Centerfield Options: Crazy Offers

[Fishercat]

Just some notes from the baseball news wire known as Rotoworld.

The Mariners countered Boston's offer for Jeremy Reed by asking for Bronson Arroyo rather than Matt Clement, according to the Seattle Times.
If Boston actually offered Clement for Reed, it's believed they did so under the condition that Johnny Damon left the club as a free agent. Considering the big difference in salaries, the Red Sox probably consider Clement more expendable than Arroyo. They'd just as soon keep both and re-sign Damon, but if Damon leaves, the acquisition of Reed or Cleveland's Coco Crisp would be a possibility.

I could see Clement for Reed since Clement is a good pitcher but the Sox overpaid out of depseration for him, and I am not sure how good Reed is or will be (may be worth Arroyo). He was unspectacular last year and Arroyo was surely more valuable, and Clement was too. Still better than...

If the Indians are able to land Nomar Garciaparra, they could then send Coco Crisp to the Red Sox for Andy Marte and Guillermo Mota, according to the Salem News.
The Boston Globe also says the two teams have talked and that Bronson Arroyo could be involved in the talks. We have a hard time believing the Red Sox would give up Marte and Mota for Crisp. Even if they are convinced he'd be an above average center fielder, he's still not worth as much as Marte. Because he'd cost so much less, Jeremy Reed would surely be the better acquisition.

Marte AND Mota? FOR COCO CRISP? No thanks Cleveland, we'll leave you to rape someone else in a trade. That's just horrible, horrible...

Of course, this is assuming the Sox will NOT get Damon back, something they could do. Seems like the four major competitors are or will be the Sox, Yanks, O's, and Dodgers. The NYT is reporting a 5/49 deal on the table from the Dodgers. The Sox offered a standard 4/40, not sure on NY and BAL (who will make an offer, no idea how much).

[redsrbetter]

Just give us Arroya and we will give you Pena or Kearns.

[Providence A's]

I wouldn't want Clement or Arroyo...and what the hell is wrong with the Red Sox? Sign Renteria to a 4 year deal and then trade him after 1 year. Now all these Clement rumors that have popped up after 1 year for him. They're like the girl who has a different b/f every other week...

[Fishercat]

Well, if you can get a Top 5 prospect for a SS who would make about 9-10 million per and be a defensive comedy of errors along with offensive mediocrity...you do it.

The Marlins traded Delgado after one year for prospects and I see no one wondering about their sanity.

[Providence A's]

the marlins are trading everyone though

[Providence A's]

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSo...ticleid=117476

The Red Sox are having ongoing discussions with the Cleveland Indians about a trade for outfielder Coco Crisp, with the pricetag expected to be either starter Bronson Arroyo or Matt Clement. The Indians are believed to have a preference for Arroyo, who is still arbitration eligible, while the Red Sox are more keen on giving away Clement, who is due $19 million the next two seasons and drew the Indians’ interest as a free agent last year.

A trade for Crisp would benefit the Red Sox on a number of fronts, regardless of the fate of free agent center fielder Johnny Damon and unhappy left fielder Manny Ramirez. With four years remaining before becoming eligible for free agency, the 26-year-old, switch-hitting Crisp can play center or a corner outfield position, has good speed on the basepaths, has displayed some power and has shown steady improvement in his last two full seasons with the Indians. He can bat leadoff and it is clear the Red Sox are entertaining thoughts of trading for him, especially as a fallback in case Damon does not re-sign.

Now it's Crisp for Arroyo or Clement (surprise!)

[Fishercat]

Now that? Is a good deal...for the Red Sox. The Indians should be getting something between the caliber of the pitcher and the prospect, maybe a pitcher (Arroyo or Clement) and a decent prospect. Crisp was almost as good as Damon last year, young, and cheap.

[Lance324]

I like the sounds of this, we'll take Crisp and tell Johnny and his wonderful agent to get lost!!!! If the Sox deal Marte though, I'm going to puke. We just made a huge hole in the infield to get this kid, now we need to keep him.

[Providence A's]

I don't understand why the Indians would even want to trade Crisp...especially for mediocre pitching

[Providence A's]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...over_unlikely/

While the Sox have talked with the Indians about dealing for 26-year-old Coco Crisp -- who could play any of the outfield positions and hit leadoff or second -- it appears unlikely that Cleveland will deal the sure-handed and switch-hitting Crisp.

The Indians, according to a club official, have been contacted by many teams interested in Crisp, but have not come close to moving him.

Cleveland is high on Crisp, who hit .300 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs while making $365,000 last season, and the team is in need of outfield depth. It is pursuing Nomar Garciaparra, who, if signed, would likely play right field, Casey Blake's position.

Garciaparra, though, appears closer to signing with the Dodgers.

In a deal for Crisp, the Sox likely would have to give up Matt Clement or Bronson Arroyo. The Indians lost starting pitcher Scott Elarton (who signed with Kansas City) and are expected to lose Kevin Millwood to a club with deeper pockets, but they have signed starter Paul Byrd, formerly of the Angels. That gives the Indians a rotation with an 18-game winner (Cliff Lee), two 15-game winners (C.C. Sabathia and Jake Westbrook), and a 12-game winner (Byrd), which means they probably don't need much rotation help.

[Fishercat]

The Indians shouldn't be giving up Coco Crisp for much unless they get a potentially elite player or a very good one right now, and Arroyo is neither as much as I like him.

[Fishercat]

Funny, the Sox did the rape deal. Fantastic. The trade to get Marte was great, and I'm not terribly happy about the Crisp deal...but Gonzalez/Crisp for Damon/Renteria, in 2005, wasn't a WHOLE lot worse...*Crossing fingers*

[Providence A's]

Crisp will have a great year in that hitter's park. Gonzalez is garbage...o Gonzalez es basura

[Fishercat]

Yay for garbage! Jeff Frye came back to us after so long!

[Providence A's]

seriously, Crisp had an OPS of .888 on the road last year (.810 overall and .790 the year before)...I expect his overall OPS to increase this year.