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Red Sox may not plunge into deep end of free agent pool 11.09.11 at 7:35 pm ET
By Alex Speier

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington (AP)

After Indians bench coach and Red Sox managerial candidate Sandy Alomar Jr. concluded his media session (more on Alomar’s candidacy and the status of the Sox’ manager search in a bit), Red Sox GM Ben Cherington offered updates on a number of fronts regarding matters related to the team. Among them:

–Cherington suggested that the Red Sox had no plans to make elaborate pitches to woo free agents. While some players may enjoy the red carpet treatment, Cherington suggested that given the composition of the club, he did not foresee the Sox pursuing the sort of high-profile free agents who would demand that sort of courting gesture.

“Some of the higher-profile free agents have come to expect that sort of treatment, and we’ve done it in the past with guys. This offseason, as I mentioned, is going to be more about fixing what’s under the hood than it is about buying a new car,” said Cherington. “We’re going to make moves and we’re going to build pitching depth and we’re going to be active, but I’m not sure that right now is the time to go through that exercise given the kind of targets we’re going to have.”

–In terms of the targets whom the Sox are considering, Cherington suggested that the team is examining the market broadly for ways to improve, rather than limiting itself to its most obvious areas of need (starting pitching, bullpen, right-handed outfielder).

“Across the board,” Cherington said of the scope of the team’s free agent explorations. “It’s really early. There have been a couple of quick strikes, but mostly, it seems mostly to be guys going where there is a clear personal preference to be in one spot, and they’ve gone and done it and not had to worry about it anymore. The vast majority of the market is going to see what’s out there and that process unfolds over time and it’s still very, very early in the offseason.”

–Cherington said that he has traded messages with David Ortiz and that he has spoken with the designated hitter’s agent on multiple occasions, and that he has also been in touch with the agents for closer Jonathan Papelbon since the expiration of the period of exclusivity to talk to a club’s own free agents. Cherington suggested that, because Ortiz has a smaller pool of clubs with whom he can talk (since there is no DH in the National League), the conversations with the slugger have been more specific than the ones with Papelbon.

“With David, [there has been] continued dialogue with his agent. I’ve actuality traded messages with David but I’ve spoken with his agent a couple times,” said Cherington. “I think with David, I think it’s in some ways a little bit more clear in terms of what his market could be. It’s a little easier to have the conversations earlier in the offseason and start to get into what we might be able to, so we’re starting to do that. I still don’t know when there will be a resolution, but there’s been more dialogue because I think it’s a little bit easier to frame what the market probably is.”

In contrast, since 30 clubs could theoretically have interest in Papelbon, conversations with the 30-year-old are at a less advanced stage. That, in turn, has made the conversations about the right-hander somewhat less substantive than the talks about re-signing Ortiz.

“With Pap, it’s a little bit more difficult, because more options in terms of the National League, more unknown about what’s out there,” said Cherington. “So [there's been] less dialogue with him, but keep the door open certainly and we’ll talk again I’m sure next week.”

Cherington dismissed the idea that the Sox expected a courtesy call or right of refusal on Papelbon if he is close to an agreement with another club.

“Those things can happen fast sometimes,” said Cherington. “He doesn’t owe us a call. I don’t think we expect that. We expect we’ll keep the door open and keep talking. But if he gets something that he really wants and there’s a deadline on it he can take it.”

Cherington said that he has not been in direct contact with Papelbon, but he thought it likely that he would reach out to the pitcher at some point. The GM said that he has traded messages with free agents Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, but hadn’t connected with either to talk yet.

–Cherington said that he continues to talk with Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein about the compensation that the Sox will receive for the departure of their former GM. He suggested that the two will see if they might be able to sort it out by or during the GM Meetings, which will take place next week in Milwaukee.

“Theo and I have spoken a couple of times since [last week]. We traded some ideas and don’t have anything to report yet, but there’s at least been a couple more conversations,” said Cherington. “The Commissioner’s Office is giving us some leeway on it if we feel like there’s progress being made. I think we’ll give ourselves until next week. We’ll see each other in person next week. At least give ourselves until then to see if there’s something we can’t figure out.”

–The team will soon announce the restructuring of its front office (chiefly promotions, as members of the Sox’ baseball operations group move up the ladder under Cherington) as well as some hires to the organization. Cherington said that one such hire was former Royals pitching coach Bob McClure, who will help the team in a hybrid role of pro scout and special assistant to player development. In the latter capacity, McClure will work with Sox minor league pitchers.

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  • http://aol lou corona

    so far i’m not real happy w/ben, he seems to be a little too laid back regarding pap and not proactive w/free agents especially relievers. theo did that last year regarding the bullben except for aceves he ended up w/ scroungy pickings for pen. if the red sox want to get the fans back they have to make some bold exciting moves, or they will lose their loyal fan base that is already viewing next year as a lost season.

  • Joe

    Hey Lou, how many guys have signed already? It’s only two weeks in. You have to give Ben until the winter meetings at least to see where the market is. Plus there’s two great reasons not to jump in head first when it comes to relievers. One is the current talks about the draft system. If they change the Type A compensation that changes the value of guys like Papelbon when it comes to offering arbitration and draft picks which is big to the Sox. Two, it is well proven that you don’t have to sign the most expensive guys available to make a great bullpen. Look at the Rays, they revamped their entire pen and made the playoffs with it still a team strength. The Sox don’t need to go bargain bin, but they don’t have to be all in on every top guy either. If Madson does end up with 4/44 mil, does that suddenly make Papelbon worth say 4/60 or 5/75? With his record maybe so, and he won’t sign right away as a result.

  • John

    I think the title of this article is a little misleading. It makes it seem like the Sox won’t be bidding on and possibly signing any big FAs. Really what Ben was saying that the whole whine and dine thing may not happen, because look what happened with the biggest whine and dined player they signed. Dice-K was that guy and he’s been woefully inconsistent. I think they will be able to compete moneywise with any team, even the Yankees, in terms of FA, and we all know money more than anything talks.

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    Joe, I agree with Lou in that they are taking an arrogant stance,telling all that we are the Red Sox and we won’t go the extra mile for you.As for Papelbon,you can’t compare the value of two DP’s, that according to percentages, may never make it,to a proven ace like Pap. If they are frothing over a the mouth over at the chance to get to DP’s for Jon, that is nuts! Is the fact that Pap has options in the NL a reason not to aggresivly pursue him? Swapping messages? Is that’s the way to show Jon that you really want to keep him. Cherington is beginning to scare me, as a prospect geek. If the Sox were small market, and not contending every year, I could understand a conservative approach.They are not. They should not rule out FA’s if a position is lacking.

  • http://! Robert

    Lou, again, I agree about how Theo really botched last year’s bullpen MKT.Kelly Downs was the guy they needed,and would have been worth every penny of his three yr deal. Instead,they wait, and end up overpaying Jenks and Wheeler.Aceves was a master stroke.

  • bhdyer20

    Lou got to disagree with you. Fans are not waiting for some big exciting move, they are waiting for good moves not just names but guys that perform. Lots of teams including Tampa rebuild their pen every year on a budget and they do ok.

  • MJP

    I don’t expect them to give a closer 3-4 years which means Pap is going elsewhere. I do expect them to go after a closer like K-rod for 2 years for three reasons; the first is that he’s still effective, the second is that he comes at a bargain in this closer heavy market and the third is that he has shown the willingness to step down to the set role if they prefer Bard to step up to closer at any time.

    I personally would not flinch if they simply moved Bard to closer…everyone freaks out about his bad 6-9 innings near the end of the year but we conveniently forget how bad Pap was the year prior…I believe the Sox feel Bard’s best is ahead him… Bard was insanely good for %95 of last season…even if he does falter for a small stretch he won’t be pitching with inherited runners on, he’ll be in the 9th with a 2-3 run lead and nobody on.

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