Rob Bradford, WEEI.com Editor

Baseball general manager's meetings Vera in full swing in Chicago and WEEI dot com's rob Bradford is the -- go to to get all the information. Directly out of the windy city now I have to admit rob I went on WEEI dot com to read your story the day the Red Sox world started changed. And the very first thing I looked that was that the story was posted at 407 AM I got a little worried about it having a drunk text kind appeal to a but it didn't.

So tell -- ask -- the question earlier makes sense to me doesn't make a lot of sense to him. Why the Red Sox with -- Tim Wakefield deal or not tear it up but come to a new agreement with Tim Wakefield instead of the one year series of one year contracts. Perform in dollars in your opinion why did the Red Sox. Agreed to a two year deal with and we feel that testaments and was involved.

Because I think it's prayers have been saved them some money in it especially if they've been -- in year two. -- Obviously it is only a million cap guarantee can make up a lot more with incentives but -- it -- somebody -- they also be honest is that they have and are here they had BetaNews that Tim Wakefield want to come back they want you want -- that there -- threats like records you want to require the Red Sox. Though -- news if they can pick up the option. There and he wasn't probably get a dog of the free agent market and go to the Yankees or ever though the news and by the port side of it too is it's not a bad deal for Wakefield in the sense that. It's because they help the -- could be able make the money for himself. And you walk into these next two years so you committed people make up legitimate -- at the record straight.

See that's the problem that's the way I read it to rob. And it seemed like for what in in the baseball worldly short money they had the hammer on Tim Wakefield so they use that that just doesn't smell right to me.

You know rob we may be thinking the same. Which which might be scarier to you about -- pretty scary to. Is that I think the Red Sox at that that's said the deal earlier I think the Red Sox. Are cutting corners here cutting corners there because they're gearing up. For vick's signing the problem is I don't know that big signing guy is that somebody in free agency war. If they're planning to trade for someone. -- signed into a big deal what do you think.

I -- a little -- because of my people I mean you might be you doubt that look at the options might you have. You can go out of -- and we noted Jason -- Islamic -- proper two and protest we now call it so there's your big game create I don't think they would go after John Lackey I. I fight hard to believe there might go after -- because of his agent can be a type a free agent maybe he would do I don't know but for the the free agent options you also have. --

I understand everything you're saying here but. But as I as I look at the overall payroll and I look at where they were this year and and the luxury tax threshold you're talking about. I don't think it they did everything he did the luxury tax rectal.

Yeah they'd been built to be awesome he would become a little political prize because I didn't know that that was the Russell wasn't 170 of that dusty I. So again if you -- after you ask me why they did what they it was. Tim Wakefield I think it's because they got an opportunity do it it was from their perspective they view is a good business decision and we can argue certainly that. -- Wakefield done for the organization what this isn't the guy they cut up. Four -- witnessed by the contract negotiation but at the other day topic Wakefield has been enormous problem because it does -- prepare for a couple years.

When I talk when when people talk about the possibility of getting Adrian Gonzales from San Diego. I'm trying to picture how -- employer brand new general manager for the Padres explains that -- his first big deal. Is trading their best player to the team he used to work for. And I think that's a hard sell out there.

Yeah. Probably has a little bit of -- that Clinton involved anybody will be art -- that worked for real legacy -- walk in a year away from the Red Sox poppy and is carrying this enormously a year ago. Pod race like it was there's just -- We're seated in the -- that you really happy we got it out together but also -- the that they can't. I think bill -- well -- you referenced plenty of time before the dynamic is gonna go and these are the negotiations. Were assured yet you have a relationship and -- that the ethnic you have relationships so maybe you'd -- talk more each other that you do another -- you try to make a trade with what you value the same type of guys and you do look -- is look at arbitrate they've made with Arizona but jobs per. It's to deal there really were not Kevin -- something now so yeah it is not going to be recall was at the and also because -- just like with -- elevate it like with a lot of these guys Felix Hernandez an -- who -- That a peek at something good and it and it's a big part of that going to be -- Major -- well.

Not common equal opportunity questioner so I have -- only this question last week I'm gonna ask you the question I allowed buster only. To be the general manager of the Red Sox. During our conversation with them and I asked them what the team needed one thing he came up with before the trade with Jeremy Hermida and they went out in the trade reform the same day. I am going to allow you rob Bradford. To take -- only job you're the general manager of the Red Sox what are you gonna do. To get this team back to the World Series Tellme Tellme to a three things you need to do.

I used to uniquely. I believe you. You do need to sign up middle the order that whether Jason Bere. I would -- base before all -- he's proven he can do it all week to prove he can do -- you. -- American League. They're creeping suspicion bell all -- is acceptable to route all the good fastball. He didn't do in the American League so my priority would be very. See what happens -- that. And then my other priority would be to go see really war would be the top of the rotation starters and that you don't know it's gonna apple. -- Josh Beckett and it your way out weird Al Josh Beckett. After next year yeah you don't drive laughter and you have the potential Daisuke Matsuzaka you have the potential -- coal. Although our -- I got out and if you're gonna go out and get one of these proper rotation got. Or hatred Kentucky's use restart the conversation. Durable it is -- given when it comes through god you reported any of those field goal I think figure out there -- the top of rotation guy or get something done would back it it. Or how an idea what you gonna do with Beckett -- that you know the shortstop position I think that if they've put a lot of stake at Bayside day making Dubai. You know it would be nice to have another gotten there. I obviously AG Gonzales. Would be would be anyone would like you need to develop I just don't know they're gonna be able to get that done and they're like come to shortstop I think it's -- would be a great script but again because -- agent you're gonna have to commit Taipei created everything else that would be -- you -- one political Red Sox point of view so. Death I don't know might be talking about a three world by in my realistic.

And I you know atlas and it you don't have time for dream world we pay you a lot of money. Because general manager of the Red Sox is not fantasy baseball. Make let's make that happen -- jobs on the line.

That's what -- keep it real. Real delicate. This site update up their top of the rotation pitcher and maybe it wouldn't you know what these other guys and -- Serbs were retarded someone else of the back and by. You don't and then you go up against shortstop by I think offensively to Egypt by right now. Bye -- I don't think they're going to be able again featuring Google.

What's it gonna cost you -- Jason bank.

Goes back to their -- room for years of fifty million yet -- good replica of copper -- We all though it's been -- well documented Jason Bay wants to he was out there in the in the you'll remark because as you said you worked hard to get. I think it's going to be probably around seventy year I think there's going to be at least one team to come in and prioritizes -- tape and paper. Whether it part -- that -- I don't know but he certainly is that have fallen -- right thing but. I don't think that's where the goodness that I'll be -- participate in the settlement on how many years. I think for. I think for AB again you'd never know bill they can articulate one team and once he got flight frequencies so dangerous and you could have apocalypse will -- with a five year deal but I think for a little more money that he be in opera now probably realists.

You know rob I have this this vision of where this idea of Josh Beckett as a guy who just you know calls and as you see it exceeds it. Then -- lot of borrow money so when I saw your story about you know the the potential of the Red Sox. And Beckett coming to some type of you know to have some contract talks -- haven't talked about an extension. My first thought was that shouldn't be too difficult because I don't think -- Is gonna ask for every single dollar on the table is that an accurate read of who this guy is.

Well I think it's been in the -- I think that you're not a look at a guy who's gonna. Perhaps take the high dollar amount but this is the other part about it. Whenever when he was here and -- were -- by an extension. Three year thirty million and it may -- left themselves think sixty million dollars on the table he just surprised at work and you know our -- the -- million dollars in my career. -- thirty years old that you -- you could argue that but he also knows that there was another big contract waiting for a bit on these state help -- perform well now. And -- this contract. So this isn't going to be -- hometown discount I don't believe. Bet you gonna get what you work in the red -- know this so well that. If they don't offer this -- an Arctic and on the cheap so to speak so this is the question I don't think that he's gonna fail you know I'm gonna take a lot less money because the red like that I like it here a -- first Tuesday with a Red Sox. By also think that he's realistic bit this is his big chance that created the big chance that a big contract.

It did pitch shot 212 innings this year on pick a lot of people realized that they. Look at Beckett as the guy who doesn't pitch a lot of innings but I think that's a story that. Probably started in Florida hasn't really been accurate in Boston but my question is what is he worked -- the All-Star team one time. I don't I'm I'm not sure if he's the ace of the Red Sox -- get your opinion on that to what what do you think he's worth.

a lot of people are saying now you attribute tapered -- contract the Yankees here. He matches up although. No one would match up in terms of bomb presents in the way they go about their business and all that you'll own by in -- of the -- and AJ Burnett signed. That might be what you're looking for so yeah you know he's been injured people and I heard Peter yemen's fight the the playoffs the last couple years -- you can look at that a couple different -- there's production was down laughter oh wait because he was hurt but he was hurt -- He is a lot that I this is going to be passing negotiation because you're looking at the edge of guy edge of the kind of -- do you wanna give someone out four or five year contract you're starting pitcher but we also note that -- that he'd say well he's not he might not be -- certainly is the leader of that stuff they've they've at a time and time again you forgot they hold up -- Be able -- young pitchers how you about your business between starts. During game and so forth and so on how much -- it I don't know but I -- I think you can be sapping negotiation because I don't think there is a lot of cut and dry even people like -- day example I don't think there's nearly as much cut and I would can be -- expected.

Well -- Jason Varitek be the backup catcher here next year.

Well overall best Chapman be on this team and -- how much is it gonna cost.

All of -- about thirty million you've got these for four years. There's a law you know this is setting up or another Red Sox yankees negotiating war. But with a lot more keen to involve I think because also the key to looking at that there's a chance to get a guy with tremendous upside -- return -- rotation guy for not a huge amount of money it's competing mobile market you might be able -- Of people topic and I -- about the from the blog people up would be -- a little bit where this is still young you've been clocked a hundred mile an hour by a lot of people circulating through the lobby here you of this event in a short period that you think. You might not be ready for the Major League right now expectations might be too much -- that -- all that said when you're talking about. What -- identified as one Korean who -- about the world we were not a Major League won with duke guard Richard Japan and Strasbourg. We kept saying about them so. You pay for potential on the red card can certainly -- prince of potential I think they'll be in until the end when they get them or not picket the paddle while on the Yankees.

my final question I'm not gonna ask you to speak for the L but. Maybe I'm gonna ask you to give your analysis of what Theo was trying to say and this is a while ago and this has has gotten. A lot of running here on the station had a lot of legs after DNC. Interview -- when he started talking about. RBIs. -- that made it's that he he sounded as if he was saying that maybe RBIs. Aren't that important and -- Have a hard time believing. He feels that way I don't know if you've talked of the show about some of the other statistics. That measure up performance offensively and on the baseball field but what. What do you think he met.

I think he meant what he met and isn't really the way you. You know it is part of it is. Few days later he law on the -- and -- and and he knew what you you used to cook Scott for the trial. -- he writes -- and now and he has he helped. It a lot less than the -- you basically that people who value RBI and intelligent. In Africa if you if you value yeah that you. That you fail. If you don't like be going to the extreme weather also shows used -- recorder as -- pretty -- Corner growing -- of the baseball world. Who are working a lot more steps in and there's simply RBI and I think that's so with the coolest thing you would -- more you look at from the government that. And it that we valuing a lot more of an RBI in.

Rob -- the exact problem with that I don't have a problem with saying. Don't just look at these two stats look at eight up from but I do have a problem with saying. That you know this that this -- as a relevant or it's an intelligence test if you value. 01 stat like RBIs that you. Then maybe you're not seen the game -- and extreme and probably the public attitude.

I would agree and at one thing I've learned baseball. Especially since money bought it out is that the truth usually like somewhere in the medal. You know everyone taking sides of a lot of this stuff a lot of the old school new school. And I agree I agree. You know RBI might be diet is valuable a lot of people think. But there's still some value. And it's unfortunate I think because an unfortunate part of baseball and as great -- borrow one. This could -- wife -- is done and it hasn't stopped it between -- in the -- doubt it'll have been and everything else that is if people wanna paint things as it this way or that and that's just not how it is they've got the same thing with doubts. Doubt very useful for scalping useful it is not that way. So yeah unfortunately a lot of people put it that way I don't know what he meant to that extreme. But it'll keep -- bit.

People count blog at WEEI dot com is billed as a furiously updated Red Sox blog. That is even more the case sense rob Bradford is in Chicago for the GM meetings we check it every hour we'll continue to check it we appreciate stake in the time.

Thank -- they appreciate it.

Take care okay rob edits -- rob Bradford joining us from Chicago somethin' happens. They'll pop on the phone with -- almost immediately in -- and update things.