July 2007 - Boston Red Sox Wiretap

The Yankees did accomplish something this year: they lowered their luxury tax for the second straight season. The Yankees were hit with a tax bill of $23.88 million by MLB in a notice sent to teams late Friday, pushing them over the $100 million mark since the penalty for profligate spending was introduced in 2003. The only other club that must pay the competitive-balance tax, as it is formally known, is the World Series' champion Red Sox, who owe $6.06 million. Checks are due at the commissioner's office by January 31.

It wasn?t the holiday message Red Sox fans were looking for. Although David Ortiz? infectious smile and trademark hugs were spread throughout Gillette Stadium during his visit to the Patriots? game against Miami yesterday, the message he delivered regarding the possible arrival of Johan Santana was anything but joyous for many of the Sox faithful. ?No,? Ortiz said when asked if he thought his good friend Santana would be traded to the Red Sox. ?I was (following it) for a minute, but I guess they stopped. They don?t want him to go. (Minnesota) already gave Boston too many good things already. Me, and now Santana? No way.? While Ortiz? belief that the left-hander won?t be coming to the Red Sox might serve as coal in the stockings of many New Englanders, the idea of missing out on the former Cy Young Award winner doesn?t thrill the Sox slugger, either. ?Hell yeah,? Ortiz said when asked if he was excited at the prospect of calling Santana a teammate again. ?What do you think? That?s a whole lot less trouble for me.?

The Red Sox are still searching for a backup at catcher. Right now it looks more likely that Doug Mirabelli will return.

The Red Sox would reportedly break from their philosophy of not giving out long-term deals for Johan Santana. They'd prefer fewer than the seven years agent Peter Greenberg is seeking but will go there for one of the top two or three pitchers. Since the winter meetings, nothing has changed with Boston's offer, but after the New Year things are expected to get down to the nitty-gritty, when Minnesota will expect the Yankees and Red Sox to give their final "best offer." The Sox are still offering Coco Crisp, Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie. If the Yankees don't include Ian Kennedy, the Red Sox will land him. As to the growing theory that Josh Beckett would be bent out of shape over Santana earning twice as much, forget it. Beckett signed the contract and knew what he was doing.

Gabe Kapler's retirement didn't last long. The Brewers announced on Thursday that they have signed the outfielder to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Kapler last played with the Boston Red Sox in 2006. At the conclusion of that season, he announced his retirement and the Red Sox named him manager of the Greenville Drive the team's Class A affiliate. After managing Greenville to a 58-81 record last season, Kapler announced that he missed "the battle" and intended to return to the majors in 2008.

The baseball from the final out of the 2007 World Series is at Jonathan Papelbon's home in Hattiesburg, Miss., according to the Hattiesburg American. Well, part of it is. The rest? You should ask the Boss. "Boss," you see, is Papelbon's dog. Boss likes to play with baseballs. And Boss found the baseball that catcher Jason Varitek gave the closer after he struck out the Rockies' Seth Smith to clinch Boston's second World Series title in four years, the newspaper reported. And Papelbon was left with a common excuse for not doing one's homework to explain what happened to a historic baseball artifact. "My dog ate it," Papelbon told the newspaper. "He plays with baseballs like they are his toys. His name is Boss. He jumped up one day on the counter and snatched it. He likes rawhide. He tore that thing to pieces. "I'll keep what's left of it," he told the paper.

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling called on Roger Clemens to give up the four Cy Young Awards he's won since 1997 if he can't clear his name from allegations that he used steroids to prolong and enhance his career.

In an interview with ESPN sports reporter Peter Gammons, former Red Sox pitcher Brendan Donnelly said he was "sick" when he learned of the accusations against him in the Mitchell Report. According to the report, Donnelly and fellow reliever Eric Gagne were acquired by the Sox even though they were suspected of using performance enhancing drugs. The ESPN report quotes Donnelly as saying he called Kirk Radomski and asked about Anavar because he was having physical problems and was worried about his ability to perform on the field. Donnelly continued, telling ESPN once he learned Anavar was classified as a steroid, the drug was not an option for him anymore. Donnelly reiterated his statement to Gammons and said he did call Radomski, but never took Deca or Anavar.

Dan Duquette was vilified by many after suggesting that star pitcher Roger Clemens was entering the "twilight of his career" when he left the Boston Red Sox in 1996. But in the wake of Thursday's release of the Mitchell report -- which includes nine pages of allegations linking Clemens' to use of performance-enhancing drugs -- Duquette is not taking the opportunity to proclaim himself vindicated. Duquette, Boston's general manager during Clemens' emotional departure from the Red Sox 11 years ago, declined to address Clemens' alleged use of steroids or any other aspect of former U.S. Senator George Mitchell's 409-page report. "I'm not commenting on that," Duquette said during a brief phone conversation on Saturday. "It's not appropriate for me to do."

The Red Sox on Wednesday announced that the club will not tender a 2008 contract to Brendan Donnelly. Donnelly, who was acquired from the Angels last offseason, was 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 27 relief appearances with the Red Sox in 2007. He did not pitch after June 10 due to injury and underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow on August 14.