The Official Thread of the 2006 Boston Red Sox

[kennedy]

Apparently the Sox have talked about getting Craig Wilson from the Pirates in case they have to move Youk back to the hot corner. Apparently Mike Lowell has been very underwhelming. Steroid fallout?

[shrader]

I like this deal. He's certainly not the same JuanGone, but it's not like a minor league deal is a huge risk. Another good Theo move- low risk, big upside.

As long as there's no bonus clause like he had in Cleveland last year.

[JohnB]

Apparently the Sox have talked about getting Craig Wilson from the Pirates in case they have to move Youk back to the hot corner. Apparently Mike Lowell has been very underwhelming. Steroid fallout?


Mike Lowell - underwhelming? No way! :D
What next? Someone going to try and tell me Foulke might not return to 2004 form too?

[MCHOCKEY]

WEEI reporting that Boston is working on a trade with Cincinatti - Matt Clement for Wily Mo Pena.

I'd love this, but I can't fathom why Cincy would want it. Of course, since WEEI reported it, it must be true. ;)

WEEI has now reported that they have traded Arroyo for Pena. Think this is a good pick up for the Sox.

[nubobcat]

WEEI has now reported that they have traded Arroyo for Pena. Think this is a good pick up for the Sox.

*Snicker*

You can never have too much pitching.

You can ALWAYS have too many guys that couldn't hack it in NY.

[shrader]

It seems a bit strange that they'd sign Gonzalez right before making this deal. Why did they even bother with Juan?

[JohnB]

So let me get this straight...

If Papelbon needs to take the closer role from Foulke when he implodes we can look forward to 3 starters to go w/ an automatic loss from Clement nearly every time out after the Allstar break?

But at least we have a mediocre platoon outfielder.

[Haunted]

Pena's numbers aren't stellar, but what I find interesting is the splits.

Overall: .254/.304/.401 - 19 HRs, 51 RBIs in 311 ABs. Nothing special, but not bad either in part time play.

Now here's where it gets interesting:
vs. lefties: .291/.345/.536 - 7 HRs, 18 RBIs in 110 ABs. .881 OPS.
vs. righties: .234/.282/.468 - 12 HRs, 33 RBIs in 201 ABs.

So, just going on these numbers (from last year alone), he projects to be a good platoon partner with Trot, probably facing lefties almost exclusively. I see this as a good trade.

Having said all this, I love Bronson and will miss him a lot. :( Good luck!

[kennedy]

Could be Trot's replacement since his contract is up at the end of the year. Insurance in case Moss and Murphy don't work out?

Hopefully he accepts his role as a utility guy better than Payton did.

[Haunted]

Could be Trot's replacement since his contract is up at the end of the year. Insurance in case Moss and Murphy don't work out?

Hopefully he accepts his role as a utility guy better than Payton did.
Well Moss and Murphy are a few years away at least, along with Ellsbury.

[Blackout]

Wow, so 3 of our OF'ers names are Coco, Trot. and Willy Mo? That's sweet.

"The outfield is good, but we need Mo' Pena!"

---------------------------------press release below ------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 20, 2006



RED SOX ACQUIRE OUTFIELDER WILY MO PENA
FROM CINCINNATI FOR RIGHTHANDER BRONSON ARROYO
AND CASH CONSIDERATIONS



FORT MYERS, FL – The Boston Red Sox today acquired outfielder Wily Mo Pena from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for righthander Bronson Arroyo and cash considerations. Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein made the announcement from the club’s Spring Training home in Fort Myers, FL.



The 24-year-old Pena has belted a combined 45 home runs in 209 games over the last two seasons, averaging one long ball every 14.4 at-bats in that span. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder set career highs with 26 home runs, 66 RBI and a .527 slugging percentage in 110 games for the Reds in 2004, and connected for 19 homers in 99 games last season. The right-handed batter has hit .272 in his career against lefties, including averages of .302 (26-for-86) in 2004 and .291 (32-for-110) in 2005. With 16 home runs in 196 at-bats against lefties over the last two seasons, Pena has averaged a round tripper every 12.3 at-bats off southpaws during that time.



A native of Laguna Salada in the Dominican Republic, Pena recently represented his country in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. He is a career .248 (206-for-830) hitter with 51 home runs, 134 RBI and 108 runs scored in 308 games over all or part of four major league seasons with the Reds. Pena hit .254 with a career-best 17 doubles, 51 RBI and 42 runs in 2005 for Cincinnati. The right-handed thrower has played 116 games in right field, 97 games in center field, 22 games in left field and one game at third base in his big league career. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Yankees in 1998, Pena was later dealt to the Reds for outfielder Michael Coleman and third baseman Drew Henson in March of 2001.



Claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates February 4, 2003, the 29-year-old Arroyo posted a 24-19 record with one save and a 4.19 ERA in 73 Red Sox appearances (61 starts). With 29 starts in 2004 and 32 starts in 2005, Arroyo’s 61 starts since the beginning of 2004 trailed only Tim Wakefield (63) on the Boston staff. He established career highs in wins, appearances, starts, innings pitched and quality starts in both of the last two seasons, going 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA in 35 appearances (all but three as a starter) in 2005.

[BC ZamboniGuy Cult]

Could be Trot's replacement since his contract is up at the end of the year. Insurance in case Moss and Murphy don't work out?

He'll be platooning against Trot, since he hit .293 against lefties. The guy strikes out a lot but has a lot of pop, he should enjoy Fenway.

I believe Cincy had signed Pena to a one-year deal, so he and Trot could both be up at the end of the season.

[Haunted]

Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Yankees in 1998, Pena was later dealt to the Reds for outfielder Michael Coleman and third baseman Drew Henson in March of 2001.

Good one. :cool:

[BC ZamboniGuy Cult]

So let me get this straight...

If Papelbon needs to take the closer role from Foulke when he implodes we can look forward to 3 starters to go w/ an automatic loss from Clement nearly every time out after the Allstar break?

But at least we have a mediocre platoon outfielder.

At 24, with that power and arm, he's better than mediocre. He's a far better RF platoon partner than Dustan Mohr. In a pinch, he could play any other OF position as well.

Mediocre would be Bronson's 4.59 ERA and declining skills at age 29. Nice guy, good guitar player, good team player, but he had no place in this year's rotation and next year he'd be surpassed by Lester and Papelbon.

[TerrierByAssociation#2]

Very nice trade for the Sox.

[UMO Better Blues]

First off, Good luck to Bronson. He was an excellent clubhouse guy who "got" playing in Boston.

Second, I think this is a good move. The Sox were able to sell high on Bronson and pick up a guy who has 30+ HR potential. He needs to learn how to take a pitch and not strike out so much. He's only 24 and is under the Sox control thorugh 2008. He'll be a good platoon fit and can hopefully take over RF in 2007. The Sox need to lasso him to Manny and Ortiz and force him to learn plate discipline. If he does that, he could be a force. Defensively, he's got a great arm. The rest, well, he's got a great arm.

The biggest problem I have with this deal is the number of PA's WMP will get. He's unlikely to reach the 300 AB's he's had the past 2 years. I think at this stage of his development, he needs to be pushing 400+ AB's and not going the other way, which is likely to happen for at least 2006. But with Trot's injury history, who knows, WMP may be a starter sooner than we think.

[Blackout]

WMP can back up all positions though, so he can spell Manny and even Crisp once in awhile. IIRC he can also play 1B right? Dan Roche said last night that if Lowell doesnt show anything soon, look for Youk to steal AB's at 3rd giving more of an opening at 1B.

[UMO Better Blues]

WMP can back up all positions though, so he can spell Manny and even Crisp once in awhile. IIRC he can also play 1B right? Dan Roche said last night that if Lowell doesnt show anything soon, look for Youk to steal AB's at 3rd giving more of an opening at 1B.

He can play them, he just can't play them very well. :D Seriously, from what I've read (and seen of him), he's no better than an average to below defender. He does, however, have a great arm. :cool:

Lowell is beginning to scare me. I was hoping last year was just a down year, but it seems like he can't catch up to anything anymore. If he bottoms out, let's hope JT has another year left in him as a regular. Either that, or they could give Papi a glove (then at least he'd be eligible at 1B in my fantasy league :p )

[kennedy]

Well Moss and Murphy are a few years away at least, along with Ellsbury.
Ellsbury for sure (I hope I get to see him with Wilmington this year, but we don't see them until a month into the season), but I don't know that I would say Moss and Murphy are a "few" years away. Both exhibited good power in Portland, led the team in runs, and Murphy can run a little. If they perform at Pawtucket this season, I wouldnt' be as worried about rushing an outfielder (especially in a utility role) as a pitcher.

Theo just said they don't project him as anything other than an outfielder, but first base is something, though he hasn't played there in the major leagues, that could be worked on.

[kennedy]

By the by, it seems like Pena has been around for a while (and he has because of his contract), so it came as a shock to me that he's only 24.