Off-Season Wish List

[Zen653]

Sean Casey officially signed with the Red Sox today:

BOSTON -- Two years ago, veteran first baseman Sean Casey experienced the greatest taste of his baseball life. He played in a World Series. The fact that Casey's Tigers came up short and lost in five games to the Cardinals only made his desire to get back to that big stage even stronger.

So if you're wondering why Casey officially signed a one-year deal with the Sox on Tuesday, essentially sacrificing his status as an everyday player, there is your answer.

The man wants to win. And not only did the Red Sox win the World Series last year, but they have just about everyone back from that team. Casey is more than happy to come in and play a support role, which will include spot starts on days which manager Terry Francona wishes to rest Kevin Youkilis or Mike Lowell.

After passing his physical to consummate a one-year, $800,000 deal that was agreed on late last week, Casey met with the media in a fairly informal gathering at Fenway Park.

"I'm at the stage of my career where I just feel like I really wanted to come to a place where I had an opportunity to win," said Casey. "I've always wanted to play here in Boston, I've known [Francona] for a long time and have always thought I'd love to play for that guy. I just see the chemistry here and I want to win the World Series. It just seems like a great place to play. I'm so excited to be here."

The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News

The Red Sox and Bobby Kielty reached agreement on a non-guaranteed 1 year deal. Could a Coco Crisp trade be imminent?

While new backup first baseman Sean Casey was being introduced at Fenway Park yesterday, the Red Sox were busy making a signing that could be a harbinger of another move. For their outfield, which already contains Manny Ramírez, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Coco Crisp, the Sox will throw into the mix Bobby Kielty, the switch-hitting reserve who joined them last August and hit a pinch-hit home run in the clinching game of the World Series.

Kielty, who spent part of yesterday in a dentist's chair, had been on hold all winter, waiting to see whether the Sox would trade Ellsbury or Crisp in a Johan Santana deal. Santana went to the Mets, but the Sox yesterday informed Kielty that they're bringing him back anyway - suggesting that a trade involving a center fielder remains a good possibility. Crisp, who was supplanted as a starter in the American League Championship Series by the rookie Ellsbury and remained on the bench in the World Series, would figure to be the more likely to go.

Kielty's deal does not assure him of a spot on the major league roster. He agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed deal for $800,000, with incentives worth an additional $300,000. He said he had similar nonroster offers from other clubs, but was willing to wait for the Sox.

"I wanted to go to Boston because I think that's the best fit," said Kielty. "That's why I decided to come here, because I feel I'll get my at-bats. I think I'll get a lot of righthanded at-bats against lefthanded pitchers. Things can happen, no doubt about it."

Boston Red Sox - Sox re-sign Kielty to one-year deal - The Boston Globe

Current Red Sox Depth Chart:

C Jason Varitek
C Doug Mirabelli
C Dustin Brown
C George Kottaras
C Kevin Cash (non-roster)

Infield:

1B Kevin Youkilis
1B Sean Casey
1B Chris Carter
1B Jeff Bailey (non-roster)

2B Dustin Pedroia
2B Alex Cora
2B Joe Thurston (non-roster)

SS Julio Lugo
SS Jed Lowrie (non-roster)
SS Gil Velazquez (non-roster)

3B Mike Lowell
3B Keith Ginter (non-roster)

Outfield:

OF Manny Ramirez
OF Jacoby Ellsbury
OF J.D Drew
OF Coco Crisp
OF Bobby Kielty
OF Brandon Moss
OF Jonathan Van Every

Starting Rotation:

SP Josh Beckett
SP Curt Schilling
SP Daisuke Matsuzaka
SP Jon Lester
SP Tim Wakefield

Starting Rotation/Longman Depth:

SP/RP Clay Buchholz
SP/RP Julian Tavarez
SP/RP Kyle Snyder
SP/RP Justin Masterson (non-roster)
SP/RP Devern Hansack
SP/RP Dave Pauley
SP/RP Abe Alvarez

Bullpen:

RP Jon Papelbon
RP Hideki Okajima
RP Mike Timlin
RP Manny Delcarmen
RP Javier Lopez

Extra Bullpen depth:

RP David Aardsma
RP Craig Breslow
RP Bryan Corey
RP Craig Hansen
RP Edgar Martinez
RP Kyle Jackson
RP Dan Miceli (non-roster)
RP Dan Kolb (non-roster)
RP Jon Switzer (non-roster)
RP Michael Tejera (non-roster)
RP Hunter Jones (non-roster)
RP Lee Gronkiewicz (non-roster)

I'm very happy with the above group. The Red Sox should have a great shot at defending their title.

[AutomatedTeller]

I think the Sox will be very, very good. Losing Schilling for some or all year hurts, of course, but beckett, Dice-K, Wakefield, Lester and Buchholz could easily be the best rotation in baseball. Probably won't, but could be and it should be in the top 25% in any case. Sox 4th and 5th starters will be better than most other teams.