Patience Proves Worthwhile

Posted by Adam Hart October 8, 2009 at 6:31 pm

Witnessing an offense that struggled with consistency in 2009, many fingers were pointed at management’s “failure” to sign Mark Teixiera in free agency. It may be time to turn those fingers away.

In order to bring Teixeira into the fold, the logical process would be to sign him, shift first baseman Kevin Youkilis to third base and move third baseman Mike Lowell to another team, likely getting little in return for a 35-year-old coming off hip surgery which cut short his 2008 postseason. And it appeared the organization was prepared to entertain such a chain of events.

Traveling with its power base — majority owner John Henry and general manager Theo Epstein — to Texas, Boston showed that it meant business in its recruitment of the power-hitting free agent first baseman. It was a winter showdown in Texas, and the Red Sox lost — meaning business was not enough to convince Teixeira to sign for less with the team that he had spurned once before. But the Red Sox were not blind to the situation, acknowledging Teixeira’s resistance upon leaving The Lone Star State.

Via ESPN.com:

Henry and Boston general manager Theo Epstein traveled to Texas to meet with Teixeira and Boras, an official with another team said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because his team wasn’t involved in the talks but had knowledge of them. Henry said earlier in the evening that the Red Sox were “no closer” to signing Teixeira.

Teixeira — or more accurately, Mrs. Teixeira — had made a decision. The switch-hitter was to wear Pinstripes for the next eight seasons, making $180 million along the way. The rival New York Yankees managed to lure in Teixeira, fortifying a lineup that failed to make the playoffs in 2008. For its inaugural season in the new, home run friendly Yankee Stadium, New York added another dangerous bat alongside veteran hitters Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui.

With Teixeira off the market, Boston missed out on the biggest of names in this free agency period. The only other bat carrying as much weight as Teixeira’s was that of Manny Ramirez, the slugging left fielder who forced his way out of a Red Sox uniform at the 2008 trade deadline. He was Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt’s problem now, and management would not run back to Ramirez’s doorstep with its tail between its legs.

No, it appeared Boston was forging on without any major additions, accepting a lineup featuring a catcher whose major drop-off at the plate left him on the free agent market for an uncomfortable amount of time, a designated hitter whose 2008 postseason did nothing to inspire confidence in his ability to perform at a high level in 2009 and a former World Series MVP at third base whose surgically repaired hip left questions concerning his effectiveness.

*****

Unfortunately for Boston, that catcher did prove feeble at the plate, the third baseman suffered lingering hip issues and the designated hitter battled much more than the injuries which plagued his 2008 campaign. A spark was needed to ignite this team for a second half push, or else it would see its playoff hopes slip away quicker than Jacoby Ellsbury from a pitcher’s control as he speeds toward second base on a stolen base attempt. Yes that’s a metaphor. I think.

Enter Victor Martinez, the part-time catcher, part-time first baseman who spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians until the trade deadline deal that brought him to Boston for pitchers Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price.

In Martinez, the Red Sox acquired a potential heir catcher Jason Varitek’s position, and at the very worst a first baseman to take over after the 2010 season, figuring to be third baseman Lowell’s last in Boston. The aforementioned switching of positions involving Youkilis could facilitate Martinez’s full-time role at first base.

Aside from improving its on-field production, the Red Sox executed fiscal responsibility the acquisition of Martinez, a business tact to which the rival team from New York has displayed repeated allergic reactions. While Teixeira makes $20 million or more this season through 2016, the Red Sox owed Martinez the remainder of his $6.2 million salary in 2009 and have the option of retaining his services for $7.5 million in 2010 — that is, of course, unless Boston signs him to an extension this offseason. The point is, for a price less than half of what the team’s once-prize free agent target is paid in New York, Boston is receiving similar production from its mid-season pickup:

Victor Martinez

VS

Mark Teixeira

That calculates out to these totals for the equivalent amount of time Martinez has been with Boston:

G	AB	H	R	2B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	OPS
57	217	68	49	15	13	47	27	43	.313	.395	.985

The only category in which Martinez bests Teixeira in this sampling is batting average, but his impact does not stop at the statistics. David Ortiz credits him with pushing him toward his normal self in the latter half of the season. Unlike Teixeira, Martinez did not force Lowell’s bat from Boston’s lineup. Instead, his addition solidified a catcher position which served as a gaping hole in the lineup prior to his arrival — a weakness Boston would still face had it added the exclusive first baseman Teixeira in the offseason. The versatility to play first base, as well, allowed Lowell the enjoy much-needed rest down the stretch, in hopes of keeping him healthy enough to last for the team’s entire postseason push.

As Boston enters yet another ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it does so with a stronger combination of Martinez and Lowell than that of Teixeira and Varitek. The question should be asked, Could Boston have managed to acquire Martinez had it signed Teixeira? Potentially. But part of Martinez’s appeal is his versatility, as exclusive time behind the plate tends to sap a player’s offensive potency. It will take a few weeks — maybe even a few years — to determine if Boston’s patient approach to bolstering its lineup best served its interests. But for the 2009 campaign thus far, it appears to have worked out just fine.

[Author's note: Yes, I realize Rob Bradford of WEEI.com posted an article today concerning Boston's efforts to acquire Martinez. Fact is, I have been sitting on the idea for this article since the beginning of September. But some personal issues have wiped away the typical free time required to write such a piece. While the topics are not completely similar, I wouldn't want you to think less of me by assuming this is a branch off of his work.]