Because the world needs another sports blog ...

Gaining Beckett and Loretta doesn't seem to be a bad offseason to me. It was clear Damon was leaving. So what? His production at center field was overrated and at $13M/year, the Red Sox can use that money much more wisely. With four picks in the top 45 in the draft, they will replenish their farm and can afford to give up some talent for major-league ready players at CF and SS. I am more concerned about Manny. Damon and Renteria ... who cares?
-- Joel Spinney, Heidelberg, Germany (4:11 p.m.)

Am I happy about Johnny Damon going to the Yankees? No, of course not. But am I preparing to take a header off of the Zakum Bridge? Not at all. Johnny is going to start losing his speed soon, and that will make him pretty much useless in that huge center field in Yankee Stadium, since he can't throw at all. He will be a good hitter for the Yankees, but I think his prime years were spent in Boston. As far as the Beckett deal goes, the Red Sox traded a fielding prospect with an attitude problem and a pitching prospect (not one of their four best prospects, either) for a World Series MVP. I really don't see the problem. But, of course, the Yankee-loving national media are drooling all over themselves about the Damon signing, so I'm not surprised to see the tone of this article.
-- Rich Andriole, Framingham, Mass. (4:16 p.m.)

Let's settle down here. No one knows what Hanley Ramirez will bring to the table. He has been as big a free swinger as Alex Gonzalez and has never proven himself on a major league level. While Mike Lowell might be the next Jeff Cirillo, Johnny Damon looks like another CF that used a great offensive season to receive a big paycheck from the Yankees: Bernie Williams. Damon was clearly not worth $13 mil a year. I would much rather have a Jeremy Reed, Coco Crisp-type in four years than a 37-year-old Johnny Damon. As for Renteria, he asked to be moved and quickly hurt his back. A 30-plus shortstop with a bad back? Doesn't sound too appealing. I'll take a former World Series MVP (Beckett) and former all-star (Loretta).
-- Mike, Canton, Mass. (4:36 p.m.)

Kyle Farnsworth, Octavio Dotel and Mike Myers don't exactly put the fear of god in me. Craig Hansen, Jon Papelbon and a revitalized Foulke should put the fear of god in the Yanks.
-- John White, San Francisco (4:41 p.m.)

Yes, you're replacing Womack/Williams' AB with Damon, but take a look at the splits -- over the past three years, his OBP has been 50 points lower away from Fenway, meaning that in terms of OBP, the Yankees are paying a lot of money for a guy with essentially the same on-base skills as Bernie Williams, with the same rag arm. Thirteen million for a guy who can run down a fly ball pretty well seems steep.
-- Joe Bodell, Boston (4:46 p.m.)

I agree with Jason in regards to Beckett, Lowell and Loretta. In the case of Renteria, I think they paid the Braves too much and that he will rebound in 2006 under Bobby Cox. Damon? Well, he is being overpaid by the Yankees, but in the current market, if they could have afforded to match their offer, they should have. But as a White Sox fan (yes, I live in Houston, but that is because I chose to work in the energy sector), I can't doubt Jason's judgement. I followed all SI's writer's opinions closely and he was the ONLY one to predict every postseason series right!
-- Roman Hernandez, Houston (4:46 p.m.)

As one of the local radio stations has it:
On the first day of Christmas, Lucchino gave to me
Two third basemen
No shortstop
Three second basemen
No first baseman
No center fielder
No leadoff hitter, etc.
-- J. Harrison, Waltham, Mass. (4:46 p.m.)

As a Yankees fan, I'm disappointed in the signing of Johnny Damon because he throws like a girl and looks like a caveman. His production is moderate at best. He has average speed, and should have stayed with the Red Sox.
-- Dan B., Toronto (4:56 p.m.)

As a Yankees fan, this is just too funny to watch. The Yankees didn't even want Damon that bad and he fell into their laps. Now for Red Sox fans, it's Pedro all over again as they trot out the "He's not worth that money" and "We didn't really want him anyway" rhetoric. Have fun filling all the holes in your lineup guys.
-- Chris Newcomb, New York City(5:01 p.m.)

I agree with both Joel and Rich. Damon isn't worth that kind of money (his defense is overrated and his throwing arm is like a Little Leaguer). Beckett is an upgrade to the rotation and Seanez looks like a decent addition to the bullpen. In the short run, Loretta could move to short and Graffanino (whom the Sox will re-sign) can play second. They can take their time to solve the long-term shortstop problem. I don't know much about Jeremy Reed but he has to be a better center fielder than Corey Patterson (as a Cubs fan, pass on Patterson). Keeping Manny is imperative. He protects Ortiz like no one else can. Ignore his trade demands.Much ado about nothing. The Red Sox will be fine.
-- Brad Bieghler, Kettering, Ohio (5:01 p.m.)

Fire Larry. Get Theo back. The kid lived and breathed Boston baseball. Larry, as he has proven in the offseason, should step aside and let the people that know baseball run the show.
-- Jon Lyons, Portland (5:11 p.m.)

When will the Yankees learn that a team of aging veterans wins only tabloid headlines, not championships?
-- Rob Devaney, New York City (5:11 p.m.)

It seems that guys like Luft have to write something to meet their deadlines and the "beat by the Yankee" article always is easy to write. What they should be focusing on is how stupid Damon looks in taking this deal. He gave up a lifetime of immortality in Boston for an extra $12 million which after the agent and the tax man's cut is probably about half of that. Big deal. What is sadder for me personally is that Damon sold out himself. The laid back, shaggy-haired free spirit is now going to be one of George's corporate boys. The good thing is Damon will actually have to look at himself in the mirror in the moring as he shaves away his dignity. My guess is that the Yankee fans will see this guy for what he is -- another mercenary who doesn't warrant wearing their uniform.
-- Mike Vann, South Hadley, Mass. (5:11 p.m.)

So right now, the Sox have four guys who played second last year (Graffanino, Loretta, Cora and Pedroia) and three guys who played third (Lowell, Youkilis, and Marte); no real first baseman, no clear shortstop, no center fielder, a disgruntled left fielder and no leadoff hitter. We are hoping that the two GMs will sort this out and have at least one guy for every position by Spring. Before then, though, they may bring back Theo as a third co-GM. Well, we'll always have 2004.
-- Greg Estey, Lexington, Mass. (5:11 p.m.)

You're pretty stupid Luft. You think a 33-year-old center fielder who has a worse arm then you with a .353 career OBP is worth $13 million a year? Mark Loretta has a career OBP of .365 so who needs Damon leading off? And if you think hitting .271 at Double-A like Hanley Ramirez did last year is major league ready you must be even dumber then you are ugly. The Yankess can have Damon. Now instead of overpaying an aging center fielder the Sox can get some pitching next year.
-- Dave Jones, Boulder, Colo. (5:21 p.m.)

I won't waste your time with a long response. The Red Sox are screwed!
-- jcs , Austin (5:26 p.m.)

It's clear to me, a Yankee fan that Damon will be an improvement over Bernie and Melke. It's also clear to me from the comments sent in that Red Sox fans continually fail to recognize the real value of their players. If Damon wasn't a bum yesterday he isn't one today.
-- Michael Gomez, Orleans, Mass. (5:31 p.m.)

The Red Sox will be fine. Last season we tied the Yankees in wins (95) without a healthy Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke. If these two players can stay healthy I think that the Sox will be in the playoffs. Plus in all the moves that they have made, the Red Sox haven't given up top pitching prospects Papelbon, Lester, Hansen and DelCarmen. Who do the Yankees have for their future? The Yankess just keep buying old star Players who haven't won them anything since 2000.
-- Christian Petruzzi, Boston (5:31 p.m.)

The reaction by the Boston fans is high comedy. That's the best part of the signing. One day he's Jesus, the next day he's a bum with no arm. Guess what: The Yankees won four world series with no arm in center field. The center-field arm is overrated. If you saw Bernie in CF last year, his strolls to flyballs could be outdone by a tour guide. Damon is an upgrade in defense for his hustle alone.
-- Christopher DeAngelus, Rochester, N.Y. (5:36 p.m.)

Is Rickey Henderson still playing somewhere? Perhaps the Sox can sign him. Right now JP Ricciardi must be quite happy with the developments.
-- Ben, Toronto (5:41 p.m.)

Just to point out the inaccuracy of some of the postings, Damon will be 35 when this contract expires and while in theory the Red Sox can "use this money on pitching" there is really no one out there for them to get this year in the free agent market. They should have made a play for A.J. Burnett so they could have justified Damon leaving, now they just look like an organization moving in the wrong direction without Theo Epstein.
-- Steve J., Stamford, Conn. (5:46 p.m.)

I don't know why the Yanks went and got an aging center fielder with a horrible arm when we could have used Bubba Crosby for a year and went after Torii Hunter next year? They will never learn.
-- Jimmy, Bronx, N.Y. (5:46 p.m.)

The Red Sox may have had the best offseason in the MLB. They got a 25 year old ace (Beckett), along with a Comeback Player of the Year candidate in Lowell, and a great set up guy in Mota. Oh yeah, and they turned Renteria and his 1.8 WARP into a top 10 prospect in baseball, and future superstar. Oh yeah, and they traded a back-up catcher into an all star caliber second baseman. Oh yeah, and they are pursuing a top young CF in Reed. And a top young 1B in Adrian Gonzalez. They're doing great.
-- Sean, Boston (5:51 p.m.)

The Sox paid a total of $22 million to rent Renteria for a year and receive Marte. They assumed $16 million owed Lowell and a minimum of $15 million that will be paid to Mota this year and Beckett in 2005 and 2006. So, for $53 million Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado they get two years of a used up third baseman, one top prospect, Mota and two years of Josh Beckett.
-- Dan, New York City (6:01 p.m.)

Please Boston, take Jeremy Reed off of the Mariners' hands. Decent defense and utter lack of offensive production seems to sum up Seattle's and Reed's last two seasons, and adding a relatively inexpensive arm like Bronson Arroyo in exchange for Reed sounds pretty enticing as far as I'm concerned.
-- C. Vincent, Seattle (6:01 p.m.)

For Sean in Boston: The 25-year-old ace has never pitched more than 180 innings in a season. He gets hurt every year and even if he stays healthy will be a free agent in two years. Lowell is a comeback player of the year candidate only because he was so horrible. By your logic the Mets should be thrilled to have comeback player of the year candidates Kaz Matsui and Darren Oliver. Mota, the great setup guy, was not great last year. They didn't turn Renteria into a top 10 prospect. They had to pay for $22 million of Renteria's salary. With the money they gave Renteria and the Braves the Sox could have bought the 15 top prospects from Latin America. They could have also signed David Eckstein for considerably less, or could have kept Eckstein instead of cutting him for Izzy Alcantera.
-- Dan Duquette, Pittsfield, Mass. (6:11 p.m.)

This blog is stupid and Jacob/Jason's comments are not funny. Peter King is the only decent writer on this site.
-- Brian, Edison (9:41 p.m.)

The BoSox are still the Idiots. The only difference is that they've moved from the clubhouse to the front office.
-- Caseman, Lafayette, Calif. (12:26 a.m., Thursday)

Hi Jacob, thanks for setting the table on this. The issue that I have is: "What's the PLAN?" Despite protestations to the contrary, there does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to what's happening to my team. Lucchino seems to be dealing just to show "busy-ness" as I can't understand why we are taking on $18 million on third-base baggage when we already have two, why we've got three second baseman, traded away our top two shortstops ... what's the plan? Threading all the transactions, including the failed Johnny signing, the only plan I see is that the Sox are in "rebuilding mode."
-- John Engle, CPT, USA, Singapore (8:01 a.m., Thursday)

Gathright would be a great fit in Boston (see him navigate the tricky Fenway center field last year?) But Lugo and Gathright for Marte? That's an insult. We're not the Royals. The AL was served notice last year -- rather than stocking the fat cats, the Rays are stocking their own roster with young talent. We're not scared of the Yankees or the Sox (ask Joe Torre). And we're not going to get fleeced out of our top players (see Baez, Huff). If you want the game's fastest player or the heart and soul of our team, you better come with more than a prospect.
-- Wade, Lakeland, Fla. (10:01 a.m., Thursday)

Boston fans, lend me your ears. First, Damon just turned 32, not 33; he doesn't have average speed, he has well above-average speed; last year he was considered the best leadoff hitter by most of you, and now you are eager to replace him with Mark (insert laughs) Loretta who has less than average speed. Please, I implore you, stop the madness and accept the fact that Damon will greatly improve the Yanks and hurt the Sox; this according to Lucchino was a "double shot." Thanks Larry! (HA!)
-- Mat, Morris Plains, N.J. (10:26 a.m., Thursday)

I find it hilarious that one of the best scenarios for the Sox (coming off the Damon fiasco and other offseason moves) is to fill their holes with three Devil Rays. That's 1/3 of the worst team in the league. If Manny goes, I would suggest aggressively pursuing Chip Ambres from the Royals.
-- Jeff Prior, Hoboken, N.J. (11:26 a.m., Thursday)