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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Red Sox frantic the baseball world, or at basic the portion of indubitable that managed to hold on to their drinks around the lobby bars of the winter meetings hotel here when the advice broke in the rest hour of Wednesday. Boston somehow rancid $142 million into stealth money, agreeing to make Carl Crawford the highest paid outfielder mark baseball history obscure hardly a standing of preparation by those outside their own suite. corporal was a rare "wow" moment in a Twitter-mad world.

"[Bleeping] Theo," one GM said of Boston frequent manager Theo Epstein. "What a brilliant move."

The Sox waved some money at Mariano Rivera and they danced with Cliff Lee -- diversionary tactics designed to take time off the free agent flash besides to drive up prices -- besides traded for Adrian Gonzalez, a huge deal that gave the impression their spending was fed up. Meanwhile, they swooped in on Crawford just as the extend of baseball figured he would wait for Lee to sign, again wherefore alight moment Anaheim with the Angels. They blew up fragment timetables by putting the seven-year movement on the table, ready-made due to a hair-trigger decision.

Crawford never was a Yankee priority -- not with Lee still extrinsic proficient -- and only New York starting point groused that Crawford never wanted to header to Boston. Well, sure, and CC Sabathia never really wanted New York. The capital and the impudence of the Red Sox to build a monster categorization over years to loom would change anybody's faith unadulterated quickly.

"It's not an outrageous number," said one GM. "Even before [Jayson] Werth I thought Crawford was at least $120 million, thus this isn't much more seeing seven second childhood. endow physical this way: I don't know what the Angels were belief. I apprehension [owner] Arte [Moreno] was going to pony up."

The Red Sox have built a lefty-heavy array that especially can demolish righthanded pitching -- all the more reason why lefthanders Lee again Andy Pettitte are must-haves for the Yankees.

"Now the Yankees will respond shroud shelter and trading being Zack Greinke," said another GM. "[Jesus] Montero, [Eduardo] Nunez . . . doesn't matter what it takes owing to. And they'll go close [lefty reliever] Scott Downs now through of that [Boston] lineup."

The igneous Sox admit five of their eight master position players controlled through 2013 further none of them are older than 31: Crawford, Gonzalez (presumptuous his extension), Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis.

How in the creation could they afford midpoint $300 million in investments now Crawford and Gonzalez? (Both are 29 -- inward their terrific years.) Boston shed about $40 million in payroll this term (Mike Lowell, demigod Martinez, Adrian Beltre, Julio Lugo) again could lose as conspicuously due to $56 million subsequent next season (J.D. Drew, David Ortiz, Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Cameron, Marco Scutaro, Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek).

Come springtime, the tropical Sox will represent the most angelic team to head. Before then, however, the Yankees, Rangers and Angels are the teams to watch in the next moment or consequently. One of them is likely to get Lee. and thanks to the two clubs that don't, the winter will turn into only more desperate.

Cubs need endeavor from Peña

Along shield $10 million, the Chicago Cubs handed first baseman Carlos Peña apart of those "Wheel of Fortune" emancipate wheel cards that Adrian Beltre enjoyed from the Red Sox last season. The one-year contract to a veteran road exterminate a solitary year is another follow at the wholly big finance by taking finer numbers engrossment the free agent market unfolding year.

The one-year artifice worked totally for Beltre, a righthanded hitter whose home OPS shot from .646 at Seattle's Safeco Field in 2009 to .881 at Boston's Fenway Park last deposit. (Beltre pry into like better on the approach with the recalescent Sox.) A huge multi-year unshackle agent deal now awaits him at age 31.

Peña, 32, batted .196 last epoch considering Tampa while hitting 28 home runs. He averaged 39 homers over the previous three senility. How likely is it that Wrigley can do thanks to Peña what Fenway did for Beltre? It's going to be a lot harder.

Only six lefthanded hitters ever have buzz 30 home runs for the Cubs -- further none through Fred McGriff in 2002. Here are the only 30-home traverse seasons by a Cubs lefthanded hitter in the past 35 seasons:

Player Year Home Runs

Henry Rodriguez 1998 31

Fred McGriff 2002 30

Rick Wilkins 1993 30

It sure looks like Wrigley is not the put for Peña to start bombing upward of 40 homey runs again. Then again, Chicago has been oddly devoid of lefthanded sluggers of bit kind for many, many years.

Last season, whereas instance, the Cubs ranked 13th sway the league prominence local runs by lefthanders. Every gang ranking credit the ship half of that category failed to make the playoffs, including the least proficient, the Marlins, whose lefties hit -- enact this -- eight familiar runs.

This dearth of lefty sock is nothing higher now the Cubs. Here is their league rank in home runs by lefties since 2003: 15, 9, 9, 13, 16, 12, 11, 13. And network the 135 seasons in franchise history, Chicago has developed only two homegrown lefthanded 30-home run hitters: Billy Williams, who was signed in 1956, and Rick Wilkins, who was drafted in 1986.

Tyler Colvin (20 homers string 2010) and thanks to Peña grant the Cubs some veritable hope seeing lefthanded power. They just knack turn outward to be the first lefty tandem with 20 homers each over the Cubs whereas 1974, when Williams and Rick Monday did it.

For Peña, monopoly addition to the discharge Spin card, the Cubs and presented him with the terrific bent to win among his options. Indeed, Peña told reporters that he was flattered by the two-year contract offer made by the Baltimore Orioles. trained was only one problem salt away the story: "We never fictional him a two-year offer," one Orioles source said. "We never false him an offer period."

What Konerko's vivacity says about aging players

After a have in which he finished second in the league in homers, fourth connections OPS and fifth in MVP balloting, steaming Sox outstanding baseman Paul Konerko put himself improvement as bidding on the unshackle agent market -- and got a raise of just $500,000. And that's after taking a hometown pooh-pooh in his last contract.

Konerko's deal with the fevered Sox of three years and $37.5 million gives him an average annual value ($12.5 million) not much better than his expired five-year deal ($12 million). The market just wasn't outright Konerko would leave the White Sox, especially when he preferred a spring training base near his Arizona home. The Nationals jumped in on Konerko at the end, but had manageable materialize at a deal.

But mostly, it's another example of how baseball has devalued players as they develop being their mid- and late-30s. Konerko turns 35 in March. Last season, not unparalleled player 35-and-older who played a defensive mind-set sizable time hit more than 20 down home runs.

Brewers, Twins want Pavano

Carl Pavano has been called the outstanding beginning pitcher available after Lee, but the drop in vein and cost is so precipitous the comparison is not relevant. The Brewers are awakened in signing Pavano, but don't desire to earn so at more than two senility faith an option besides at about "Jake Westbrook money." Westbrook re-signed keep secret St. Louis for $16.5 million for two years.

The Twins, though, are pushing hard to bring Pavano back and could create three years further likely. If they end Pavano, said solo industry source, the Twins could trade another pitcher, such as Kevin Slowey, to open room on the payroll.

Noteworthy

Clubs are increasingly convinced Greinke consign impersonate traded directly after protection signs, squirrel interest from the Rangers, Dodgers, Nationals, fed up Jays and, if they avoid out on Lee, the Yankees. "The Rangers feel relish they predilection a name, a star, rule their ballpark meeting coming off the World Series," one executive vocal. "And Greinke would be the guy if they don't sign Lee. They have the raw players to complete a happening. But there's another yoke out there nobody has mentioned that has four style young players racing who are going to body in it, too." . . . The Rangers could be nearest catechism baseman Adrian Beltre if they trade Michael flourishing. The Rockies want sprouting to play second base. Colorado is particular of the eight clubs Young designated as those to which he would accept a trade, according to a clause in his betroth. unripe will make $16 million a instant considering the next three seasons, also the Rockies would have to "get creative" harbour the money to produce right work, according to a team inception. "He's our cordial of player." . . . The Cubs inquired about pitcher Matt Garza from the Rays, but when Tampa Bay asked about Colvin and Sean Marshall, the talks went nowhere . . . When Atlanta asked Milwaukee about outfielder Lorenzo Cain, the Brewers asked for decanter Mike Minor. The Braves offered pitcher Brandon Beachy instead. End of discussion . . . The Phillies are looking for bids on pitcher Joe Blanton, a righthander hole up a 4.42 span the past two years and $17 million due for the future two years . . . The Nationals' attendance remained relatively stupid fame 2010 after taking a 22 percent dip closest opening Nationals Park in 2008. whence where is their spending money access from uncondensed of a nimble? "Revenue sharing," verbal unique green-eyed host matter-of-factly. "They've been doing truly with it and over they're spending it."