Rotoworld is reporting a trade between the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres.
Dave Roberts, a fourth-outfielder type heads west. Jay Payton and his 3.5 million dollar salary (according to Dugout Dollars), infielder Ramon Vazquez, pitching prospect David Pauley and 2.65 million dollars (that's right for the "cash-strapped" Red Sox).
Roberts is arb-eligible, and I figure he'll get something like 1.7- 2.2 million for 2005. Roberts has more speed and less power than Payton, but they are almost the same age and relatively equal in value at this point in their respective careers. Vazquez didn't pan out as hoped - he's now on the fast track to utility-fielderdom. Pauley is just one out of an army-full of single A pitchers with decent K/W ratios - the odds are long on him being more than a fringe major leaguer.
If we view Roberts-Payton a wash, the Sox have picked up a 28-year-old infielder, a bit of cash and a long shot prospect for nothing.
Ken Rosenthal of The Sporting News reports that Orlando Cabrera has agreed to $32 million (4 years) from the Anaheim Angels.
Wade Miller (Astros) is the biggest non-tender announced so far. Jacque Jones, Jay Gibbons, Mark Ellis, Chad Bradford, Luis Rivas, Jose Macias and Ray King are among those who've signed and avoided arbitration.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20041220105251999