Drew Rumored to be Heading to Mets

Scot Boras & Stephen Drew still want a 4 year deal. The Mets are interested, but only if the asking price comes down. That's the stalemate on Stephen Drew. It's now a game of who blinks first. No big market out there for Stephen Drew as most teams have their shortstops in place for the coming year. If demands come down, Drew still has a possibility of re-signing with Boston, a team he rejected a $14.1 million deal with for one year. Not so smart on this one, Boras. Where are those multiple offers you mentioned at the winter meetings? Liar, liar, pants on fire!

What A Year!

Sports in New England were alive & well in 2013. The Patriots made it to the playoffs, but fell to the Baltimore Ravens in January. Not to be denied, & after suffering many injuries & a murder rap to Aaron Hernandez, the Pats finish this year 12-4 & they get ready for another playoff run in 2014. The Celtics saw the departures of Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce & Kevin Garnett as they rebuild for the future. The Bruins made another Stanley Cup run, only to be defeated in game 6 by a determined Chicago Blackhawks team. And we know the magical season of the 2013 Boston Red Sox, a team driven to the championship by the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings. No other city has as many competitive sports teams as those in the Boston area. It was a great 2013. Happy New Years! Get ready for a great 2014.

I Take Exception, Felger!

I guess you can tune into a number of talk shows & hear an opinion pro or con expressed on any topic. After all, in this electronic age, the norm is to share our lives & inner thoughts with everyone through pictures, Facebook, Twitter, etc. And I'm no different as I express my opinion about a game I love - baseball - & a team I love - the Boston Red Sox. Last night I'm flipping through the channels during an intermission of the Eagles-Cowboys game. I hear Michael Felger say that baseball is no longer "the" sport in Boston because Red Sox fans didn't riot when Jacoby Ellsbury signed with the Yankees. Really? Is that your criteria for judging the passion of Red Sox fans? I found that to be a stupid & uneducated statement, but Felger is entitled to his opinion because he has many gigs on TV. And he likes to be a contrarian who makes statements with no facts, just his personal judgments. No one is rioting, Felger, because we all knew this day was coming for over a year. The Yankees overpaid big time for too long a contract that the Red Sox were never going to match. No shock here, more that the long expected departure of Ellsbury happened. Don't worry, though. Ells will get booed mercilessly when he returns to Fenway, just like Johnny Damon. But don't say Red Sox fans don't care or have no passion. Baseball is alive & well in Beantown. That's my opinion.

Pats Run Blount to Victory

LeGarrette Blount had a game that no one will soon forget. Round numbers - 150 yards rushing, 150 yards in kickoff returns, 300 all-purpose yards, 2 TD's. Blount was a one-man wrecking crew on the defense of the Buffalo Bills. Pats defeat Bills 34-20 to lock up the #2 seed & a much-needed & well-deserved bye next week. Pouring rain all day limited the pass attack, so the 3-headed monster of Blount, Ridley & Vereen took the ball & ran with it the great majority of offensive possessions. The Bills offense shot themselves in the foot most of the day. A missed 4th & 1 by the Bills was a turning point in the game. Patriots finish 12-4 during a season after suffering major injuries to Wilfork, Mayo, Gronk, Smith & others. It was a nice job of younger guys stepping in & stepping up to give their best effort this year, more times than not resulting in a win. Nice job by Belichick & Brady to adapt & adjust to different personnel, almost on a week-to-week basis. Whether they go far or not in the playoffs, the Pats have overachieved enough for me this year. Teams like the Giants, Ravens, Steelers, Cowboys, Bears & Texans couldn't repeat a trip to the playoffs. We are spoiled here in New England. Don't count the Pats out, though.

NFL Playoff Spots On Line

The NFL has once again achieved it goal of having 13 out of 16 games in the final week count for something. This is a league where a number of 8-7 & 7-8 teams still have a chance to make it to the playoffs. Parity rules. There are no super teams with records of 14-1 or 15-0. So, having said that, don't the New England Patriots have as good a chance to be Super Bowl Champs as any other team? Sure they do! Today's game at home against Buffalo is a needed win for a bye in the 1st round. Many other teams are jockeying for playoff position or just trying to get into the playoffs period. There are 4 games on TV today, so get your popcorn bowl out & enjoy the final week of the regular season. The NFL wins its ratings game again.

Yankees Waste No Time

The New York Yankees have already contacted the agent for Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Reportedly, Tanaka is looking for a minimum of $17 million per year & at least 6 years. Do the math & that's over $100 million for a guy who has never thrown a pitch in the majors. Big risk. Maybe a big reward for the 25 year old who "experts" predict could be a #1 or #2 starter. Good luck, Hal! Haven't you learned that throwing money at a problem doesn't cure it? Your dad is rolling in his grave. Didn't these same "experts" pick the Red Sox to finish last too?

Post-Christmas Shopping for Tanaka

Get your wallets out. All it takes is $20,000,000 for a posting fee to put in a bid on Masahiro Tanaka. Which teams have money left? Supposedly, the Dodgers, Cubs & our Red Sox are all interested in the Japanese phenom who went 24-0 last year. Didn't we learn our lesson with Dice-K? And don't we have tons of young pitchers along with 6 starters under contract for 2014? I just can't see the Red Sox being truly interested, other than driving the price up on Tanaka for a team like the Yankees. Let another team take the risk.

Pats Host Buffalo

There are no easy games in the NFL this year. The motto of "any given Sunday" certainly applies after the Pats stomped the Ravens in Baltimore last Sunday. So no one should think that this week's finale against the Bills will be a cake walk. It all comes down to the "D" in my book. If the Pats D plays like last Sunday, there is no reason to think that New England can't beat any team. But we have seen games where the defense become very porous against the run & they give up big chunks of yards in the secondary. Which defense shows up on Sunday? Your guess is as good as mine. Regardless of the outcome of the rest of the season & playoffs, the Patriots have overachieved this year - just like the team on Causeway Street did. Maybe the outcome will end the same way, maybe not.

Pats Crush Ravens 41-7

I was wrong. Freddy Smerlas was right. The Patriots proved a lot of naysayers wrong with a dominant performance on the road against the Super Bowl champs Baltimore Ravens, handing them their worst defeat at home ever. It was an excellent game by New England on all sides of the ball from start to finish. It reminded me of Lackey beating Verlander in game 3. No matter how undermanned this team is, the moral of the story is don't count them out. Even Belichick gave his team high praise in his usually dull post-game press conference. Good in all 3 facets of the game. 2 TD's late by the defense. Total domination. Terrell Suggs, see you later! I had to laugh when Brady went down & Suggs just touched him, then Suggs went on a personal rah-rah even though his team was down 20-0. No "I" in team. I also thought that Jacoby Jones trying to run a kick out of the end zone with no chance of reaching the 20 yard line was so shellfish. He got tackled on the 2, but lucky for him his foot was out of bounce when he caught it. Obviously, Jones wanted to get his yards & screw the team by taking time off the clock. Very selfish. Baltimore laid an egg in front of their hometown fans. It may cost them a spot in the playoffs. Any yes, this was the biggest win of the year for the New England Patriots. T-E-A-M wins!

Sox Signings To Date

A.J. Pierzinski. Brad Badenhop. Edward Mujica. Jonathan Herrara. Mike Napoli. Ben has signed the guys that he needed to. Starting the season with the team as composed now would be OK. Projected lineup is Victorino RF, Pedroia 2B, Ortiz DH, Napoli 1B, Nava/Gomes LF, Bogaerts SS, Pierzinski C, Middlebrooks 3B, Bradley CF. Plenty of starting pitchers, in fact too many. Bullpen starting backwards is Uehara, Tazawa, Breslow, Mujica, Workman, Miller & Badenhop. On the bench is Herrara, Ross, Gomes/Nava, Carp. Not a bad club to start the season. And think of the top prospects perculating through Portland & Pawtucket. At the trading deadline the Sox can evaluate if they need a more veteran presence to backup Bradley & Bogaerts or any other position. Every deal doesn't have to be made before spring training.

Choo to Rangers for $130 Mil

Shin Soo Choo cashed in, just not as big as Jacoby Ellsbury. Choo goes to the Texas Rangers for 7 years, $130 million. Texas has now acquired to big lefty bats in Choo & Fielder. With Seattle making a move to contend with the signing of Cano Texas doesn't want to be left behind. The A's will be strong again next year & the Angels are acquiring pitching to go along with underperforming sluggers Pujols & Hamilton. The AL West will be an interesting race next year.

Pats Are Underdogs

Even the home grown team of New England football media are not predicting a Patriots win in Baltimore on Sunday. Only Freddy Smerlas is still waiving the Pats flag. Can you blame them? Baltimore is playing well over the past several weeks. The Pats keep losing more players & it finally caught up to them in Miami last weekend where they had to settle for red zone field goals versus TD's. And the Pats are 3-4 on the road this year where weird last-minute plays or calls or non-calls have effected the final outcome. Most think it will be a close game decided in the final 5 minutes. My crystal ball says that the Pats need to create turnovers on defense & special teams or I think the Ravens win this game handily. The Pats have a banged up "O" line & no Gronk in the red zone. And the defense gives up too many run & pass yards. If the Patriots can keep the game close, I think that will be a spectacular effort. But, sorry Freddy, I don't see how the beat-up Pats can pull out a win on the road this week.

Youk to Play in Japan

He gets hit by a lot of pitches. He plays hard & sacrifices his body. Over the past few major league seasons Kevin Youkilis has tried to catch on with the White Sox & Yankees. Neither has worked out well due to injuries. Youk played just 28 games for the pinstripes last year before undergoing back surgery that kept him out the rest of the year. Now the 30-something 1B/3B is taking his game to Japan in an effort to resurrect his career. Good luck, Youk! The mind may be willing, but the body may be saying "no mas." It may just be time to stay at home with Tom Brady's sister.

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa: Christmas came early this year when the Red Sox won the World Series in October. It was a perfect ending to an unbelievable story that began in April with the Boston Marathon bombings. What a wonderful outcome for a city that needed a team to cheer for! And it was all the more a miracle as the baseball experts had picked the Beantown bearded brothers to finish near last in their division. Not everything in sports is stats & sabermetrics. I remember a speech by Mike Eruzione, captain of the Miracle on Ice US Olympic hockey team, saying that no one can measure your heart, no one can measure your work ethic. And the 2013 Red Sox proved everyone wrong with their heart & effort leading to many exciting wins in their last at-bat. Sometimes there are forces at work that are bigger than the sport. This was one of those times. We won in 2004 to break the 86-year curse for past generations. We won in 2007 for the new generation of Red Sox fans. And we won in 2013 for a city & a country that did not give in to terror. As Big Papi so aptly said, this is our bleeping city & no one takes away our freedom. Thanks, Santa, for bringing us the gift of a such a meaningful championship. I will remember 2013 for a long, long time.

Sox Trade Morales for Utility Man

Franklin Morales had a few good moments in a Red Sox uniform. However, his time has now past & Morales returns to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for utility man Jonathan Herrara. Herrara is 29, makes less than $500,000 & can play all 3 infield positions. A switch hitter, Herrara has averaged .265 at the plate over 4+ seasons in the big leagues. A good, low-cost acquisition for 2 years for Ben until Herrara becomes a free agent. This gives prospects Cecchini & Betts more time to mature in the minors. It also may signal the end of a courtship with Scot Boras over the possibility of bringing back Stephen Drew. Hey Scot, go ahead & sign one of those several other deals you have for Drew.

Sox Top Prospects

The list of the top-ranked Red Sox prospects has appeared in several publications. In case you didn't see it, the top 10 are: SS Xander Bogaerts, LHP Henry Owens, OF Jackie Bradley, Jr., RHP Allen Webster, C Blake Swihart, 3B Garin Cecchini, 2B Mookie Betts, RHP Brandon Workman, RHP Matt Barnes, LHP Trey Bell. Throw in RHP Anthony Renaudo, SS Deven Marrero & C Cristian Vazquez for good measure. We saw Bogaerts last year & I don't really consider him a prospect anymore. I think of X man as a member of the 25 man roster going into 2014. Same with Brandon Workman. He showed enough in the 2nd half & in the playoffs to earn a spot in the bullpen or as an emergency starter. We saw JBJ as well & he performed on average for his first shot at the big leagues. His offense will improve the 2nd time around &, unless Ben has another move up his sleeve, JBJ will be a regular in CF in place of Ells. If the Sox do not re-sign Stephen Drew, I would use Cecchini or Betts as the utility man. Lots of good young talent perculating through the system. It may be a year where 50 different guys get a shot at one time or another to give some veterans a break in mid-season. Instead of filling holes with overpriced free agents like the Yankees, we have hungry young talent waiting to make their mark. I like it!

Yankees Sign Roberts, Thornton

How hard up are the New York Yankees? They sign ex-Red Sox LHP Matt Thornton as a knee-jerk reaction to losing Daniel Boone Logan. Thornton was let go by the White Sox in a trade with the Red Sox since he was underperforming. Thornton also underperformed with the Red Sox & he was left of the post-season roster. The Yankees give Thornton a 2-year (not 1) deal worth $7 million. How stupid! And then they sign former O's 2B Dave Roberts to a 1-year deal. Roberts has played a total of 50 games in the last 4 years due to injury. It looks like the Yankees are running scared with the losses of Cano, Granderson, Rivera, Pettitte, possibly A-Roid & who knows about injuries to Jeter, Sabathia & a tired Kuroda. McCann & Ellsbury better have MVP-type years for the Yankees to go anywhere near .500.

Boone Logan Cashes In

3-years, $15+ mil for an end of the game lefty specialist who is not a closer. What are you thinking, Colorado? Even closers don't make that much. Example, Koji is getting $4 mil next year. And no one was better than him last year. I'm glad that the Red Sox did not pay these exorbident salaries for mediocre talent & extended years. I'm glad to see Boone Logan out of pinstripes & it's a good deal for him. It's the Rockies that I wonder about. Who's making those decisions?

No Magic This Week

Gostkowski had a very unusually bad game. The defense couldn't stop the fish on their last drive. And Brady had no Gronk in the red zone. Still, it went down to the last play of the game - recurring theme on the road this year - before the Pats fell to Miami 24-20. Nice games by Edelman & Amendola. But this is the new reality for the New England Patriots. You can't miss field goals or kick the ball out of bounce. You can't let the other team stay on the field when it's 3rd & 17. The tipping point has been reached & the Pats cannot be considered a favorite any longer. No disrespect for the effort, just not enough playmakers in uniform.

Pats Face Big Challenge in Miami

Can the Gronk-less Pats score in the first half? Can the Pats porous defense stop Ryan Tannehill? Can the O line protect #12? Lots of questions. Lots of replacement players in action today. One thing you can count on is that any player in a Pats uniform will give their best effort for Bill Belichick & their fellow teammates. Blue collar, lunch pail - whatever you call it, this team has made it difficult for opponents to beat them after 60 minutes of play. And today's game should be no different. Guys like Stevan Ridley, Julien Edelman, Brandon Bolden, et al will have to step it up to give Brady options now that Gronk is out for the year. And the defense needs to figure out a way to limit points. Given the Peyton Manning & Denver loss on Thursday, this is a big game for the Patriots to take over the #1 seed & clinch the AFC East. I say they do it 20-17.

Extra Year for Big Papi?

It's Christmas. And besides Mike Napoli the Sox have no up & coming power hitters to replace David Ortiz. Big Papi must have been drinking from the fountain of youth last year to put together his great offensive barrage. The big guy continued his offensive attack into the playoffs, culminating with his MVP performance in the World Series. (We all know that Jon Lester was the real MVP.) Ortiz' agent is working on a 1-year extension that would end his career in Boston at age 39 after the 2015 season. The Red Sox took a lot of flack for signing Ortiz to his current contract after he sustained an Achilles injury. But he proved the critics wrong, very wrong in 2013. If the Sox extend #34, Ortiz & Napoli will both be free agents after the 2015 season. By then perhaps Middlebrooks & Bogaerts may be flexing power bats or prospect Bryce Brentz may have made an impact in the big league. Look at Raul Ibanez DH-ing at 41. Edgar Martinez played into his 40's. Unless there is a better plan B, I'd stay with Ortiz until he can't produce anymore.

"The Beard" Officially Back

It's official. Mike Napoli passed his physical & he is now a member of the Red Sox for the next 2 seasons. All's well than end's well since Nap earns an extra $6 million from his original 3-year deal. His first deal with the Sox of $39 mil was cut short when a hip injury surfaced. But after showing no signs of wear & tear in 2013 Napoli get the extra 2 years back with a $6 mil advantage. Good for him. Good for the Sox. I will never forget his homer off Justin Verlander in game 3 of the ALCS in support of John Lackey's 1-0 victory. That homer changed the entire series. Nap is a fan favorite already as he turned down longer deals & more money to stay in Boston. How does that Dirty Water song go? "Boston you're my home!"

Joba to Tigers

Joba the Hut gets a new life in Detroit with the Tigers. The prodigal reliever has ended his tenure in Gotham after declining performances & injury over the past few seasons. Once an end-of-the-game specialist Chamberlain was known to Red Sox fans for hitting & head-hunting Kevin Youkilis early & often. Joba had off the field issues & he seemed to have trouble controlling his weight. Good riddance from our perspective. Don't let the door hit you in your big behind!

Boras on Drew

Scot Boras doesn't utter too many truthful words when speaking to reporters about Stephen Drew. "He is fielding multiple offers." As Peter Gammons said, the offers may be smaller than bread box. Most teams are set at shortstop. Anyone who signs Drew must give the Red Sox a compensation pick. And Drew turned down $14.1 million for 1 year to return to the Sox. Nice advice, Boras! I hope the Drew situation forces you to go back to the Red Sox hat in hand. It's about time the Sox screw you instead of the other way around.

Hart, Morrison to Seattle

Seattle has now added Hart & Morrison to go along with the big signing of Robinson Cano. I guess that the Mariners want to fill Safeco Field this year & actually put a competitive team on the field. They will surely hit the ball. Hart got a 1-year deal. I thought that Ben might try him on a similar deal, but there are other needs instead of crowding 1B/OF. Good luck, Seattle! I hope all the signings don't blow up like Toronto's last year.

Winter Meetings Quiet

Trumbo to the Diamondbacks. Anderson to Colorado. Not blockbuster trades by any means, but a little activity. The week before these meetings was very active with new homes for free agents Cano, Granderson & Ellsbury. I'd still like to see the Sox get into conversations over a trade for Giancarlo Stanton & a signing of Corey Hart. But if neither happens, Ben has said that he can go to spring training with the team as currently composed. Farrell has said pretty much the same thing. The Yankees still need a closer & are rumored to be talking to Grant Balfour. No movement on Shin Soo Choo or Nelson Cruz for big money. Both may be getting lesser offers than expected. And Stephen Drew is still hanging out there. Overall, very quiet meetings thus far.

Brock Holt As Utility Guy

Ben Cherington says that the Sox may need to get rid of a starting pitcher if they are to sign Stephen Drew. Alternatively, the name Brock Holt popped up on the Red Sox website as a low-cost guy who could become the utility infielder that the Sox need. In limited games last year Holt did a very serviceable job, along with Brandon Synder. Holt is only 25 & he comes highly recommended for his versatility at 3B, SS & 2B along with his bat. I don't like the idea of getting rid of any starters. Lester, Lackey, Buccholz, Peavy, Dempster & Doubront will all have plenty of innings between them. Buck is always hurt. Peavy is coming off several injuries. Dempster & Doubront always tire late in the year. In essence, we have 2 mainstays in Lester & Lackey. I'd give Middlebrooks & Bogaerts a chance to grow into their positions in 2014 & go with Holt as utility. No need to give up a starter to re-sign Drew for another bridge year.

Corey Hart - An Interesting Option for Ben

Many free agents have signed. Several trades have gone down, the biggest being Fielder & Kinsler. The Red Sox have added 2 veteran bullpen arms. They have replaced Saltie with veteran AJ Pierzynski. They have re-signed Mike Napoli. What's left for Ben Cherington at this week's winter meetings in Orlando? Besides the status of Stephen Drew, the Sox may find a good fit in Corey Hart. Hart is coming off a year of injuries to his knees. He expects to be cleared 100% healthy by his doctor any day. Hart is a power OF/1B who averages 30 HR's a year. With Nap back at 1B & Nava, Gomes, Victorino back in the OF there may not be room for Hart if the Sox opt to go with JBJ in CF. But Hart is a guy you could get on a 1-year deal to re-prove his worth, similar to Beltran & Drew. He would be good insurance should Big Papi or Nap go down to injury & no team would give him a long term deal after a season of injuries. Keep your eye on Ben for one more deal this week. It could be Corey Hart.

Another Pats Comeback, Gronk Out

It was as exciting a comeback as you could imagine. Pats overcome another very poor first half start to offset a 19-3 deficit into a 27-26 win. Great kicks by Stephen Gostkowski, but the on-side kick was a thing of beauty & for me the play of the game. A favorable pass interference call leading to the go ahead Brady-to-Amendola touchdown certainly helped, but we have been on the negative end of those calls as well. The old saying is that over a full season calls even out. Even though the Patriots improved to 10-3, playoffs hopes dwindled as Rob Gronkowski suffered what looked to be a season-ending knee injury. Gronk makes the offense so much better that, without him, the Pats will be hard pressed to find the end zone against better defenses in upcoming games with Miami & Baltimore. And, unlike the beginning of the season where the Pats defense stepped up, the porous Pats D now has trouble stopping the run & the pass as evidenced yesterday. It took a 58-yard field goal try to fall just yards short by the Browns to finalize yesterday's win as time ran out. Nice to be 10-3. But how many guys can go on IR before it's too much to withstand?

What About Stephen Drew?

As Ben Cherington goes into the winter meetings, Stephen Drew is still a question mark. Scot Boras is looking for a 3 or 4 year deal for Drew, but no takers yet. It appears that the Yankees may be the best prospect of Drew getting a long-term deal since spending in the Bronx seems to be no problem lately. The Sox do have interest in keeping Drew on a 1-year deal, perhaps 2 at most. He brings stability in the field & the ability for John Farrell to mix & match Bogaerts & Middlebrooks as needed. But Ben is in the driver's seat & Boras knows that. The Red Sox have the ability to walk-away from Drew since they have talented infielders in Cecchini, Marrero & Betts that could be called upon to play limited utilty roles if needed. Or, similar to last year, Ben could sign a utility guy like John McDonald or Brandon Synder. If Drew comes back to Boston, it will be on the team's terms. No long-term deal. One, maybe 2 years tops.

Yankees Get Sloppy Seconds

With the Red Sox signing of Mike Napoli & the departures of Cano & Granderson the Yankees moved quickly to sign Carlos Beltran to a 3 year, $45 million deal & they brought back old-timer Hiroki Kuroda for another year. Beltran has a history of injuries & will turn 38 or 39 by the end of this deal. Kuroda is 39 & was ineffective when pitching during the last 6 weeks of 2013. More old guys to an already old team.

Beard Is Back!

Mike Napoli tweeted last night that the beard is back. Napoli & the Red Sox agree on a 2 year, $32 million contract to bring the power-hitting 1B back to the Red Sox. Nap supposedly turned down 3 years & $45 million from the Rangers in order to return to Beantown, a place he loves to play. In essence, Napoli & the Red Sox fill-out the original 3 year contract from last year with Napoli getting a raise of $3 mil per year. Given his history of heating up in September & in the playoffs, Nap was a great re-signing. He fits this team. Ben Cherington has his Christmas shopping done pretty early this year. Nap's signing takes the pressure off to get a big outfield bat, although I would still love to see Giancarlo Stanton in a 4-for-1 deal to come to Boston. John Farrell has indicated that he would like Stephen Drew back, so that is still up in the air. But a great week for Ben with the signings of Pierzynski, Mujica & Napoli.

Cano & Granderson Gone From Bronx

Robinson Cano - 10 years, $240 million with the Seattle Mariners. Curtis Granderson - 4 years, $60 million with the New York Mets. So if you are keeping score, the Yankees added 2 in McCann & Ellsbury, but lose 2 in Cano & Granderson. I guess Jay-Z gets the last laugh on Boras by getting Cano $240 mil versus Ellsbury's measly $153 mil. What a market!

Stop With Saltie Backlash!

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was a good catcher during his time in Boston. Good at times with the bat, not so good behind the plate defensively. His OPS was up last year while his homer run production was down. He did catch many games in a row when David Ross was out, so his strength of character was very evident. Saltie tried his best on the field, but he had a bad World Series & he ended up on the bench. His throwing skills, or lack of, were exposed & he struggled to make contact with his big, looping swing. The Red Sox did not want to re-sign Saltie to a 3 or 4 year deal with young catchers Vazquez & Swihart coming along in the minors. Saltie did get a 2-year offer from the Sox, but he was juggling longer duration offers from the White Sox, Twins & Marlins. So the Sox went in another direction & got Pierzynski for 1-year. Why now the backlash from reporters like Tony Mazz about the Sox not re-signing Saltie? I think a lot of pot stirring by Boston reporters is just that. Controversy sells. By every measure the Sox did the right thing at this position. Pierzynski & Ross start the season. Lavarnway, Vazquez & Swihart are in the wings if injury occurs. You are 5 deep at the catching spot. Yes, Saltie was a very good person off the field. And that's commendable. But Ben is putting the best team on the field for 2014 & beyond. A longer term deal with Saltie just wasn't in the club's best interest. Saltie gets his 3-year deal for $21 million with the Marlins & a chance to go back home to Florida. He wins too. So let's stop with all the Saltie "we should have signed him at any cost" garbage. Move on!

Yankees Have Many Holes

Joel Sherman, a reporter for the NY Post, called into the D&C show this morning saying that the Yankees - in his opinion - have about 10 holes on the team to fill. McCann & Ellsbury filled 2 of them. They still need 3 starting pitchers after CC Sabathia who showed signs of age, wear & tear last year & Ivan Nova who has up & down games. They need a 3B & SS since A-Rod is facing suspension & Jeter is expected to DH about 1/3 of the time. They need a 2B if Robinson Cano signs somewhere else. And they need a closer to replace the great Mariano. The Steinbrenners just can't help themselves from tying up too much money in too few players. Anyone who watched the Red Sox last year can see the positive effects of a strong roster 1-25. And how many times have we seen offense get you to the playoffs, but good pitching win in playoff competition. If Cano signs elsewhere, the Yankees have taken 2 steps forward & 1 step back. Assuming Granderson also leaves, the Steinbrenners may have just replaced Cano & Granderson with no upgrade at all in the lineup. Just a lot of dollars to 2 new guys replacing 2 other guys. Nice going, Hal! As Sherman said today, what's the plan?

Mijica Joins Sox Pen

29 year old Edward Mujica, a former Cardinals late-inning arm & closer, gets 2 years & $9.5 million to move to the Boston bullpen. MLB reporters are poo-pooing this deal as too expensive. What deal isn't these days! I see this move by Ben as a way of leveraging Brandon Workman into a starter's spot, if needed. Workman pitched well in the playoffs out of the pen, but he also had success during the year as a starter. One new young arm to join Felix Doubront as a 20-something year old is always a good thing. I think Workman paid his dues in 2013 by pitching in any spot for the Sox. Maybe he gets a chance to start if Ben is thinking of more moves on the chess board that include moving a starter or two.

Nathan Signs With Tigers

Good signing for Detroit, a team with a closer problem last year. Joe Nathan comes off a good year with the Rangers to sign a 2-year deal with the Tigers. Nathan was the long-time closer for the Minnesota Twins before arm problems. This leaves Oakland's Grant Balfour as the only closer unsigned at this point. I wonder if the Yankees will be in on Balfour as well.

Where's the Market for Cano?

$30 million a year for 10 years? I don't think so. Jay-Z's new client, Robinson Cano, is on the outside looking for a new home next year. Scot Boras beat Jay-Z to the punch by getting the Yankees to open their bank account for Jacoby Ellsbury first. This after the Yankees deal for Brian McCann that could be worth $100 million. Cano faces the possibility of playing for the lowly Mariners or lowly Mets. Quite a drop from the pinstripes! While New York fans are not totally on board with the deal for Ells they certainly don't want to lose Cano. But there is only so much money in the Bronx checkbook. Jay-Z & Cano will eat crow now as they try to sign a lesser deal with the Yankees or somewhere else. My personal opinion is that I don't like the nonchalant way that Cano plays. No dirty uniform. Toothpick in mouth at times. He does have talent, just not my kind of player. If Cano does stay with the Yankees for a lesser contract & lesser duration, expect him to be unhappy. Cano will fit right in with A-Roid!

Saltie to Marlins

Jarrod Saltalamacchia gets his longer term deal with the Miami Marlins. Saltie is expected to sign a 3-year, $21 million contract this week. Saltie certainly had some good moments in a Red Sox uniform. I saw him years ago in a spring training game with Texas hit a homer lefty, then a homer righty. He has all the tools, but his game just plateaued at an average level. Personally, I thought that he would find a team that could use him at catcher, 1B & DH. But Saltie is from Florida & he gets a chance to go home for the next 3 years. No doubt Saltie will never forget 2013 & the "617" jersey that he & Jonny Gomes thought of after the Boston Marathon bombings. He also showed great compassion at the parade stop to the owners of local businesses that took in the wounded from the bombing. Sometimes it's not all about on the field. Saltie joins Carlos Ruiz, Brian McCann, AJ Pierzynski & Dioner Navarro as fee agent catchers signing new deals this year. Only Ruiz stayed with his current team. Good luck, Saltie!

Ellsbury Now Part of Evil Empire

It's a good gig - 7 years, $153 million with an option for an 8th year. A la Judas Johnny Damon, Jacoby Ellsbury turns to pinstripes for his future playing career. My granddaughter texted me last night & she couldn't believe it. I did have the pleasure of meeting Ells & his wife once & they don't seem like the bright lights of New York kind of people. But for $153 million you can put up with being booed loudly every time you step on the field at Fenway. Damon did. The Yankees just can't seem to help themselves with these incredibly long contracts. You would think that they had learned their lesson after A-Rod, Teixeira & Sabathia. The only long-term guy to workout for the Yankees is Jeter & he should be retired by now. Let's not forget the injury bug that has plagued Ells in the past. The Yankees are gambling that he stays healthy for a long, long time. The signing of Ellsbury may also signal a goodbye to Robinson Cano who is also looking for big money on the free agency market. Curtis Granderson is probably gone now as well. For Ellsbury he gets financial security for his family for the future. But he will earn every dollar when he comes to Fenway. Judas Jacoby joins the Judas Johnny club. Let the cat calls start!

Bailey, Kalish Non-Tendered

Oft injured Andrew Bailey & Ryan Kalish were released by the Red Sox. Both just had trouble staying on the field. Bailey will probably sign on for 1 year with another team as relief pitchers are a scarce commodity. Kalish will need to prove that he is healthy to get another chance in the bigs. Too bad for both.

Johnson, Fister, Navarro, Kazmir All Moving

Former Baltimore closer Jim Johnson gets traded to the Oakland A's as a cash dump. Former Detroit pitcher Doug Fister gets traded to the Washington Nationals. Former Cleveland pitcher Scott Kazmir signs a 2-year, $22 million free agent deal with the Oakland A's. Former Mariners catcher Dioner Navarro signs a 2-year, $8 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Former Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes joins Ricky Nolasco in Minnesota on a 3-year, $24 million deal. Former Yankees catcher Chris Stewart was traded to the Pirates, a move expected after the Yankees signed Brian McCann. Lots of movement, but I have to say that the Oakland A's have upgraded with the loss of Grant Balfour & the probable loss of Bartolo Colon. It wouldn't surprise me if the Minnesota Twins ended up with Saltie on a 3-year deal. The winter meetings are set to get underway this weekend in Orlando, FL. A lot of chips are falling off the table in advance of these meetings. Mike Napoli, Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin Soo Choo & Cory Hart are still some big names out there.

Red Sox Sign Pierzynski to 1-Year Deal

Perfect duration for the Red Sox to sign a proven veteran like Pierzynski at the catching spot. Since Saltie was looking for 3 or 4 years with the Twins, Marlins or White Sox that length of time would have stifled young farm catchers Vazquez & Swihart for too many years. This signing also allows Ryan Lavarnway one more year to show that he belongs in the big leagues. The Sox finally have good depth at the catching position which should be a strength in coming years. Ross & Pierzynski both have contracts that expire after next season, giving 2 of the 3 young guys above a chance to catch in the bigs in 2015. I know that Pierzynski is not Mr. Nice Guy, but I liked an interview that he did on MLB this past year where he said that he feels his duty to his teammates is to be behind the plate every day. He & Ross should make a good left/right hitting tandem. Now the Sox can move onto signing Napoli & trading for my buddy Giancarlo Stanton. Nice move, Ben!

Sox Have Today to Sign Unsigned Players

The Red Sox website says the Sox have until midnight Monday to offer contracts to unsigned players. They are pitchers Andrew Bailey, Junichi Tazawa, Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales, Burke Badenhop & OF/1B Mike Carp. You know Tazawa & Carp will be signed. Miller is affordable & he was effective before breaking his ankle. Morales has the ability to start or relieve, but his control is always a question mark. Badenhop just got picked up from the Brewers, so logic tells you that Ben will sign him. Of this group I think Andrew Bailey & Franklin Morales are question marks. Bailey has a history of injuries & he has been injured in both years with the Red Sox, making over $4 million in limited duty last year. Morales has flexibility in the way Farrell can use him, but his lack of command makes his effectiveness erratic. Maybe everyone gets resigned - the devil you know kind of thing, but Bailey & Morales are my 2 picks for bubble guys.

A Win Is A Win

Another slow start to the 1st half. A porous defense the whole game. But, once again, the Pats offense has a big 2nd half. Gostkowski kicks the tying & winning field goals from 50+ yards. And the Pats defense makes 2 big stands at the end of the game to seal a 34-31 win over the Texans in Houston. It was ugly & hard to watch at times as Houston ran the ball at will & the Pats secondary looked bad most of the game. A few more catches on balls dropped by the Texan receivers & we may be talking about a Pats loss. But give the Patriots credit for getting the job done at the end of the game. Gostkowski, Edelman, Gronk & Brady all had big days. The running game was OK without Stevan Ridley, but Bill may need him against a tougher opponent like Baltimore. One more win seals the top spot in the AFC East for the Pats & guarantees them another trip to the AFC playoffs.