Free Agent Deadlines, Busts And Clay

The Red Sox made Brad Wilkerson an offer for a one year, $2 million deal with incentives. They'll likely have their yes or no answer by tomorrow as the deadline on their deal runs out today. I'm not a fan of Wilkerson, but he's one of the better options left for a bench player. If they can get him for only $2 million, I suppose it would be a success. He was seeking a 3-year deal worth $7 million a year.

Keith Foulke has auditioned for most teams. But he couldn't get his velocity over 84. Ouch. It's possible that he won't get an offer from any team. I think it's safe to say that he's not on the Red Sox radar anymore, if he ever was.

Roto Authority has a short article on Buchholz. The author projects Buchholz to have a 3.86 ERA and a WHIP of 1.32 next year. He says he wouldn't be surprised to see an ERA anywhere between 3.50 and 4.50 from the pitcher next year. Even the pessimistic number would be spectacular for a sixth starter.

A lot of people give Epstein credit for drafting and helping to develop what is currently rated as the second best farm system in baseball. But what he's done is truly amazing. Not only has he built a top-notch farm system, but he's managed to retain most of his prospects, and be ulta-cautious with them while still managing to win a second championship in four years. How many other teams would have shut down Papelbon and Buchholz in the heart of pennant races? Would they also have given Lester 17 starts to recuperate at the beginning of last year, while Julian Tavarez was a regular starter in the rotation?

Drafting players is only the beginning. Ensuring their healthy development involves so much more.

Foulke Tired of Flipping Burgers?

One story that hasn't been talked much about this offseason is the unretirement of Keith Foulke. The former Red Sox closer is looking to return to the majors in 2008. He's throwing in front of Diamondbacks talent evaluators some time this month, but it's been rumored that his first choice is the Boston Red Sox. Smart man.

Foulke wouldn't be horribly old, having turned 35 a few months ago. But while I was a big fan of him in 2004, I still don't like his chances of being effective in 2008. His ERA and peripherals were all below leave average for an American League reliever in 2006. His velocity likely won't be any better now that he's taken a year off.

He might not be a bad gamble for the Red Sox however. He was almost as effective as Kerry Wood's been the last two years when healthy. And Foulke would come at a fraction of the price. At this point, any addition to the Red Sox bullpen would be more a luxury than a need. The Red Sox lead the league in ERA and BAA last year. It looks like they plan on using Many Delcarmen (2.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 5.73 H/9, 3.47 BB/9, 8.39 K/9) as their right-handed set up guy next year.

Looks like Foulke's not the only former Red Sox pitcher looking to come out of retirement. Rich "El Guapo" Garces made an attempt last year. Matt Mantei is going to throw for the Tigers, in hopes of getting a minor league deal. Mantei had one of the funniest closer's walk out songs of all time - "Ice Ice Baby".