Mike Napoli reportedly top choice for Red Sox at 1st Base

Boston is looking to make some waves in the offseason, and Mike Napoli is on its radar.

Red Sox Offseason: Russ Ohlendorf Signed To Minor League Deal, According To Report

The Red Sox have agreed to a minor league deal with veteran starter Russ Ohlendorf, according to a report on WEEI.com.

Ohlendorf spent the 2011 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, making eight starts and posting a 8.15 ERA. The 29-year has been a member of the Pirates organization since 2008, when he was acquired from the New York Yankees.

Ohlendorf, a graduate of Princeton University, has a career record of 14-28 with an ERA of 4.77. He was used as a reliever during his time in New York before being made a starter in Pittsburgh.

The Red Sox spring training will officially begin on Sunday, when pitchers and catchers are due to report. Some pitchers, including Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Bucholz, have already arrived in Fort Myers, FL to begin their preseason work. The rest of the team will join the pitchers and catchers by February 23rd.

For all the latest Red Sox coverage, head over to our blog Over The Monster.

Red Sox President Larry Lucchino On Varitek, Wakefield, Ortiz and Crawford

Red Sox President Larry Lucchino recently spoke on the contract situations of Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz, and whether the team regrets signing Carl Crawford.

David Ortiz Wants Multiyear Deal From Red Sox To Avoid Arbitration

Boston Red Sox Free Agency Rumors 2012: Roy Oswalt Offer 1-Year, $5 Million Contract

The Boston Red Sox have made a one-year offer to Roy Oswalt worth approximately $5 million and "seem to be in the same position with Edwin Jackson," reports ESPN's Buster Olney.

Olney says the Sox clearly "don't want to get locked into any long-term deals, and they're looking at a marketplace where there are very few opportunities, and figure they'll throw a number out there and if they can get an Oswalt or a Jackson at their offer price, they're OK with that. If they can't, I think they're OK with that too considering they have other alternatives at this point with the rotation."

Oswalt was 9-10 last year in Philadelphia with a 3.69 ERA, notching 93 strikeouts in 139.0 innings. Jackson was 12-9 with a 3.79 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 199.2 innings last season with the White Sox and Cardinals.

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Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Red Sox Agree To 1-Year Contract

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, 2.5 million dollar contract, according to ESPN.

The 26-year-old catcher was scheduled for arbitration but this move negates that. Saltalamacchia provides a decent bat behind the plate but more importantly an excellent arm. The Red Sox are thin at the catcher position so this signing at least stabilizes that area.

While Saltalamacchia has been inconsistent to say the least in his major league career, he's shown flashes of who he was expected to be coming out of the minors. Last year was his best at the dish, hitting 16 home runs in just 103 games. However, Saltalamacchia still only hit .235 and struck out 119 times in just 358 at-bats.

This season may be the make or break one for a young man with inconsistency issues. The talent is there but can Saltalamacchia find a way to harness it and put a full season together?

The contract is non-guaranteed so Boston does have some wiggle room if he struggles or if they make a move for a better signal-caller down the road.

For more on the Red Sox, visit Over the Monster.

Vicente Padilla Signing: Red Sox Close To Signing Veteran Pitcher, According To Report

In need of a starting pitcher that can help fill their rotation at a possible cheap price, the Boston Red Sox may have found their guy, as they're close to adding veteran pitcher Vicente Padilla. According to a Tweet Sunday by CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, the 34-year-old Padilla has already received a physical and is a low-risk move.

Padilla was limited to just nine relief appearances for the Dodgers last season with neck problems, but there's word that he's healthy and back throwing in the mid-90s.

Last year, Padilla's season was cut shot due to neck surgery in June. He has a career record of 104-90 with a 4:31 ERA. As a starter, he is 97-81 with a 4.33 ERA.

Now, this move may go a bit under the radar after rival New York Yankees filled their pitching rotation Friday by acquiring young-hurler Michael Pineda and signing veteran Hiroki Kuroda. However, if Padilla is healthy he will add more depth to the thin rotation.

For more on the Boston Red Sox visit Over The Monster.

Red Sox Offseason: Boston Signs Outfielder Ryan Sweeney To One-Year Deal

Almost a month after acquiring outfield Ryan Sweeney in a trade, the Boston Red Sox inked the former Oakland Athletic to a one-year, $1.75-million deal Saturday. Sweeney, who was brought to Boston in the trade for closer Andrew Bailey on Dec. 28, is expected to compete for the starting right-field position.

Andrew Bailey 'Stoked' To Be A Red Sox

If the Red Sox did not agree to terms with Sweeney, he could have fined for arbitration. Last season, Sweeney made $1.4 million with the Athletics.

"Sweeney, as an every day player, is not the answer in right field for most teams," wrote Marc Normandin of the SB Nation Red Sox blog Over The Monster on Dec. 29. "The left-handed outfielder has one major weakness, and it's his inability to hit his fellow southpaws. This makes him a better fit as a fourth outfielder on a good team, but with the way the Red Sox' roster is built, Sweeney can actually account for somewhere around 75 percent of the playing time at the position, simply by using him against right-handed pitchers. Righties tend to throw roughly three-quarters of all innings, and Sweeney can hit righties."

In six seasons, Sweeney has a .283 batting average after hitting .265 with one homer and 25 RBIs in 264 at-bats last season.

Red Sox Free Agent Pitching Rumors: Boston, Vicente Padilla To Meet, According To Report

The Boston Red Sox and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Vicente Padilla are preparing to meet and talk about a deal, according to a report (NECN.com). Earlier today Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweeted

#redsox and vicente padilla are moving toward a deal (via Twitter)

Padilla had to undergo season-ending surgery last June on a bulging disc in his back. He was only used in relief situations by the Dodgers last season despite being a starter previously. His best season as a starter in wins came in 2006 for Texas when he had 15. His lowest ERA as a starter was in 2002 with Philadelphia when he posted a 3.28. As a reliever for L.A. in 2011 he picked up three saves, struck out nine batters and had an ERA of 4.15 in 8.2 innings.

The 34-year-old Nicaraguan right-hander was reportedly throwing in the mid-90s in the Dominican Republic this winter.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster.

Red Sox Free Agent Pitching Rumors: Hiroki Kuroda, Matt Garza, Roy Oswalt, John Saunders, Edwin Jackson Are Options

After acquiring a front-line closer, Andrew Bailey, from the Oakland Atheltics Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox are now looking for a starting pitcher that can help fill out their rotation. According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the Red Sox are eying free-agent pitchers Hiroki Kuroda, Matt Garza, Roy Oswalt, John Saunders and Edwin Jackson.

However, if the Red Sox brass doesn't feel that anyone of those pitchers are either too expensive or not a good option, they could go with in-house candidates, left-handers Andrew Miller and Felix Doubron says Joe McDonold of ESPNBoston.com.

"We'll continue to work and we're actively considering and looking at starting pitching options, also," said Cherington. "But we haven't found one, yet, where we feel like the acquisition cost is the right one. That doesn't mean it won't come to us, it just hasn't come, yet."

Cherington believes he's in a position to be patient in regards to the starting pitching market because of what the team already has at the front of the rotation with Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz. If Bard can have success as a starter, and a healthy and productive Daisuke Matsuzaka enters the mix, the rotation starts looking pretty good.

"If we can find ways to build depth into the rotation, we will," Cherington said. "We don't feel like we're forced into doing that."

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster.

Evaluating The Andrew Bailey Trade For The Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox have found their closer in Andrew Bailey, but he came from the notorious Billy Beane. How did the Sox make out in their biggest offseason trade to date?

Andrew Bailey Trade: Bailey Looking Forward To Being A Red Sox

Andrew Bailey was traded to the Boston Red Sox from the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday evening along Ryan Sweeney in exchange for Josh Reddick and prospects Miles Head an Raul Alcantera. Bailey issued a statement on Twitter.

"It's Official! I want to say thank you to the A's and their fans for everything over the last 6 yrs," Bailey said in a statement on Twitter. "I'm looking forward to being a Red Sox."

Bailey has pitched three seasons for the Athletics, compiling a 7-10 record with a 2.07 career ERA and 75 saves in 157 appearances. Last year, Bailey went 0-4 with a 3.24 ERA and 24 saves in 42 games. Bailey's best season came in his rookie season in 2009 when he posted a 6-3 record, a 1.84 ERA and a career-high 26 saves in 68 games.

Andrew Bailey

#40 / Pitcher / Boston Red Sox

Height: 6-3

Weight: 245

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: May 31, 1984

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster.

Red Sox Trade For Andrew Bailey, Ryan Sweeney From Athletics

Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney have reportedly been traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Josh Reddick and prospects Miles Head and Raul Alcantera. Bailey was 0-4 with a 3.24 ERA and 24 saves in 42 appearances.