whatever happened to the days of big blockbuster trades all fans anticipated after the world series.the only transactions nowadays are bits/minor players,players one has never heard of.

GM all, Well with the list of non tendered players becoming growing as we speak,one can only believe that it will be a long off season.
I was hoping that a few less names would be hitting the open market as it would be easier too keep track of who went where...Starting Monday which is the last day of the option declaring players, whether its players option or Team option type, after Monday we'll know where they will stand which could throw another 15 or so players into the Free Agent market,the Sox have 3 of those type players who could be shown the door: Varitek he has a mutual option team's option is 5 million which no doubt will be declined and the player option which Tek may or may not exercised @3 million dollars there are 2 schools of thought,one that Tek will be insulted to the point of turning down his option or 2 that he wants to finish his career in a Boston Red Sox uniform and that he will exercise his opyion and stay on as a reserve catcher,Next on the list is Wakefield and his contract is solely a Team option which it is expected that the Red sox will exercise to extend for another year at 4 million per season,and lastly Alex Gonzalez has a mutual option w/buyout,in this case again there 2 scenario's which could play out,one the Sox exercise his option at 6 million Dollars for one year or they can attempt to restructure it by lengthening it and lowering the cost per season which seems to be the direction the Sox would prefer,or if Alex decides to walk the Sox would still have to pay him his buyout of 500k and they would part ways.There is a third scenario available to Alex which is to just elect not to exercise his part of the mutual option and declare himself a Free Agent.This is just the first stage of the Hot Stove League and most of the deals that will be done right now will be minor in nature,there have been 3 trades so far,the Red Sox and Marlins made one where the Sox get Hermida while the Fish get Hunter Jones and another minor leaguer,the Twins sent one of the pieces they got from the Mets Carlos Gomez to the Brewers for the SS everyone around here was clamoring for JJ Hardy,and the Royals sent Mark teahan to the CWS for Josh Fields and Chris Getz..Now for yesterdays AFL league action with your Mesa Solar Sox,the Sox extended their winning streak to 3 wins in a row and though only 2 members of the RSMS were active in the game here are their stats from that game: Jose Iglesias played SS and only went 1-5 but that one hit was a grand slam! So he went the 1-5 with 5 RBI as he also knocked in a run on a fielders choice, as for the other active member of the Sox minor leagues was Richard Lentz and boys and girls did he shine again the young reliever went 1 inning allowing 2 hits while striking out 2 allowing no runs again and he lowered his ERA to a sparkling 0.77 nice stuff from this kid keeps happening..Well thats the report from Mesa lets hope the news from out west keeps getting better!!! Go Solar Sox!!!

Good job Boz.. we're just glad he went to minnesota at least we don't have to deal with him in the East. Maybe Hardy is a better fit in Minny with his bro Mauer, they still have control over him also. As for Gomez the Brews have control of him for 4 years, so hopefully that works out for him/them. What were the Sox offering to the Brews? I happen to think J Bay will come back to boston, with out the 500 pound gorilla in the room who is gonna pay Bay what he wants? I know he wants Drew type money but who's gonna give it to him? You are stuck though and Holliday will want even more dough, neither guy has a track record in the playoffs per say. We'll try to forget Holliday's gaffe that cost the Cards a trip to Philly. You rally can't pay these guys more than Youk and Pedroia can you? That home town discount could come back to bite you in terms of free agents. I didn't watch Holliday play everyday Louie did he'd be a better judge of that guy but Holliday would be crazy not to stay in St Louis, either that or he thinks the lights are better in Fenway.

Why wouldn't Tek pick up the 3 million$$ option? Who's gonna bring him in for more dough? It looks like Tek and V-Mart at the start of the race.

Poor old Frank McCourt this guy can`t win ,1st his wife leaves and than man Ram stays.We all knew man ram would ,this will be his last big pay day year I hope it is even worse than this years 2nd half he is just another fraud.

P.s I told everyone 2 weeks ago that no way Theo even looks at Hardy.

Tek does not get that he is the only one that thinks he anything left in the tank,pride before a fall.This guy is dumber than a bag of hammers he turned down a 1 year 10 mil option last year.

I'm glad that you have decided to talk baseball! Not argue about whose team did what!!I have been watching every aspect of this game for a very long time and I'll tell you I actually enjoy the HSL more than the long tidius season which follows,though I watch every Red Sox game and many west coast games.
You make the same point I've been making all along about Bay, I've been saying that because of the Hometown discounts both Pedroia and Youkilis gave the Sox it is very difficult for Theo to offer Bay 15 million per after they excepted contracts in the 10-12 million dollar range per season.. I originally stated that I thought that Bay would sign elsewheres unless he accepted whatever Theo offered and I still believe that statement to hold true. The 2 questions that I have concerning the Twins and Brwers trade are:Did The Brewers trade for Gomez because they have no intentions of re-signing Cameron? If so where does he wind up playing? I know the Yankees had an interest in him last season have their desires changed?? On the end of that trade the Acquisition of JJ Hardy undoubtedley spells the end of the OC in Minnesota! So now do the Sox bring back OC, if Alex Gonzalez balks at restructuring his deal? I really do love HSL more than actual baseball must be the chess player in me...

bob boras will search around then give in. too bad for you guys. Benji Molina is out there but he's 35 yr's old. Sox might be a year away from securing a good catcher. That Mauer battle will be a big one

Hows by you Bob? I agree that Tek has over plyed his hand but who is his Agent? Thats right the moron of all morons Scott Boras. He'll tell you just because there is no water in the Serengeti that doesn't mean there isn't a good reason too pay to go there...He also basically desserted Tek last year, when it was time for Variteks contract talks to begin Boras left him out to deal with the situation by himself. With all that being said Tek will more than likely exercise his option and remain in Boston as the b/u catcher and part time bullpen/pitching coach...