January 22, 2006
HE'S OUR LUCKY CHARM:
Sox reach deal for CF Crisp (Tony Massarotti, January 22, 2006. Boston Herald)
With the return of Theo Epstein all but formalized, the Red Sox now appear on the verge of concluding a heretofore tumultuous offseason by acquiring both center fielder Coco Crisp and shortstop Alex Gonzalez. [...]The Red Sox will send a package including reliever Guillermo Mota and prospect Andy Marte to the Indians. The inclusion of Mota in the deal explains why the Sox signed free agent reliever Julian Tavarez to a two-year contract despite having a bullpen that already included Keith Foulke, Mike Timlin, Mota, Rudy Seanez and, perhaps, Jonathan Papelbon.
Beyond the acquisition of Crisp, the Sox also are about to sign free agent Gonzalez. The 28-year-old former Florida Marlins shortstop, is a free-swinging, career .264 hitter with little power, but he is regarded as a very good defensive player. He will likely bat ninth in a revamped Sox lineup that should feature much-improved infield defense. [...]
In the 26-year-old Crisp, the Sox will have a switch-hitter who possesses an array of talents. Though Crisp has played left field for the Indians - Cleveland has the blossoming Grady Sizemore in center - he played center field during his minor league career. In slightly more than two full major league seasons, Crisp has 35 career home runs and 54 career steals. Last season, he batted .300 with 16 home runs, 15 steals, a .345 on-base percentage and .465 slugging percentage.
Just as important from the perspective of Sox officials, Crisp is not eligible for free agency until after the 2009 season. [...]
While Crisp batted second (behind Sizemore) for the majority of time last season, he will replace Damon atop the Red Sox batting order. Crisp has a .271 average as a leadoff hitter over the last three seasons, but he is just now reaching the prime years of his career. With him in tow, the Sox would likely have an Opening Day lineup that looks like the following:
Crisp, cf; Mark Loretta, 2b; David Ortiz, dh; Manny Ramirez, lf; Jason Varitek, c; Trot Nixon, rf; Mike Lowell, 3b; Kevin Youkilis, 1b; Gonzalez, ss.
Just his name gives Coco Crisp a shot at the same cult hero status that Damon enjoyed, but the Gonzalez signing is a waste. They're an offense built on long at-bats that extend starting pitchers and get you into the soft middle section of opponents' bullpens, whereas Gonazlez has a career OBP of.291--even the other Alex Gonzalez is at-least over .300. Given that Marte may be the best player over the long term involved in the deal, the two other players the Sox are getting had better be pretty good. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 22, 2006 8:19 AM
Crisp is the equal of Damon now and of course his upside is much better. Too bad they had to lose Marte to do it, but they saved ten million a year budgetwise.
I agree on Gonzalez. I think it's a move driven by public relations, not baseball. They know the local public would be disappointed at entering the season with Alex Cora as the starting ss, and wanted to make a signing even if it's no improvement. I still don't understand why they didn't ink Orlando Cabrera after he played so well here.
Posted by: pj at January 22, 2006 8:49 AMThe fans don't care about Alex Gonzalez though. Why not trade for a guy who won't be a black hole in the batting order?
Posted by: oj at January 22, 2006 9:06 AMThey won't trade because their only ammunition now is top pitching talent (Lester or Papelbon), and that's too much to give up. They should see if Pedroia can play short at the major league level before trading for a shortstop.
If they sign Gonzalez, it should be a 1-year stopgap.
Posted by: pj at January 22, 2006 9:39 AMYou can count the number of guys as little as Pdroia who can control the strike zone in the major leagues on one hand.
Posted by: oj at January 22, 2006 9:44 AMCrisp has a .271 average as a leadoff hitter over the last three seasons, but he is just now reaching the prime years of his career.
Sentences like that almost always are the precursors for lots of boos from the home fans by midseason, when the career prime turns out to be pretty much the same as the previous year or two right before it. Hope he can throw out runners and learn to play caroms off the centerfield wall before the second time the Yanks come to Fenway this season.
Posted by: John at January 22, 2006 11:53 AMexcept that it works out that way so often. This is a total Bill James deal. He was the first to demonstrate the frequency with which the three best years of a guys career come at ages 26-28 when he gets 1000 ab's under his belt. A ridicidulous number of guys who have their "breakout" year fit in that category. Look up even terrible hitters and they're likely to have stunk the least at that point.
Posted by: oj at January 22, 2006 12:13 PMWhat do the Indians get out of this? Marte plays third but they have a veteran there so Marte spends the year in the minors. Mota is a wash with the guy they send to the Phillies. They replace Crisp with a guy with no power who strikes out alot. (not to mention on probation for hitting a police officer).
It has to be salary driven. The Tribe is saving three big arbitration paydays. Sad.
Posted by: Bob at January 22, 2006 7:34 PMWhat do the Indians get out of this? Marte plays third but they have a veteran there so Marte spends the year in the minors. Mota is a wash with the guy they send to the Phillies. They replace Crisp with a guy with no power who strikes out alot. (not to mention on probation for hitting a police officer).
It has to be salary driven. The Tribe is saving three big arbitration paydays. Sad.
Posted by: Bob at January 22, 2006 7:36 PMMarte is better than Crisp.
Posted by: oj at January 22, 2006 7:43 PM