After a stagnant month of November, due in large part to the steroid issues that plague baseball, the Hot Stove action is finally getting interesting. A few notable deals made in the past 24 hours.
The Twins resigned Radke to a 2-year, $18 million deal.
Nomar signed a 1-year deal with the Cubs worth $8 million, with incentives that could bring it up to $11 million. I’m no math major, but this seems just shy of the 4-year, $60 million the Sox offered. Thanks, beautiful.
In the most interesting deal to the Red Sox faithful, Jaret Wright signed a 3-year, $20 million deal with the Yankees. This move reeks of desperation. The Yankees realize they need to get younger in their starting rotation. In this case, younger doesn’t mean better. Before the 2004 season, Wright’s best statistical year was 1998, when he went 12-10 with a 4.72 ERA. Since then, he’s been injury-plagued and ineffective. While not surprising, George and Company banking on possible one-year wonder to revitalize their aging rotation seems risky.
I want to be on record as saying that Jaret Wright will be the most despised Yankee ever by the New York fans. Quite simply, he cannot pitch in the high-pressure playoff-type game. Every game in the Bronx fits that description. He was awful in the playoffs against the Red Sox while with Cleveland, and even in his 2004 comeback year, he gave up 10 ER’s in 9.2 innings in the post-season. This signing is a huge positive for the Sox.
Elsewhere, Houston offered Beltran 5 years, $70 million, an offer which will no doubt bring out the “no respect” quotes.
The Angels released Troy Glaus.
The Red Sox offered arbitration to the big name free agents, while apparently content to letting others such as Williamson and Leskanic walk. Lucky Larry is also reportedly in the DR today hoping to have a tea party with Pedro.
And so it goes. With no games to watch, we watch the news stories and rumor mills, trying to fill the need for baseball. It isn’t much, but it’s all we’ve got for a while. I have complete confidence that Theo will have some big news within the next week.
Finally, today is the 24th anniversary of the tragic death of John Lennon. RIP.
