In what was the first real big day for the Red Sox in the off season, they dealt Coco Crisp to the Royals for right handed reliever Ramon Ramirez. The deal is a win/win for both sides. The Royals gain a top of the order bat who provides speed and defense and it sets them up for some more moves.

There is rumor that the Cubs are interested in either Mark Tehan or David Dejesus. Or perhaps, they can flip Crisp to the Cubs and keep they're players while they are still pre-arbitration or arbitration eligible.

But here's what I care about. The Red Sox get a player who most of the world has never heard about. A solid right handed reliever. In two and a half seasons Ramirez has posted a 3.62 ERA and has averaged almost a strike out per inning. Keep in mind his first season and a half was at hitter friendly/ pitcher unfriendly Coors Field as a member of the Colorado Rockies.

More importantly, he is the kind of young player the Red Sox covet. A live arm with plus stuff and still controllable as he is 2 seasons away from being arbitration eligible. He offers flexibility in late inning situations as he features a plus change up which gives him the ability to get lefty's out.

He won't necessarily come into camp as the 8th inning set up man to Papelbon as the Sox still have options in Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Justin Masterson.

And now we're back to that word again, flexibility. With this addition, it will be very interesting to see where Masterson ends up. If  Boston fails to sign a big name free agent such as A.J Burnett, or Derek Lowe (forget CC Sabathia o.k. Let the Yankees take those soon to be damaged goods) Masterson could easily find a spot as a fifth starter if Clay Buchholz doesn't straighten himself out. Or he stays put in the aforementioned group of relief corps where he hopefully continues to dominate, especially against right handed hitting.

The move also gives Boston financial flexibility. Crisp was due to make $5.5 million this season with an option in 2010 for $8 million. Combine this with the $20 million they won't be paying Manny Ramirez this year,$8 million for zero appearances by Schilling, $4 million for what most of us wish was zero appearances by Timlin, and say hello to Mark Teixeira, the best fee agent on the market.

Teixeira is exactly the kind of player the Red Sox need. A selective hitter who is hitting his prime and has 5 seasons in a row of batting over .300, hitting 30 or more home runs, and driving in over 100 runs. He, not Jason Bay, is the bat needed to replace Manny Ramirez. And unlike Manny he'll always remember to bring his glove with him while playing the field.

That's it. Two moves and you have to not only consider the Red Sox postseason bound, but World Series favorites.
A rotation that boasts a healthy Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Free Agent Aquisition/Buchhholz/Masterson.

A solid bullpen.

And this projected lineup. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia (ROY/MVP), David Ortiz (hopefully healthy although very likely in decline), Mark  Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew, Jason Bay, Jed Lowrie (as I refuse to take Julio Lugo seriously as a major league player) and hopefully Jason Varitek. If that's not a solid team, I don't know what is.

                 Maybe it’s because I lack an extensive vocabulary, but it seems impossible to put into words what I’ve just seen. This is going to be a long one, but after a game like this, how could it not be.

                In a first inning that featured a  1-2-3 top half by rookie pitcher Charlie Zinc, and a ten run offensive bottom half capped by David Ortiz’s second 3 run homer of the INNING, it appeared that the route was on and not even Chuck Norris him self would be able to save the Texas Rangers.

                But then it happened. For anyone who hasn’t heard Texas can hit. Trouble began in the top of the fifth when things were still looking good for Zinc to pick up his first win. Then the Rangers were able to string together some singles and doubles. Throw in some controversy on a fly ball that center fielder Coco Crisp catches and drops on the transfer (ruled a no catch and scored as a double somehow). Mix it in with some  Terry Francona making the mistake of sticking with Charlie in hopes to help him pick up his first ever victory.  Add a pinch of David AArdsma giving up the big fly to Ian Kinsler, and oh boy, we’ve got a brand new ball game.

                Well sort of. Boston would escape from the inning holding a two run lead and go on to put up two more in the bottom half after a disputed double call after David Ortiz appeared to put one out to deep center, but was called fan interference by the officiating crew, ruining his chance to become Mr. August. No worries, Kevin Youkilis would make it a moot point by homering, a no doubter, to center field.

                But hang on, here comes Texas. Putting up a five spot in the sixth to take a one run lead. In the inning Youkilis found himself right in the mix of it (as he would all night), by committing a rare error at first diving for a ball to his right, which then ricocheted  to Dustin Pedroia who threw high to home, only to have Frank Catalonnato  slide across safely for the tying run.  Kinsler would later hit a sac fly to give the Rangers their first lead of the game.

                It was looking pretty grim for the Red Sox. Like they were going to blow a ten run, first inning lead, and suffer a very deflating loss. But the eighth inning was by far the most defining inning for the new-look Sox.

                Coco crisp popped out to center to begin with off of reliever Frank Francisco. Jacoby Ellsbury pinch hit for Kevin Cash, the only member of the Sox starting nine without a hit, and walked on four straight pitches. After J.D. Drew was unable to advance Jacoby up stepped MVP candidate (at least I’m campaigning for him) Dustin Pedroia, who already had four hits and had been on base five times.

He ripped a two strike curveball off the wall in right for a double and Ellsbury turned the jets and scored all the way from first. And then came the biggest challenge since the trade of Manny Ramirez.

Something we all knew was bound to happen; Papi was intentionally walked with the absence of Manny hitting behind him.

Well, let this be a lesson to the rest of the American League, Kevin Youkilis is up for the challenge. The Youker got ahead in the count 2-0 and sat on a 96 mph Francisco fast ball. Into the monster seats it went, and Youk, all kinds of excited, almost lapped Papi running around the bases.

Papelbon would eventually shut the door for his 32 save on what was one of the craziest nights at the ball park any of us will ever see.

Game notes-

Now, I’m not friends with anyone at The Elias Sports Bureau, but I’d like to know the last time, if ever, a player has struck out twice in one inning as Kevin Youkilis did, only to come back and have two home runs, one of which was the go ahead game winner in the eighth inning.

But I do know this thanks to various media outlets available to me. There was no pitching in this game, my eyes actually showed me that, yet 400 pitches were thrown total.

                 The 36 runs combined by both teams were an American League record, one would have to assume Texas was involved in one that was close to it, as they put up 30 runs on there own last year in a game against Baltimore.

It was the most runs the Rangers had ever scored and lost. Coincidently it was the most runs the Red Sox had ever given up and still won.

With every at bat Jed Lowrie takes, it makes me say Julio who?

Mike Lowell had to leave the game with what is being called a right oblique strain. It is unknown at this point what will become of this, but the Sox do have some options.  They can split time at third between Youkilis and Lowrie. This will in turn result in more playing time for both Alex Cora and Sean Casey.

The Red Sox do have Minor league options with first basemen Jeff Bailey and third baseman Keith Ginter. But if Lowell were to go on the DL I would imagine the Sox would take the opportunity to put another arm in the bullpen, especially given the fact they Mike Timlin and Justin Masterson were the only ones not used tonight. Masterson threw 3 innings two day’s ago in Chicago.

Charlie Zinc got the no decision in this contest but will never forget this night. He will be optioned to Triple A Pawtucket tomorrow to make room for Paul Byrd.

               
  

And just like that it appears the Red Sox brass is at it again. A full sunrise and sunset after GM Theo Epstein predicts a quiet off season, and all of the sudden the Sox are the leading candidates to acquire the services of the best pitcher in baseball.

I previously wrote in a post ( http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/bigsoxfan/20
07/11/23/Is_Another_Twin_City_Star_Coming_To_Shine
_In_Boston) about trading Bucholz, Lester, and Ellsbury for Nathan and Santana, and received mixed reviews. The most common comment was "your giving up the farm." That's to much." "There's to much of an upside for those guys "

Agreed, it's quite a package, but it's the price you pay if you want to make a deal like that. Hey, I love those prospects, but they are just that, prospects. I'll take a proven commodity over a hope any day! If I wanted to watch prospects, I wouldn’t have purchased MLB's extra innings package to watch the Sox. I could've watched the Pirates games for free.

But given the big trade that the Twins pulled off with the Ray's yesterday, the landscape of the deal has been entirely transformed. Now it appears the Sox could pull this off by including 2 major league players (Coco Crisp and Jon Lester) as well as 2 prospects (Jed Lowrie and either Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden). It gets a little more complicated, as most things do, when you break down the financial aspects of the deal as well.

For Minnesota, they receive a quality starting pitcher who many organizations have tried to pry away for so many years (Lester), who they can slot right into the starters role to help fill the void of Santana. They get a tremendous defensive centerfielder at a bargain price in today’s free agent market (Crisp), who's more then capable to cover the carpet departed fan favorite Torii Hunter has left behind.

Now that they've traded short stop Jason Bartlett for Brendan Harris, they would be able to insert Lowry at the short stop position, and move Harris to second base. The position most scouts think he is more suited for. Bowden or Masterson could conceivably be in the bullpen, or spend another season in the minors and be major league ready by next year. Best of all for the Twins, they dump salary so they can focus on resigning Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer and they would still be able to move into that new stadium in 2010, with a contending team.

The Sox side is a little more difficult. Yes they would be getting an ace of diamonds to go along with their ace of ####s Josh Beckett. But, they're going to have to pay the man. Santana is reportedly looking for a 5 or 6-year deal worth in the vicinity of $150 million. A couple of problems exist, the biggest one would be only having a 72-hour window to negotiate an extension. If they failed to do it, Santana would be staying with the Twins for another two weeks before the Yankees came in and made the deal happen. 2004. A-rod. Ring a bell anyone?

Sure the Red Sox have the money but 20-25 million is a lot to invest in a player who can only help you once every 5 days. Injury is always a concern, but consider this. In the past 4 seasons Santana has pitched at least 5 innings in every start except one. The one he didn't was only shortened due to a rain delay 4 2/3 innings in.

He will be turning 29 at the beginning of the season thus entering his prime years. A time when good pitchers become great, and great pitchers become legends.

As I said before, the money is there. Consider he's only due $13.5 million this season, if Crisp goes, essentially your only paying him around $9 million. That my friend's, is a bargain. You won't even find a deal like that at your local flea market. 220 innings, 230 strikeouts, an ERA around 3.00 and 20 wins.

Next year the money could be there as well. Schilling's $13 million comes off the books, as well as Crisps $5 million. Cut your ties with veteran knukleballer Tim Wakefield ($4 million) and I believe you've found your first $20 million right there. And this is assuming that they pick up the $20 million option on Manny Ramirez. We are yet to hear what the deal is regarding that situation.

If the proposed trade goes down, he is even more affordable to the Red Sox because of the young talent they have, at a very low price. The likes of Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Delcarmen, Kevin Youkilis, Clay Bucholz, and Jonathan Papelbon will all be under their control for the next 3-5 years. Hell, Josh Beckett's only do $30 million the next 3 years and they've got Dice-K for 5 more years at $48 million.

It looks good right now. The deal is there. The money is there. The will is there. The only problem is so are the Yankees. If they don't act quickly, New York will most likely try to sweeten their offer. Theo, don't think twice. If they accept this proposed trade as is, you need to make it happen.

Like that 20 something year old kid who finally decides it's time to leave his parents basement, the Rays might be moving out of the one they've been occupying in the AL East since their inception to the league. Don't look now, but the Rays are looking like a franchise that's ready to get serious. Today was a great day for baseball as two small market teams made a huge trade for both sides.

Minnesota and Tampa Bay made a 6 player deal that sends starting pitcher Matt Garza, short stop Jason Bartlett, and AA right-handed pitcher Eduardo Morlan to the Gulf Coast in exchange for Rookie of The Year candidate Delmon Young, shortstop Brendan Harris and outfielder Jason Pridie. This is a great deal for both sides.

This came as a surprising move to me given the plethora of young outfield talent Tampa Bay has assembled. I thought that they would try to move Rocco Baldelli. Perhaps Minnesota was interested in Baldelli's services, but feared that the oft-injured center fielder would not hold up for an entire season playing on the artificial turf of the Metrodome.

In Young, Minnesota picks up a right-handed bat (albeit he does come with more baggage then just a suitcase) capable of replacing departed centerfielder Torii Hunter's spot in the Order. Only entering his second season, Young hopes to build on a rookie year in which he put up some very impressive numbers. Young started all 162 games for the Rays; batting .288 with 13 home runs, 93 RBIs and 10 steals. He is also blessed with an absolute cannon for an arm, which helped lead him to 16 outfield assists.

Minnesota can also use Jason Pridie in centerfield if they cannot make a deal for Boston's Coco Crisp, or fill the void through free agency. Pridi is a youngster with a positive upside.

Now onto the Tampa Bay side of the deal. Yes they did give up a very promising player, but they are getting what they need the most in return, another solid starting pitchier. The Rays can slot Garza (who projects to be the kind of pitcher capable of 15-18 wins with an ERA under 4.00) into the third spot in their rotation behind the blossoming James Shields and last years strike out leader and future Cy Young contender Scott Kashmir. Following in the four and five spots in the rotation would appear to be Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson.

Jason Bartlett is a good defensive short stop who is both unknown and underrated. Hopefully he will be the kind of defensive upgrade that will help the Rays finsh somewhere other then last place in fielding percentage.

Remember last year at the trading deadline the Rays management said they were looking to solidify their bullpen. They traded Ty Wigginton to the Astros for reliever Dan Wheeler, who will be returning for another season. Couple him with one of last years best surprises, closer Al Reyes, and the back end of the pen looks like they might be able to hold some leads. It is rumored that the Rays have interest in bringing free agent Troy Percival on board. One can only assume that Percival would want a closing job and Reyes would become a setup man. It remains to be seen if the newly acquired Morlan will be major league ready at some point during the 2008 season. If he is, look for him to jump into a middle relief spot. 

Don't forget the Rays can hit.  Out of the 30 teams in MLB they were 15th in runs scored last year, 16th in hits, 15th in batting average, 10th in slugging percentage and ranked 12th in OPS. As a team they also recorded 131 steals, good for third in the AL. Sure they rank in the middle of the pack in the Major Leagues but there are at least 15 other teams that would like to be ranked where they are. Keep in mind this is still a young team that can only get better.

When you break down their projected lineup it actually looks pretty scary 1-5. With one of the most overlooked players in all the game leading off, Carl Crawford is a solid defender and an absolute terror on the base paths. Last year Crawford posted a career best .315 average, and swiped 50 bases for the 4th time in his 6 seasons. The versatile B.J. Upton should follow him. Last season Upton was the proud owner of a .300 average and slugged .508.

Behind them there is the resurgent Carlos Pena. Who if he hits anywhere near the way he did last year (46 homers, 121 RBI, and .411 OBP) will certainly strike fear into the opposing pitching staff. Johnny Gomes has the kind of power capable of hitting 30+ homeruns. Akinori Iwamura will be entering his second season and will hopefully build on his rookie season in which he had to overcome the changes from the Japan leagues, and adjust to the ML schedule, traveling, and culture. He still hit .285 with 7 dingers and 35 RBI primarily from the lead off spot.

The rest of the lineup should be rounded out by Rocco Baldelli (if healthy), Dioner Navarro, Jason Bartlett, and youngster Evan Longoria.

No, they are not ready to overtake the Yankees or Red Sox this year, but as of right now I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they finished third in the AL East. But my hat goes off to the Rays management. On the same day they announced their plans to open a gorgeous waterfront stadium with a retractable roof capable of holding 34,00 people, they might have given people a good reason to fill it.