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Friday notes

Notes of local interest from media outlets across the country . . .

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Forget about Chad Cordero in the Red Sox bullpen. (See notes at bottom of story.)
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Weeks ago, when J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract with the Dodgers, whispers began spreading that the Red Sox would face tampering charges if Drew eventually signed with Boston . . . the feeling being that the Sox had sent word to Drew, somehow, that they would give him more than the $33 million he was owed (over three years) over the remainder of his L.A. deal. Now Drew's in Boston, and Murray Chass of the New York Times is the first to come out with reports that Los Angeles is being ''urged'' by many people in baseball to file a complaint against Boston with the commissioner's office.

It will be extremely difficult to prove. Drew's agent, Scott Boras, is one of the most voracious and market-savvy representatives in the business, and he no doubt saw the explosion in salaries that has occured this offseason; he surely knew Drew would do better than 3/$33 million if he hit the open market. (The contracts given to lesser talents like Carlos Lee constitute proof.)
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The Sox were interested in reliever Octavio Dotel, but he appears headed to Kansas City.
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Rhode Island's Rocco Baldelli is on the trading block.
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Having hit the jackpot with two Red Sox farmhands (Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez) last offseason, the Marlins tried for the trifecta by asking for Jacob Ellsbury during the winter meetings. (Go to bottom of story.) The Sox, however, weren't interested.
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-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art  at 10:58 AM | Permalink