Projo Sox Blog

BY DAN BARBARISI
Journal Sports Writer

A quick look at where the Red Sox stand at this point of the offseason:

Junichi Tazawa
The Red Sox may be close to signing Japanese righty Junichi Tazawa, perhaps the most highly touted Japanese player available this year.

Numerous sources have confirmed that the Red Sox have offered Tazawa at least a three-year contract, though the numbers vary -- anywhere from $3 million to $6 million

Atlanta, Texas, and Cleveland are also reportedly bidding for the 22-year-old starter. Although Texas may have offered more, the Red Sox are considered the leader to sign Tazawa, who last pitched in the Japanese Industrial League.

Tazawa, listed at 5-foot11 and 180 pounds, is not considered to be immediately major-league ready, but is among the best players slated to come out of Japan this year. The Red Sox have Japanese pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima already on their major league roster.

Rocco Baldelli
Rhode Island native Rocco Baldelli is on the Red Sox' radar as the team searches for a fourth outfielder following the trade of Coco Crisp to Kansas City. Baldelli, who suffers from a rare mitochondrial disorder, may be a good fit for a backup role as a right-handed bat who can't play every day.

Baldelli met with team officials at Fenway last week to discuss what is known about his disorder.

Baldelli has spent his entire major league career with the Tampa Bay Rays, who bought out his contract this offseason for $4 million and made him a free agent.

A.J. Burnett
Burnett's agent, Derek Braunecker, confirmed to the Journal yesterday that Burnett is interested in pitching for the Red Sox. But the pitcher's desire for a longer-term deal may put off some teams, according to media reports. Burnett opted out of the final two years and $24 million of his contract with the Blue Jays this winter, and is seeking more years and more money. The Red Sox have had talks with the 31-year-old righty, who won 18 games last year.

Burnett is has undergone Tommy John surgery, and spent significant time on the disabled list in 2006 and 2007. Although he pitched more than 200 innings in 2008, his health is believed to be of concern to the Sox. The Yankees, Braves, Blue Jays and Orioles have also shown interest in the nine-year vet.

Jason Varitek
Reports surfaced over the weekend that the Red Sox had made a one-year offer to Varitek; Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, quickly denied them. But reports have continued to leak out today that the Sox and their longtime catcher had at least discussed the parameters of a one-year deal.

Varitek made $10 million in 2008, the last year of his four-year deal with the Red Sox. When the offseason began, it was believed that Boras was seeking a four-year deal similar to the $52 million contract that Jorge Posada received last offseason from the Yankees. The dollar figures for Varitek's allegedly discussed one-year deal are also not believed to match up with Posada's $13.1 million annual salary.

Derek Lowe
New York media have reported that the Mets have interest in the former Red Sox starter, but that they will not get into a bidding war with the Yankees or Red Sox for the veteran sinkerballer. Lowe, 35, and agent Scott Boras are believed to be seeking a longer-term deal in the four-to-five year range, with significant salary - perhaps $15 million annually.

Lowe won 14 games in 2008, with a 3.24 ERA for a division-winning Los Angeles Dodger team. The 11-year pro made $10 million last year.

Mark Teixeira
The Red Sox are believed to still be in hot pursuit of Teixeira, who is expected to command $20 million annually -- but his lengthy contract demands may have scared off some other teams.

Teixeira's current club, the Angels, is said to have balked at Teixeira's desire for a ten-year deal, and is focusing their efforts on signing C.C. Sabathia, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Red Sox are reportedly pushing hard for Teixeira, but it is not known if they have yet made him a concrete offer. Teixeira is also represented by Boras.

 Tags  A.J. Burnett Boston Red Sox Derek Lowe Jason Varitek Junichi Tazawa Mark Teixeira Rocco Baldelli

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