After a disappointing last-place finish last season, Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said that the team will have significant payroll next year.
Cherington spoke to WEEI radio in Boston about a range of topics on Thursday, including the team's payroll, roster and performance last year.
"It's harder to predict this offseason than it has been in previous offseason because in previous offseasons we've been closer to that, closer to where we'll end up," Cherington said in an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI. "Especially last offseason, when we were making more cosmetic changes."
Last year at this time the Red Sox fired manager Terry Francona after the team collapsed in September, falling out of the playoffs after having a nine-game lead in the wild card race.
Boston hired Bobby Valentine in December to replace Francona, but it turned out to be a disaster. The team fired Valentine after the season ended and recently hired John Farrell as the new manager.
Farrell previously served as pitching coach for the team under former manager Terry Francona from 2007-2010.
"I know that we'll have a very strong payroll, a large payroll. I know that we're going to add to it this winter. I'm confident in saying that we'll be amongst the larger payrolls in the game. Exactly where it ends up, exactly what rank we are, I don't know that yet. I think it just depends on what we do. We're not going to shoot for an arbitrary payroll number just to say that we're going to get to this. We just have to look at each opportunity as it comes and figure out whether it's the right thing for the Red Sox."
The Red Sox enter the offseason with just $45 million in guaranteed salary for players, meaning the team intends to make a number of moves, including free agent signings or trades.
Boston has needs in the outfield and free agent Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers could be a good fit for the team.
"We'll see. I respect the talent, certainly. He's been one of the more productive players in baseball. Beyond that, we've got to look at what alternatives we have," said Cherington. "We know we're going to add to the outfield somehow. We're going to do it in a way that we feel makes the most sense for us -- and not just in 2013 but moving forward."
The team has reportedly been interested in free agent Mike Napoli and are also renegotiating with outfielder Cody Ross.
"There may be opportunities that are bigger in scale that would fit that definition that we feel are the right moves but we don't know that yet. What I do know is that we're going to continue to act as a team.," Cherington said. "We're committed to building the best team we can for 2013 but doing it in a way that doesn't get in the way of what we think is going to be a longer period of success after that."
Cherintgon also said he spoke to the Miami Marlins and was familiar with the deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, but said it was something the team was not looking to get involved with. That deal is now getting a second look from commissioner Bud Selig, according to the Associated Press.
"The scope of that deal was bigger than we were expecting," Cherington told WEEI. "As far as we're concerned, we have standards and we have a limit to what we'll do in a trade and free agency and we're going to try to stick to that and have faith in our process and that over time the best way to build a team is through getting the right veterans here, being disciplined but getting the right veterans here through free agency or trade and continuing to develop from within."
The Red Sox made a similar move during the season when they traded superstar first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, outfielder Carl Crawford and pitcher Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The teams moved $250 million in future contracts.
"I think we're going to make moves that are going to improve the team," said Cherington. "It's hard to say whether they're going to be defined as splashy moves or not. You never know. We're going to take each opportunity and look at it case by case."
The Red Sox will rely on veterans David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedrioa to provide a foundation for the team in 2013. The roster will be drastically different than the one that opened 2012, but it will still have those core veterans,
Young third baseman Will Middlebrooks should be fully healthy next season and the team hopes pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz will pitch back to their potential after disappointing years.
"We have guys that are talented and fully capable and committed to being good," Cherington said. "But we'd like to add to that. Whether it's through free agency or a trade, we're actively engaged in trying to find the right guy to do that, so that's a priority.
Things for the Red Sox did not go as planned in 2012 as the team finished in last place with a 69-93 record. Boston posted a .426 win percentage last season, the third lowest winning percentage in 70 years for the team, and went only 7-22 in September, according to ESPN.com.
"Our 2012 season was disappointing for many reasons," Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said to ESPNBoston.com after the firiing. "No single issue is the reason, and no single individual is to blame. We've been making personnel changes since August, and we will continue to do so as we build a contending club."
New manager Bobby Valentine got started off on the wrong foot early in the year when he criticized veteran Kevin Youkilis on television saying: "I don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason."
The team began 2012 as a playoff favorite, but quickly faded to the bottom of the AL East division. The team gave up on the season, trading a crop of star players to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
According to ESPN.com, the Red Sox used 56 different players this season, a franchise record. Some of the players that missed time for the team included Carl Crawford, Andrew Bailey, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury and Will Middlebrooks.
"I think we'll be looking at a Red Sox team that's going to be a contender (in 2013)," Cherington said. "I'm not ready to put a win total on it. ... I know we're going to be good in the long run and I know we're building something that's going to be good. Exactly what that turns into in 2013 time will tell. I know we're going to be better, I know we're going to be improved. And I think we're going to have a team that fans are going to enjoy watching a lot more and that has a chance to contend."
