The Boston Red Sox have announced the signing of third baseman Adrian Beltre. The deal is reportedly for one-year and is worth $10 million dollars. The contract also includes a $5 million dollar club option for the 2011 season, which is a good deal for Beltre.
Last season, Beltre only played in 111 games for the Mariners due to injuries. In that time span, he batted .265 with eight homeruns and forty-four runs-batted-in.
It now appears with this signing that the Red Sox will continue to pursue a trade including Mike Lowell. Some speculate that Lowell will be traded to the Mets for second baseman Luis Castillo but that remains to be seen.
Free agent shortstop Marco Scutaro has signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox with an option for a third year. After working out for the Red Sox this past week, Scutaro has compelled them that his injury is healed.
Last year playing for the Blue Jays, Scutaro missed the last two weeks of the season due to a plantar fasciitis issue in his right heel. However, after examining his medical records and watching him work-out, the Red Sox believe it will not be a factor for this upcoming season.
The 34-year-old hit .282 with 12 homeruns last season for Toronto. It appears that he will be the starting shortstop for the Red Sox this season, replacing Alex Gonzalez, who ironically signed with Toronto last week.
“The Red Sox were busy Monday, picking up catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez’s $7.1 million team option, declining catcher Jason Varitek’s $5 million team option, and tearing up pitcher Tim Wakefield’s team option and replacing it with a two-year agreement.
The team also confirmed it was not picking up a $6 million option on Alex Gonzalez, which had been reported Sunday.
Wakefield’s deal is worth $5 million over two years: $3.5 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in 2011, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney. It replaces a perpetual $4 million-per-season team option the Red Sox had on the knuckleballer.”
I think the Red Sox made some pretty good moves today. The biggest story out of this article I believe is the fact that the Red Sox declined Varitek’s option. Varitek’s production recently has been down, but he has been a long-time favorite Red Sox player.
“Right-hander Brad Penny cleared waivers Monday and will sign with the San Francisco Giants, sources said.
Penny, 31, was 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA with the Red Sox this season, and 101-83 in his career. He will make a prorated minimum salary with the Giants, and is expected to join their rotation, effectively replacing Joe Martinez.
The Red Sox signed him to a $5 million, one-year contract last winter after he spent four-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.”
This is a good move for the Giants, who now have a solid pitcher to bulk up their staff as they continue to make a push for the playoffs. Penny did not have great numbers with the Red Sox this year, but he does prove to be a good asset at the back end of the rotation.
So how about that? After going 0-8 against the Boston Red Sox up till last Thursday in the 2009 season, the New York Yankees completed the 4 game sweep of the Red Sox in dominant fashion, almost all by the hand of pitching.
Throughout the series, the Yankees held the Red Sox to 31 straight scoreless innings! The Red Sox bats really need to wake up if they want a chance at making the playoffs this year. After the sweep, the Red Sox are now 6.5 games back of the 1st place Yankees, and are currently tied with the Texas Rangers for the wild card lead.
Situations like this in sports make me think of how unpredictable sports are, and how teams can turn their season around completely in the blink of an eye, or lose the season.
The Yankees are now not only the top team in the American League East Divison, but own the best record in all of Major League Baseball with a 69-42 record. The bullpen that was so weak in the early goings of the season has now been a strong suit. Vice versa with the Red Sox and their bullpen, which was very good early, has now hit rock bottom.
Funny isn’t it? No matter how much you know, sports can never be predictable.
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