2006 Red Sox - Part II

In Part I - I looked at who the Red Sox had under contract or had control over contract wise and I came up with 17 of the 25 roster spots filled with about $25 million to spend without adding any more money to the payroll. How will the Sox fill those 7 spots? Today I'll examine the options for the infield and catcher's positions.

1st Base - Looking at the available free agents I would say that Paul Konerko and Erubiel Durazo would be Plan A and Plan B. I think the White Sox almost have to re-sign Konerko and it may take a 4-year $52 million contract to pry him away. More likely than Konerko would be the Sox signing Durazo to a one-year deal (with second year option) and planning on Kevin Youkilis (a righty) and Durazo (a lefty) splitting time at 1st with Youkilis also getting some playing time at third. John Olerud also has to be considered and a Youkilis / Olerud would be cheaper and would also give the Sox a righty / lefty combo but Olerud is 37-years old (but a fan favorite). Durazo is coming off Tommy John surgery and could be a risk but he's got maybe more power than either Youkils or Olerud.

Another option would be a trade but for whom? Trade candidates include Chad Tracy of the Diamondbacks, Lyle Overbay of the Brewers, Ryan Howard of the Phillies, Mike Sweeney of the Royals, Todd Helton of the Rockies, and Hee Seop Choi of the Dodgers. A Ryan Howard deal for Hanley Ramirez would be sweet but what would the Phillies do with Ramirez when they already have Jimmy Rollins? Hee Seop Choi may be the least expensive of the remaining choices but I don't see the Sox trading for an older star (Helton or Sweeney) and taking on a big contract or trading for a player whose output wouldn't be much greater than a Youkilis / Durazo combo. If there is to be a trade - then I'd expect the best chances would be for Overbay or Tracy.

A final name to mention is Carlos Pena of the Tigers. The Tigers are pretty well set at first and I'd expect the former Northeastern star to be non-tendered by the Tigers. The left-handed Pena is only 27 and he kills the ball at Fenway (a .925 OPS in 11 games plus his college experience). Boston would be like coming home for Pena.

My prediction is that the Red Sox go with Youkilis as the starter but sign two out of the three choices of Durazo, Olerud and Pena to give themselves options and depth at relatively little cost. A Durazo / Pena combo would probably cost $4.5 - 5 million for one year.

2nd base - Alex Cora is under contract and I for one would like to see Tony Graffanino come back for one more year. This would be low cost for the Red Sox and it would allow Dustin Pedroia a year of seasoning at Pawtucket before joining the big club. Factor in that the free agent crop doesn't really have anything that would be a major upgrade and you come to the conclusion that the Sox will probably keep together their second half combo of Cora and Graffanino. Graffanino re-signed for one year at $1.5 million. Look for Pedroia to be the second half starter if he gets hot at Pawtucket.

Short - Renteria's contract means he's back and Cora is his back-up. Hanley Ramirez will start the year at Pawtucket.

3rd Base - I'm assuming that the Red Sox will either re-sign Bill Mueller (Plan A) or give the job to Kevin Youkilis (Plan B). I have Youkilis as Plan B simply because he can fill the spot at first and because Mueller is such a strong influence on the team and would come relatively cheap as a re-sign (my guess 2-years for $3 million per year). Barring a major trade for a 1st baseman - I see Bill Mueller coming back. Mueller gives them depth and if he gets hurt then Youkilis is there to take over third. You have to remember that if Pena or Durazo sign with the Sox and really catch fire - then the Sox can always trade Mueller who will have a reasonable contract and not be a 10-5 guy.

Catcher - With Varitek and Mirabelli both under conract catcher seems to set. Kelly Stoppach will probably be traded or maybe the Red Sox keep him as insurance against either Varitek or Mirabelli getting hurt.