The Bottom Line has a new look and URL

It's official. The Bottom Line has a new home.

The new URL for the blog is:

http://www.bottomlinesox.com/

Much easier to remember right?

Click over and check out the new look... and be sure to change the URL in your feeds and bookmarks.

Please note that I will be leaving this Blogger site open to help readers make the switch, but in a few weeks I plan to have this "blogspot URL" automatically direct you to the new home.

We've joined the MVN network and are teaming up with Fire Brand of the AL to bring you even more Red Sox coverage and analysis. You can click over now to adjust your feeds and bookmarks using the buttons on the sidebar.

You can still find me at Twitter and I'll still be linked to communities like Ball Hype, Yard Barker and SawHeads...

Check out the new site and say hello in the comments section... I've already posted a few stories there and I hope to have answers back from Kevin Youkilis very soon.

Thanks for reading! Hope to see you often on the new site!

Bottom Line Rob

The Importance of a 4th Outfielder

Most of Red Sox Nation is focused on the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, but the Red Sox have a first baseman in Kevin Youkilis should they decide that 10 years and $200 million is too much to pay for the Free Agent superstar.

What they don't have is a reliable fourth outfielder.

For the record, I am not implying that deciding on an extra outfielder is more important than signing Mark Teixeira (or re-signing Jason Varitek for that matter), I'm just stating that this hole in the roster shouldn't be ignored.

Here's why:

In 2008, JD Drew spent over a month on the DL from August 17th to Septemer 24th. Coco Crisp, who had been battling Jacoby Ellsbury for playing time, stepped up and went 36 for 93 (.387) during that time frame.

Later, during the playoffs, Jacoby Ellsbury slipped into a serious funk (6 for 32, .188) while Coco lead the Red Sox with a .417 BA in the postseason.

Interestingly, in 2007 the situation was reversed. Coco Crisp hit .268 during the regular season and never really found his groove. Jacoby Ellsbury was called up in September and hit .361 on the month. He later went on to bat .360 in the playoffs - solidifying himself as the full time center fielder.

The Red Sox planned to give JD Drew every 5th day off in an effort to keep him healthy. For the most part, it worked. Drew played 140 games that season and despite posting below expected regular season numbers: .270, 64 RB, 11 HR, he went on to hit .314 in the playoffs. Having Ellsbury and Coco on the roster made it alot easier to stick to that plan.

It should also be noted, that Manny had his worst statistical season in 2007 and played just in 133 games - missing most of Septmeber. Ellsbury was probably more instrumental during that time than when he was simply playing over Coco.

The 2007 and 2008 season proved that injuries and dead bats can happen to anyone, and having a solid back-up allows Terry Francona to give that injured or struggling player a rest without compromising the chance for victory.

So who will be the fourth outfielder in 2009? There are quite a few options:

Rocco Baldelli - A homecoming for Baldelli would be cool, but the mitochondrial disorder makes him an unreliable option, given that he'll need regular time off. His return to the game was a great story, but the stats aren't promising: .263 BA in 80 regular season at-bats, .200 BA in the playoffs... 22 games at DH - not outfield.

Milton Bradley - Bradley's power makes him an intriguing option, but he might be more injury prone than JD Drew. Bradley hit .321 with 22 HRs and 77 RBI last season in just 126 games. The Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs are both interested in acquiring Bradley, and with a chance to start for those teams, he's probably not coming Boston... but he's only been a "starter" twice in his career.

Gabe Kapler - Kapler's return to the field was another great story this season. He hit .301 in 96 with the Brewers and played all three outfield positions... That and his strong ties with Boston make him one of the better options out there.

Willie Bloomquist - Bloomquist's name has been connected to the Red Sox becuase of his infield/outfield versatility. He's a career .263 hitter, but he's got 6 career home runs in 1255 at-bats...

Jerry Hariston Jr. - Hariston is another IF/OF guy, but I his upside is light years beyond Bloomquist. Jerry battled through some leg injuries this season, which makes him risky, but he finished the season at .326, stole 15 bases and drove in 36 RBI in just 80 games... and he spent his first seven years in Baltimore so he knows the AL East.

Garret Anderson - He'll turn 37 in June, but the guy has a .290 career batting average and played in 145 games his season. He's a lefty and he could spell Ortiz at DH as well, but he's only going to work in left field. Still, I like him better than alot of these guys...

Those are a few interesting external options, but the Red Sox have a few gys in the farm that could fill this bench spot. We took a look at a few guys back when the Coco trade was announced - here's a peek:

Jon Van Every
Van Every hit .263 with 15 2Bs, 26 HRs and 70 RBI in 380 at-bats with Pawtucket. He hit just .235 in 11 at-bats with Botson last year.

Sox Prospects Scouting Report: Centerfielder with a good arm and a great glove. Average bat, speed, and on base ability. Has shown flashes of above average power, but not consistently throughout his career. Hits to all fields. Streaky at the plate, but generally has a good hitting approach. Provides outfield depth with some options, Van Every will likely be insurance for Boston while roaming the outfield in McCoy. Able to play center and left, but hasn't spent a lot of time in right field.

Jeff Bailey 1B/OF
Bailey hit .301 with 28 2Bs, 25 HRs and 75 RBI in 418 at-at-bats with Pawtucket. He mad a splash with Boston, hitting a pair of ding-dongs and batting .280 through 50 major league at-bats.

Sox Prospects Scouting Report: Bailey mainly plays 1B and corner outfield these days after previously spending a lot of time as a catcher. He is adequate defensively, with below average range, a decent glove, and a good arm. With the bat, he has outstanding power and strength. Good contact and plate patience. Slow on the basepaths, but runs intelligently - about what you'd expect from a converted catcher. Strikes out a little too much, but that has improved over the years. Has potential to be a versatile backup and off-the-bench bat at the major league level. Probably could start for a lot of small market teams. Bailey has been a team leader and model teammate with the Red Sox organization for five seasons.

Josh Reddick
21-year old Reddick hit .343 with 11 2Bs, 17 HRs, and 57 RBI in .312 at-bats with Single A Lancaster last season. It's safe to say he's not the guys the Sox are counting for 2009, but there's a chance we'll see him help out in September... get the Sox Prospects Scouting report - here.

Lastly, a number of Lars Anderson fans are lobbying for him to get a shot in the outfield, since the Sox look like they are going to block his chances at first base by signing Mark Teixeira to a long term deal. Rumor has it he played some outfield in high school... and there's no doubt the kid can hit... but he probably won't be ready for the bigs until at least 2010.

Bottom Line: None of the above free agents are flying off the market, so the Red Sox have some time... but having a reliable option in the outfield for 162 games is more important to the success of the team than you might think.

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Red Sox Weekend Update: Teixeira, Manny, Nelson, Okajima

Here's a quick look at the Hot Stove rumors from the weekend:

Despite dropping over a total of $230 million on C.C Sabathia and AJ Burnett already, the Yankees are reportedly still looking to add another bat to the lineup... Manny is one option, but bringing him to New York could mean a move for Xavier Nady.

They could still make a run at Teixeira, but it's looking like it will take at least 8 years and $20+ million to land Teix...

And speaking of Teixeira, the Angels have made an official offer and they're now willing to do 8 years. Boras is still hoping to get 10 years and $200 million... which means the Orioles: seven years, $140-150M and the Nationals: eight years, $160M are probably out of the mix.

We still have no idea what the Red Sox offer is, but they still appear to be the front runners simply because they're willing (and able) to pay the most.

The Yankees are also dealing with a snag in the Mike Cameron... here's the latest from the New York Post:

The Yankees want the Brewers to take on Igawa's contract as well, but that Milwaukee doesn't want to pay much of the $12MM he has left. The Brewers are trading Cameron to trim payroll, and don't want to unload $10MM for Cameron just to take on another $4MM for Igawa.

Kenshin Kawakami's name has been tied to the Red Sox, but it appears that the Atlanta Braves are very interested in Kawakami, now that AJ Burnett is a Yankee.

The Marlins non-tendered RP Joe Nelson last week. Fire Brand of the AL reminds us that he has ties to Boston and had a solid 2008 season: 3-1, 2.00 ERA...

MLB Trade Rumors (via Ken Rosenthal) is reporting that Milton Bradley is weighing his options with the Cubs and Rays. Joe Maddon and the Rays may be a better fit than Lou Piniella and the Cubs. And spending time at DH would allow him to "protect his oft-injured body."

But will the Rays meet Bradley's asking price when they can turn to Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Garret Anderson, or Pat Burrell instead? Rosenthal adds that the Reds, Angels, and Nationals are also interested in Bradley.

Lastly, Hideki Okajima completed the Honolulu Marathon with a time of 6:10:26. The Red Sox are not impressed:

"One team official said the Sox were not pleased and would have discouraged him had the team been apprised of his decision," Benjamin wrote.

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Yankees add Burnett to rotation

The Yankees dropped $161 million on C.C. Sabathia. Now ESPN is reporting that they have agreed to a 5-year, $82.5 million deal with AJ Burnett:

Free agent right-hander A.J. Burnett has reached preliminary agreement on a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the New York Yankees.

Burnett's agreement was confirmed by the office of his agent, Darek Braunecker, The Associated Press reported.

While Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Braunecker are still negotiating final contract terms, the deal is expected to be complete once Burnett passes a physical.

"I can sense the excitement and the confidence that's spreading around the entire organization about what we're getting done and what we may get done still," Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner told The Associated Press Friday before Burnett's decision became known. "A rising tide lifts all boats, and the confidence and the excitement right now among the team and the organization is contagious."

The addition of Sabathia and Burnett as free agents -- combined with Chien-Ming Wang's expected return to full health from a foot injury -- gives New York a top of the rotation that can stack up with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka in Boston.

Sabathia, Wang and Burnett make a formidable trio, but there are a few things to remember:

Sabathia is just 28, but he's averaged 207 innings per season for the past eight years... while weighing in at 290 lbs. The Yankees better hope that he's built more like David Wells than Bartolo Colon...

C.C. also has the option to jump ship and head back to the West Coast after just three years...

And Burnett is 32. He had a career year last season (18-10, 231 SO), but he knew that he would be looking for a new deal this offseason... He says he wants to win, and he'll have no lack of motivation in New York, but he's really more of a 10-12 game winner with a 4.00 ERA... not a reliable Number 2.

And then there's Wang. He spent most of 2008 on the DL with foot trouble, not arm trouble. Like Matsuzaka, Yankee fans have been forced to adapt to his unique approach, but despite averaging just 90 strikeouts during his two full seasons with New York, he posted 19 wins in 2007 and 2008.

Wang is also only 28 years old, but he'll have a lot to prove in the Spring if he wants anyone to expect another 19 win season.

Bottom Line: Signing Burnett means two things for Red Sox fans:

1) Though they have the money, the Yankees aren't likely to drop $200M on Mark Teixeira after dropping $243.5M on Burnett and Sabathia... That said, I'm a little worried that Hank and the Yankees are willing to break the bank to get things turned around in NYC...

2) The Yankees will be back in the mix for the AL East and a possible World Championship, but throwing cash at free agents reminds me of the 1990's... and that approach caught up to them in the 2000's.

The Red Sox still have the upper hand with both money and a deep farm system while the Yankees may find themselves right back where they started 3 years from now...

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Red Sox unveil new logos and uniforms at Game On!

My fellow bloggers have already posted a ton of photos and information from last nigh's unveiling of the new logos, so I'll supply you with some links for more deatails... but here are the basics:

Many were concerned that the well known "B" would be replaced. It is NOT being replaced, but the press packet states that it will no longer be the primary logo:

The "Hanging Sox" logo - a prominent mainstay in the club's collection of logos since it first appeared on a Red Sox uniform in 1931 - will become the team's new primary logo and used more frequently in the future. The "Circle Sox" logo, in redesigned form, will now serve as a secondary logo along with the red "B". The decision to change was made given the long time iconic stature of the "Hanging Sox", which possesses an instant appeal and recognition of the team. All three logos were streamlined to reflect uniformity in font and messaging. The "Circle Sox" logo was further distilled and now the words "BOSTON" and "RED SOX" are in red and appear in the same font as the lettering on the team uniforms. Transition to the use of the new primary logo in signage, collateral and other materials will occur over the coming months.

There are now four uniform options: primary and alternate home, and primary and alternate road. Primary uni's are on the left, alterante uni's are on the right:





Lastly, the hanging red socks will replace the "B" on the road caps - seen here on Manny Delcarmen:


Bottom Line: I wasn't as concerned as some members of Red Sox Nation, but now that we have all the details, I don't forsee anyone heading to the Tobin Bridge over the updates. Centerfield isn't to keen on the hanging socks replacing the "B" but I'm cool with it.

We'll have some of the old and some of the new in 2009... What do you guys think?

Special thanks to Centerfield for the images - click over and see lots of photos of Remy, Tito, Manny and Jim Rice...

Also, here are some reactions from the blogosphere courtesy of Red Sox Monster:

-- Joy of Sox likes the uniforms, but doesn't want to see the new hats hit the field, either.

-- Sox & Dawgs says the new alternate roadies look like batting practice jerseys, which is true. Still, I actually like them better than the boring grays.

-- A Red Sox Fan From Pinstripe Territory points out that they were up for sale on MLB.com before the press conference was even held. Shocker there, really.

-- Hugging Harold Reynolds is quiet right now, but offered this snarky take yesterday.

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Scott Boras is a liar? No offer for Varitek

Scott Boras told the media yesterday (while standing on a chair in the hotel lobby) that the Red Sox had made an offer for Jason Varitek.

But Nick Cafardo says that "a source familiar with the talks" is now saying that there was no offer.

Here is the transcription of Boras's comments about Varitek last night, as provided by the Globe's Adam Kilgore:

On Varitek's interest in Boston:

Boras: I think that Tek has always been a person -- he's the captain of a team, which is a rare event. And certainly Boston has let us know we want him back. We're talking about it. We also have to go out and look into other situations that will be able to him.

On the Sox' interest in Varitek:

Boras: Well, I mean, look, when a major league team approaches you about a player and offers them a contract, I guess that's serious.

So he has been offered?

Boras: Yes.

Anyone else confused? Look, the Tigers signed Laird, the Dodgers have Martin and the Marlins have been quiet... if the Sox didn't make an offer, Boras and Varitek better start asking them for one.

Note: WEEI's Rob Bradford says Theo confirmed that the Red Sox made offers to four free agents while at the Winter Meetings... but of course, that was the all he said. Red Sox Nation is hoping that one of those offers was for Mark Teixeira... the other three could have been for Varitek, Sabathia, Burnett, Lowe or perhaps a name we haven't heard 100 times this week.

HT to Centerfield for the scoop.

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Red Sox Winter Meeting Update: Teixeira, Lugo, Yankees

First things first... here's the break down of all the offers currently out there for Teixeira - courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors.

Orioles: seven years, $140-150MM

Nationals: eight years, $160MM

Angels: reluctant to exceed seven years; no offer yet? (Boras implied there was)

Red Sox: making progress; no offer yet? (Boras implied there was?)

Bottom Line: Theo Epstein and Scott Boras are masters at what they do... therefore, if there is an offer from the Red Sox on the table, we don't know the numbers. A number of sources have said that they expect the Sox to pay whatever it takes to land Teixeira... even if it's more like $25M per year over 8-10 years...

And don't count the Yankees out. They already have Arod, but he was the only guy doing any hitting last season... they could use a young, productive bat just as bad as anyone else.

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ESPN's Steve Phillips says the Red Sox are having discussions with the Diamondbacks about a Julio Lugo-for-Eric Byrnes swap. Brynes would serve as a fourth outfielder for Boston; Lugo would play second base for the Diamondbacks.

Bottom Line: I like this deal alot, but there are some sticking points. Byrnes stole 50 bases in 2007, he can play all three outfield positions and has 20+ home run power when healthy... but that's the problem.

He finished the '08 season on the 60-day DL with a hamstring injury and Manager Bob Mevin says Byrnes could start the season on the bench.

Byrnes is also on the books for $11M, while Lugo is set to make $9M in 2009. Iguess the question is: What do they want to pay $10M for a utility infielder or outfielder?

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The Herald is reporting that the Red Sox are likely to non-tender Kevin Cash. With Varitek still unsigned, I'm not sure what this is all about, but if they pick up another catcher or call up Dusty Brown or George Kottaras, I guess I'd be happy to see Cash get more playing time somewhere else...

Bottom Line: This does make me wonder if Tim Wakefield will be pitching much in 2009...

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Lastly, the Yankees are reportedly set to sign Mike Cameron as their new centerfielder:

The Yankees have found their center fielder for 2009, as they are set to send Melky Cabrera to Milwaukee for veteran outfielder Mike Cameron on Thursday, according to two major league sources.

Bottom Line: Whatever.

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