CHICAGO — The lobby-standing was all too familiar. Other elements in the initial day of the general managers meetings at the O’Hare International Airport Hilton, however, offered a reminder that times are a changing.
For instance, there was the sight of Jed Hoyer, the former Red Sox assistant general manager, who rolled into the hotel lobby not only separated from his usual Sox front office posse but already pulling a San Diego Padres suitcase thanks to his new position as the Southern California team’s GM.
And in the 1½ days left in this, the gateway to the Major League Baseball offseason, there will be various other alterations — discussions of implementing some sort of instant replay, as well as whispers regarding such names as Hernandez, Gonzalez, Bay, Chapman and Halladay.
The seemingly innocuous lobby-level confines of this hotel have officially served as the springboard to the 2010 season, and the Red Sox weren’t exempt to the transformation.
Tim Wakefield got a new contract. Jason Varitek potentially received a revamped role, as did his catching counterpart, Victor Martinez. And the Red Sox were identified as one of the teams Roy Halladay might play for.
For the Sox, change was in the recycled airport hotel air …
IT WAS BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS FOR WAKEFIELD
Tim Wakefield admitted that one of the reasons he was so keen on agreeing to the contract that paid him $4 million a season, with a revolving team option following each year, was “to avoid what has happened the last couple of days”.
What did happen was the Red Sox springing the surprise on the 43-year-old that his aforementioned option would not be picked up, and that Wakefield would instead be presented with a two-year deal worth a guaranteed $5 million ($3.5M in ’10, $1.5M in ’11).
Initially, it wasn’t what Wakefield had in mind. But after some reflection, the scenario didn’t seem so bad after all.
“I was surprised and a little disappointed at first because they told me they wanted to cut my guarantee, but in the long run they’re at least guaranteeing me another year,” said Wakefield from his Florida home. “That’s a huge positive because they know I want to break the records and retire as a Red Sox, so I’m very grateful for that.”
The reality is that while the Red Sox certainly seemed to have a fair amount of leverage – knowing Wakefield wanted to break the organization record for most wins by a Sox pitcher (which he is 17 shy of), with the desire to call it quits with Boston – there was truth to Sox general manager Theo Epstein’s assertion that the deal “seemed to make sense for both sides.”
Epstein added, “With Wake it gives him the security. He’s going to be here for at least these next two years and he has some significant Red Sox records he would like to attain. For us it gives us a little bit more payroll flexibility than it does picking up the option.”
For Wakefield, there is also the chance that he could approach what he would have made going with the previous deal. If all of his incentives are met, the pitcher could make as much as $10 million over the next two seasons.
“I guess a little more relaxed,” said Wakefield of the construction of his new deal. “I didn’t mind going year to year because the reason why we set it up was to make it an easy decision to them, but also giving me an opportunity to get paid a fair amount. It wasn’t about going after more money. We wanted to do what was fair to the organization. Now, that deal was to avoid what has happened the last couple of days.
“I completely understand where the Red Sox are coming from based on the back surgery I had in the offseason and the fact I had some shoulder fatigue in ‘08. But it all worked out. It worked out where I think they were happy to cut back on the guarantees, but I still have the opportunity to make almost as much as I did, if I stay healthy, than I did with the original options.”
VARITEK IS FACING A NEW WORLD
It was no shock that the Red Sox didn’t exercise Varitek’s $5 million team option, and if the catcher decides he will accept the $3 million player option (which he has five days to decide) it won’t come as that much of a surprise. And certainly the fact that Victor Martinez’ $7.7 million option was picked up by the Sox didn’t elicit a single double-take.
What was somewhat unexpected on the day the first wave of Varitek offseason drama unfolded was the message sent by Epstein.
According to the GM, Martinez, not Varitek, is, definitively, the starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox.
“We’re going to really look for Victor to be an everyday catcher for us next year,” Epstein said. “We feel like that puts us in the best position to win with Victor catching as much as he can. The other spot we’ll have available is for more of a traditional backup. We’ll see what Tek’s decision is before we move forward.”
Epstein said that he has no reservations about Varitek accepting the a backup role, citing that the catcher’s production might be enhanced by more time off. But there is also the other part of the equation, that of Martinez becoming the Sox’ “everyday” catcher.
“He really sees himself as a catcher,” Epstein said of Martinez, who has played 701 career games at catcher compared to 123 at first base. “We have to be smart about it. We can’t push him to the point where we get diminishing returns. But I think he can catch a little bit more and he’ll prepare himself to do that.”
PITCHING SHOULD ADD INTRIGUE
This is what we know:
THE SOX’ STAFF IS ALSO EVOLVING
It was learned that the Red Sox have promoted assistant trainer Mike Reinold to head trainer, with Paul Lessard moving on from the organization. Pawtucket trainer Greg Barajas will move up the major league club to serve in Reinold’s former role.
As far as the Sox’ coaching staff, Epstein said that it is likely that the void left by the departure of bench coach Brad Mills, who was hired as the Houston Astros manager, will be filled by somebody already in the Sox’ system.
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