Shaughnessy: Good To See Red Sox Spending Money Again
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zolak in studio Monday morning to discuss a number of different topics, including the Boston Red Sox spending spree.
While you were still probably sleeping, the Red Sox agreed to long-term deals with both Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.
The deal with Ramirez is for four years and $88 million with a fifth-year vesting option, and the Sandoval contract is a reported five-year deal for $95 million plus a one-year club option.
The Sox are also reportedly still in on free agent pitcher Jon Lester as well.
This offseason is already markedly different from last, one in which A.J. Pierzynski and Grady Sizemore were the key acquisitions.
Why the change in philosophy?
Shaughnessy is wondering the same thing:
Not that he's complaining -- the longtime Globe columnist is actually in favor of the hometown team being aggressive.
"This isn't quite Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, but I'm applauding this," Shaughnessy said Monday. "They have a surplus of outfielders, a surplus of right-handed bats and now they can trade some of that to get starting pitching."
After winning the 2013 World Series and then resting on their laurels with minimum impact signings, Shaughnessy is glad they're finally spending money again.
"At least what they have demonstrated is they're willing to spend some dough. There was a lot of money off the books last year, and now they're putting money back into the payroll. I applaud that. Some of these contracts may not look so good four, five years from now when you see what these guys look like, but I won't care."
When general manager Ben Cherington took the reigns from Theo Epstein after the 2011 season, the Red Sox entered an era of fiscal responsibility with low risk, short term signings.
It worked in 2013 with the season ending in a championship, but two out of the last three years they've finished dead last in the American League East.
Shaughnessy is glad to see the Red Sox getting back to some of their big market ways.
"I don't care about John Henry's money as long as he can afford the Globe payroll," Shaughnessy said in jest. "It's okay. I like to see them spending money. They charge the highest ticket prices in baseball. I don't like the 'Go with the kids' -- no. Bring in some guys."
Do you agree with Shaughnessy?
Listen below for the full discussion!
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