New York Daily News: “Now it also looks as if Hanley Ramirez won’t ever see that new stadium in a Marlins uniform as the Red Sox, who let incumbent Alex Gonzalez go, are reportedly engaged in talks with Florida about reacquiring the All-Star shortstop.”

Listen, as much as I would love to see Hanley Ramirez back in Boston, it just is not happening. There are so many reasons that I have listed before and no matter what anyone says, it is not going to happen. Period. So lets not get our hopes up after some idiot from Miami posts some crazy ideas on Twitter. Plus, if Hanley were to come back to Boston then we wouldn’t have a gaping hole at shortstop, and what would Theo be without a gaping hole at shortstop?

- Chris

Obviously there is no real way to know if these rumors are fact or fiction, what I choose is my opinion and my opinion only. Feel free to debate in the comments section if you got beef. Without further adieu, lets break it down.

- Sunday, the Boston Herald wrote that the Red Sox were eying four Scott Boras clients as potential free agent pick ups, Matt Holliday, Adrian Beltre, Mike Gonzalez, and Rick Ankiel. It is painful enough dealing with Boras for one client, imagine having to negotiate for four, sounds like a shitty winter to me.

Matt Holliday – Fact – there is sincere interest in Matt Holliday. The Red Sox, and myself, believe that Holliday is the more complete player. He is better defensively and brings a better batting average to the table. However, he is also likely going to demand a contract much larger than what the Red Sox deem to be a fair market price.

Adrian Beltre – Fact – Beltre would bring a gold glove to third base, a position that was a liability to the Red Sox after Mike Lowell’s hip surgery. His bat has been inconsistent, but being only a type B free agent, I think the Sox would be willing to bring him on simply for the improved defense he would bring.

Mike Gonzalez – Fiction – I have to believe Gonzalez is going to be closing somewhere next year. If the Red Sox paid him enough he would likely have no problem setting up, but there is no way they give someone closer money to be a setup man.

Rick Ankiel – Fiction – Ankiel would bring another lefty handed bat with big power potential, basically another Hermida. If they bring in Bay or Holliday then they wouldn’t need Ankiel as a fourth outfielder because Hermida would fill that roll. If they don’t bring in Bay or Holliday then they will likely look at a Josh Willingham type of player to platoon with Hermida. Ankiel would not fill that position as he is also left handed.

- Earlier today, FoxSports.com reported that the Red Sox were once again shopping Mike Lowell and that the team would be willing to pick up half of his $12 million owed in order to get a deal done.

Fact – At this point Mike Lowell’s has become a liability in the field and still has question marks surrounding his hip going into 2010. I think ideally Theo would like to move him and bring in either Adrian Beltre or Chone Figgins to take his place. Imagine Figgins and Ellsbury just terrorizing opposing teams on the base paths, that would be fun to watch.

Stay tuned for more Red Sox hot stove talk. The winter meetings are right around the corner, and that is when things really start to get interesting.

- Chris

Boston.com has a very interesting quote from GM Theo Epstein who they met up with during the first day of the annual GM Meetings. They were discussing the importance of the $1.5 million saved through Tim Wakefield’s new deal:

“That’s important because there’s some things we want to do this winter and we don’t have a ton of room under the CBT,” Epstein said.

For those who aren’t in the know, the CBT is the competitive balance tax, also known as the luxury tax. Teams are taxed for every dollar they spend on total team payroll above this number. All tax is collected and then distributed to the rest of the league. Now, according to Tony Massarotti, the Red Sox currently have $109.5 committed to 2010 salaries. The CBT for 2010 is set to be $170 million. The way Theo was talking, it sounded as if they were looking to end up real close to that $170 million threshold. Why else would he seem so excited about the prospect of saving $1.5 million, just over 1% of last years total payroll?

If that really is the case, the Red Sox have approximately $60 million to work with. Even if they re-sign Jason Bay to a generous salary of $18 million a season, there is $42 million left before you start getting hit with any taxes. This opens the door for many different scenarios both through other free agents (ie. Matt Holliday, John Lackey, Rich Harden) or via trade (ie. Roy Halladay).

It is very possible that this entire thing has been taken out of context, but it would help explain why they would go through the trouble of saving $1.5 million with Wakefield and declining Alex Gonzalez $6 million option. I hope it is true, it would be nice to see the spending gap between the Sox and Yankees decrease a little bit.

- Chris

According to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have declined the $6 million option on shortstop Alex Gonzalez. The source says that the team may be willing to bring him back for 2010, but at a lower price. This leaves a big question mark at shortstop once again, a position that Theo has yet to solidify since the departure of Nomar Garciaparra in 2004. It was believed by many that the team was in pursuit of J.J. Hardy of the Brewers, but he was traded to the twins late last week. Don’t look for Jed Lowrie to be the teams only shortstop on opening day as Epstein has eluded in recent interviews that his injury history has the team worried.

With the thin free agent market at the position, this move is somewhat surprising. My bet is that they will bring back Gonzalez but at a lesser salary. Other options include signing Orlando Cabrera or making a trade for someone like Stephen Drew of Arizona.

- Chris

It wasn’t a blockbuster move by any means, but the Red Sox made their first splash in what is bound to be a very important winter for the team. The deal reads as follows: The Red Sox acquire 25 year old outfielder Jeremy Hermida in exchange for minor league pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez. Hermida brings loads of untapped potential to a team lacking power potential in the younger ranks. Here is what Theo Epstein had to say about the deal.

“This was not a blockbuster. This was a value trade, a chance to get a guy with unfulfilled potential at a reasonable cost.”

“The last two years, there were high expectations that didn’t come together for him. His performance certainly hasn’t been as good the last two years as it was in 2007. I can tell you that’s the reason we were able to acquire him today. Had he maintained that performance or had linear progression from 2007 to today, there’s no way we would have been trading for him, let alone in this kind of a deal.”

Continue Reading…

MLBTradeRumors.com wrote that Buster Olney thinks the Red Sox will make a big splash this offseason and acquire power hitting first baseman Prince Fielder. I remember hearing a couple of weeks ago that the Brewers may move him to try and fill multiple holes else where in the organization, especially with the massive raise he is due in arbitration. This would be HUGE if it ever got done. Prince is the power hitting threat that this team needs going forward. At only 25 years old, he could easily provide 40 HR seasons for the next ten years. It would obviously take a monster package to get a deal done, but the Red Sox need a guy like this if they want to continue to be perrenial World Series contenders.

- Chris

All in all, today was a very successful day for the Boston Red Sox. We got a power hitting middle of the order bat that we desperately needed; we swapped LaRoche for a younger, cheaper, version of himself with more potential, and a better glove; and the Yankees and Rays both basically remained the same (the Yankees added Jerry Hairston Jr.). Lets break it down.

As I have said before, Victor Martinez was the least desirable of the big three rumors going around this week. Because of that, it was also the most logical deal to get done seeing the ridiculous asking prices for Halladay and Gonzalez. I have been saying all along that we wouldn’t trade Buchholz for him, and if that was the price it wasn’t happening. Cleveland ultimately came down on their asking price as they really had no choice after dealing Cliff Lee earlier this week.

Martinez has been slumping recently, but on the season he is batting .284 with 15 HR and 67 RBI. Last season he had injury problems, but thus far, 2009 has been a healthy year for him. He will spell Varitek behind the plate on some nights and split time between first and DH on others. Lowell and Varitek will see a decrease in playing time as a result of the move, and will definitely benefit from the increased rest for the last two months. We gave up a couple of promising arms in Nick Hagadone and Justin Masterson, but our pitching depth in the minors is so deep, that it really is not effected too much. After hearing for weeks that it would take at least Clay Buchholz, if not more, this deal comes out looking like a steal. Martinez is signed through next season, and projects as a Type A player, meaning we would be compensated with two first round picks if he leaves via free agency.

The Casey Kotchman/Adam LaRoche deal still confuses me. LaRoche came up with the Braves but left when he entered his free agent years. Kotchman was the center piece of a deal last summer in which they traded Mark Teixera. Now, they trade that same guy for someone older, with less potential, that they let go years before? Sounds good to me. Both are left handed first basemen. LaRoche has a bit more pop, but Kotchman hits for better average. Kotchman is 26 while LaRoche is 29 and will be a free agent at the end of the season. Kotchman, however, has a much better glove, something the Red Sox will definitely take advantage of late in games as their defense as a whole has been below average.

In what might be the biggest move today, the Yankees and Rays basically did nothing. The Yanks got Hairston, as I said before, but that really is not an impact move. Both teams have been on a tear recently and apparently felt good where they are. Only two of the three teams can make the playoffs in the end, and the Red Sox today did their best to make sure that they are one of these teams.

- Chris

USA Today is reporting that the Red Sox are about to acquire Victor Martinez. 

Fox Sports is reporting that Daniel Bard and Clay Buchholz are not involved. 

MLB.com is reporting that Nick Hagadone and Justin Masterson are involved.

Peter Gammons is reporting that Hagadone and Masterson are indeed involved, but that the deal is not done yet.

MLB.com says it is a done deal, with Bryan Price being the last piece to go to Cleveland.

Stay tuned for further details.

- Chris

UPDATE – 4:30 – Looks like thats all she wrote. Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports Halladay has not been traded. The dust seems to be settling and all moves seem to have been reported.

UPDATE – 3:45 – Rolen has been dealt to the Reds, so much for competing. This is just me throwing out ideas but how about Buchholz, Bowden, Kotchman, Lowrie, and Lars Anderson for Halladay? I would do it.

UPDATE – 3:08 – If Victor Martinez is indeed heading to Boston, you can expect all talks between the Padres and Sox to be over. There is still a possibility of Roy Halladay as the Sox didn’t trade any of there major pieces to get Martinez, but don’t hold your breath. With Martinez here, the Sox will spend the last hour looking to find a spot for Adam LaRoche, who is no expendable. Peter Gammons has said that this deal is not done yet, but don’t expect anything to get in the way between now and 4pm.

- Chris

UPDATE – 1:47 pm – Jason Stark is reporting that the Padres are asking price is “astronomical, three times the asking price on Halladay.” If this is the case, don’t expect him to go anywhere because the price on Halladay is already very high.

- Chris

UPDATE – 1:33 pm  – The Red Sox were one of six teams who inquired about Seattles Felix Hernandez. Nothing will happen there though, I can almost gaurantee it. The Sox and Padres remain far off on a deal for Gonzalez, but they have been talking. Likely players to be involved are Buchholz, Bowden, Anderson, Lowrie, and Ryan Westmoreland. MLB.com thinks the chances of V Mart being dealt are 50/50.

- Chris

UPDATE – 12:55 pm – The Rangers are said to be out of the Halladay sweepstakes as the two teams stopped talking about an hour ago. At this point it doesn’t look like Halladay is going anywhere. Have fun “competing” next year for last place with the Orioles. Even with Halladay, the Blue Jays have no chance next year. Seeing as he is going to leave anyways, they are idiots for not trading him.

- Chris

UPDATE – 11:30 am - According to ESPN Radio, Jarrod Washburn has been dealt from Seattle to the Tigers. As you may know, Washburn was someone the Yankees were targeting. Does this mean they shift their focus to Halladay? Doubtful, but the last time the Yankees were this quiet was before they swooped in and stole Mark Teixeira. More to come.

- Chris

UPDATE  – 11:26 am - As every minute passes a Roy Halladay trade becomes less likely. Ricciardi seems hell bent on trying to contend next year rather than trade him now. Again, this could just be a leverage move, but he told the NY Post that a trade is highly unlikely.

Yahoo Sports reports that the Red Sox were going to spend the morning talking to the Blue Jays about Halladay and if talks were going no where spend the afternoon on Adrian Gonzalez and Victor Martinez.

- Chris

With the trade deadline less than 8 hours away, we will be continuously updating the latest rumors on what the Sox might do. So far it has just been the usual suspects, but that could all change very quickly, here is a recap of what has happened so far.

Roy Halladay: Things seem to have quieted down on this front. JP Ricciardi has leaked more info to the media in the last four days than Theo Espstein has in his life. He claims he is perfectly content holding onto Halladay, but I think he is just trying to gain leverage. The Rangers appear to be in the lead, but according to many sources no one is close to matching the Blue Jays price. Ultimately, there is really no way the Jays can keep him at this point. The relationship is ruined, and the team is in dire financial trouble. Look for Halladay to be dealt at 3:59 today to whoever the highest bidder is at the time. Will it be the Red Sox? If they don’t strike a deal for Adrian Gonzalez by that point, than I think it might be. Chance he ends up at Fenway: 30%

Victor Martinez: Last night the two clubs were supposedly trying to involve a third team to get this thing done. What it still boils down to is the Indians want Buchholz and the Sox will not give him up for just V Mart alone. Also, in any V Mart trade, the Sox would want to move Adam LaRoche at the same time. While Martinez is the least desirable of the three big names out there, it has the best chance of getting done. Chance he comes to Fenway: 50%

Adrian Gonzalez: I have been saying this all along, this is the guy I want, this is the guy they should get, and they seem to be really trying. Only problem is, the Padres don’t seem to be to interested in moving him. The two sides have been talking extensively since Tuesday night, and they seem to be making progress, but there are still obstacles to jump over. A new development in this one is that the Red Sox may be able to add Heath Bell to the mix as well if Daniel Bard were to be included. No other teams have been rumored to be going after Gonzalez, so hopefully Theo and Kevin Towers can hash something out today. Chance he ends up in Fenway: 20%

Look back throughout the day as this post will be updated as much as possible with the latest news.

- Chris

As we move closer to the July 31st trade deadline, I feel more and more like the Red Sox are going to do something wild. Here is a quote from Tito in today’s press conference before the game.

“I listen to the talks. I don’t listen to the radio, but I talk to Theo,” said Francona. “Some of the people I hear talked about on the radio — you guys have no idea.”

So what does this mean? That there is no way that we are even going after the guys being talked about? I doubt it, many different sources have basically confirmed the speculation on all of the big names. I think that Theo is working on something that we aren’t even thinking of. Will it get done? Maybe not, but what would you pay to spend a day in the Red Sox front office and find out what really goes on?

- Chris