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December 28, 2008

Penny Confirms Deal

Brad Penny confirms he has reached a preliminary agreement (pending a physical on January 7) with the Red Sox. The one-year deal has a base salary of $5 million, with the potential to go to $8 with incentives.

Penny to WEEI:
There were a lot of teams involved. But I wanted to go somewhere where I knew we had a great chance at winning and Boston is that place.
Is Bard's return further evidence that Jason Varitek's Red Sox career is over? He could still be a backup, but if these 2009 projections are any indication, Boston has replaced Tek's bat for a fraction of the price (Bard's deal would be for $1.6 million):
Bill James:
Bard: .268/.337/.392/.729
Tek:  .238/.334/.392/.726

Marcel:
Bard: .266/.342/.395/.737
Tek:  .233/.325/.385/.710
In 178 AB last season, Bard hit only .202/.279/.270, but had a variety of injuries and very low BABIP (.235). He hit .308/.376/.454/.830 against lefties last year and had an overall line drive rate of 21%.

According to the 2009 Hardball Times Annual, no major league regular had a lower line drive % in 2008 than Varitek.
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22 comments:

  1. bdubsmittyDecember 28, 2008 at 9:42 PM

    I don't have a problem with the Penny and Bard signings...I would like to see the Sox get a true starter at catcher (like everyone would) but Bard would at least be comparable to Tek on offense if nothing else...though just about anyone would be comparable to Tek on offense based on last season's numbers.

    I wonder what it would take to get Mauer from the Twins? They have to figure that he will leave when he becomes a free agent, so I wonder if they would be willing to deal him for prospects?

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  2. accudartDecember 29, 2008 at 6:26 AM

    Mauer would be great, but I don't see that happening soon. Boros really miss read the market for Tek. Penny might be an OK deal, however I much rather would have seem them poney a little more for Sheets.

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  3. andyDecember 29, 2008 at 6:49 AM

    Peavy?

    On paper I am not impressed. We will have to let this one play out.

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  4. charlie pioliDecember 29, 2008 at 12:26 PM

    when does Mauer become a free agent?

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  5. allanDecember 29, 2008 at 12:58 PM

    Mauer is a free agent after 2010.

    That's also when Dumbo's deal with the Chokers runs out, so there could be a serious bidding war.

    (As far as prospects, the Twins would start with both Buchholz and Bowden, then add on from there.)

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  6. allanDecember 29, 2008 at 1:00 PM

    Boros really miss read the market for Tek.

    Seriously. He should have taken arb. He would have been awarded at least 8 for next year. If the Sox bring him back now, they better not pay him more than 5.

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  7. ZenslingerDecember 29, 2008 at 1:37 PM

    I thought 2008 was the first year in a four-year deal for Posada, making him a free agent after the 2011 season.

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  8. 9caseyDecember 29, 2008 at 1:41 PM

    redsock said...
    If the Sox bring him back now, they better not pay him more than 5.


    Why?

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  9. 9caseyDecember 29, 2008 at 1:42 PM

    redsock said...
    Boros really miss read the market for Tek.


    And it looks like for Manny as well....

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  10. PatrickDecember 29, 2008 at 1:55 PM

    I'm guessing Penny wasn't a type A free agent. Does any know for sure?

    If he's not, that's the bonus of Penny over Sheets. I appreciate not giving up a first round pick just for a fifth starter, and yes I know Sheets has filthy stuff.

    I bet we will see Bowden step in next year and make a good contribution like Masterson last year, and Ellsbury the year before. I wouldn't mind another low risk veteran arm, but I think we are set up to win.

    Lets get a high quality bench now, please.

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  11. andyDecember 29, 2008 at 2:07 PM

    Manny will get paid but it's funny that nobody is bending over backwards to get him. Perhaps his behavior is lowering his value.

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  12. RobDecember 29, 2008 at 3:13 PM

    Not Type A.

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  13. BenjaminDecember 29, 2008 at 5:27 PM

    Yeah, Posada's signed through 2011. With the way the MFY have been throwing money around, though, I'd be surprised if they let that stand in the way.

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  14. allanDecember 29, 2008 at 7:02 PM

    Why?

    They'd be overpaying in terms of Tek's market. He made 10 last year and sucked horribly. His future looks bleak. He wants at least two years, presumably at similar money. It doesn't look like anyone wants to give him that. In fact, I barely read any Tek rumours at all.

    If the Sox offered him a 1/10 or 1/8 deal, it would seem like they were bidding against themselves. No one out there is going that high.

    There's no reason to spend an extra 5 million if you don't have to.

    The Sox have all the leverage in the world. Some might see a 1/5 deal as screwing the Captain, but he effed himself by declining arbitration.

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  15. allanDecember 29, 2008 at 7:05 PM

    You're right about Dumbo. He may be a full-time DH by then anyway.

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  16. 9caseyDecember 29, 2008 at 7:53 PM

    There is no way Mauer fiinshes his contract with the twins unless they say the will sign him long term and he accepts so next year he will most likely get traded...

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  17. UnknownDecember 30, 2008 at 6:24 AM

    Why wouldn't Mauer finish his contract with the Twins? They're almost always competitive, they missed the playoffs in the 163rd game last year! As they're put together now, they're likely going to be an 85-90 win team next year, which might be good enough to win that division or the wildcard, and they've got room for improvement (trading for Beltre would help a lot). Why would they get rid of their best player?

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  18. PatrickDecember 30, 2008 at 8:04 AM

    Unless Tek is going to start catching the knuckle ball I don't think he's coming back, because lord knows Bard isn't going to catch it.

    Bye bye Tek.

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  19. JCal76December 30, 2008 at 9:51 AM

    Sorry, I don't have the link as my buddy copied this text into the body of an email but it's worth sharing, rumor or not:

    The Red Sox made a play to re-acquire Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez after losing out to the rival Yankees for free agent Mark Teixeira, SI.com reported.

    The website reported that while the Marlins listened to Boston's overtures, Florida isn't anxious to trade its best player, and talks apparently have been aborted after no agreement could be reached.

    SI.com said the Marlins were said to be most interested in a center fielder, and discussions apparently centered on Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury, talented pitching prospect Clay Buchholz and others in a package for Ramirez, who began in Boston's organization.

    The Red Sox first targeted Teixeira as a way to upgrade their offense, but after the rival Yankees won that bidding with their $180 million proposal over eight years, Ramirez briefly became an "appetizing alternative."

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  20. allanDecember 30, 2008 at 10:19 AM

    Was just posting about it!

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  21. charlie pioliDecember 30, 2008 at 11:28 AM

    I heard that Penny was hitting 97 on the gun at the end of last year even after his injury...

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  22. 9caseyDecember 30, 2008 at 6:36 PM

    James said...
    Why wouldn't Mauer finish his contract with the Twins? They're almost always competitive, they missed the playoffs in the 163rd game last year! As they're put together now, they're likely going to be an 85-90 win team next year, which might be good enough to win that division or the wildcard, and they've got room for improvement (trading for Beltre would help a lot). Why would they get rid of their best player?



    Didn't they trade Johann with a year left on his contract.....

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