The Boston Red Sox have officially signed 12 free agents, one of whom is former Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva to minor league deals. All of 12 have been invited to Spring Training as non-roster players. If he reaches the majors, Silva is projected to earn exactly $1,000,000.

The entire list of players includes pitchers Silva, Rich Hill (reported earlier), Brandon Duckworth, Will Inman, Doug Mathis, Tony Pena Jr., Chorye Spoone, Jesse Carlson (reported earlier), Charlie Haeger, Justin Thomas as well as infielders Pedro Ciriaco and Nate Spears. While some of these names are recognizable, none are more so than Silva.

Silva, 32, has been in the big leagues since 2002 and has pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies (2002-2003), Minnesota Twins (2004-2007), Seattle Mariners (2008-2009) and Chicago Cubs (2010). In 2011, Silva was released by the Cubs and signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees, where he was 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA between double and triple A. He was later released because of some nagging health problems.

Silva’s major league track record is a respectable one, to say the least. In his nine seasons in the majors, Silva is 70-70 with a 4.68 ERA with over 1,200 innings pitched. Silva owns a staggeringly low 1.7 BB/9 rating for an innings eater. His best season came in 2004 with the Twins (14-8, 4.21 ERA), but his 2010 campaign was a close second (10-6 4.22 ERA). The Red Sox have been looking for low cost options to build depth in their pitching rotation, so this move was really right up their alley.

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In an effort to address the team’s bullpen needs, the Boston Red Sox acquired all-star closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney from the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday for outfielder Josh Reddick and two minor league prospects. The move comes a week after the Red Sox attempted to obtain Bailey and pitcher Gio Gonzalez; with the Nationals getting Gonzalez in a separate deal.

The trade helps address the teams glaring pitching weakness, as all-time Red Sox saves leader Jonathan Papelbon departed for the Philadelphia Phillies. In a smaller deal earlier in the month, Boston traded minor league talent to the Houston Astros for late-inning reliever Mark Melancon. The expectation would be that if other deals could not be arranged during the off-season, the Red Sox would have at least one additional arm in the bullpen; one with prior closer experience.

The loss of Josh Reddick will be of little impact on the Red Sox, despite his .280 batting average. In the trade, the Sox also obtained a platoon outfielder in Ryan Sweeney who will compete with minor leaguers Daniel Nava and Ryan Kalish both have previous major league experience with Boston.

Bailey arrives in Boston after serving as the A’s primary closer the past three seasons; compiling a 7-10 record and a 2.07 earned run average. The righty has saved 75 games during that span; with just nine blown saves. This past season, Bailey saw his earned run average climb to 3.24, but still maintained a respectable walks per innings pitched ratio of 1.10.

The acquisition of Bailey will come as a welcomed addition, as the Red Sox now have some pitching flexibility with three quality arms at the end of the bullpen; including Daniel Bard who may see his role changed to become a starting pitcher in 2012. In four career appearances in Fenway Park, Bailey has accounted for three saves and an earned run average of 7.20. Not exactly statistics that generate much optimism. From an optimist’s perspective, the new closer has garnered 15 saves in 15 opportunities against the eastern division’s primary competition (New York, Tampa, and Toronto). Which version of the closer will take the mound for Boston is still anyone’s guess.

With the addition of returning left-handed utility pitchers Alfredo Aceves and Andrew Miller, along with specialists Matt Albers and Bobby Jenks; Boston has some pitchers to work with. Aceves and Bard both have been identified by the team as possible candidates to fortify the starting rotation. Last season Aceves’ versatility made him one of the most valuable pitchers on the staff; compiling a 10-2 record with a 2.61 earned run average. The 30-year old right-hander also started four games for Boston last season; where he posted a 1-1 record over 21 innings pitched.

Bailey may bring some stability, but the level of remaining talent in the bullpen is untested at best. Last season’s free agent bust, Bobby Jenks figures to be part of the equation in 2012; but his performance was disappointing at best.

In order to maintain the fiscal responsibility promised by Red Sox management this winter, the team will likely look to the minor leagues for promising youngsters to help fortify the bullpen. Lefty relievers Felix Doubront and Junichi Tazawa will join right hander Michael Bowden as strong candidates to fill critical middle innings assignments.

Thus far, the Red Sox offseason moves have done little to change the lingering memories of last season’s September collapse. The impact of losing Papelbon will not be fully known until his replacements take the mound and prove their worth. Boston is unlikely to make any additional moves to address the closer role and their aggressive effort in obtaining Bailey demonstrates a high level of confidence that he will be able to perform as needed next season. For Red Sox Nation’s sake, I hope that he delivers as promised as well.

Scott Duhaime is a fan of the Boston Red Sox for over 30 years. His professional career includes a solid foundation of analytics that contributes to a better appreciation of player and team contributions.

Sources

Yahoo! Sports Article: A’s Trade Bailey, Sweeney to Red Sox

Yahoo! Sports Player Profiles: Andrew Bailey, Ryan Sweeney, Josh Reddick

Yahoo! Sports: Boston Red Sox Home Page

Yahoo! Sports: MLB Pitching Statistics

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By now, everybody in Red Sox Nation knows that Bobby Valentine hasn’t been able to get in touch with Carl Crawford. In fact, as of December 29^th, the two apparently have yet to exchange a single word, which doesn’t exactly boded well for the Boston Red Sox’ 2012 season. Valentine is at the helm, whether Crawford likes it or not, and his resounding silence while Bobby V calls out “Bueller…Bueller…Bueller” only makes Crawford look bad.

Maybe I should say that it makes him look “even worse,” since the last image fellow fans here in Massachusetts have of the much-hyped leftfielder was that horrific blown catch and his “oh well, too bad” attitude in the locker room afterward. Would it have been too much to see some faint hint of emotion, the slightest glimmer of frustration maybe? Oh, that’s right, Crawford is kicking back and enjoying a 7-year $142 million investment from former GM Theo Epstein and company, which I guess leaves him unaccountable enough to feel like he can blow off the new BoSox skipper.

To be sure, there’s undoubtedly some bad blood between Crawford and Bobby V, which is what happens when a commentator speaks candidly about the guys out on the diamond. Josh Beckett will likely be equally tough to win over. But despite Beckett’s involvement in the chicken-gate scandal, he’s still held in pretty high regard by most fans I know, and many don’t doubt that he can be the ace of the rotation once again.

Meanwhile, all Crawford has done so far is live up to his goofy “perfect storm” nickname, but in all the wrong ways. There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Red Sox’ September collapse, and it’s far from clear that they would’ve survived for long even if they’d made it to the postseason. Nevertheless, Crawford’s blown catch is a perfect symbol of just how that season unfolded. Like Crawford himself, the sky-high potential of that season plunged into the depths of outright embarrassment.

Which is exactly why it isn’t encouraging that Crawford has yet to return Bobby V’s calls. Maybe he doesn’t realize that while he may not owe anything to Valentine the man, he owes plenty to Valentine the Red Sox manager, and he should be bending over backwards to show Red Sox Nation that he’s more than just one of the biggest disappointments in the history of Boston sports.

Maybe he’s on his way to do just that, at least if you take Pedey’s word for it. Dustin Pedroia recently went to bat for Crawford in the figurative sense, saying that he’s “texted Carl a few times” and insisting that he’s “working his butt off” and “on a mission…to prove a lot of people wrong.” We can safely assume that Valentine is one of the people he’s trying to prove wrong. Nevertheless, one can only hope that Crawford eventually realizes that he’ll have to be working with him to do that.

Taurus Londono has lived in Massachusetts for over ten years. He is a longtime fan of the Boston Red Sox.

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As the MLB offseason trudges along, it’s clear that some teams aren’t finished putting together their rosters, and you can add the Boston Red Sox to that list. Fellow fans here in Massachusetts know that the Red Sox still have gaps to fill, and the rumor mill is churning accordingly. Matt Garza’s name is the latest to float to the surface, but will this story stick?

Of course, there’s good reason to think that Garza would be a logical fit for the Red Sox roster. It’s no secret that GM Ben Cherington and company are looking to bolster the pitching staff, and he could very much be on the table in a potential deal with the Chicago Cubs. If Garza’s brought in, he might end up working with as good a pitching coach as Red Sox fans could hope for right now.

As the Red Sox wrap up a coaching overhaul, with Alex Ochoa and Jerry Royster brought in at first and third base respectively, the most impressive new hire not be named Valentine might be Bob McClure. McClure was recently named the new pitching coach and laid out his goals in a fairly straightforward way. McClure’s six seasons coaching with the Kansas City Royals included helping to mold Joakim Soria (who Cherington has reportedly pursued) and Zach Greinke, who won an AL Cy Young in 2009.

Garza would be a major injection of talent for McClure to work with. Provided, of course, that good old Theo Epstein is willing to give him up. Make no mistake, Garza would be costly but worth it. The 28-year-old RHP has averaged a 3.83 ERA over the course of his six seasons in the majors. He has a 109 ERA+ on average over the same time. Last season with the Cubs, he pitched 31 games and finished with a 3.32 ERA. It’s worth remembering that he was 2008′s ALCS MVP, just his third year into his major league career.

Considering the steady decimation of the pitching staff, which now seems as though it will be without once-hyped Bobby Jenks (who recently underwent back surgery), Garza is exactly what the Red Sox need. Since the Soria deal (apparently) fell through, and Theo is reportedly open to dealing Garza to the Red Sox, it should be a no-brainer.

Unfortunately, Cherington and ownership (or perhaps just ownership) seem intent on filling in the gaps with low-cost, low-key moves. We can only hope that cheap gambles pay off, but if the Red Sox pass up on Garza, it isn’t clear that they’ll find a better deal let alone a cheaper one.

Taurus Londono has lived in Massachusetts for over ten years. He is a longtime fan of the Boston Red Sox.

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BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox have hired Bob McClure as pitching coach and moved Tim Bogar to bench coach.

The Red Sox said on Friday Alex Ochoa will be first base coach on manager Bobby Valentine’s staff and Jerry Royster will be the third base coach. Bogar and Ochoa both played under Valentine with the New York Mets.

Bogar is in his fourth year with the Red Sox, spending the last two as the third base coach.

McClure recently joined the Red Sox organization as a special assignment scout and instructor. He spent the previous six seasons as the pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals.

Ochoa was the hitting coach for Boston’s Class-A affiliate in Salem of the Carolina League.

Royster was most recently the manager of the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization from 2008-10.

 

The Boston Red Sox will begin another exciting run in the Grapefruit League beginning in March. The first game in the 2012 Red Sox Spring Training schedule is on Sunday, March 4 when the team hosts the Minnesota Twins down in Florida. The schedule stretches through April 3 before the regular season opener on Thursday, April 5 against the Detroit Tigers.

2012 Boston Red Sox Spring Training Schedule

Sunday, March 4

Minnesota Twins (SS) at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Monday, March 5

Boston at Minnesota, 7:05 p.m. ET

Tuesday, March 6

Baltimore Orioles at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Wednesday, March 7

Boston at Toronto Blue Jays (SS), 1:05 p.m. ET

Thursday, March 8

Boston at St. Louis Cardinals, 1:05 p.m. ET

Friday, March 9

Pittsburgh Pirates at Boston, 7:05 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 10

Tampa Bay Rays at Boston, 7:05 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 11

Boston at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m. ET

Monday, March 12

Florida Marlins at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Tuesday, March 13

Boston at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET

Thursday, March 15

St. Louis at Boston, 2:35 p.m. ET

Friday, March 16

Minnesota (SS) at Boston, 7:05 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 17

Boston (SS) at Baltimore (SS), 1:05 p.m. ET

Baltimore (SS) at Boston (SS), 1:35 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 18

Boston at Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m. ET

Monday, March 19

Minnesota at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Tuesday, March 20

Toronto Blue Jays at Boston, 7:05 p.m. ET

Wednesday, March 21

Boston at Pittsburgh, TBD

Thursday, March 22

New York Yankees at Boston, 7:05 p.m. ET

Friday, March 23

Boston at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 24

Boston (SS) at Florida, 1:05 p.m. ET

Philadelphia Phillies at Boston (SS), 1:35 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 25

Boston at Toronto, 1:05 p.m. ET

Monday, March 26

Boston at Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m. ET

Tuesday, March 27

Tampa Bay at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Thursday, March 29

Toronto at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Friday, March 30

Boston at Minnesota (SS), 1:05 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 31

Boston at Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m. ET

Sunday, April 1

Minnesota at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Monday, April 2

Washington Nationals at Boston, 1:35 p.m. ET

Tuesday, April 3

Boston at Washington, TBD

Source:

Red_Sox_Main_Site

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