In the span of a few days, the Red Sox traded for Adrian Gonzalez, reportedly worked out a seven-year, $154 million extension that will keep the 28-year old in Boston through 2018 and signed free agent outfielder Carl Crawford to a monster deal (seven years, $142 million). The rich got richer, in every way imaginable.
↵Even the New York Yankees -- who are expected now to go out and do whatever it takes to get LHP Cliff Lee -- had to compliment the Red Sox, with GM Brian Cashman saying, "They've been significantly improved. They were a great team last year, but they had all the injuries. Now they're a better team."
↵So it's probably okay to feel kinda sorry for Andy MacPhail, the Baltimore Orioles' president.
↵↵↵"In our view, Boston going into a 2010 was a powerhouse. They still won (89) games in the most difficult division in baseball in an unbalanced schedule environment with (Dustin) Pedroia hurt, (Kevin) Youkilis hurt, with all kinds of devastating injuries, (Mike) Cameron. The fact that those guys come back healthy and you add Gonzalez and Crawford, that's quite a formidable crew."
↵MacPhail then paused a beat before adding, "We're going to start a mid-Atlantic Division."
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↵↵But hey, the Orioles got shortstop J.J. Hardy. That's ... something. Maybe buy MacPhail a beer if you see him out.