Add It Up
Cardinal In
Julian Tavarez, the 32-year old right-handed relief pitcher, is on the threshold of being signed by the Red Sox today for a 2-year, $6.7M contract. Apparently there is a vesting option which will activate a third year if certain statistical milestones are reached.
Red Sox fans will of course remember Tavarez from his World Series performances from 2004. In the 8th inning of Game 1 he relinquished the homer off Pesky Pole to Mark Bellhorn with Jason Varitek on base. Varitek had reached on an error by Edgar Renteria, oddly enough. Despite 4 errors, Boston rebounded with that 2-run shot to win the series opener and set the tone for the rest of the series. Tavarez also pitched a shutout 9th inning in Game 3, but his offense could muster only a single run.
Tavarez had a 3.43 ERA with 66.2 innings pitched and Baseball Propsectus projects 3.4 VORP in 2006. Who can truly predict how a reliever performs from season to season? Stockpile them as you can and see who might have a breakout season seems to be the stratagem; once just wishes the munitions weren’t so expensive. At least Trot Nixon will have competition for the club’s most disgusting headwear.
2B or Not 2B
The roster continued to expand with the news that Tony Graffanino and the Red Sox avoided arbitration by inking the second baseman to a 1-year, $2.05M deal. With the recent signing of Mark Loretta, at least the team has options for one middle position.
