2008 Takes Shape
Doug Mirabelli joined Kevin Cash (who declined an assignment to Pawtucket), Matt Clement, Eric Gagne, Eric Hinske, Bobby Kielty, and Curt Schilling in filing for free agency. See you guys next April on Opening Day.
Mike Lowell is eligible but has not yet filed.
In each post-championship interview I have seen, everyone from David Ortiz to Terry Francona have praised the World Series MVP third baseman to the skies. He may be aging, but he doesn’t have the ego issues of Alex Rodriguez or the weight and character concerns of Miguel Cabrera. According to Peter Gammons, the starting price for the man who minds the hot corner for the Marlins would probably start at Clay Buchholz. Hopefully the Yankees would top that offer with their emerging ace Phil Hughes, crippling their rotation.
Pitching coach John Farrell, who so adroitly managed the development of young and foreign arms, mentored Josh Beckett on his path to maturity, and eased Schilling’s transition from power to finesse pitcher, declined to join the Pirates as their field manager. Farrell seems destined for bigger and better things; an offer from any other franchise than the woebegone Bucs may have had him packing.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Tim Wakefield, the elder statesman, had his option exercised, as did Julian Tavarez. Perhaps the latter will cease his pouting, so evident as he was left off the postseason rosters.
Finally, Sean Danielson was sent from the Cardinals to complete the Joel Pineiro deal. The Pedroia-sized outfielder projects as bench player with both defensive and pinch-hitting possibilities.
