July 31, 2009

Red Sox Trade For Victor Martinez

In:
Victor Martinez C/1B/DH (Cleveland)
Casey Kotchman 1B (Atlanta)
Chris Duncan LF (Cardinals)
Brian Anderson CF (White Sox)
Out:
Justin Masterson P (Cleveland)
Adam LaRoche 1B (Atlanta)
Julio Lugo SS (Cardinals)
Mark Kotsay 1B (White Sox)
Nick Hagadone P (Cleveland)
Bryan Price P (Cleveland)
Hunter Strickland P (Pirates)
Argenis Diaz SS (Pirates)
Still Here:
Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Michael Bowden, Lars Anderson, Jed Lowrie, Josh Reddick, Casey Kelly, Ryan Westmoreland, etc.

UPDATE II: Adam LaRoche has been traded to Atlanta for Casey Kotchman. The Red Sox confirmed this one right away.UPDATE: The Red Sox have traded pitchers Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price for Victor Martinez.

There are reports that if the Martinez deal goes through, Adam LaRoche will be sent to the Mets. ... The arrival of Martinez has to signal the end of the George Kottaras Era, as well.
USAToday's Bob Nightengale reports that the Red Sox are very close to trading for Cleveland's Victor Martinez.

Fox says neither Clay Buchholz nor Daniel Bard is part of the deal.

98 comments:

mattymatty said...

Just posted this in the other thread, but I'll re-post here:

Hagadone and Masterson for VMart according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com.

Strangely, I don't mind giving up Masterson, but I'm a bit upset to lose Hagadone.

allan said...

I know Hag had TJ surgery

Rob said...

I didn't know Hagadone. I loved the Big Donkey but not so lately. Bye bye Donkey.



...Don't expect the team to be done trading. V-Mart, Youk, Lowell, Tek, LaRoche, Ortiz all in the DH/1B/C/3B mix? That's crowded. Someone's gonna go eventually.

Zenslinger said...

It seems fair -- more than fair, really.

Zenslinger said...

For the word on Hagadone as of the beginning of the season:

http://news.soxprospects.com/2009/02/2009-prospect-previews-nick-hagadone.html

Rob said...

Sounds like they're working on more names - not just Hagadone and Masterson.

This is the age of Twitter! Haha.

Rob said...

O-Cab just got traded to the Twins too.

A Conformer said...

Man, I should've just done as planned and turned the computer off till 5. Deadline day is just ridiculous...

mattymatty said...

I hate to give up Hagadone, and when Masterson is on he's killer, but Martinez is a pretty good player.
We already have a starting quality first baseman, third baseman and DH, so my question is, where do they put him? Is he the starting catcher now? If so, can he catch a knuckleball?

allan said...

Tomorrow is supposedly Victor Martinez bobblehead night in Cleveland!!

Rob said...

I love Deadline Day from 2-5. It's good fun! Plus it's pouring outside. Not doing anything else.

Rob said...

Somewhere a dumpster is about to be full of Victor Martinez bobbleheads.

allan said...

Now MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo says the Sox may be giving up additional prospects.

A Conformer said...

And speaking about the deal: if there's nobody in the deal who is a "name" besides those too, color me satisfied. Any chance a paid-for Lowell goes to a team that needs a DH? (Short answer: No.)

A Conformer said...

Ish said...
Somewhere a dumpster is about to be full of Victor Martinez bobbleheads.

redsock said...

Now MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo says the Sox may be giving up additional prospects.


Buchholz for the bobbleheads! But only if the Spiders pay for changing the uniform on them.

allan said...

Heyman just floated Tazawa as a possible component in the deal.

allan said...

Mayo's Twitter page.

"Indians and Red Sox still working on it; looking at names to add to Masterson and Hagadone"

9 minutes ago

allan said...

fuck, i need to go grocery shopping.

Zenslinger said...

Cash considerations to compensate for the wasted bobbleheads?

Additional prospects would be low-level ones, I would think.

allan said...

Martinez by month this year (seen on SoSH):

Apr: .386/.446/.636
May: .321/.413/.468
Jun: .240/.322/.480
Jul: .175/.280/.250

mattymatty said...

I hope it's nobody of consequence. Truthfully, I was kinda hoping they'd get Gonzalez, but if it was too much, it was too much. I just don't know how much Martinez is going to be able to help.

laura k said...

Yay. I'll miss our Donkey, but this is great news.

allan said...

Why I love SoSH:

Someone asks about Martinez getting from Clev to Balt and someone else posts:

"There's a 4:50pm flight on Continental that lands at BWI at 6:07. Get it done."

allan said...

I'd love Gonzo too, but the reports have them asking for a fucking mint.

Rob said...

I heard 3x Halladay asking price for Gonzo.

Rob said...

Jarrod Washburn was traded to the Tigers...

allan said...

Nightengale says deal is final, names no names though. If so, looks like LaRoche to the Stems.

Rob said...

Red Sox now shopping LaRoche. The Braves are interested.

Nightingale says the deal is done for VMart now. I don't think anymore prospects have been traded.

Rob said...

Now LaRoche to the Mets? This is moving too quickly! :>)

allan said...

Martinez: 5/$15.5 (2005-09) + 2010 club option

2009: $5.7
2010: $7 club option (or $0.25 buyout)

If traded, 2009 salary increases to $6.2 and 2010 club option increases to $7.5.

mattymatty said...

I'm far more worried about this:

Jun: .240/.322/.480
Jul: .175/.280/.250

...than this:

If traded, 2009 salary increases to $6.2 and 2010 club option increases to $7.5.

nick said...

I'd buy that for a quarter.

Rob said...

Heyman says Brian Price is a third name going to Cleveland for VMart

Zenslinger said...

Edes says the Braves get LaRoche, so he's going back there. Not sure what they want with him, being set (more or less) at 1B with Kotchman.

mattymatty said...

Bryan Price:

http://soxprospects.com/players/price-bryan.htm

That makes two first round picks we traded for Martinez.

Rob said...

Red Sox confirms to NESN: 1B Casey Kotchman has been traded to the Red Sox from the Braves for Adam LaRoche.

Rob said...

That's weird how they get 1B for 1B. Still don't think they're done.

mattymatty said...

The Yankees just picked up Jerry Hairston, Jr.

Grant Salzano said...

THAT DOES NOTHING lol

nick said...

So... 3 pitchers for a guy who could be great and fills a number of key positions (C/1B/DH) but has seriously dropping monthly number.

Some solids, some wondering. what gets done to solidify the pitching staff?

A Conformer said...

Trade Kotchman and Bowden to the MFY for Teixeira!

mattymatty said...

"what gets done to solidify the pitching staff?"

At this point, it looks like nothing. Oh, well, they're going to have to do something to replace Masterson in the pen.

Rob said...

Maybe Kotchman will be used for another deal. Nothing's solid until 4:.....08, as we found last year.

Grant Salzano said...

What in God's name does getting another 1B do us?

Bold prediction: Kotchman, Buchholz, and others in an 11th hour trade for Gonzo or Halladay. You heard it here first.

Rob said...

The Red Sox came out QUICKLY and told NESN they traded LaRoche for Kotchman.

The reports were maybe a minute ahead of the announcement. Sounds like the Red Sox wants all of MLB to know about this quickly.

allan said...

No sense wondering who replaces the Big Donkey until the dust settles, I suppose. (Bowden? F-Cab? Mr. X?)

Zenslinger said...


Bold prediction: Kotchman, Buchholz, and others in an 11th hour trade for Gonzo or Halladay. You heard it here first.


That is some bold fucking shit.

I am not kidding.

Grant Salzano said...

Yeah, that Kotchman deal is just the tip of the iceberg for something, it just has to be.

allan said...

IYI: V-Mart in 72 FP AB:

.313/.361/.552

A Conformer said...

Ish, I've gone over to your side. Deadline day is fun. And fucking weird...

Rob said...

It takes massive stones to do this too. What if you move guys and make some non-sensical trades in order to do a big trade and then the big trade never happens?

allan said...

Semi-mixed feelings about losing Masterson and I know Martinez is not the catcher of the future, but this seems like a pretty good deal.
He's on the wrong side of 30, but V-Mart still isn't making "Lugo money".

Rob said...

Dan Roche of WBZ says Kotchman is not being spun.

mattymatty said...

If indeed they did get Kotchman it would make sense to trade him somewhere, like maybe... San Diego?

mattymatty said...

I don't see why we need to trade LaRoche if what we get back is another first baseman.

Rob said...

Who knows. Maybe they could get two bats.

One thing I also make sure not to forget about is this is the non-waiver trade-deadline. The Sox have made some pretty good moves in August.

A Conformer said...

Can Kotchman play SS? He is a flexible defender, no? 2nd and 3rd as well as 1st, if I'm not mistaken...?

Rob said...

Whoa it's getting like night is descending upon us here. DARK. Pouring out too.

Rob said...

Heyman tweets Scott Rolen traded to Cincinnati.

Rob said...

Kotchman: 1B only.

9casey said...

Maybe they send v-mart elsewhere and not kotchman.....

Zenslinger said...

Can Kotchman play SS? He is a flexible defender, no? 2nd and 3rd as well as 1st, if I'm not mistaken...?

No -- BRef confirms he has played nothing but 1B and DH. SoSH thread has speculation that he's a good defensive replacement at 1B, easier to bench than LaRoche, that he's a better player overall. LaRoche may have more power and that's what the Braves need?

Grant Salzano said...

Tornado warning here in Cheshire, CT where I work... yeesh.

mattymatty said...

Only thing I can figure out re: LaRoche for Kotchman: Kotchman is a much better fielder (via Fangraphs.com) and much cheaper.

9casey said...

Grant Salzano said...
Tornado warning here in Cheshire, CT where I work... yeesh.




here in waterbury, it is getting crazy

A Conformer said...

Lost in this whole hoopla are the MFY's big deals: they got Jerry Hairston Jr. AND Jason Hirsh...

Unknown said...

Kotchman is a lefty thrower, no way he's going to be playing at short.

Wouldn't surprise me if they try putting him in the backup OF/1B role.

Grant Salzano said...

I have never in my life seen clouds this dark...

nick said...

I'm not understanding the 1B swap. Perhaps he's trade bait, but if not? or even so?

Without personally taking the time to stare at numbers and not glean much, why?

Rob said...

Nagatuck is where the possible tornado is indicated. Cheshire 3:50, Wallingford 3:55 Meriden 4:00, Durham 4:10.

Unknown said...

"Without personally taking the time to stare at numbers and not glean much, why?"

Because now the only three players in major league history with last names starting with Kot- will have played for the Red Sox. That's gotta be the reason.

Rob said...

Ian Browne: LaRoche is in Francona's office with door closed.


NOW, Masterson: "Bittersweet." He says it's good and bad, you don't want to leave such an amazing organization but Cleveland is good too. He also says it's pretty neat, knowing you're being traded for Victor Martinez.

nick said...

Because now the only three players in major league history with last names starting with Kot- will have played for the Red Sox. That's gotta be the reason.

That does it for me. Sold!

Rob said...

MDC was nearly in tears today when he got the news about Masterson. Masterson talking about the guys he came up with, the bonds, the brothers. But he says he'll be creating new ones, and he'll be keeping in touch, etc.

This is the first time I've seen an interview on TV of someone who has just gotten the news he's been traded.

9casey said...

Ish said...


This is the first time I've seen an interview on TV of someone who has just gotten the news he's been traded.




I always feel bad for these guys...............for like 5minutes, then I'm good...

Rob said...

LMAO. Castig is interviewing Masterson now for the radio since they did this interview live. Heidi left then Castig walked up, gave him a hug, then gave him the gift certificate for some Boston area restaurant for being interviews before the game!

Rob said...

I'm with you 9C. About five minutes then whatev. Move on.

But you can tell Masterson was surprised. He said all the right things but he's somber and seems to be taken aback.

NESN kept the shot on the whole interview (no sound)... Castig gave him his phone so he can put his number in. Haha Joe won't let him go! Masterson's trying to leave the clubhouse and Joe keeps talking to him, etc. That was good stuff. They just cut away.

Rob said...

Castig really liked Masterson.

One thing I noticed about Masterson is his hair! He's let it grow back a little bit. I knew he looked weird!

Rob said...

3 minutes to go. Looking quiet for the remainder but you know anything can come out 5-15 minutes after.

And I have to leave now! Bollocks.

mattymatty said...

I guess that's it then.

Hopefully we use Martinez as a catcher. As a first baseman he's not that impressive.

CaKeY said...

I'm thinking he'd be DH'd quite a bit too.

laura k said...

One thing I noticed about Masterson is his hair! He's let it grow back a little bit. I knew he looked weird!

I heard him talking about that with Castig on pre-game last weekend. Masterson said he has been shaving his head for 14 years and is trying to grow it in, not sure how far he'll get.

laura k said...

I always feel bad for these guys...............for like 5minutes, then I'm good...

Me too............

I know they know it's part of their chosen profession. But I feel for them when it first happens.

Masterson is really into being friends with everyone in the clubhouse, promoting goodwill, diversity, and such. I've thought it must have something to do with his parents being missionaries. It's no wonder MDC and others will miss him.

nick said...

guess we don't need to come up w/ a nickname for Laroche. Did get to see him play, though.

A Conformer said...

guess we don't need to come up w/ a nickname for Laroche. Did get to see him play, though.

He'll get a ring, too. Lucky guy.

CaKeY said...

guess we don't need to come up w/ a nickname for Laroche.

I was calling him La Rochaaah.. rolling the R

9casey said...

CaKeY said...
I'm thinking he'd be DH'd quite a bit too.




Did we trade Papi?

laura k said...

He'll get a ring, too. Lucky guy.

Comment Of The Day Award goes to Ofer!

Amy said...

Phew, that was a lot of commentary to get through. So in the end we get Victor Martinez and Casey Kotchman? Not sure what it all means. Does Tek lose his job? What does this guy add? His BA seems to have declined lately. I am sure that powers that be know what they are doing, but time will tell.

Zenslinger said...

I assume they'll do a kind of 60/40 or 70/30 split of Varitek/Martinez at catcher. Then when he's not catching, VMart can play 1B, Youk will go over to 3B, and Lowell will either sit or (occasionally) spell Ortiz at DH.

Anonymous said...

Okay, Theo has a history of stupid deadline deals(the Manny one is the only good one) but this takes the cake. The problems, as I see them:

-Masterson is one of the most likeable guys on the staff and he's also a fairly good bullpen guy who gives you a lot of innings when needed. We lack anybody to fill his spot in the pen right now, with nobody really ready in the minors.

-V. Martinez was being converted away from catching. This is not a guy who will stick behind the plate--he's not sturdy enough. There's a reason Cleveland had him playing a lot of 1b and DH(nearly 50/50 between catcher and 1b, I dunno about DH time.)

-Who catches Wake?

-I want to say it again because it's important to the overall point: Martinez will not remain a catcher. Mark my words--by this time either next year or the year after, he'll just be a slow, below-average defensive first baseman.

-This trade doesn't address the Sox flaws. Yeah, Tek's BA sucks, but he's been producing more that a lot of the league at catcher. Among starting catchers, Tek is 6th in OPS in baseball. Our needs? Ironically, despite our vaunted pitching depth, we need a started. Penny has been avergage mostly but is slipping to sub-par, Buchholz has been almost Matsuzaka-like. Matsuzaka's his own problem, and while Beckett is nails and Wake is...well, Wake, Lester's still a little shaky.

Not to mention that without Masterson we need an arm, especially since we still employ Saito, who has been a huge failure.

Theo, you disappoint me.

Anonymous said...

One more point: The bit about V-Mart's hitting at Fenway smells suspiciously like the Danny Cater effect.

Back in 1972, the BoSox traded Sparky Lyle for Danny Cater, a first baseman from NY, because he had a "Fenway Swing".

Needless to say, it didn't work out.

A Conformer said...

-Masterson is one of the most likeable guys on the staff and he's also a fairly good bullpen guy who gives you a lot of innings when needed. We lack anybody to fill his spot in the pen right now, with nobody really ready in the minors.

I don't really know what likeable means, and don't see how it matters. And what exactly was his spot, anyway? 4th best righty out of the pen? Tito has been underworking the pen lately, with Ram Ram and Saito not getting regular work. I don't see how replacing the 5th or 6th guy in the bullpen with Bowden or Cabrera from the minors will hurt that much...

-V. Martinez was being converted away from catching. This is not a guy who will stick behind the plate--he's not sturdy enough. There's a reason Cleveland had him playing a lot of 1b and DH(nearly 50/50 between catcher and 1b, I dunno about DH time.)

Alternative explanation: he had a good platoon mate in Shoppach, and having Shoppach and Martinez in the lineup was just as good if not better than having VMart and Garko.

-Who catches Wake?

I'm not even sure Wake will come back this year (herniated disk and bone fragments does not sound good), but I guess we'll see when he does. I don't think that's a good enough reason not to do this trade, especially if they think he might not come back the next few weeks.

-I want to say it again because it's important to the overall point: Martinez will not remain a catcher. Mark my words--by this time either next year or the year after, he'll just be a slow, below-average defensive first baseman.

In the immortal words of The Dude: "Well, that's, hmmm, like, just, ehh, your opinion, man". Time will tell. Plus, he's only signed for next year. No reason to be worrying about the year after that until it looks like the Sox are even considering extending him. That seems premature, for now.

allan said...

Jeez. If we're not getting 1978, now we're hearing Lyle-Cater.

WTF?

I like Masterson, but Theo is wisely dealing from a surplus. And to get a good player, you usually have to give up a good player.

I think you may be in the minority on this one.

Anonymous said...

-He was a long man. We need somebody who can throw more than two or three innings if we continue to carry 5-inning buddies Penny and Clay.

-Alternate explanation 2: His elbow injury from last year is limiting his throwing and so he was being moved to less throwing-intensive first base. Shoppach got the playing time at C because he can still play there and has a future there. Martinez doesn't.

-A good point about how Wake isn't a reason not to do the trade. He's just one of the reasons.

-I want to say it again because it's important to the overall point: Martinez will not remain a catcher. Mark my words--by this time either next year or the year after, he'll just be a slow, below-average defensive first baseman.

-Dammit, I can't find a Lebowski quote to counter that.

You can call it my opinion. But he's a big catcher coming off a year with a major elbow injury who has been catching--and therefore throwing--a lot less this year compared to the rest of his carreer.

Anonymous said...

Redsock: We may have a surplus of future pitchers, but guys who can help right now? I'd reckon fewer than you think.

Anonymous said...

And ignore how I repeated myself again in that response post. Sorry.

Iridescence said...

I sort of agree with vrictare although I'm not as negative about it and have more faith in Theo but VMart is horrible at throwing out runners and as a defensive catcher and 'Tek's been adequate offensively this year while Masterson's flexibility was an important part of the pitching staff. I hope Theo wasn't just making some deal because he couldn't get Halladay.