NO Fear in Tex fallout for Red Sox
One of the biggest topics during the Hot Stove season around baseball, and definately around Boston, was the Mark Teixeira signing. Tex is considered one of the best power hitting players in the game, and one of the best defensive 1b in baseball. While I believe he is a good player, I do not believe he is the superstar to anchor your team, and not worth the 180 million dollar contract he signed. I will go into the reason why I think that, and why Red Sox nation has no need to worry.
Last year, Mark hit .308, had 33 hrs, and 121 rbi’s. Those are very good numbers, but do they represent the best in the league? I don’t think so. Albert Pujols hit .357 with 37 hr’s and 16 rbi’s in a horrible lineup. He makes 13 million compared to tex’s. The guy he is replacing is Jason Giambi. He only hit .247, but had 32 hr’s, and had 96 rbi’s. The offensive numbers isn’t as much of a difference you would expect the 180 million guy to make. There are plenty of power hitters out there that haven’t got that money that deserve it more than him. Now that brings me to Kevin Youkilis. Youk hit .312, with 29 hr’s, and 115 rbi’s. Youk also won the gold glove. Youk recently just signed a deal that makes him 10 million dollars a year. That’s a 13 million dollar difference for 4 more hr’s.
The Red Sox nation should not worry about getting a power hitter in the lineup. The Red Sox have the resources, and the farm system to off-set the Tex loss. Even though Prince Fielder just signed a two year extension, he most likely will be available next year by the deadline since the Brewers most likely won’t be able to afford him. Albert Pujols could be available in 2011, but most likely 2012. But they don’t have to just go out there and spend a lot of money. They have a sure fire prospect in Lars Anderson, who is the best Red Sox hitting prospect since Hanley Ramirez. Scouts project Anderson to be up in late 2009, and starting by 2010. He is the guy to watch out for, and could be the hitting star we lost in Hanley.
We won’t know how it will go down until the season starts, to see how Tex will adapt to his new settings in a big market. He may thrive in it, and like it, but he will not put up Pujols or Arod numbers. He may not even put up Kevin Youkilis numbers. And how will that look to the Steinbrenners who just payed 180 million for him, while the Red Sox payed 40 million for Youkilis.