According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the A’s could look to improve their offense by shopping pitchers like Craig Breslow, Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour for a big bat.

Oakland has one of the best pitching staffs in the majors with a 3.14 team ERA, but the A’s rank 28th in runs scored. Josh Willingham leads the team with 11 home runs and 44 RBI. As of Tuesday, the A’s are 12 games back of Rangers for first place in the AL West.

Carl Crawford had no problem exchanging a broken bat for a game-winning hit. (AP)

David Ortiz is no stranger to clutch hits. The man affectionately known as the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history has produced the lion’s share of the franchise’s biggest hits in the last almost-decade.

So when Carl Crawford, he of the many an early-season struggle thus far in 2011, stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning while facing a 6-5 deficit, Ortiz knew exactly what to think.

“We’ve got money,” Ortiz said after the game. “We’ve got money. He likes to get that paper right there, always.”

Indeed, it was Crawford who cashed in on the big situation with a broken-bat liner to centerfield that plated both Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis to give Boston the lead in what would be an eventual four-game-losing-streak-snapping 8-6 win over the Athletics Friday night.

And Ortiz had some basis for his confidence in his leftfielder.

Crawford now has a team-leading four hits in the seventh or later that have given the Red Sox the lead, one more even than early-season MVP candidate Adrian Gonzalez. Crawford also trails Gonzalez by just one for the team lead in game-winning RBI with five. On the whole, in late-and-close situations (which are defined as the 7th inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one, or the tying run at least on deck), Crawford was hitting .314 (11-for-35) after his base knock Friday. Compare that to his .161 batting average with two outs and runners in scoring position regardless of the inning, and you can pretty easily determine that the lefty has been hitting his best when the game is on the line. Read the rest of this entry »

The Red Sox continue to monitor the market for left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes. (AP)

Of course Brian Fuentes would make a nice addition to the Red Sox bullpen. If the free agent were to sign with Boston, he would give the Sox something they do not currently have: An experienced left-handed reliever with a long history of dominating lefties (while also remaining reasonably effective against righties).

Both Daniel Bard and Bobby Jenks were very good against left-handed hitters in 2010. But Fuentes was in another category from the two right-handers.

While pitching for the Angels and Twins in 2010, the 35-year-old held left-handed hitters to an anemic line of .128/.222/.149/.371 in 55 plate appearances (right-handed hitters had a .203/.293/.403/.696 line). He was so good against them that opposing managers would simply turn to their bench (sending up 21 pinch-hitters, 20 of them right-handed) rather than have a left-handed hitter step to the plate against Fuentes.

If the Sox were to have a perfect design for their 2011 team, it might well include Fuentes — or a pitcher like him — in the bullpen.

However, while the Sox do have interest in the left-hander (as has been reported by, among others, Jon Heyman of SI.com (via twitter) and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com), their interest is of a very defined type. Specifically, at a time when the team has committed $142 million to Carl Crawford, is likely to commit in excess of $150 million to Adrian Gonzalez, passed $12 million in the direction of right-handed reliever Jenks and another $3 million to fellow righty Dan Wheeler, the Sox, according to a major league source, are “not in a position to pay a premium” for another reliever.

The Sox, according to multiple team sources, are open to what they would perceive as a good value signing — likely meaning less years and average annual value than what Fuentes is reportedly seeking. (Rosenthal said that the 35-year-old wants a multi-year deal for in excess of $5 million a year.) While there may be such a deal down the road, depending on what the market for Fuentes ultimately looks like, the pitcher’s asking price and what the team is willing to offer do not currently match up.

One other consideration that could work against Fuentes’ interest in the Red Sox: If he is to take what would be perceived as a good deal, the presence of closer Jonathan Papelbon as well as a pair of setup men who are capable of closing (Jenks and Daniel Bard) could diminish Fuentes’ interest in the Sox. Whereas a player like Adrian Beltre had an incentive to come to the Sox on a one-year deal to build his value, Fuentes might find that other teams would permit him a greater opportunity to showcase his talents for his next deal. For instance, the St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the Rays are pursuing the veteran — who led the American League in saves in 2009 — as a closer.

All of that is to suggest that, while the idea of Fuentes coming to Boston cannot be dismissed, and the Sox’ interest in adding him is genuine, the likelihood of the Sox adding him to their rebuilt bullpen seems fairly low at this moment.

According to a tweet from SI’s Jon Heyman, the Red Sox “have company” as far as trying to sign free agent reliever Brian Fuentes goes.

Heyman lists the Blue Jays, Rays, Rockies, Mariners, Twins, Pirates, Phillies, Brewers, Yankees and Mets as teams with an eye on the left-hander, who remains unsigned as the new year draws closer. Fuentes has pitched for three of the teams on that list, as he broke into the majors with the Mariners before spending the next seven years in Colorado. He finished last season with the Twins after being acquired from the Angels and allowed three hits and no runs in nine appearances for Minnesota.

Fuentes had a career-high 48 saves with the Angels in 2009. His 2.81 earned run average between the Angels and the Twins last season was the third-best mark of his career. He posted ERAs of 2.73 and 2.75 in 2008 and 2003, respectively.

If the Red Sox were to bring in the 35-year-old, he would join Bobby Jenks as another major addition to the Sox’ bullpen. The Sox signed Jenks to a two-year, $12 million deal earlier this month.

According to industry sources, the Red Sox continue to have conversations with right-hander Dan Wheeler about a potential deal to bring the Rhode Island native to Boston, but the team is not focused on left-hander Brian Fuentes.

Wheeler, 33, who was drafted out of Pilgrim High School in Warwick (R.I.), has been with the Tampa Bay Rays since the middle of the 2007 season, when he was acquired from the Astros in a trade for Ty Wigginton. Wheeler had a 3.35 ERA in 48 1/3 innings in 2010, and he struck out 8.6 batters per nine innings. However, his innings total was the lowest of his professional career, and he has seen his workload go down in each of the last three years. Over his last three full seasons with the Rays, he has a 3.24 ERA while striking out 7.5 batters per nine innings, while walking 2.5 batters per nine.

Fuentes was seen as a likely subject of Red Sox interest this offseason, coming off a year when he had a 2.81 ERA and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings for the Angels and Twins. Over the last three years, most of which he spent as a closer, Fuentes had a 3.15 ERA and 9.5 punchouts per nine innings.

He missed time twice during the 2010 season due to back woes, resulting in his lowest innings tally since 2004. Still, he was very sharp down the stretch, tossing 9 2/3 innings for the Twins without allowing an earned run. He held opponents to a .181 average and .607 OPS in 2010, and dominated lefties to the tune of a .128 average and .371 OPS.

But, after the Sox’ reported two-year deal with Bobby Jenks, the team’s appetite for multi-year deals for middle relievers may have been exhausted, despite an AOL FanHouse report that the Sox and Yankees are engaged in a fight for the left-hander’s services.

After Jonathan Papelbon's struggles this year, Lou Merloni feels the Red Sox should trade him. (AP)

Let the games, and rumors, begin.

The general managers’ meetings are under way down in Orlando and things are starting to heat up. When it comes to your Boston Red Sox, be ready to hear how they are in on every major free agent out there. Part of it may be due diligence and part of it may be sincere interest. We will probably never know which it is, but one thing that we do know is that the Sox have holes that need to be filled, and because of their roster flexibility, there isn’t a position on the field other than second base where they can’t improve.

Theo Epstein already has come out and said that improving the Sox bullpen will be one of the priorities this offseason. We all know that they need some help in the ‘pen, but could addition by subtraction be the answer?

I think it’s time to trade Jonathan Papelbon. Yes, I have had a change in heart. I preached all season long that Pap wasn’t going anywhere and that the Sox needed to add arms, not lose them. But, going into his last year of arbitration before he hits free agency following the 2011 season, Papelbon will cost the Sox close to $12 million in 2011.

As long as Pap is wearing a Red Sox uniform, he is indeed the closer of this team. Which leads us to the real issue. Jonathan Papelbon is still a very good closer when you compare him to others around the league, but he is no longer an “elite” closer. All you have to do is look at the last couple of years. His walks per nine innings are up. His hits per nine innings are up. There is just too much inconsistency in his game these days whether it is due to his mechanics or just the wear and tear given the position he plays.

One of the main reasons why I didn’t feel that the Sox should trade Pap this offseason was because I didn’t feel that there would be much of a market for him. I don’t think that has changed. He is due an awful lot of money next year, and given his desire to test out free agency following 2011, any team that would entertain acquiring Pap may only have his services for one year.

If the Sox were to find a match, I don’t see them getting anything more than a few prospects as well as possibly having to eat some of Pap’s salary. I know that doesn’t sound like a good deal, but if the Sox were to get a couple of prospects that, say … Jed Hoyer out in San Diego likes as well … it may become extremely beneficial in their pursuit of Adrian Gonzalez in the future.

OK, so why the change of heart? Two reasons.

No. 1. Have you seen how many quality relievers are available in this free agent class? If it’s lefties you’re looking for, you can start with Scott Downs, but it doesn’t end there. How about names like Brian Fuentes, Pedro Feliciano, Randy Choate or Arthur Rhodes, to name a few. Oh, you’d rather have a quality righty coming out of the ‘pen? OK. How would you feel about Grant Balfour, Matt Guerrier, Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch, Kevin Gregg or Frank Francisco. I know I’d feel pretty good if the Sox could get a couple of those guys.

No. 2. In order to sign a couple of pitchers from that list, it’s going to cost you. It sounds like Theo Epstein has already earmarked money for at least one reliever in free agency. The Sox can take the $10 million or so that they will be saving by dealing Pap (even if they pick up some of his contract) and sign a couple more of those guys.

My point? It’s time to hand the job over to Daniel Bard. There couldn’t be a better time. With the quality in this year’s free agent class, the Sox can surround their young closer with three veteran relievers. I think that we’ve all seen enough from Bard to think that he is more than capable of getting the job done.

It will soon be decision time for the Sox on Jonathan Papelbon. Do they trade him? Do they offer him arbitration? Do they let him go? The last one seems extremely unlikely, but ask yourself this: If you are starting to lose confidence in your closer, why hand over close to $12 million and put yourself through six months of second guessing about who to bring in in the ninth?

I just told you what I think they should do. Now, I’ll tell you what they are probably going to do: They’ll bring back Pap and I’ll be asked the same question I did all last year.

“Why don’t they just let Baaaaahd close?”

Good question!!!