is Masterson, what else would need to be included to make it a reasonable deal for the Rangers?

Daniel Bard? Oscar Tejeda?

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox are close to signing Brad Penny to a one-year deal. The two sides are still hammering out the agreement, and Penny would have to pass a physical. In November, the Dodgers chose Penny’s $2MM buyout over his $8.75MM club option.

Penny, 31 in May, dealt with shoulder and forearm pain all year. The Red Sox have a sophisticated system for dealing with pitching shoulders, so it’s an interesting match.
Ian Browne of MLB.com expands on Rosenthal’s report. Browne notes that Penny in Boston would reunite him with fellow starter Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell, both of whom Penny played with as a Florida Marlin. The three were on the 2003 World Series-winning squad.

Good that now the Boston rotation is full, Bucholtz is now more available. That and now that Penny signed the market value for Sheets should also now be set.

was listening to Joel Sherman on Kellerman’s radio show earlier, and he was saying that Sheets’ back is so bad, that at least 10 teams out there looking for pitching will not go anywhere near him because of that problem alone, and Sherman also said that there is some concern on Sheets staying in shape. He said that Sheets does not do what is necessary for pitchers to do in their ‘off days’, especially physically … and that is why he might be having all these lingering injury issues…

just passing along the info i heard today..

but I’d be fairly content with a Salty for Masterson or a Salty for Bowden flip… preferably Salty for Masterson.
I think y’all are passing over those two w/ too much ease.

Taylor Tea in the garden

As has been noted, the Red Sox have signed Josh Bard to a one year deal. Bard was the former Red Sox who was traded to the Padres in ‘06 because he couldn’t catch Wakefield’s knuckleball. Ian Browne of mlb.com is reporting that Bard won’t be catching Wakefield in ‘09 and that Varitek (if re-signed) would likely be asked to catch Wakefield. Considering all this, I think it’s now less likely that the Red Sox trade for Salty – considering that his defense is the biggest concern about his game.

I think it is funny. Every year we talk about making a trade for a front line starter. Mix in a trade for top pitching prospect. We usually end up with a Chan Ho and when we do get a a solid prospect we trade him (Chris Young) away. The Yankees, Angels and Red Sox don’t win a 100 games a year because they give up the better side of a trade. Salty isnt bringing back Buchholz! When someone says add Byrd to the trade with Salty that is laughable. They had a better OF in Coco Crisp and they let him go. Varitek is coming back way before they trade a potential ace!

From Sean McAdam’s write-up of the Bard/Penny signings:

Bard is viewed, at the very least, as the team’s backup catcher in 2009 and could share the starting job depending on what other moves the Sox make between now and the start of spring training. The Sox have all but given up on re-signing longtime catcher Jason Vartiek, and continue to discuss possible trades with the Texas Rangers (Taylor Teagarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia), and Arizona Diamondbacks (Miguel Montero). It’s also possible the Sox could continue to explore the free agent market for a veteran receiver to share the duties.

assuming good health — sign me up.

I don’t think the Rangers should give Aki a ML deal right now. If he is willing to accept a minor league deal to show he’s healthy then fine (I don’t think he will/should though), but the team is going to have guys they have to keep on the roster who are out of options in Feldman and Nippert and the ’pen is going to be crowded. The only guy the Rangers should give another spot in the ’pen to right now should be LH.