MLB

FOX Sports Exclusive

Red Sox have to admit Yankees got it right

Share This Story

Sean McAdam

Updated Aug 14, 2009 1:14 AM ET
     
 
For the first half of last offseason, the Boston Red Sox seemed fully prepared to go checkbook-to-checkbook with the New York Yankees. The two rivals entered into a blind bidding war for free agent Mark Teixeira, with the Yankees emerging victorious two days before Christmas, signing the first baseman to a massive eight-year, $180 million contract. Having lost out on their primary target, the Red Sox promptly reversed field, swearing off expensive nine-figure stars for far more reasonably priced options. While the Yanks shelled out a combined $423.5 million for Teixeira and starting pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the Sox free-agent acquisitions cost a combined $12.5 million guaranteed. When Teixeira slumped and Sabathia stumbled in the first month, it appeared as though the Yanks had miscalculated and overreached with their spending. And when Brad Penny ($5 million base) turned in a string of quality starts and John Smoltz tuned up in the wings, it seemed as if the Sox had spent shrewdly. Fast forward to last weekend and the evaluations — to say nothing of the AL East standings — had changed completely. Sabathia and Burnett have combined for 22 wins and helped spearhead a stretch in which the Yanks have won 32 of 44. Teixeira, too, has rebounded, and leads the Yanks in virtually every significant offensive category, including homers, RBIs, slugging percentage and total bases. Meanwhile, Penny has won just twice since May 25 and Smoltz was designated for assignment last Friday. Reliever Takashi Saito, while seemingly recovered from an elbow injury, has been used mostly when the team trails. A fourth inexpensive free agent — outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who signed for $500,000, barely above the minimum — has been a useful bench player, but perhaps predictably, has already had two stints on the DL.
Their low-risk, high-reward strategy proved to be only half-right: they didn't spend much, but they didn't get a lot in return, either. Only six weeks ago, the Red Sox had a surplus of starters. Now, Penny's downturn and Smoltz's implosion, coupled with injuries to Tim Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka have contributed to a depleted rotation. Their brilliant track record of scouting and development — core players Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, and Jacoby Ellsbury are all homegrown — led the Sox to renounce mega free agents. Pursuing stars with eight-figure annual salaries wasn't just a poor business model — it was also counterintuitive to team-building. The Sox looked at how the Yankees themselves had gotten old last year and vowed not to make the same mistake by saddling themselves with long-term deals that quickly become untenable. Then again, the Sox have had their own free-agent missteps. J.D. Drew, lured from the Dodgers thanks to an opt-out clause, is just over half-way through a five-year, $70 million deal, but sits against many lefties and will likely fall short of 70 RBI for the third straight season. The shortstop position alone has been problematic. After first dealing off Edgar Renteria following one disastrous season, the Sox are, for the second time in four years, paying a shortstop (Julio Lugo) to not play for them. And there is this: It's unrealistic to continue graduating top players from their own development system at the same dizzying rate as recent seasons. It is perhaps just now dawning on the Red Sox exactly how much was lost when Teixeira opted for New York over Boston. General manager Theo Epstein pried Victor Martinez loose from Cleveland at the deadline to give his team's lineup an infusion, but not before aiming higher for San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Epstein was willing to part with a handful of top prospects to get Gonzalez, a slick-fielding run producer just now entering his prime. This offseason will bring similarly difficult decisions. Left fielder Jason Bay, who has cooled mightily after a tremendous start, is eligible for free agency and remains far apart in talks. Twice — once in spring training and again during the All-Star break — the Sox have made contract extension proposals only to have them summarily dismissed. Bay may not qualify as a truly impact offensive performer and the Sox are correct to worry about what sort of outfielder he'll be as he gets into his mid- and late-30s. But beyond Matt Holliday, this free-agent class offers no one else as potential middle-of-the-order hitters. If they don't keep Bay, then who hits fourth or fifth in the lineup next season? Finally, there's the matter of big-ticket sluggers like Mike Lowell (another year remaining at $12 million) and David Ortiz (guaranteed another $12.5 million), who are clearly on the decline. The hope had been that first baseman Lars Anderson would be ready to contribute next year, but he hasn't dominated Double-A yet. Whether the Sox address these needs via trade or carefully dip back into the free-agent pool remains to be seen. What seems clear is this: They had better have a better offseason than they did a year ago.
Tagged: Padres, Matt Holliday, Mark Teixeira, Jonathan Papelbon, Giants, Victor Martinez, Edgar Renteria, Brad Penny, Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, CC Sabathia, Red Sox, Lars Anderson, Takashi Saito, Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kevin Youkilis, A.J. Burnett, Dodgers, Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Yankees, Jason Bay, J.D. Drew, Cardinals

More Stories From Sean McAdam

FOX Fantasy Baseball Game 2012


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

MLB Videos

MLB2K12 - Verlander on Verlander Posted: Feb 08, 2012
Justin Verlander loses his mind playing himself on MLB2K12.

Morosi: Stick with your friends Josh Posted: Feb 03, 2012
Jon Paul Morosi says why Josh Hamilton now belongs in Texas more than ever.

Hamilton suffers setback Posted: Feb 03, 2012
Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton discusses a recent setback in his battle with addi...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
SimLeague Baseball - Simulation Baseball Game

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Cubs/browse/featuredproduct/250780/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_250000/FF_250780_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Red_Sox/browse/featuredproduct/605356/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605356_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt
    New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Yankees/browse/featuredproduct/605557/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605557_xl.jpg&w=100 16.95 New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat
    Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oakland_Athletics/browse/featuredproduct/606322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_606000/ff_606322_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt
    Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Philadelphia_Phillies/browse/featuredproduct/626447/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_626000/ff_626447_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet
    New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Colorado_Rockies/browse/featuredproduct/644117/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_644000/ff_644117_xl.jpg&w=100 28.95 New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat
    Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Texas_Rangers/browse/featuredproduct/722692/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722692_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch
    Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/723016/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_723000/ff_723016_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoo..
    Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim/browse/featuredproduct/777026/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_777000/ff_777026_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft