Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez showed off his opposite-field stroke in his first game of the spring on Saturday. (AP)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Adrian Gonzalez Show is now underway.

The first baseman made an impressive Red Sox debut on Saturday, jumping into his first game with his new club by lining a first-pitch fastball to left against Marlins ace (and 2010 NL ERA champion) Josh Johnson of the Marlins. He then lined a sac fly to center in his second at-bat. He saw only fastballs, but it was a meaningful step forward for the 28-year-old. Now, Gonzalez is looking to build on that effort.

–Gonzalez likes to play. A lot. The first baseman wants to play 162 games in the coming year, something that he accomplished in 2008. He is the major league leader in games played over the last four years, so it is not merely bluster when Gonzalez says that he wants to play everyday.

–John Lackey expects that the addition of Gonzalez to the Sox lineup will make life easy on the Boston rotation.

–Gonzalez will be in the lineup when the Yankees come to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox on Monday night. Though New York first baseman Mark Teixeira is not expected to make the trip, the comparisons between the two players will be prevalent for years to come. Of course, that only makes it more interesting that the two were once teammates. Both were with the Rangers in 2004 and 2005. Texas was puzzled about how to get both outstanding first basemen into its lineup, until Gonzalez — then 23 — took the initiative and suggested how the Rangers might be able to fit both players into regular roles.

–The Rangers, however, did not heed Gonzalez’ advice, and ended up trading him to the Padres. They weren’t the first team to deal Gonzalez away. The Marlins — who drafted the first baseman with the first overall pick in the 2001 draft — also parted with Gonzalez in a player swap, though Florida enjoyed considerably better results than did the Rangers. Read the rest of this entry »

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Catcher John Buck had his antennae up when he arrived at the offseason.

He was a free agent coming off, by far, the best season of his career. Playing in the AL East with the Blue Jays in 2010, he had set career highs in average (.281), OBP (.314), slugging (.489), OPS (.802). homers (20) and runs batted in (66). The performance was certain to make him one of the most sought after catchers in a relatively thin free agent market that was headlined by Sox catcher Victor Martinez.

Naturally, Buck was curious, even hopeful, that the Red Sox would come after him if they did not re-up with Martinez.

“I was paying attention to Victor. For sure,” said Buck. “Who doesn’t want to play for the Red Sox? Being a kind of historian of baseball, regardless of all the money and all that other stuff, it would just be a cool place to play. That was definitely something I thought about.”

That said, while the Sox kicked the tires on Buck, negotiations with him never reached the point of being serious. Boston was still talking with Martinez, and with Jarrod Saltalmacchia on the roster, the Sox believed they had a viable in-house catching option should he depart.

Instead, it was the Marlins who made an aggressive play for the 30-year-old, giving him a three-year, $18 million deal in early November before any substantive negotiations between the Sox and Buck occurred.

“I know there was interest there [from the Sox]. But it never really got to the point where I had to say I got this on the table or this,” said Buck. “Any good team is going to have its hands in everything. I don’t think it ever got to the point where they were ever exchanging anything.”

Instead, Buck was happy to move quickly when the Marlins made their offer. He was drawn not just to the terms of the deal but also to what he saw as a Marlins team that has positioned itself to contend. Anchored by Josh Johnson — a pitcher whom Buck said reminds him of former Royals batterymate Zack Greinke — he viewed the young and talented Marlins rotation as offering a foundation that could allow him to compete.

“You’re getting to the point where you’re looking for that ring,” said Buck. “One of the reasons I signed here was because of the strength of the starting staff. [The Marlins] have an overall direction of where they want to go, what they want to do in the future with the new stadium.”

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein (AP)

In recent years, the GM Meetings have been described as nothing more than a prelude to the real work of the offseason. This year, work has started early.

There was a flurry of actual activity on the first day of the general managers’ meetings in Orlando. Among the most notable developments:

–The Marlins closed in on a three-year, $18 million deal with John Buck (more on that here). Implications for the Red Sox: Buck represented the best catching alternative to Victor Martinez on the free agent market. That said, Rob Bradford reports that “the Sox’ interest in Buck was limited due to the cost the 30-year-old was going to command in the open market, along with the fact Buck had produced at a high level offensively (.281, 20 home runs) for just one year.”

Still, even if the Sox had only limited interest in Buck, they now lose the option of using him to bluff regarding their fallback plans for Martinez. Moreover, the fact that Buck received a three-year guarantee means that it will be hard to imagine a deal for Martinez of less than four or even five years.

–The Marlins traded Dan Uggla to the Braves in exchange for infielder Omar Infante and left-handed reliever Mike Dunn. (More on the deal here.) Implications for the Red Sox: Hypothetically, Uggla might have represented an alternative to Adrian Beltre in the third base market of Carl Crawford/Jayson Werth in the left field market had the Sox failed to sign any of them. That said, he is viewed as an imperfect fit for just about any position, so the significance of his move to the Braves is relatively low, except for the fact that it further strengthens the already considerable leverage of Beltre as the best third baseman available this offseason.

–The Cardinals re-signed free-agent Jake Westbrook to a two-year, $16.5 million deal. Implications for the Red Sox: Not many, although Westbrook’s signing does thin out an already weak class (behind Cliff Lee) of free agent starters. Conceivably, then, if the Sox decided to make a starter such as Daisuke Matsuzaka or Felix Doubront available, the fact that Westbrook and Ted Lilly are off the market could only help them.

That was the actual news at the GM Meetings. As for the rumors related to the Red Sox, broken down position-by-position: Read the rest of this entry »

Jarrod Saltalamacchia could very well be the Red Sox' starting catcher next season, according to Sox GM Theo Epstein. (AP)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Let the offseason begin.

While talks with free agents and other teams had been percolating even before the general managers arrived at their annual get-together — this year taking place at the Waldorf Astoria — Tuesday seemed to supply a good amount of momentum in regard to this offseason’s hot stove. Face-to-face meetings incorporating all parties involved will do that.

There were names being thrown about as possible fits for the Red Sox (Justin Upton), potential free agent fits being taken off the board (John Buck) and lines in the sand already being drawn (see the Boston Globe’s report that the Sox won’t offer Adrian Beltre more than four years, $52 million).

We very well may look back on it all and find it hard to fathom how much reality ended up changing in a matter of weeks. But, there was one line from Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein that should be digested more than the endless stream of whispers circulating throughout the hotel’s hallways.

The quote in question came during Epstein’s meeting with the Boston media, in the midst of talking about the merits of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

“At some point you need to give a chance to young players, let them build value,” Epstein said. “[Saltalamacchia's] one of those guys. [Jed] Lowrie is potentially another, [Ryan] Kalish is potentially another. We’re not going to have high-profile solutions to all our needs. It’s good to have those alternatives that you can turn to and realize that maybe you’re taking an educated gamble but you’re also potentially building a lot of values in those guys, giving them an opportunity to put themselves into the core we’re developing.”

And with that, a warning shot was fired.

Epstein understands that his team’s impending dive into the free agent pool could be more treacherous than most years. The issue is that three of the team’s perceived targets, Victor Martinez, Carl Crawford and Beltre, will be coveted by numerous teams, and at least one of those organizations will surely take the price to a level the Sox won’t be comfortable with.

And even if the Red Sox do go the extra mile financially to lock up one of the big-ticket free agents, the likelihood is that the “high-profile solutions” won’t be making an appearance at numerous other positions. And, Tuesday, the focus on such a reality was placed firmly on the catching position.

Panic ensued among Red Sox fans when news came out that the No. 2 option in the free agent catching market, Buck, was headed to the Marlins on a three-year deal. (The reality was that the Sox had been wary of Buck due to his perceived cost and limited track record of success.)

Read the rest of this entry »

ORLANDO — The best free-agent alternative to catcher Victor Martinez may soon be taken off the board.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the Florida Marlins’ talks with free-agent catcher John Buck are “progressing.” Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com (via Twitter) of FoxSports.com suggested that Florida is close to signing the catcher to a three-year contract. Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com (via Twitter) suggests that a deal could be worth more than $15 million.

Buck is the consensus second-best catcher on the free-agent market this offseason, representing a strong fallback option to Martinez. Indeed, he was regarded by many as the best alternative for the Sox should they fail to re-sign Martinez.

The 30-year-old Buck enjoyed the best season of his career with the Blue Jays in 2010, being named an All-Star in a year when he set career highs in average (.281), OBP (.314), slugging (.489), OPS (.802), homers (20) and RBI (66).

Well, that might be finally it for the 2010 Red Sox.

So many times this season, observers have written the team off when they suffered injury after debilitating injury and had bullpen meltdowns that left everyone scratching their heads.

But Friday, like when the outcome of a court case becomes obvious because of overwhelming evidence, Friday night’s 16-2 debacle at the hands of the Blue Jays is exhibit A as to why these Red Sox are pretty much toast as far as a playoff contender.

True, there’s five weeks left and stranger things have happened but with Dustin Pedroia going back on the disabled list before Friday’s nightmare with the Blue Jays with a foot that he admits is still hurting him badly, there seems to be little energy left to give.

And then there’s the troubling case of Jon Lester. He came out Friday and had the worst outing of his career, allowing eight hits and a career-worst nine runs and couldn’t get an out in the third before being yanked for Scott Atchison. He allowed two homers to Lyle Overbay, walked three and struck out just one.

[Click here to listen to Jon Lester talk about his rough night.]

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE RED SOX:

Jon Lester continues to look alarmingly hittable. Never before had the left-hander looked so ordinary. The only other start that compares to Friday came on May 9, 2009 against Tampa Bay when the Rays beat Lester and the Red Sox, 14-5. That night he allowed 10 hits and eight runs. But he recovered the rest of the season to post a 15-8 record with a 3.41 ERA. After 14 1/3 innings of shutout pitching against the Yankees and Rangers, two great-hitting teams, Lester seemed to be back on track since losing his first four starts after the All-Star break.

But when Fred Lewis walked and Yunel Escobar reached on a bunt single, even the outs were loud, that is when Lester could record them.

And maybe worst of all, Lester couldn’t stabilize himself after giving up five in the first. Normally, Lester is capable of settling down and giving the team innings. He couldn’t even do that Friday as he lasted just 51 pitches before the Red Sox bullpen was called upon.

Lyle Overbay. Goes without saying that if an opponent has two home 3-run homers and drives in a career-high seven, you’re probably into the bullpen earlier than you want.

John McDonald and John Buck: McDonald, the pride of Providence College, went 3-for-5 with with a 3-run homer off Michael Bowden in the sixth. Buck picked the right night to come off the disabled list. He, like Overbay, had four hits and scored four times.

The Red Sox didn’t show Dustin Pedroia much of a reason to hurry back. It was announced before the game that the gritty second baseman was going back on the DL because his broken left foot hadn’t healed completely and was hurting too much.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE RED SOX:

The kids are alright. Starting with Yamaico Navarro, a lot of back-ups and call-ups got their chance to give the vets a night off and showed they cared. Navarro, taking Pedroia’s roster spot, borrowed a page from Daniel Nava, swinging at the first pitch he saw in the majors. While it wasn’t a grand slam or even a homer, it was a sharp single to left, joining Nava and Ryan Kalish as Red Sox rookies to produce a hit in their first MLB at-bats this season.

Terry Francona got one wish. The Red Sox manager said before the game he’d like to get a look at Jed Lowrie at first base to see if he might be able to provide some versatility to a roster that could use some with Pedroia joining Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury on the disabled list. Beginning with the fifth inning, Lowrie moved to first base and handled every chance smoothly.

Outfielder Carlos Beltran is unlikely to be dealt from New York. (AP)

A recent story in the Boston Herald suggested that Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran could be an intriguing contingency plan for the Red Sox this offseason should Boston fail to re-sign left fielder Jason Bay. If Bay were to depart, the report suggested, the Sox could entertain the idea of trading for Beltran — one of the best defensive players in the game, and a middle-of-the-order hitter to boot — and moving Jacoby Ellsbury to left field.

However, it appears that there is virtually no chance that such a deal could happen. While Beltran — who has two years, each at $18.5 million (though with $5.5 million of each season’s salary due in deferred, interest-gathering payments), left on his seven-year, $119 million deal — would undoubtedly be both affordable and attractive to the Sox or just about any other team seeking an outfielder, there is virtually no chance that he will be dealt.

A major league source said that the Mets would not even entertain the idea of trading Beltran. The Mets are instead giving every indication that they will be active in adding pieces this offseason (New York is expected to get involved in the market for Bay and/or Matt Holliday). Given that likelihood, it would not make sense for the team to deal one of its best players.

Beltran is coming off a season in which he missed 2½ months with a bone bruise on his right knee. When healthy, he performed at an elite level, hitting .325 with a .360 OBP, .496 slugging mark, 10 homers and 11 steals (in 12 attempts) while playing in 81 games.

While it would not appear that there is a scenario in which Beltran would be dealt to Boston this winter, the Sox had pursued him aggressively in the past. Most notably, when he was on the trade block as a member of the Royals during the 2004 season, the Sox had a standing offer to deal Kevin Youkilis and Kelly Shoppach for the center fielder.

Instead, Kansas City elected to deal Beltran as part of a three-way deal with the Athletics and Astros. The Royals ended up receiving catcher John Buck and corner infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen in the deal.