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December 8, 2006 »

Foulke declines arbitration

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As expected, Keith Foulke declined the Red Sox' offer of arbitration. As a result, the Sox will receive a compensatory draft pick if Foulke signs with another team.

Foulke and his agent, Dan Horwits, had until midnight tonight to accept or reject the offer. Had he accepted it, Foulke would have returned to Boston in 2007 on a one-year contract. However, Horwits told reporters around midday that Foulke would not accept the offer.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 2:30 PM | Permalink

Final tidbits from the winter meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Final notes as teams head home from the winter meetings:

-- Mark Loretta, whose slim chance of returning to the Sox ended when the club reached contract agreement with Julio Lugo Tuesday, is one of several second basemen the Cincinnati Reds are interested in.

-- The Baltimore Orioles have an interest in outfielder Trot Nixon, but aren't likely to guarantee more than one year.

-- The Sox had talked about Tomo Ohka as a possibility for their bullpen, but Ohka is pursuing offers from teams who want him to start. The Minnesota Twins, who may lose Brad Radke to retirement, have been inquiring about Ohka, who pitched for the Sox between 1999-2001.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 1:00 PM | Permalink

Sox make a Rule 5 selection

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Sox were again active in the Rule 5 draft, selecting pitcher Nick Debarr, 23, from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization.

Debarr was 4-3 with a 2.74 ERA at Class A Visalia last season. He missed all of 2005 with Tommy John surgery. A 14th-round pick in the 2002 draft, Debarr has had five seasons of pro ball.

''We beieve he's a guy that has a chance,'' said Allard Baird, Red Sox special assistant. ''Obviously coming out of A ball, we'll have to wait and see.''

The Sox must keep him on the 25-man roster all season, or offer him back to Tampa.

''He has an above-average fastball and he has a split-finger [fastball] that is a still-developing pitch,'' said Baird. ''He needs to gain some consistency in his delivery.

''Obviously there's some projection involved here. I think the key, especially being in Boston, is that we think he's a tough makeup kid. He's very aggressive.''

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 12:57 PM | Permalink

Foulke expected to reject arbitration

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- All indications are that Keith Foulke intends to reject the Red Sox' offer of salary arbitration.

Foulke and his agent, Dan Horwits, officially have until midnight to accept or reject the offer.

Foulke is being pursued by a handful of teams and would like to sign somewhere closer to his Arizona home. If he signs with another club, the Sox will receive a draft pick in compensation for offering him salary arbitration.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 12:56 PM | Permalink

Sox not close with Gagne

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- In their search for a closer, the Red Sox continue to negotiate with Scott Boras on a deal for pitcher Eric Gagne.

As the Red Sox' front office contingent left here this afternoon, a source with knowledge of the talks indicated the two sides were nowhere near a contract agreement. For now, Boras' demand for a base salary of more than $5 million is untenable for the Sox.

Gagne has missed most of the last two seasons with an assortment of injuries. He underwent back surgery last spring and has battled elbow and shoulder issues in the past.

A number of other teams, including Kansas City, San Francisco, Cleveland and Tampa Bay, are looking for a closer and have talked to Boras. But Gagne is said to be interested in pitching for a contender which may help Boston.

The former Dodger is said to be interested in a one-year deal so that he can re-establish himself as one of the game's most dominant closers and return to the market again next winter. That would suit the Red Sox, who believe that either Craig Hansen or Bryce Cox, the hard-throwing reliever drafted from Rice last June, will be positioned to close for the team in 2008.

Gagne saved 152 games from 2002-2004. Even if his velocity has slipped because of the arm injuries, many believe that he can continue to thrive with his devastating changeup.

Earlier, there had been indications that Gagne would be willing to throw for teams concerned about his physical status. But with growing interest in him, he may be signed to a deal before he's fully cleared to throw.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 12:54 PM | Permalink