Red Sox AL

Johnny Damon

Notes and Quotes

--OF Coco Crisp of the Indians (.300, .345 OBP, .465 slugging in 2005) and OF Jeremy Reed of the Mariners (.254, .322, .352) reportedly are being discussed as possible replacements via trade should free agent OF Johnny Damon sign elsewhere. According to the Eagle-Tribune, the Sox are considering deals of Crisp for 3B Andy Marte and RHP Guillermo Mota, as well as Reed for RHP Matt Clement or RHP Bronson Arroyo.
--CF Johnny Damon and the Sox remain in negotiations on a new contract, and the Sox remain the only team known to have made a contract offer (most recently four years and $40 million) to the free agent. However, reports indicate that the Dodgers, Orioles and Yankees are all interested in the center fielder, and while Damon has professed his preference to return to the Red Sox, he is clearly open to moving elsewhere.
--RHP Roger Clemens' agent Randy Hendricks told the Boston Globe that the seven-time Cy guy "would seriously listen to" an offer from the Red Sox if he decides not to retire. The team has contacted Clemens' agents already to pronounce its interest in signing Clemens.
--OF Manny Ramirez has been offered to the Orioles in exchange for SS Miguel Tejada, but the Orioles reportedly countered that they would want an additional major league pitcher as well as a prospect in a deal. Such demands make a deal unlikely.
--C Ken Huckaby agreed to terms on a minor league contract with an invitation to the big-league camp in spring training. Huckaby, 34, is known as a fine defensive catcher who contributes little (.223 average, .256 OBP) at the plate. He will compete for the role of backup catcher, a title that brings responsibilities as the batterymate of RHP Tim Wakefield.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1.85 -- Strikeout-to-walk ratio of RHP Bronson Arroyo last season, a steep decline from his 3.02 ratio of 2004.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is the arrangement we are going forward with in 2006. Will there be other changes and other additions? I think that's always possible. We'll see if it works well for us, and if it doesn't, we'll make changes. If there's a better way to build a mouse trap, we'll try that, too." -- CEO Larry Lucchino on the hiring of co-GMs Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington.