Red Sox Already Eyeing Ortiz's Replacement

We all know how much Ortiz struggled in the first half of last year. He was able to turn it around in the 2nd half hitting 27 home runs and posting a .356 on-base percentage, but still the writing is on the wall that Ortiz's days are numbered. After this season the Sox are going to have to decide whether or not they are going to pick up his $12.5 million option for 2011. Right now, you would say that it isn't likely, but if he comes out and has a great year then they easily could, since it is just for 1 more year.

Still, Ortiz is 34 years old and his body is wearing down. There is no argument about that. So, the Sox are looking to the future, and that future could be Cuban free agent Jose Julio Ruiz. Ruiz looks a lot like Ortiz. He is a big guy (around 6-3 240 pounds), who can hit for average (hit .305 last year in Cuba) and can hit for power, though he hasn't showed a lot of it yet. He has said that he is interested in the Red Sox, so that he can be the next Big Papi.

I don't know if anything will come of this, but it is something all Sox fans should keep an eye on.

Lastest On The Race for Chapman

"According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins are still in the hunt and have increased their initial $13 million offer to the Cuban defector.

A few teams were notably linked to the Chapman chase last week.

ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure Jr. reported that the Blue Jays held a private workout for the highly touted Chapman on New Year's Eve morning in Florida and then met with his representatives.

A day earlier, Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com reported that the Angels could have an edge in signing the left-hander because Chapman has become a close friend of Angels first baseman Kendry Morales, a fellow Cuban refugee who recently helped convince him to switch agents (ESPN)."

Their are rumors going around that he is going to sign in the next 10 days. It is odd, because not one seems to have any idea where he might go. Some people think with the Marlins increasing their offer that he will head there, since there is just a high Cuban population in the area, but who the fuck knows? I really hope the Sox get him, since they do a great job developing young pitching (Papelbon, Lester, Buccholz, ect).

Chapman To Sign Before 2010?

"As Jorge Arangure, Jr. wrote Monday, Aroldis Chapman is likely to lose as much as $3 million in taxes now that he's almost certain to not receive any pay for the year 2009.

Had Chapman signed a week ago and received his signing bonus, only his salary would have been taxable because he would not have actually worked in the U.S. until 2010. Now he will have signed and worked in the same year, which would cost him $2-3 million in taxes if he were to accept an offer similar to the one made by the Boston Red Sox of $15 million (ESPN)."

Since there are only a couple days left in the year I highly doubt that Chapman could get all the paper work done even if he wanted to. As of right now, the Sox have the highest known offer, and though I think the Yankees will jump in, I think Boston will end up with this guy. I don't mind the Sox spending money on this guy, even though he is very raw, because I have faith the in the Sox farm system. They have done a nice job developing guys like Buchholz, Bard, Lester, Papelbon, ect.

Red Sox/Marlins Make Offers To Chapman

"According to the Miami Herald, the Marlins have made a five-year offer of $13 million for the hard-throwing lefty. Last week, ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure Jr. reported that the Red Sox made a three-year offer for $15.5 million for the Cuban defector. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune wrote Sunday that the Cubs are part of the large group of teams exploring a deal with Chapman.

Arangure checked in with a report from Chapman's throwing session in Houston, where Chapman topped out at 96 mph on the gun. Chapman's original asking price was rumored to be in the $40 million-$60 million range, but that has since sunk down into the range of $20 million or below, according to Arangure. The consensus seems to be that Chapman will need time in the minor leagues, so his signing may not affect the big leagues in 2010 (ESPN)."

Obviously he would take the Sox offer if these reports are true. The Yankees have ben quiet on this, but I would expect an offer eventually, so far though I looks like Boston has the upper hand, and I expect him in the Sox farm system by the start of next season.

The Latest On Aroldis Chapman

Last time we talked about him he was going to throw a side session for a lot of teams...

"Earlier this week we noted that a report from ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure Jr. that said the Red Sox have made a three-year offer for $15.5 million to Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban defector.

Arangure checked in with a report from a throwing session in Houston, where Chapman topped out at 96 mph on the gun. A number of team reps attended, from Boston and the Yankees down to the Pirates and Marlins.

Arangure reported Wednesday that Chapman is simply waiting for offers now (ESPN)."

The article goes on to say that teams question why a kid with such great stuff never really dominated in the Cuban leagues. I think this is just Chapman not being developed correctly. Teams are saying that his secondary stuff is better then it was when he pitched in the WBC. They also say that he has put on about 15 pounds of muscle, which is a good sign that he can continue to get strong. He doesn't throw 100 MPH like people thought, but they always overrated that kind of stuff with international players, and I hope he will be a Red Sox by the end of all this...

Red Sox Make Offer To Chapman

"Have the Boston Red Sox decided left-hander Aroldis Chapman is worth the money? Kevin Goldstein tweets Monday that the club has made an offer, suggesting they like what they see in the Cuban. ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure, Jr. writes today that offer is for $15.5 million. Chapman's original asking price was rumored to be in the $40-60 million range, but that has since sunk down into the range of $20 million, or below, according to Arangure, Jr. The consensus seems to be that Chapman will need time in the minor leagues, so his signing may not impact the big leagues in 2010 (ESPN)."

A lot of teams have begun to look elsewhere, but I still have hope the Sox are able to sign him. Chapman is very raw and it will take him time to develop in the minors, but if the Sox are able to sign Lackey they would be much more willing to wait. Chapman I think had a little bit of a big head with the number he was trying to sign for, but now that teams are starting to turn away Boston might be able to swoop in and steal him for an acceptable amount.

Aroldis Chapman Changes Agents

This could be bad news for the Red Sox...

"Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban lefthander said to have a 100-mph fastball, has changed agents. Chapman has dumped Boston native Edwin Meija and signed with the Hendricks Brothers. Accompanied by Meija, Chapman visited Fenway Park last month. The 21-year-old has drawn interest from a number of teams including the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Angels.

Meija's agency put out this statement:

"Athletes Premier International is greatly surprised and deeply disappointed that Aroldis Chapman has decided to change agents. The agency has put forth a lot of time and effort towards helping him achieve his goal of becoming a major league pitcher and he gave us no indication that he was unhappy with our advice or the way he was treated. We will have more to say about this matter at a later date, but in the meantime we wish Aroldis luck in his future endeavors."

Chapman defected from Cuba during the summer and assisted by Meija, established residency in the small European nation of Andorra. That led to his being granted free agency by Major League Baseball (Boston.com)."

We thought the Sox had the inside track, since Chapman's agent was from the Boston area (plus he met with the Sox first). Now I have no idea what to think. This kid could really be something special, and I would love to see the Sox sign him. We will keep you posted as this story surely will develop.

Red Sox Going After Another Cuban

Is DP running the Sox. Tt kind of seems like it lately...

"According to ESPN the Magazine's Jorge Arangure, Jr., 25-year-old Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz is being scouted by a number of clubs, namely the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. Ruiz's agent says that some clubs see Ruiz as a potential answer in left field and cites his client's agility and foot speed for a player of his size as evidence that perhaps Ruiz can play the outfield. No word on what the interested clubs think about Ruiz's timetable for the big leagues, but at 25 he would have to be near ready for so many teams to show such enticement (ESPN)."

The Sox could use some young hitter on their club, so I am all for this. It is just crazy how the Sox just seem to be going after Cubans and Asians. Very odd, and I think DP has a hand in all of this...

Results From Chapman's Visit With Red Sox

"Free-agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman met with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wednesday and reportedly came away impressed with what he saw.

"Boston was one of the teams he was interested in from the start, and that certainly hasn't changed," Chapman's agent, Edwin Mejia, told The Boston Globe. "It was a very good visit."

Mejia told the Globe that he and Chapman met with baseball operations personnel and one player, whom Mejia would not identify. Chapman, 21, reportedly had been scheduled to throw for the Red Sox as well, though it is unclear whether the wet weather in the area Wednesday pushed back those plans (ESPN)."

I can guarantee you right now that Chapman will be a Red Sox. His agent is from Boston, and the Sox have shown they don't care about spending money they just don't want to give up draft picks or minor leaguers, so this is perfect for them. Chapman has a lot of talent (and I love that he is a lefty), but is also very raw (needs offspeed pitch, ect). Since I believe in the Sox minor league program, and the job Ferrell does with young pitching, I think Chapman has a very good chance at being a solid starter in the MLB (my guess 2-3 years).

Red Sox/Yankees Fight For Aroldis Chapman

"At the same time they could be meeting in a possible ALCS matchup, the Red Sox and Yankees might be staging a battle for the rights to Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. SI.com reports that Chapman has established residency in Andorra, which would be a major step to becoming a major league free agent. His agents told SI.com that the left-handed pitcher could be available for free agency before the playoffs begin. The Red Sox and the Yankees are expected to make serious bids for Chapman (ESPN)."

The Sox and Yankees love fighting over these types of players. From everything DP and I have read this kid is supposed to be the real deal. Expect these numbers to get out of control as both teams could use another lefty starter in their rotation. We'll keep you posted as we hear more...

Sox/Yankees Bidding For Aroldis Chapman

"While Stephen Strasburg remains firmly property of the Nats for now, he can only watch as a bidding war is being ignited between all of baseball's top spenders for Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. Latest out of New York is that when Chapman becomes eligible for bids, all the usual suspects -- think Yankees, Red Sox, Mets -- will be involved. The Yankees in particular seem geared up to win this battle. And they've won them before with defectors like Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras.
Plenty to come on this story (ESPN)."

He defected from Cuba while on a baseball tour in the Netherlands in July, and now has his eye set on the MLB. The Yankees will probably go crazy and sign this guy for a shit load of money. I expect the Sox to be interested, but I don't see them signing him. With so much good young pitching I don't think the Sox will go out and through around money like they did with Dice-K. Rumors say that this kid is the real deal, but we have heard that before, so you just really never know.