Choice Pickup
Nice to meet you, Hee-Seop Choi. It’s surprising to me that this left-handed first baseman was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox today. Somehow, no one saw value in the 27-year old and he escaped the attention of some twenty-odd general managers. Not only does Choi make only $725K, he even has an option.
With a surfeit of corner infield options, the Red Sox can mix and match between Choi, Mike Lowell, J.T. Snow, and Kevin Youkilis. If one of them becomes hot, he can be traded for needs that may arise, much like Shea Hillenbrand was for Byung-Hyun Kim. (I understand that by 2004 this transaction had soured, but Kim served his purpose well in 2003. He bolstered the bullpen as closer in September and had an ERA of 0.00 that month.) Or, if one remains cold, he can be unloaded without leaving a hole.
Flexibility, infield options, and youth in one fell swoop. The team is not be the same troupe of lovable misfits of 2004. But it may be turning into something better.
Comments
A nice move, insurance for the insurance. If only Mike Lowell could start to hit. I don't think it's a matter of his defense. Correct me if I am mistaken.
Peter N. ∙ 25 March 2006 ∙ 9:43 AM
Thank you for remembering Kim's September 2003...I solely believe that while I did not really have much love for Kim, I do believe that his crapfest in October was solely because he was so friggin overused in September of 03. People forget this...but he's basically the reason they made it to the playoffs, when you think about it.
And actually teh entire bullpen nutted up in that month.
Piney ∙ 26 March 2006 ∙ 1:24 AM