2007-2008 Offseason Thread

[BuckFoston]

Lowell now able to negotiate with other teams...

As the clock struck midnight ET, and Monday turned to Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox lost their exclusive negotiating rights to free-agent third baseman Mike Lowell.

The Most Valuable Player of the World Series is now eligible to negotiate with not just the Red Sox, but the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball.

Over the last several days, the Red Sox have been in negotiations with Lowell's representatives -- Sam and Seth Levinson -- in an effort to get something done.

The Red Sox reportedly made a three-year offer to Lowell last week worth somewhere between $35 and $45 million.

The sticking point is the length of the contract, as the Levinson brothers feel they can get four guaranteed years for Lowell on the open market.

Lowell will be 34 when next season starts, and the Red Sox, at least at this stage of the negotiations, have been unwilling to offer four years.

But ever since the end of the World Series, the Red Sox have stated that retaining Lowell is a top priority.

The Official Site of Boston Red Sox: News: Boston Red Sox News

[ability]

It'll be interesting to see what other clubs will offer.

[ability]

Mike Lowell Gets 3 Year Deal

[love_that_reefer]

Good for the Sox. The Sox have a good chance of repeating as champs and Lowell was a big part of that.

[ability]

It's odd because the turnover after the '04 WS was pretty huge, it'll be pretty odd to have most if not all the boys back next season.

[Lance324]

It's nice to see a player do what's right for himself without thinking about money for a change!!!!!

[ability]

Now that we’re officially into the holiday season I thought I’d go ahead and make a Christmas List for the Red Sox. Not anything outlandish like getting Johan Santana, just 3 things I’m hoping to see happen this winter and heading into spring training.

Red Sox X-Mas List

[ability]

News and notes from Rotoworld.com

Mike Timlin

The Red Sox have reportedly offered Mike Timlin a one-year deal to stick around.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo said he didn't know whether it was a major league or a minor league deal. We assume it's the former. Timlin earned $2.8 million last season and need not settle for less after his strong second half and postseason.
Source: Boston.com

Kerry Wood

According to the Chicago Tribune, "the longer Kerry Wood remains on the free-agent market, the less likely it appears he will return to the Cubs."
The newspaper reports that Wood is getting interest from a number of teams, including the Red Sox, who are said to potentially want him as a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. "Kerry is getting a lot of action around the industry," general manager Jim Hendry said. "We're hopeful he'll want to remain a Cub. I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings, this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out." If the Cubs want to re-sign Wood, they may have to offer him a multi-year deal rather than the inventive-driven one-year pact that he signed last offseason.
Source: Chicago Tribune

[ability]

Santana to the Sox?

[BuckFoston]

There are so many rumors flying around with Santana the Yankees and the Sox that I've stopped paying attention to them. Once Santana gets dealt then I can believe this.

[ability]

Pretty much.

[ability]

So much for that Wood rumor. He signed a 1 year deal w/ the Cubs/

[love_that_reefer]

Any thoughts on where Crisp might end up?

[GiantsFanatic]

I heard the Sox might send him in a pachage deal with either Lester or Buckholtz and another player(prospect) to MN for Santana.

[BuckFoston]

Santana to the Sox?

So much for that...

The question posed by Jonathan Papelbon last night to a small group of reporters at an awards dinner thrown by the Lowell Spinners was no different from the one preoccupying Red Sox fans all week.
related content

"Did we get Santana yet?" the Sox closer asked.

As of last night, Twins ace lefthander Johan Santana had not changed teams. The Red Sox and Yankees remain the parties with the most obvious interest in striking a deal for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, though it appeared more likely that if Minnesota makes a trade with the Sox, it will not come before the winter meetings in Nashville.

The Yankees last night may have emerged as the front-runners when they elected to include top pitching prospect Phil Hughes in a package for Santana, according to a major league source (and reported by the New York Daily News), while the Sox still refuse to include center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury or pitcher Clay Buchholz, their top two prospects.

Boston Red Sox - Trade of Santana to Sox is not close - The Boston Globe