Red Sox Rumors: David Ortiz, Vicente Padilla and the Mind of Bobby Valentine
Today’s Boston Red Sox rumors involve a potential roster addition, contract negotiations, and one manager’s thoughts regarding the New York Yankees recent acquisitions.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com is again reporting that the Red Sox are nearing a deal with free agent right-hander Vicente Padilla. The 34-year-old would fit the mold of low-cost pitcher, exactly the type of the player Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said he was targeting this winter.
Cherington and the Red Sox hope to add to the mix of pitchers competing for Boston’s final two rotation spots. Padilla hasn’t been a starting pitcher at the major league level since 2010, but is said to be healthy and throwing well this winter in Nicaragua.
Beyond Padilla, the Red Sox continue negotiating with designated hitter David Ortiz. Cherington sat down with Ortiz’s agent recently to discuss terms as Tuesday’s deadline to submit arbitration offers nears. Ortiz figures to receive a raise from the $12.5 million he earned in 2011.
Meanwhile, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine offered his thoughts on several matters concerning his club. Valentine told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald the he doesn’t see veteran right-hander Tim Wakefield rejoining the Red Sox to compete for a rotation spot in 2012. Bobby V also cannot imagine former Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek earning a roster spot this spring.
Beyond these Red Sox-related issues, Valentine also spoke his mind regarding the pair of moves the Yankees made Friday evening. For the most part, Valentine didn’t seem overly impressed by New York’s acquisitions of Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda.
Valentine said that Pineda “looked unhittable” for the first part of the 2011 season, but only “OK” after the All-Star break. Valentine hinted that the Mariners willingness to deal Pineda says something about his potential.
Bobby V also questions Kuroda’s ability to make it in the American League. Calling Kuroda a “good pitcher”, Valentine noted that he’s also a year older.
Overall, Valentine said Kuroda and Pineda are probably upgrades from Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, but that he doesn’t know for sure.
One would imagine Valentine’s thoughts regarding both pitchers would have been different if they were calling Fenway Park home next season instead of Yankee Stadium.
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