Red Sox, Agonz II agree to 1-year deal

[E.J.]

Boston Herald

 

Free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez and the Red Sox agreed to terms Monday on a one-year deal worth $3 million, according to multiple sources, and the defensive whiz is expected in town Tuesday, barring weather delays.

Gonzalez is expected to take the required physical Tuesday or Wednesday, by which time the Red Sox are expected to announce the deal, which was first reported in the Herald on Jan. 15.

Gonzalez will replace the disappointing Edgar Renteria, whom the Sox dealt, along with $11 million, to the Braves in early December for third base prospect Andy Marte. Since the Renteria trade, the Red Sox have maintained steady contact with Gonzalez while also keeping options for a shortstop open, both internally — Alex Cora, Dustin Pedroia — and via trade — Julio Lugo.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

For a second there I thought it was talking about the horrible AGonz as opposed to the just very bad one that used to play in Florida.

[ThePenguin11]

Can someone remind me why the H they traded Renteria in the first place? Was it to end up with CoCo Crisp? Geez, I don't know about all that. Something must have fallen apart after they picked up Marte.

[imb]

Did they decide that Pedroia couldnt handle SS, or what? I have to think that his bat would be better than AGonII's.

[ToupeeOnFire]

For a second there I thought it was talking about the horrible AGonz as opposed to the just very bad one that used to play in Florida.

I thought that the Florida AGonz was the horrible AGonz.

 

Actually, they are uncannily similar.

 

Edit: I was surprised to see that AGonzI had one of his better offensive seasons in years with TB. I'll still never forgive him for that error.

[CubsWin]

This puts the Cubs at the top of the list of suitors for Julio Lugo. If they somehow pulled off a trade for Lugo with the intentions of starting him at 2B, I believe the Cubs would be an improved team.

 

They would also have a log jam at 2B and would really have to find a taker for Walker. I doubt they would finalize a deal for Lugo without first finding a taker for Todd.

 

Aquiring Lugo would provide a daily double at the top of the line-up once again. It would improve the defense up the middle. It would give the Cubs insurance at SS if Cedeno got injured meaning Perez would be the 3rd option at SS after both Cedeno and Lugo with Hairston hopefully ahead of him at 2B except for late inning defensive replacement.

 

Pierre - .355 career OBP, 50 or so stolen bases

Lugo - .340ish OBP, 20 or so stolen bases

Lee - .900+ OPS

Ramirez - .900+ OPS

Jones - not much to say, .780ish career OPS, bats lefty...

Murton - will hopefully produce a .800 OPS or higher but...

Barrett - .800+ OPS

Cedeno - wildcard offensively, could be really good...

 

That line-up doesn't put the fear of God in you with Jones being the weakest link, but it is younger, healthier, gets on base more often, is more athletic, better defensively and sets the table a lot better than last season's.

 

Depending on the price, I'd like to see Hendry get Lugo and hopefully this signing of AGonzII will help that happen.

[CuseCubFan69]

AGonz number 2 got more money than Perez....makes me wonder if Boston would have opted for Neifi if he were available.

[goonys evil twin]

Can someone remind me why the H they traded Renteria in the first place?

 

Because they believe he's in a pretty steep post 30 decline. He's older, bigger and slower than he was when he got the reputation as a solid glove man. They thought he was very sloppy, and lazy in the field. And his offense just doesn't justify the salary. Perhaps they just realized their mistake in giving him that contract in the first place. Top notch hitting middle infielders were getting a lot of money, and that started to trickle down into the less impressive hitters. Renteria, with a couple decent years in the 26/27/28 age range, had everybody believing he could keep it up. Maybe the whole Theo thing was really just a cover to allow the team to back away from that bad signing without Theo having to trade away his own mistake.

 

The new guy is 1.5 years younger, solid defensively, and much cheaper. His 1/3 is more favorable than the 2/5 the Cubs gave Neifi.

[goonys evil twin]

AGonz number 2 got more money than Perez....makes me wonder if Boston would have opted for Neifi if he were available.

 

Wasn't it 1 year $3m? That's less than Neifi's 2 year $5m contract. The 2006 salary may be more, but the 1 year vs 2 year committment makes a big difference.

[CuseCubFan69]

Can someone remind me why the H they traded Renteria in the first place?

 

Because they believe he's in a pretty steep post 30 decline. He's older, bigger and slower than he was when he got the reputation as a solid glove man. They thought he was very sloppy, and lazy in the field. And his offense just doesn't justify the salary. Perhaps they just realized their mistake in giving him that contract in the first place. Top notch hitting middle infielders were getting a lot of money, and that started to trickle down into the less impressive hitters. Renteria, with a couple decent years in the 26/27/28 age range, had everybody believing he could keep it up. Maybe the whole Theo thing was really just a cover to allow the team to back away from that bad signing without Theo having to trade away his own mistake.

 

The new guy is 1.5 years younger, solid defensively, and much cheaper. His 1/3 is more favorable than the 2/5 the Cubs gave Neifi.

 

What exactly are the details in Neifi's contract? Is it a guaranteed 2.5 per year with bonuses or with bonuses it goes up to 2.5 per?

[JeffH]

What exactly are the details in Neifi's contract? Is it a guaranteed 2.5 per year with bonuses or with bonuses it goes up to 2.5 per?

 

As far as we know, it's a flat $2.5x2 guaranteed, with no incentives of any kind.

[David]

What did I miss? Where's Hanley Ramirez?

 

Actually, I sort of remember that they might've traded him...but I'm not sure.

 

Or do they just have absolutely zero faith in him?

[CuseCubFan69]

What exactly are the details in Neifi's contract? Is it a guaranteed 2.5 per year with bonuses or with bonuses it goes up to 2.5 per?

 

As far as we know, it's a flat $2.5x2 guaranteed, with no incentives of any kind.

 

Thanks. Do you know if AGonzs2 a straight 3 or are there bonuses in that contract?

[CuseCubFan69]

What did I miss? Where's Hanley Ramirez?

 

Actually, I sort of remember that they might've traded him...but I'm not sure.

 

Or do they just have absolutely zero faith in him?

 

He's in Florida when they traded Burkett and Lowell to Boston.

[JeffH]

Thanks. Do you know if AGonzs2 a straight 3 or are there bonuses in that contract?

 

I don't know.

[CuseCubFan69]

Thanks. Do you know if AGonzs2 a straight 3 or are there bonuses in that contract?

 

I don't know.

 

I was just wondering because if he gets a 140 game bonus for another 1M than the Perez deal is better IMO.

[BigbadB]

What did I miss? Where's Hanley Ramirez?

 

Actually, I sort of remember that they might've traded him...but I'm not sure.

 

Or do they just have absolutely zero faith in him?

 

He's in Florida when they traded Burkett and Lowell to Boston.

 

I keep seeing Burkett. Did Beckett legally change his name?

[CuseCubFan69]

What did I miss? Where's Hanley Ramirez?

 

Actually, I sort of remember that they might've traded him...but I'm not sure.

 

Or do they just have absolutely zero faith in him?

 

He's in Florida when they traded Burkett and Lowell to Boston.

 

I keep seeing Burkett. Did Beckett legally change his name?

 

It's the Boston way of saying it.

[goonys evil twin]

Thanks. Do you know if AGonzs2 a straight 3 or are there bonuses in that contract?

 

I don't know.

 

I was just wondering because if he gets a 140 game bonus for another 1M than the Perez deal is better IMO.

 

But AGonz is better than Neifi.

[CuseCubFan69]

Thanks. Do you know if AGonzs2 a straight 3 or are there bonuses in that contract?

 

I don't know.

 

I was just wondering because if he gets a 140 game bonus for another 1M than the Perez deal is better IMO.

 

But AGonz is better than Neifi.

 

In what ways?

[frostwyrm]

AGonz number 2 got more money than Perez....makes me wonder if Boston would have opted for Neifi if he were available.

 

Wasn't it 1 year $3m? That's less than Neifi's 2 year $5m contract. The 2006 salary may be more, but the 1 year vs 2 year committment makes a big difference.

 

I'd much rather have Gonzalez than Neifi at their current prices. The extra 500K Gonzalez makes this year would be a very small penalty compared to an extra year of Neifi at 2.5M.

[goonys evil twin]

Thanks. Do you know if AGonzs2 a straight 3 or are there bonuses in that contract?

 

I don't know.

 

I was just wondering because if he gets a 140 game bonus for another 1M than the Perez deal is better IMO.

 

But AGonz is better than Neifi.

 

In what ways?

 

In every way. AGonzII OPS+ the past three years, 100, 79, 85, career, 78. Neifi 65, 71, 77, career 65. Alex is considerably younger and much more likely to outproduce Neifi this year. And his team only gave him a 1 year deal, as opposed to the Cubs who foolishly committed to Neifi for 2 years.

[CuseCubFan69]

Thanks. Do you know if AGonzs2 a straight 3 or are there bonuses in that contract?

 

I don't know.

 

I was just wondering because if he gets a 140 game bonus for another 1M than the Perez deal is better IMO.

 

But AGonz is better than Neifi.

 

In what ways?

 

In every way. AGonzII OPS+ the past three years, 100, 79, 85, career, 78. Neifi 65, 71, 77, career 65. Alex is considerably younger and much more likely to outproduce Neifi this year. And his team only gave him a 1 year deal, as opposed to the Cubs who foolishly committed to Neifi for 2 years.

 

I didn't see AGonz2 save Florida though and what kind of clubhouse presence does he bring?

[goonys evil twin]

I didn't see AGonz2 save Florida though and what kind of clubhouse presence does he bring?

 

Boston players are immune to cancer, so it doesn't matter.

[CuseCubFan69]

I didn't see AGonz2 save Florida though and what kind of clubhouse presence does he bring?

 

Boston players are immune to cancer, so it doesn't matter.

 

Super Human strength kind of thing, eh?

 

I didnt realize that AGonzs numbers were so much better than Neifi's. I suppose he wouldn't kill the Sox batting 9th like Perez will the Cubs when Baker bats him second.