Red Sox hot stove weekly round-up (11/12 -11/18)

Here’s this week’s wrap-up of Red Sox hot-stove news:

• It was a wild week for the Red Sox managerial search. The team met, wined and dined Dale Sveum, but didn’t offer him a job. Sveum was also a favorite to land the Cubs job and sure enough – the next day he was hired to manage the north-siders. The move was met with some speculation that Ben Cherington had wanted to hire Sveum, but that Larry Lucchino, Tom Werner and John Henry overruled him. Since then, Lucchino, Cherington, and Red Sox COO Sam Kennedy have all come out refuting that sentiment, saying that the team has been taking a ‘collaborative’ approach to the process since the beginning

• Also being called in for second interviews will be Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Blue Jays 1B coach Torey Lovullo, and Tigers 3B coach Gene Lamont.

• Somewhat of a bombshell was dropped on Thursday as word leaked out that former Texas Rangers and New York Mets skipper Bobby Valentine was being considered for the job. Initially it was thought that he was injected into the process by Lucchino, but it later came out that Cherington had been talking to him all along, but it had been kept a secret. Valentine is somewhat of a polarizing figure – known for both his large baseball acumen and his equally boisterous personality. Proponents have praised his independence, personality and ‘take no guff’ approach. Critics are concerned that his independence could lead to miscommunications with the front office and that he’d be ill-equipped to handle the constant media frenzy that comes with being the skipper in Boston. Nonetheless, he’s a fascinating candidate.

• According to a team source, Michael Silverman has reported that there may be another high-profile secret candidate in the mix.

• The Red Sox have been shopping some of their out-of-options pitchers at this week’s GM meetings in Milwaukee. Some names included Franklin Morales, Andrew Miler, Felix Doubront, Michael Bowden and Scott Atchison. Alex Speier of WEEI reported that the team may consider moving some of these players off of their current 40-man roster depending on how much interest is on the market.

• The Red Sox and Cubs still haven’t settled on appropriate compensation for Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein. Talks are going to be tabled until after the Rule-5 draft.

• The Red Sox are said to be removing VP of player personnel and international operations Craig Shipley from his current position. The possible replacement? Former Expos and Mets GM Omar Minaya.

• The Red Sox remained engaged on the free agent front – checking in with Bob Garber who is the agent to free agent pitchers CJ Wilson and Roy Oswalt. The team also kicked tires on relievers Fransisco Cordero & Matt Capps as well as the majority of the shortstop market.

• There was a strong indication earlier this week that the Red Sox were in negotiations to possibly bring in San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell. It was rumored that Bell is reconsidering accepting arbitration from the Padres and is now open to come to the east coast. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe also said that Colorado
• Rockies closer Houston Street may be on the Red Sox radar as a potential trade candidate.

• The Red Sox have reportedly made an offer to DH David Ortiz. Papi has yet to accept or decline their offer. The only other team supposedly interested in Ortiz is the Toronto Blue Jays according to Scott Miller. Papi has been very open about his desire to return to Boston. He said should he get a better offer, he’ll allow the Red Sox to match it.

• Josh Reddick is going to have wrist surgery, but should be healthy in time for opening day. There has been little movement on the OF bats as well as free agents in general. Now that the CBA is effectively done, expect teams to begin to get a lot more active

• The Red Sox will join the swath of teams in on Cuban defector Yeonis Cespedes. The team will host a private work out for him in the Dominican Republic tomorrow.

• Prospects 3B Will Middlebrooks, C Che-Hsuan Lin and Drake Britton have been added to Boston’s 40-man roster, protecting them from Rule-5 draft eligibility.

• Barry Meister, agent for SP Tim Wakefield, said it ‘would be a shame’ if Tim Wakefield did not get the chance to return to the Red Sox next year. It seems as if Wakefield wants to pitch next year and yes, he’s drawing some interest.

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