Last day leads to big trades in Red Sox Nation

The big news out of the winter meetings for baseball's execs is the moving of SS Renteria (Gordon Edes of the Globe) for prospect Andy Marte and 2B Mark Loretta coming to Boston for back up catcher Doug Mirabelli.

The Red Sox will need a new shortstop as of today. According to one report, $11 of the $29 million owed to Rent-a-wreck over the next three years will be paid by the Red Sox. The trade was for Andy Marte who happens to be the number one prospect in the minors today.

Seems like a good trade to me, but now they need a new SS (Nomar, anyone? ;-))

From the Boston Globe: The Sox dealt Renteria and cash considerations to Atlanta today in exchange for top prospect Andy Marte (third baseman). Commissioner Bud Selig needed to OK the money exchanging hands between the teams. The Red Sox are expected to pick up part of the $29 million remaining on Renteria’s contract over the next three years. The exact dollars are still unclear, but the commissioner needs to approve any deal in which $1 million or more exchanges hands.

The Red Sox are now expected to sign a free-agent shortstop to replace Renteria rather than pursue a trade with the Devil Rays for Julio Lugo, as had been rumored the last couple of days here at the winter meetings.

Some likely candidates to fill Renteria's shoes include Alex Gonzalez, Royce Clayton, and Pokey Reese.

Doug Mirabelli has been moved to San Diego for Mark Loretta. Loretta has a lifetime avg of .301 (.280 this past year) and an OBP .365. The big concern here is Doug Mirabelli's relationship with Tim Wakefield. Wakefield has been the foundation of the Red Sox team, the most reliable when it comes to eating up innings every 5 days. Will he be able to connect with whoever catches him next year as well as he did with Mirabelli? The Red Sox were concerned enough to discuss the trade (reportedly) with Tim Wakefield before pulling the trigger.

Mark Loretta according to MLB.com:

Loretta had a disappointing season in the wake of his blockbuster 2004 campaign. His power numbers fell dramatically, in part because of a mid-May thumb injury requiring surgery. He struggled to regain his stroke when he finally came back, and it wasn't until the final weeks of the season that he began banging the ball consistently. Defensively, he was typically solid, and there are few better guys in a clubhouse. He could have a big bounce-back season in 2006.

One last note. Kevin Millar is officially gone as of yesterday. Not surprisingly, the Red Sox failed to offer him arbitration. Thanks for the World Series (of which he was a big part!)

Look for previous posts on the Red Sox.

NFL Week 14

NFL
Sunday, Dec. 11
CAROLINA	5	Tampa Bay	37
New England	3.5	BUFFALO	37
MINNESOTA	6.5	St. Louis	45
PITTSBURGH	5.5	Chicago	31.5
Oakland	3	NY JETS	37.5
Indianapolis	7.5	JACKSONVILLE	42
TENNESSEE	6.5	Houston	42
CINCINNATI	12	Cleveland	43
Washington	4	ARIZONA	41
NY Giants	8	PHILADELPHIA	37.5
SEATTLE	16	San Francisco	43
SAN DIEGO	13.5	Miami	45
DENVER	14.5	Baltimore	40.5
DALLAS	3	Kansas City	43.5
GREEN BAY	6	Detroit	36
Monday, Dec. 12
ATLANTA	10	New Orleans	43.5

Take a look at my results for week 13.

Look for previous posts on the Patriots.

More talk from the Winter Meetings

Manny, Manny, Manny... lots of talk, but no movement. It's looking like he'll be in Red Sox next year after all. He can't say they didn't try, though.

Nomar may be on the (fill in the blank) playing (fill in the blank). Basically, you can fill in the blanks with any team and any position and you may be right. Or at least on top of the trade rumors.

Grady Little was hired in LA. No, really.

Renteria may be heading to Atlanta in a three-way trade involving Atlanta and Tampa Bay. The Braves sending a prospect Andy Marte to Tampa Bay, and the Devil Rays would send shortstop Julio Lugo to the Red Sox. Lugo has a career .340 OBP and .276 AVG (.295 last year). Drafted in the 43rd round by the Astros in 1994, he was the lowest-round draft pick to come up through Houston's system and reach the majors. The Sox have also inquired about Cabrera.

John Olerud announced his retirement yesterday.

The new Sox GM will likely be hired from within. If a guy comes in 2 or 3 times and you haven't announced him as being 'the one', then he isn't.

Almost forgot to mention from the boston herald:

On the trade front, the most significant progress came with the Padres on a deal that would send catcher Doug Mirabelli, and possibly a minor-leaguer, to San Diego for second baseman Mark Loretta. That deal could become official soon.

Look for previous posts on the Red Sox.

Trade Talk for the Boston Red Sox

Rumors are flying with trade after trade possibility. Take a look at some of the highlights below. Personally, I'm most intrigued by the possibility of Nomar coming back to Boston, although I wouldn't be surprised if he headed to the Yankees. He batted .312 after coming back from the groin injury.

World tourney taking shape - The Boston Globe:

According to an NL executive, the Red Sox discussed a deal for Tampa Bay shortstop Julio Lugo, offering a package that included Kelly Shoppach and Kevin Youkilis. The Sox presumably would move Lugo elsewhere in the infield. But a Devil Rays source said Tampa was fielding numerous offers for Lugo and that, while it has interest in Shoppach, it is lukewarm on Youkilis. The Sox are still believed to be interested in Aubrey Huff, though several teams are expressing interest in the lefthanded-hitting outfielder/first baseman. The Sox also have expressed at least preliminary interest in free agent first baseman J.T. Snow

Of course, most of the rumors about trades center around Manny. I still believe he'll be gone next year, but I'm not looking forward to it. Unless they get quality (as in ace) material in pitching back, they'll be a poorer team next for it.

Progress seen in Ramirez talks - The Boston Globe:

''We're coming closer," said Bill Lajoie, who is serving as point man for the Red Sox contingent at baseball's winter meetings here, when asked about the likelihood of the team satisfying Manny Ramirez's request to be traded.

BostonHerald.com - Red Sox & MLB: Ramirez’ trade sweepstakes heating up:

With the Angels definitely unwilling to trade their best young pitcher, Ervin Santana, a third team must get involved to get Ramirez to Southern California. The latest front-runners are the Diamondbacks, who would receive a package of prospects from the Angels while the Sox would receive Arizona’s Troy Glaus, who would be used at first base.
Since the Angels would have to shed some salary to accommodate Ramirez’ $57 million, the Red Sox might also have to take an existing contract off their hands as well, possibly Darin Erstad.
A trade to the Mets grew less likely, but it is early still in these meetings and general manager Omar Minaya’s well-known adoration of Ramirez has not vanished.

BostonHerald.com - Red Sox & MLB: Deal would leave mark: If Manny goes, Sox makeup goes:

To a man, the Sox baseball operations staff knows what losing Ramirez would do to their lineup. The Sox have led the major leagues in runs scored each of the past three seasons, a streak that coincides with the union of Ortiz and Ramirez in the heart of the lineup. That is not coincidence as much as it is cause and effect, the No. 1 reason why the Red Sox score like Brad Pitt.
Why do you think the Los Angeles Angels would love Ramirez, anyway?
Because Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero would give the Angels precisely the kind of duo the Sox now possess.
“It’s a lot of offense. He’s an outstanding hitter,” Shipley said of Ramirez. “To replace that is difficult.”

Look for previous posts on the Red Sox.

Was there a football game yesterday?

In case you missed it yesterday, the final score was 16 - 3 as the Pats walked through their final preseason... Oh, you mean that was a real game against a real team?

The Pats showed that they certainly don't deserve to be relegated to this division at least.

In the meantime, Adam Vinatieri broke Gino Cappelletti's Patriots career scoring record yesterday, etching his name into the Patriot's record book (again). Ty Law returned to Foxboro (did anyone see him?) and so did Ted Johnson for a half time ceremony honoring his achievements. But more importantly for this year's team, Kevin Faulk, Corey Dillon and the pass rush all returned as well.

Richard Seymour had a couple of comments about yesterday's game. The first was how quiet the crowd was. Unlike last week's game in KC, there really wasn't much to cheer about yesterday, now was there?

The second comment was on how the defense was loosened up allowing the pass rush to occur. What Richard doesn't seem to understand is how much of a difference he makes to that line. Without him, they were sitting back on their heels, waiting to see what the offense was going to do. With him, they can charge in and take control.

Seymour's facemask penalty may have been the most costly penalty of the year yesterday. Not only did they lose control of the ball, but they also lost the 50 yard run!

Look for previous posts on the Patriots.