I'd usually post this article in the Hot Stove, but what the heck......
From ESPN:
Red Sox looking at Rod Barajas to replace V-Mart
Since Victor Martinez has signed in Detroit, the Boston Red Sox have been exploring their options at catcher, and according to FoxSports.com, those options include Rod Barajas. Barajas may fit in Boston as a shared duty backstop where he'd split time with Jarrod Salatalamacchia or Jason Varitek, if the Sox re-sign the captain.
Thus far there has been no strong indications that the Sox are interested in Bengie Molina, Yorvit Torrealba, A.J. Pierzynski or Miguel Olivo, but that could change. We also have to wonder if Dodgers catcher Russell Martin, who could be traded or non-tendered this winter, might become an option for the Red Sox, as well as other clubs such as the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers.
Hello Doc,
I was just reading the same thing. Fact is not too many people could fill the shoes at C of V-Mart(which is what makes Iggy's statement idiotic)...so the Sox will have to look elsewhere to replace the power...but the you also have to consider "the rest of the story"...
Reaction To The Victor Martinez Signing
By Mark Polishuk [November 24 at 7:57pm CST]
Victor Martinez's four-year, $50MM contract with the Tigers was finalized today. Now that the offseason's first major free agent has left the market, there is no shortage of commentary about how this move impacts Martinez's former club in Boston. A sampling...
"The Tigers are paying Martinez with the expectation that he’ll be able to replicate the career of [Jorge] Posada," writes The Providence Journal's Brian MacPherson, while the Red Sox saw Martinez as another Mike Lieberthal.
CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam points out that if Boston had to lose Martinez,
Detroit was the best possible team to lose him to since the Tigers have the highest unprotected pick (19th overall) in the 2011 amateur draft. WEEI.com's Alex Speier, however, points out that Boston's compensatory pick will fall into the second round if the Tigers sign a higher-ranked free agent than Martinez --- namely, Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth.
In a separate story from Speier, multiple Red Sox sources say they doubt Martinez will remain a viable catcher for more than two seasons. As Speier points out, handing lots of responsibility to Jarrod Saltalamacchia is risky, but signing Martinez long-term would have been risky, too. Speier says "the decision bore striking parallels" to when Johnny Damon signed with New York after the 2005 season.
Writing for WEEI.com, former Boston utilityman Lou Merloni thinks the Red Sox made a mistake by not re-signing Martinez.
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe thinks Theo Epstein may be putting too much emphasis on stockpiling draft picks.
Are you talking about that guy "salty" who married his high school teacher, (now that gives new meaning to "milf lover") was employed by Bucky Dent himself, (kudos for that at least) and has a career MLB batting average of a whopping .248? Yea, he wont have a problem filling the shoes of Victor Martinez, LOL
PS. for those who have no idea who "salty" is........... click this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrod_Saltalamacchia
Well Iggy,
By the numbers..."Salty" is better than that little worm Cirvelli but I would also admit that I feel a weakness at C for the Sox. Fact is all talent at the position is thin and all of the better guys are tied up. That said, I believe they did what they felt was the smartest thing. I know the Yanks also have Montero...but he is totally unproven. Good news is the Sox were smart enough not to get hung with a long term multi year deal on a player who is gonna age out before the contract expires...something the Yankees are famous for doing thus getting hung with a bunch of old farts who are on the DL too much...
Happy Thanksgiving.
Have fun,
Jman
