Red Sox now shopping Edgar Renteria

[Pierzynski 12]

DALLAS -- While trade talks involving Manny Ramírez may have stalled yesterday -- a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations indicated that the Mets are not in the bidding and the Angels had not been heard from yesterday -- the Red Sox were moving aggressively to trade shortstop Edgar Renteria.

 

Two sources with direct knowledge of negotiations last night confirmed that such a deal is being discussed. What's holding things up is money. The Braves want the Sox to eat a portion of the $30 million remaining on Renteria's salary.

 

The Braves lost their shortstop, free agent Rafael Furcal, who agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal with the Dodgers last weekend, and have always held Renteria in high regard.

 

The Sox would play Lugo, who hit .295, knocked in 57 runs, and made 24 errors last season, at shortstop or second base, depending on two other deals they had on the table. They asked the Angels about Orlando Cabrera, the shortstop for Boston's 2004 World Series champions, and also are trying to persuade the Padres to take catcher Doug Mirabelli straight up for second baseman Mark Loretta.

 

A new team, the Oakland Athletics, looms as a trading partner for lefthanded pitcher David Wells, with the Red Sox receiving reliever Justin Duchscherer in exchange. Wells would prefer to go back to San Diego and the National League, but yesterday the Padres were focused on re-signing closer Trevor Hoffman, who also was considering an offer from Cleveland.

 

The Sox asked for Cabrera as part of the package they were seeking in exchange for Ramírez, but a source with direct knowledge of the Angels' thinking said he did not expect the Angels to make a deal for the Red Sox slugger. ''It's not happening," he said.

 

Meanwhile, the Mets, who already have made a series of major moves this offseason, are not in the running for Ramírez, according to the source with direct knowledge of the negotiations.

 

Mets GM Omar Minaya, in a group session with Mets beat reporters, lent credence to that notion last night.

 

''Getting the extra big bat is not a priority," Minaya said. ''What's more of a priority for us is making sure we get a good bench in place and continuing to improve the bullpen. Getting a big bat is not a No. 1 priority because of [Carlos] Delgado.

 

If the Mets and Angels are out, do the Sox have a match for Manny? ''Probably not," said a source with direct knowledge of negotiations.

 

One viable option could still be the Texas Rangers, who remain in contact with the Sox and are talking about a package that would include Alfonso Soriano and Hank Blalock. Blalock is a third baseman but he or newly acquired Mike Lowell could move to first base.

 

Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino acknowledged yesterday afternoon that trading Ramírez wasn't likely to happen before the end of the meetings, which conclude tomorrow after the Rule 5 draft.

 

''It's such a big deal, it's not likely to get done," said Lucchino, who was expected to return to Boston today.

 

The Sox have yet to make a followup offer to free agent Johnny Damon -- their initial proposal was believed to be for three years and around $28 million -- but were preparing to do so, most likely before they left here. Unless the Sox substantially increase their offer, it would appear unlikely that they will re-sign Damon quickly.

 

Though no other bidders for Damon have surfaced publicly, the Sox were led to believe that Damon does indeed have other offers in hand. Yankees GM Brian Cashman, whose team is in the market for a center fielder, acknowledged speaking with Damon's agent, Scott Boras, on a number of topics yesterday, but the Yankees have not yet entered the bidding.

 

The Sox also talked yesterday with the Seattle Mariners, who asked about outfielder Trot Nixon.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...pping_renteria/

[knightni]

This makes no sense to me.

 

Why didn't they keep Cabrera in the first place?

[Chisoxfn]

Angels would be glad to move Cabrerra since they plan on using Brandon Wood at SS in two years. In fact they are willing to offer him in the 3 team deal with the BoSox and Dbacks (thats been proposed).

 

The Dbacks/BoSox want Kochman, Brandon Wood and Scott Shields. The Angels have said they will not deal Wood and they don't appear willing to move Shields. Kochman and Cabrerra would be what they'd offer (and they keep trying to pass off Finley).

 

I got to be honest, the Angels are doing nothing that makes sense right now. They just announced that they won't offer Bengie Molina arbitration. Jose Molina is a bum and Jeff Mathis isn't ready. I don't know why they wouldn't have offered arbitration. At least they'd still be able to get a draft pick and worse case they get one more year of Molina (which is a good thing if you ask me).

 

The market for catchers is quite low right now. It looks like Hernandez and Molina will be out there for a while.

[White Sox Josh]

Didn't they just trade their shortstop of the future Hanley Ramirez? I thought one of the reasons for trading him was that they couldn't find a position for him to play. Why trade Renteria? I know they got Beckett in that deal but still.

[Steve9347]

all of these teams sign these players and want to get rid of them a year later... its funny.

 

i am so glad that we have a headstrong general manager who thinks beyond next year, and never gets caught in a contract he doesn't like/can't buy his way out of.

[Milkman delivers]

all of these teams sign these players and want to get rid of them a year later... its funny.

 

i am so glad that we have a headstrong general manager who thinks beyond next year, and never gets caught in a contract he doesn't like/can't buy his way out of.

 

El Duque?

[Rowand44]

El Duque?

Well kind of. It's not like he's crippling us and atleast he has a role somewhere if we need to keep him. It was also a two year deal not a 45 year deal like some of these guys got.