Wily Mo and Jeff Bailey

Wily Mo Pena was waived by the Nationals. Meanwhile, Chris Carter - the guy the Nationals trade to the Red Sox - is in a battle for the final roster position with the Red Sox. Chances are the final roster position goes to Jeff Bailey who can leave the Red Sox (I believe) if he isn't on the roster by a certain date.

If I were the Mariners - I would pick up Wily Mo and give him a shot at being the DH. It's cheap money on his contract and he could prove to be a 25+ HR guy. A better move would to be arrange a trade for the 30-year old Bailey and make him the DH. Bailey was the International League MVP last year but is at the stage of his career when he can't wait any longer to get into the big leagues. He would do very well for the Mariners or any other team in need of a 1st baseman / DH.

In Boston, Bailey is blocked by Kevin Youkilis being in front of him and stud prospect Lars Anderson being behind him.

Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

It will be interesting to see if Richie Sexson can turn the power back on this season. Sexson had averaged 36.5 HR in his first 2-years in Seattle but last year dipped to just 21 and his slugging percentage of .399 was 115 points below his career average. Sexson is in the last year of his contract so it will be doubly interesting to see how he does... Kevin Gregg is the highest paid player on the Marlins with his one-year $2.5 million contract. There are 16 players on the Yankees that make more than that... Johan Santana's contract adds a big burden to the Mets payroll but that should be lessened by the fact that potentially they have $41 million coming off the books after this season between Carlos Delgado, Pedro Martinez, Moises Alou and Orlando Hernandez. Of course some of those four players could be back in 2009 but I'm guessing that at least 3 out of 4 will not be with the Mets next season... It will be interesting to compare and contrast Sexson and Delgado this year as both big men are hoping to rebound from off seasons in their contract walk years... The phrase "throwing shit against the wall to see what sticks" seems to fit what the Nationals are doing at spring training. The Nationals seem to have 5 or 6 players vying for each position and the only 2 positions that seem truly locked up are 3rd (Ryan Zimmerman) and closer (Chad Cordero). Every other position seems like like it could be up for grabs and that's especially true for the starting rotation. At the very least it should make the intra-squad games interesting to watch... I'm rooting for Wily Mo Pena of the Nationals to have a big year. I always liked Wily Mo but he's got to contend with Austin Kearns, Elijah Dukes, Lastings Milledge, Ryan Langerhans, Rob Mackowiak and others for playing time...

Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

The Red Sox blew that game last night against the Yankees. There's no other way to put it. Hideki Okajima and Papelbon have been so good this season - it is tough to begrudge them a poor outing (although it sucks that they both chose the same night to have it)... Last season David Ortiz hit 54 HR and had an OPS of 1.049. This season Ortiz has 31 HR and an OPS of 1.035. However, his OPS+ (which takes into account league year over year averages - 100 is league average for any given year) is higher this year (168) than last (164). This is mainly due to power being down league wide this year versus last year... JD Drew is such a tease. He's hitting .353 so far in September. On the flip side - Drew has just 8 HR this season for the Red Sox. Wily Mo Pena has hit 8 home runs since being traded to the Nationals... Kevin Youkilis has yet to commit an error at 1st base this season. Even though Youk has been literally perfect at 1st this year - the Gold Glove will probably go to someone else... The Blue Jays loss last night dropped them under .500 for the season. I think people expected more out of Toronto this season. Do you think JP Riccardi is wishing he traded Troy Glaus at the trade deadline?... Miguel Tejada hs been making noise about wanting to be traded away from the Orioles. Who does he think he is? What market does he think exists for a 31-year old shortstop whose power has been decreasing every year he's been in Baltimore and who was named as a steroids user by Jose Canseco in Canseco's book? Tejada should just shut the hell up.... Since the All-Star break Tom Glavine has been 6-0 with a 3.5 ERA. I can see why he'd want to come back for another year...

Mark Buehrle to the Red Sox

There have been reports in Chicago papers that Mark Buehrle may be dealt to the Red Sox. As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend."

The Chicago papers would have you believe the trade would be something like Jon Lester for Mark Buehle. While it is true that Mark Buehrle is the type of player the Red Sox hope Jon Lester would develop into - why would the Red Sox give up years of the 23-year old Jon Lester for just 3 months of the 28-year old Buehrle?

As Tony Massarotti points out - the Red Sox hold most of the cards in this negotiation. The Red Sox hold a number of chips besides Lester such as Kason Gabbard who will be showcased this week as he takes over Curt Schilling's spot in the rotation or Devern Hansack who has a 3.19 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 73 innings from 12 AAA starts this season. Hansack is 29-years old and needs a chance to show he can play at the MLB level.

Also don't forget reliever Craig Hansen who was highly touted coming out of college but hasn't been stellar for the Red Sox. Maybe he would benefit from a change of scenery?

The Red Sox want to get Buehrle not just because he could help the team down the stretch but also to keep him from other playoff-bound American League teams. He could be the biggest difference maker available at or before the trade deadline. I mean even Dontrelle Willis wouldn't have as much impact for an AL team as the already acclimated Buehrle.

The big problem with the White Sox is not pitching but offense. This year they just suck at the plate. Now I'm not saying that he'd be the answer to what ails the White Sox offense but I am saying that the White Sox should consider a swap for Willy Mo Pena who is still just 25-years old. The White Sox potentially could lose all of their starting outfielders to free-agency this winter. Getting a guy who has hit a HR every 18 at bats in his career and who could be plugged into any of the three outfield slots should be appealing to the White Sox.

Coco vs Wily Mo

Around Boston there is a brewing argument over who should be starting in the outfield for the Red Sox - Coco Crisp or Wily Mo Pena. I mention this because earlier today while I was driving I heard both Dale and Holley from WEEI continually dismiss the idea with the "its only been six-games" logic - even though caller after caller was bringing it up. Seldom have I heard two radio guys more tone deaf to what the callers were saying.

Now I'm not saying that I agree that Crisp should be dumped for Wily Mo but what I am saying is that the argument has some valid points and should not be dismissed out of hand.

1. Its not just six games - Crisp was with the Red Sox for 105 games last year while Wily Mo played 84 for the Red Sox (both had injury issues). Here's how they compared:

Crisp: .264 BA / .317 OBP / .702 OPS / 22 SB / 8 HR
Pena: .301 BA / .349 OBP / .838 OPS / 0 SB / 11 HR

The raw offensive numbers clearly favor Wily Mo (with the exception of stolen bases). So its not just six games - it was the whole sample size from last season that is in many people's minds.

2. Defensively - yes Crisp can track down more balls in centerfield but his arm is so weak that runners almost always take the extra base on him. Wily Mo has a pretty good arm - so the balls he wouldn't reach would be made up by keeping runners from automatically advancing. Defense is a wash in my mind.

3. The Red Sox gave up Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena and there are many fans who want Wily Mo to get the at bats to see if that trade was worth it. Whereas, there is a bit of an undercurrent of unhappiness regarding Crisp because his arrival was so heralded and Crisp cashed in with a number of commercials right off the bat. Skeptical New England fans are wondering if they were sold a bill of goods with Coco Crisp and there is some resentment building against the guy.

4. The bottom half of the batting order is pretty average. Last year Mike Lowell has a bit above league average as far as hitting (106 OPS+), Jason Varitek was below average (85 OPS+) and Coco Crisp was the worst of the trio (80 OPS+). (Dustin Pedroia is a rookie but he's batting 9th for a reason). Wily Mo had an OPS+ of 112 and his presence instead of Crisp could really kick start the second half of the offense. The second half of the batting order is a problem that is a sleeping giant for Red Sox Nation.

So it may be early in the season to make a change - but the argument for change in the outfield for the Red Sox can definitely be made.

Austin Kearns Signs New Deal

Austin Kearns signed a new deal with the Washington Nations - avoiding arbitration in the process. Kearns is now signed for the next three years for a total of $16.5 million with a $10 million option for 2010 (or a $1 million buy-out). Couple of random thoughts about this signing:

- Kearns will make as much this year ($3.5 million) as he has made in his entire professional career to this point ($3.5 million in earnings since 2003).

- Kearns will actually make less this year than what the club was offering in arbitration (the Nationals offered $3.65 million while Kearns had asked for $4.25 million). I just find the fact that he signed a deal for less than the club's arbitration amount for this year strange.

- Kearns is a walking statistical anomaly. He hits for power and should average at least 25 HR per year but he also strikes out about once every four at bats. He has a very good OBP (.361 career) but his batting average is Rob Deeresque (.265 career).

- Kearns is a very similar hitter to Wily Mo Pena who appears headed to arbitration. Pena is asking for $2.2 million and the Red Sox are offering $1.7 million - so I think based upon what Kearns got that the Sox should just pay Wily Mo the $2.2 million and avoid the ugliness of arbitration.