Here’s the round-up of Red Sox Hot Stove news and notes for the first week of November:
- The Red Sox have kicked their search for a new Manager into second gear, bringing in a swath of names to Boston for interviews. Among those brought in included Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum. Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux and Indians Bench Coach Sandy Alomar Jr. will also be granted interviews.
- WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported that David Ortiz received no offer from the Red Sox during the five-day exclusive negotiating window. Despite there being no offer, GM Ben Cherington has spoken to Ortiz’s agents per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
- The Red Sox declined options on relief pitchers Scott Atchison and Dan Wheeler. Cherington said Wheeler’s $3 million option was declined because “We didn’t feel like we could commit that money this early in the offseason.” Declining Wheeler makes him a Type-B free agent, meaning that if he signs with another team, the Red Sox will receive a draft pick as compensation. Atchison’s option was for a 2012 MLB minimum plus $200,000. He will be retained on the team’s 40-man roster and can be kept so long as the Sox tender him a contract or offer him a slight raise. He is not eligible for arbitration.
- The Red Sox picked up SS Marco Scutaro’s $6 million option. Cherington also hinted earlier this week that the team’s Short Stop surplus could be of benefit in the trade market.
- Grady Sizemore has been rumored to be an option for the RF opening in Boston according to Michael Silverman. While there’s been no indication thus far, the Red Sox have the option to allow Josh Reddick and prospect Ryan Kalish compete for the spot next season or explore the free agent market. In the Reddick/Kalish scenario, it’s believed that the Sox will likely add a right handed bat to compliment whichever young lefty wins out during Spring Training. Sizemore is the latest name to pop up in a plethora of interesting OF options for the Red Sox. Carlos Beltran, Josh Willingham, Michael Cuddyer and David DeJesus are amongst some of the other names rumored to be fits for the spot.
- The Red Sox have tossed around the idea of adding Daniel Bard to the rotation, but the likelihood of it happening is low. Jerry Spar has the news over at WEEI.
- It should also be added that Gammons doesn’t think the Red Sox will get much in return for Theo Epstein. Compensation talks are still ongoing as of today, and the Commissioner has granted an extension. By all accounts, talks are going slowly, but are very amicable now that it’s Epstein and Cherington handling the discussion.
- The Red Sox continued their house-cleaning Thursday, firing both Strength and Conditioning Coach Dave Page as well as Assistant Athletic Trainer Greg Barajas.
- It appears as if the Baltimore Orioles may have interest in Red Sox executive Alard Baird as a potential fit as GM. The Orioles have had difficulty filling the position vacated by Andy McPhail, who left the organization last month. The job was offered to Blue Jays Assistant GM Tony LaCava earlier this week, but he turned them down. D’Backs Assistant GM Jerry DiPito also turned down overtures. This has led to the Orioles expanding their search. According to many, the Orioles job is not seen as a very appealing position.
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