Tagged: Adrian Beltre
Is the future bright?
Throughout the past few days a lot of things have happened both positive and negatively effecting the Red Sox. Between trades, and rumors or even just the thought of the Winter Meetings.Just this past weekend we have seen four prospects leave, one big bat enter the Red Sox lineup, a high profile free agent’s hopes dismissed, and a player taken off the offer board.
9 players, or the whole system?
Late Friday night, there was a rumor that on an Adrian Gonzalez deal was to be made, one that would have serious consequences such as giving up top prospects. The weekend held, it’s up’s and downs for both the origination and the fans. However, to my readers this is not considered “new”. At the same time, Jayson Werth had signed with the Nationals. The same person who the Red Sox had wanted. What does this mean for the Red Sox, in my opinion, nothing. Except, fans and Epstein should be making arrangements to put/keep Ryan Kalish in center or left. I’ve always thought that we should let the well respected Mike Cameron stay in center for hopefully the whole season, J.D Drew should spend his expected last year in right and Ryan Kalish and Darnell McDonald can share left. You’ll notice the one name I left out of this, Jacoby Ellsberry. If it must happen, let Mike Cameron share the job with Ellsberry. Then, What about Daniel Nava? Spending his year with Pawtucket just because there is no room, I’m positive it’s happened before to players, but just doesn’t seem right? Does he share the time with Drew? It all just seems, we have too many people in the outfield. Why would we want Jayson Werth? I just don’t see it.
What’s happening with the Prospects?
I have spent some time writing up my own reports lately of what I have noticed. Though mostly there about the players who have spent either most or all of their season in Double A Portland I have included some of the bigger names from Pawtucket. With Anthony Rizzo, Casey Kelly, Reymond Fuentes and an unnamed prospect gone off to the San Diego Padres, there are some spots for movement in the minors. Or maybe, just some space for breathing. Last year, there were several movements from Pawtucket which caused movement from Portland to fill the space. I don’t predict nearly as many movements as last year which will put these players more on the spot. They’ll really have to show there true potential in order to see the next level.
Adrian Beltre? Is there still hope?
Since acquiring first basemen Adrian Gonzalez, there is really no place to put this third basemen. Youk can play Third and Gonzalez can fill the first base position. Just minutes after this had happened, it had been reported that Oakland, or the team that had offered Beltre a deal from the beginning had pulled their deal. For the Red Sox, this is not that big of a deal, but what does this mean for Beltre? Was it wrong for him to want to play for the Red Sox and not except other offers until he had his answer. Some might argue that it’s really too bad that Beltre has no other offers on him so far. Or some might argue that Beltre (on the free agent list) should always keep his eyes and mind open for a deal, because there is a chance, (bigger then slight) you will not be going back. With this perfect deal from the Oakland Athletics, it would have given him 3-5 years of playing, which is all Beltre had wanted at the end of the season. But, with him hoping that he would return to Boston with just that amount of time, he would just not accept. This might have been partially Beltre’s fault, although it just shows the organization that Beltre would, if given the offer, been dedicated to Boston. You never know, what if Gonzalez doesn’t adjust?
Situation covered in dirt, or solved?
Will losing Victor Martinez ever come up, as something that happened for a reason? Well, that is not likely. With Martinez gone, and Salty as our starting catcher, everything was in jeopardy not only because of Salty but because we only had one catcher that had the ability to catcher full time, or when needed at a major league level. But, after a little over a week of thinking they might take what they can get, they explored the idea of taking Jason Varitek back for the one year he wanted. They got him. A one year, 2 million dollar deal, not a commitment but a good idea for the 2011 season. He will be the backup catcher and mentor. Not only will the Red Sox be covered but also, the younger catchers including Salty will be trained for the time when their the only catchers behind the plate.
A-gon decision isn’t “gone”.
It’s a good day to be a Red Sox fan, but a bad day to be a Portland Sea
Dogs fan. First basemen Adrian Gonzalez is expected to be a huge bat in
the lineup for the 2011. What does this mean for the future? Or, What
does this mean for Adrian Beltre? First, obviously this is not a bad
deal. As a Red Sox nation we got the San Diego Padres powerful hitter,
but was the cost worth it? So far we have given up, First basemen
Anthony Rizzo who is a a powerful offensive and defensive first basemen.
Having his year with the Portland Sea Dogs in the 2010 season ending
with 20 home runs and a .263 average. His fan base was not small and he
will for sure make a huge gap in our prospect list. But, Casey Kelly
made an even bigger dent in the list. Number one prospect Casey Kelly
was also given to the Padres. A right handed pitcher with a 90-95 mph
fastball. He was also expected to have one of the better curve balls in
the system. What we have seen from Kelly this year on the mound and even
in the Arizona Fall league was barely average. However, his progress is
too big to overlook. Both of these players could have made a great
difference in the way our farm teams run. Yet another prospect was taken
from us though. Outfielder Reymond Fuentes. Who played for Greenville
for his 2010 season hitting .270 with 5 home runs and 41 Rbi’s. Although
not too far along in his career still an above average outfielder with
both offensive and defensive skills. But, if that’s not enough for you
to think again about this trade. Another Prospect is suppose to be gone
off to the padres as well. Names have been thrown around, Nate Spears,
Jason Rice and Daniel Turpen. Nate Spears who’s contract had just been
signed a couple days ago. Jason Rice who the Red Sox have considered for
the ‘new’ reliever of the year and the quickly progressing right handed
starting pitcher, Daniel Turpen. There is a lot of things to consider
before making a deal like this and it’s possible it may work out for the
2011 season. But, half of the players picked from the prospect list
were projected to be on the 40 man roster by 2012. So, what happens if
the Red Sox need a new starter with a powerful curveball? Adrian
Gonzalez won’t be able to offer that. J.D. Drew is expected to retire,
what if they need a powerful outfielder that has good range and can hit
to all fields, drive in runners and is a threat on base. None of these
things, Gonzalez can offer. The only exception to this is Anthony Rizzo,
whom will be missed but first base is likely to be covered for the next
4-5 years at least.
Now, Adrian Beltre. Since now we’ll have Youk on third and Gonzalez on
first. Adrian Beltre is not likely to be paid to come back. There is a
certain point, where no matter what this one guy looks like, was it
worth giving up five?
The other side of the argument, which is also filled with opinion.
Adrian might be great, these prospects might make there way in history
with the Padres and Adrian Beltre will find he is just as happy in any
other uniform as long as he is playing baseball for the next 3-5 years.
There has been so much hype about this subject. Tweets and Blogs and
even professional articles have been all about whether this is a good
idea or not. Just a few minutes ago, I have found several rumors
pointing to the fact that we are getting A-gon and our prospects will
follow shortly, but will stay where they are for now. However, no one
seems to answer the question, “What does this mean?” In the middle of
the year they decide they need a new starting pitcher? This should not
work for the Red Sox if that’s the deal. Just today, as fans and
over-lookers we have seen the trade deadline come and pass with no
information. There have only been rumors, but after the story changing
several times in a day or even in the hour I can no longer post about
the topic accurately. It seems as if, everyone is confused even the
people who should know the most. I understand, this must be frustrating
not only for the fans but for everyone. News reporters can only give
what they’ve heard, and if there being fed inaccurate information,
nobody will know the truth. I expect this to be the hot topic for a
while. I don’t think that within the hour, we’ll have all the
information, and I don’t think we’ll ever know what happened behind
doors while we were twiddling our fingers and tweeting hopelessly. But,
then again, I could be all wrong.
Not joking; Ten seconds after I wrote that it was reported by
Baseball America that first basemen Adrian Gonzalez is going to be on
the Red Sox and they will send Kelly, Rizzo, Fuentes and a still unnamed
prospect to San Diego. Baseball America or a random guy on the street, I
refuse to believe it until I either hear about it in an interview or
see it in a game, and even then I might not believe that we lost four of
our prospects.
Baseball through the eyes of a believer. 