Lars Anderson The Answer For Red Sox?

First baseman Lars Anderson was rewarded for his hot start with Double-A Portland by today being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. If you can remember this guy was one of the Red Sox best prospects, but last season he sucked hitting only .233 with a .328 on-base percentage and 9 home runs for Portland.

This year he has been on fire hitting .355 and has a 1.086 OPS through 17 games with 5 doubles and 5 home runs (he also had 15 RBIs). Now there are some people out there that think he will take over for Ortiz within the next couple of months. If he stays hot that could be true, but I see this move as more of an audition to be traded. If interest around the league gets a little higher maybe this will be one of the pieces the Red Sox can move to land a big bat (Cabrera/Gonzalez). There will obviously be a lot more in that deal (Kelly?), but I think the Sox would prefer to move a guy like Anderson rather then an Ellsbury.

Daily Red Sox Spring Training Update

Busy day around Red Sox spring training. Nomar retires, and the Sox whoop the Marlins.

Red Sox 9 Marlins 0

- Overall you have to be impressed by Red Sox pitching this spring seems like they are shutting teams down most games.

- Wakefield had another strong start going three innings, giving up two hits and striking out one. He threw 30 pitches, 22 for strikes.

- Jeremy Hermida played well against his former team going 2-4 with a double and his first RBI with Boston.

- Lars Anderson sucks. There I said it. He has yet to record a hit this spring training. What happened to this guy? So much for him being the next Ortiz.

- Reddick is having himself a hell of a spring training. He went 3-4 in this game, and is now batting .471.


So, Nomar retired today, but since the best thing he ever did for Boston was leave (much like Bledsoe) I am not going to do a lot on this. He was a great player, but he was an asshole and a steroid user. Plus, he never won anything (yes I know he got a ring). So...fuck Nomar.

Here is the video of his speech...


The Sox take on the Rays today at 1:05. You can listen to it on WEEI. Here is a look at their lineup and pitching schedule.

Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez DH
Youkilis 1B
Beltre 3B
Scutaro SS
Cameron CF
Hall RF
Brown C

Pitching: Jon Lester followed by Brian Shouse, Manny Delcarmen, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard and Ramon Ramirez.

A Look At The Red Sox Farm System

It has been a slow news day, so I thought why not take a look at what the Sox have coming up over the next couple of years. Theo has come out and said the the are in kind of a gap between young guys who are currently up (Buchholz, Lester, Pedroia, Youk, ect) and the next round of prospect. Here's a look at who those players might be.

Ryan Westmoreland (OF) - 5 tool player, that some scouts say could be the next Grady Sizemore. His biggest problem is staying healthy. If he is able to do that, and add the power a lot of scouts think is coming, then this guy could be something special. This could be the reason the Sox seemed to be shopping around Ellsbury earlier in the offseason.

Casey Kelly (P) - This guys name got a lot of press this offseason. The Sox were completely unwilling to trade him. He was once a SS prospect too, but has decided that pitching is his future. Has a plus arm, and locates the ball well for someone who hasn't spent a full season just pitching yet. You'll be hearing his name a lot, but don't expect him in the Sox uniform for another 2-3 years.

Lars Anderson (1B) - We heard so much of this guy last offseason. He was supposed to be the next Red Sox first baseman, and take over Ortiz's spot in the lineup, but after an injury plague, very forgetting 2009 season a lot of people are giving up on him. He still has tons of power potential, but this is a make or break year for him.

Michael Bowden (P) - At best this soft throwing pitcher will be the next Jeff Suppan. I don't believe it, I have been saying for over a year now that this guy will never make it. I don't trust soft throwing guys at Fenway. The Sox really should have traded him when his stock was much higher (before the start of last season).

Junichi Tazawa (P) - Should never have been in the majors last year. He had a couple of decent starts, but also got rocked. I really hope the Sox haven't fucked this kid up by bringing him up too fast. He locates well, doesn't overpower anyone, but could be a nice 5th starter down the road. I am really interested to see how he progress this season.

Josh Reddick (OF) - Another guy that should have never had to be on the Sox last year. He is solid all around, but he is projected to be a corner outfielder, and I am just not sold that he will have the power to be an every day starter. If nothing else he is great depth to have.

Ryan Kalish (OF) - A lot of people like this guy more then Reddick, but to me they are the same player, but Reddick has a little more power. He can play the field, and runs the bases well, once again I think of him more as organizational depth, then a possible future star.

Jose Iglesias (SS) - He's Cuban, DP will love him. Right now he is not much of a hitter, but that could come in time, as he is at least 2-3 years from making a push for the MLB. Iglesias is one of the best defensive prospects in all of baseball, and since the Sox go through SS like hotcakes you might actually see him get a chance at that starting job one day (think Omar Vizquel).

There are obviously a lot more, but these are the names you will heart thrown around if the Sox get into trading rumors, plus it is always good to know what is coming through the system.

Sox "Working Hard" For Gonzalez (UPDATED)

"The Red Sox will introduce recent acquisitions John Lackey and Mike Cameron at separate press conferences this afternoon. But just because the Sox have spent over $100 million on that pair of players this week apparently doesn't mean Theo Epstein is done shopping. In fact, according to one report this morning, the Red Sox general manager may have a masterstroke in mind. According to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, Epstein is "working hard to obtain" Padres slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, though he does note a deal is not close at this time. Citing major-league sources, Rosenthal writes:

Jed Hoyer, the Padres’ new general manager -- and Red Sox’s former assistant GM -- wants a high price for Gonzalez, whose contract is one of the biggest bargains in baseball.
"Jed has been asking for a ton," one source said.

Rosenthal also notes that the signings of Lackey and Cameron may have made a trade more palatable for the Sox. The addition of Lackey will give the Red Sox the flexibility to trade right-hander Clay Buchholz, who likely would be the centerpiece of any package for Gonzalez. Likewise, the addition of Cameron will give them the flexibility to trade outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The Padres would be tempted to move Gonzalez if they could get Buchholz and Ellsbury in the same deal, sources say. However, the Red Sox would be very reluctant to include both, according to another source (Boston.com)."

I really thought this deal was dead, and that the Cabrera deal was much more likely, but the Sox seem to have their eye on this guy. The rumor I heard today was Ellsbury and Buchholz for Gonzalez. Theo obviously thinks that is too much. My thinking is that if this deal is going to get done it will include Ellsbury or Buchholz, Westmoreland or Casey Kelly, and 1 or 2 other minor leaguers (Lars Anderson?). We will keep you updated...


***UPDATE***

Interesting tweet from ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. - he has a source close to Gonzalez who believes the player will be traded to Boston within the next ten days (MLBTradeRumors)."

More Talk Of Gonzalez To Red Sox

CBSSports.com's Scott Miller reports the following on his blog ...

"My sources tell me that the Red Sox are interested in San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. The Red Sox approached the Padres several weeks ago but were told at that time that Gonzalez was staying put. San Diego now appears to have had a change of heart and is at least exploring a potential deal for its All-Star slugger less than 48 hours before Friday's 4 p.m. EDT non-waivers trade deadline (Sportsline)."

I agree with DP was writing before, and I am usually the more conservative fan when it comes to trading, but the Sox need some kind of shake up. They seemed to have had a lot of interest in Adrian Gonzalez for a long time now. The padres are not entertaining offers for him, so the Sox have to be all over this. There is no word on what it would take to get him, but my guess it would have to include Buchholz and Lars Anderson. We'll keep ya posted.

Red Sox Looking To Make Big Trade

"The Red Sox have not closed the door on an impact deal for Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays or Victor Martinez of the Indians, according to the Boston Globe. Red Sox chairman Tom Werner told the Globe that GM Theo Epstein is "burning the midnight oil" on a possible big deal. A report on FoxSports.com says the Red Sox are looking into not only Halladay and Martinez, but Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres as well (ESPN)."

No shocking names on this list, but for the first time I am convinced the Sox are going to make a deal. The question is what they can give up. It looks like the Smoltz experiment is going to blow up in their face. So the Sox are going to need Wake to come back healthy. Penny is notorious for being terrible in the 2nd half, so could he be the guy out? Maybe a deal of Penny, Bowden, and another minor leaguer for V-Mart would make sense, but the Indians would have to lower their asking price.

The trade that really intrigues me is for Adrian Gonzalez. He is in a horrible slump, but from everything I have read the Sox want to make a deal not just for this year, but long term. Papi is on his way out, not this year, but the signs are there that he is nearing his end. So, maybe Gonzalez in a hitter friendly park could be a 40-45 HR hitter, who has a great OBP. Seems like a Sox guy, and he would add some much needed power. San Diego would be really pissed if the Padres traded him, so they are going to need some talent in return, but a deal that included Bowden, Anderson, and either Buchholz, or a couple of the single A guys that are ripping it up could get it done.

Anyways all interesting stuff to keep an eye on.

Lars Anderson Update

A lot was made over Red Sox prospect Lars Anderson. He is only 21 years old, but he was unreal last year and seemed to be the inevitable starting first baseman for the Sox in a couple year. Yet this year we don't hear that much about him. Well it's because he really hasn't been all that great. He has slowed to .260 in Double A with 8 homers and 41 RBIs, yet if you look at the number more closely he really isn't that far off. In May he hit just .194. He hit .293 April and a .298 June, so if you cut out May he really isn't having that bad of a season. At some point most prospects hit a bump in the road, and I think this is what is going are with Anderson. Remember he is 21 years old, so I really wouldn't expect this kid to be a full time MLB player for at least another 2-3 years.

Red Sox Minor League Report

Here is a look at how some of the Sox young guys are doing in the minors...

Michael Bowden:

Wow this kid has been unreal. I have said it before, I am not a big believer in Bowden. It is not that I don't like him it is just pop up pitchers have a tendency to get crushed at Fenway. He throws soft, but you can't agrue with his results...In 42 innings he has allowed just four earned runs and has 28 strikeouts. He has an ERA of .86.


Clay Buchholz:

Another kid who has just been tearing it up in the minors. We all know he has the talent the question is whether he can handle the pressure. I think he can, and at some point we will get another look at him (DP disagrees). Buchholz has a 1.60 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 39 1/3 innings. He held a 21-inning scoreless streak until May 18, during which he struck out 27 and allowed only eight hits.


Fernando Cabrera:

If the Sox bullpen wasn't so awesome this kid would be up already. Well I really shouldn't call him a kid he is 27 years old, but right now he is the closer for Pawtucket, and has an impressive 1.29 ERA and 7 saves.


Lars Anderson:

Anderson started out horribly this year, but has turned it around recently. With Big Papi and Lowell near the end of their carrers this kid could get a shot at the big leagues as early as next year. The first baseman is batting .241 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. He needs to do a lot better or it could be a while before we see him, which is fine since he is only 21 years old.


Josh Reddick

The center fielder has been playing well. He is hitting .288 with Double A Portland this season and has six home runs. His OPS is an impressive 1.002, which is a lot like Jason Bay who is second on the Red Sox with an OPS of 1.090.


Junichi Tazawa

Tazawa has been a nice surprise this year. He has slowed down recently but is only 22 years old, so that can be expected. The starting pitcher was optioned to Double A Portland on March 22, where he has a 4-3 record with a 3.12 ERA. He's allowed 15 earned runs in 43 1/3 innings and has struck out 42.

DC Meet Mr. Lars Anderson

There is not a lot of news today, so I thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to a future cornerstone of the Red Sox organization. I believe that in the 2010 season Lars Anderson will be the Red Sox starting first baseman (Youk sliding to 3rd). Here is why...

- He fits the mold of exactly what the Red Sox like in a player. A young (21 years old) guy who finds a way to get on base. He has on OBP of .404 in the minors, and is known for his plate disipline throughout the minor leagues, and it is not all walks as he hit well against righties (.302) and lefties (.307).

- He has the power the Red Sox will be looking for as Big Papi begans to slide. He has the ability to his 35+ HRs a year. Would a nice 3-4-5 hitter for the Sox.

- His defense is what will keep him in the minors for at least another year, but even that is said to be at least average compare to most MLB first basemen.

Here are some comments from Red Sox Farm Director Mike Hazen:

"We're happy with the progress that he's made. He's always shown the ability to hit from the day he walked into the organization. He's continued to improve in his discipline and his ability to drive the ball. He's also made strides defensively, so there's a lot of things to like here. He's somebody we're very excited about (MLB.com)."

Also, ESPN just ranked him the 7th best minor league prospect.

In short, this will be another great player that the Sox have held on to, and it will pay dividends for them, much like Lester, Youk, Pedroia, Ellsbury (?), Lowrie (?), ect. I am real excited about this kid, and I just wanted to make sure he is on everyone's radar.