HR/20SB this season!