Ben Cherington, Red Sox GM, Joins Mustard and Johnson Live at "Christmas at Fenway"

Welcome back to Christmas that Fenway is the tenth annual Christmas at Fenway first half we got it over the royal -- club commemorating those are passionate fans from a hundred years ago but. As Larry Lucchino said earlier we're -- looking backwards we're looking forward and I'm sure one of those people would certainly concur ribat. Very relieved is only thirty days left in 2012. General manager. The Boston Red Sox bench area -- and then happy holidays -- Another great event. Yeah thanks revenues is greater than -- reminder that there's a lot to look forward to not just later this month but. Next year and no that's. What's the I don't know quite how it did it it's not a question of picking up old bones. We're the same time to do what you do effectively. You have to revisit. The past year and and that September. Two issues that become better discipline and what you mean by that. Well you know you don't learn from your past mistakes obviously when the season goes as -- is 2012 and it means that. Wasn't just a bunch of bad breaks -- we had some bad breaks but. A lot of things that led to that you have to go back and examine your decisions. On several years back to -- figure out how it ended up there. And you know I guess the biggest lesson we learned is that. You know when we've been good. Really did in the past we've had a good we've got a good mix of the right veteran right young players -- typically. Done better by. You know trying to stay discipline them and find me. -- -- right that's the main make as big headline. But your team about. So. I'm assuming by disappoint you being that the Red Sox are not going to be. Mean a big spenders but they have been the last several years that was happening and. No I don't think so I think. I don't know where -- Maryland's we're and but a number right now but I'm sure will be significant. You know I think I think. But there's there's different ways to get to this -- if -- -- -- you know you can do it by. Accumulating a lot of good players. That fit into the team concept and that's what we're trying to do. You know. I don't know that this offseason is. Will be the one where was that big big headlines -- -- may -- well we'll see you know we'll see what comes this week in Nashville that. What we're focused on trying to find the right. People. Great town great people in this team for playing thirteen and building. You know a great team over to ask you this job that we just had winter meetings well the last month or so that was another winter -- session. GM meetings where I am in November okay how is that different than the one that happens -- Disney's little smaller teams that he would easily GMs and their assistants and there are some agents there and some media -- it's smaller gathering earlier in the offseason really more about this exchange of ideas and it's. The winter meetings obviously bigger. Bigger group of people everyone from professional baseball league minor league media agencies is a much bigger group of people and you deeper into the offseason so. -- to percolate a little bit more it's more likely that deals happen and to analyze this happen. Most people successful businesses operate on a five year plan. I believe you probably do something similar to that -- even though you're sitting here today you know what -- you're gonna have to be somewhat over the next couple years. So we leave the field with the Dodgers to unload some of the salary. Did you also know we're at that time that the Cubs would be a little more beer than usual with free agent. The opportunities and trading people we we did look. Floored to not just this last season but next offseason through the class. When we made that field. We knew what what opportunities might -- what opportunities might not exist. And then of course is always a chance to make -- And did build a team that way. And until we knew limitations. What we felt despite the limitations lose the race. Moved to make it. Can't ever completely predict what opportunities that lie ahead you know for example the Marlins signed Jose Reyes a year ago and then a year later he is available in trade him and thrown out himself. It's hard nose predicting what players might be available just by looking at creating classes. But it is something certainly looked that wouldn't feel. Could Red Sox fan base. Really -- handle it like I think just him I said that Larry -- it is the Bridgeport being around here in the south Africans as well. -- fan's view of the fact that you think look. If we're gonna do the best we can put a competitive team out here we're gonna try and find people. But we don't want to be careless and we we got building I could I tell you when we will Meyer's name came up. And you don't want to get into specifics but I sense everybody started getting excited about. I think what our fans are looking towards that direction. You're looking for something they can grab onto and think for some some things -- -- to believe in and then. And I'm not gonna predict you know win total Tony thirteen. Confident that will be over at the team and improve the team. We're trying to build Suns games. And something happens to. We're the rumors floating around this week. I surprised the Red Sox -- Jon Lester is named. 42 -- Kansas City paper perhaps a trade to the Royals were prospect etiquette specifically addressed -- but really I have heard that what was the what was your reaction to that. Mean I agree Tucker umpires but lost the last. A lot of Red Sox fans were spite of the talk here last year they might be a little alarmed about. Yeah well you know a lot of rumors out there in the offseason and a lot of a lot of things you can -- about. Some of them have. Had some days is truth and others don't. -- I can say is that number one. Looking at -- filled -- team. That is not just competitive and when their team who really did him in and gets to be a great team over time. And you have to be open minded doing that. But I can't imagine. I can't imagine. We're not. -- we're we're we're focused we're not just focus on the future holds them next year -- -- until ordered to do something that was. Hurt us late next year we have to be you have to be so overwhelming. Feel -- -- You have to set us up so well down over. There's a way to do both as a way to build. Good strong team next year and still. Protect. A lot of -- And doesn't return there. It's amazing if we've got this event for many. News and it was just three years ago. That everybody was thrilled with the big free agent acquisitions. The deal was to replace general manager. Everybody thought majors -- Dallas -- walker would be nothing but. Successful players in the Red Sox continue to be a big spending major markets. Told the conversation is different. Yeah he's like you guys really hit it in -- when you were hired. Were you catch -- guy who has got you came from the bottom off it. It's different mentality seems now in this organization to start putting his stamp out Nathalie finished with depth and talent. Well you know it's not just me it's noses in an effort starts and ownership and balls that man here coaching staff myself in the front office and -- we're trying to build. The strongest organization but then put the best team on the field. Over time look the reality is we lost 93 games so you have to be. Was sort of broaden our jobs if we're not. Open minded. As the as the ways to get better. You can't you can't just make little changes tonight. Think attendance obviously. All of sudden turnaround and I like that so we have to actually have to feel for my that we can't beat -- prisoners. Things from them. In and a lot of a lot of long nights this you're trying to figure out that out of this out of this if it is going to. But through that process and -- a lot of conversations. You find some things out about yourself fluent with the seasonal flu but we're putting some things in practice. What if from your reverse about the long term contracts and have you. Look at it differently now after revisiting history that you can kind of put a limit on depending on the guy gauge how -- you wanna go. Well there's there's this thing you've always believe -- -- is certainly keeping guys. That are still in their prime years were knocked me back in. In his thirties generally is the principles are as good thing there are exceptions you know guys there's guys like David Ortiz and continue to perform and we're lucky here because -- intended for me so -- the team. That a successful that is rule but generally you know you're one of those teams those guys that are mostly in their prime years. And and there are there are long term contracts that have worn out worked out. For the Red Sox are also other teams. It's just a matter of being selective in. And giving us confidence in the right people. People that you know you would you believe in them. The qualities that. We'll work involves any help from the stereo where the rest of the young pitchers you got from the garden you expect anything from them that you. -- -- Rose has been able to -- he's he's succeeded in the big leagues in the masters on that and have enough time announcer you'll -- -- to will be slowed them get to know in spring training. -- -- -- -- we believe he could help us and doing their team at some point. Webster. Hasn't. Yet in the AAA so we'll get a taste of that this year he's very talented young guys athletic with really good stuff. Still measles or development. Like triple. Me ask you about the rest of the division obviously the Red Sox are looking up an unusual perspective for a Red Sox team. Toronto making big splash in the offseason. I yankees obviously always are going to be up in -- tree and got the Orioles coming off their their best season in 1516 years. A what have they done so far in the how are you -- watching them. Are you. Responding to them or you just worried about the Red Sox in a vacuum. I think through the division is so competitive. That you can't chase any one team just have to focus on building. It is a much different division and was in the early part of the last decade -- Clearly had the Yankees. You know I was chasing the Yankees -- trying to catch up. It's a much I think it's -- much flatter division now it's. You know the Yankees and he did -- -- the beginning of the season because the Orioles if you get assistance. There's no Guinea's. And so we have to go to his team to compete competed that. Because he's so competitive and so flat -- -- more flat things to be. You know we just got to focus on ourselves because. You've hired to batting coaches fly in how about where. Well John feels and I agree that and job -- -- -- this person. There's that you are thirteen position players and they owns the right amount of time every day. You know you have one guy who's got to prepare for a game break out of pitcher. No suspense out thirteen different guys -- -- -- -- and that's and that's definitely has to be the some things get missed and we don't wanna miss any -- to overlook any good a lot of teams teams that started this. We're gonna try it's it's incumbent upon the TP -- into the -- -- the alignment so that we think. They straightforward victories are variables little will be aligned. We know both guys both guys for sure. Hear nothing but about the players and helping the players that really stand in there you know to. Most tireless workers that I have ever been around. So we're looking forward to the staff we've put together we couldn't put together his staff not just victories but the entire staff. It was surprising -- Dennis and Callahan the other day you and they were you actually sit down with the agents and in in just the kind of break the -- to get a feel for we'll put the player. This money doesn't even enter the conversation for the first day a couple of hours. I would think that would be one of the first things get to get find out whether or not there even in the ballpark. Well I think if you know this goes back to the with the fact that you know we're human -- and players will be. You first -- sit down and talk about whether. There's a job here that makes sense and it's like you would win your first conversation with your Donovan. No my upper body might be. And like he was his world was I see myself working here and as soon -- -- work with these people. As is that our -- live and all those things. Money doesn't it it doesn't take -- -- to get the money doesn't have a conversation if they're pretty quick. But there are the things that matter in the play players especially players that are free agency. It's the first time I've ever really had a choice. You know guys Addison streets the first time you think about it signed as an amateur. They had there they are controlled by the team they signed them and then through the first six years -- big league career. Here you don't have those -- will be there in arbitration your trades really don't have a choice so. It's really appropriate since the first time in the choice that makes sense that a player would take advantage of that to find out about our it is truly -- world for the next few years. I honestly don't we go to -- Would have been more responsibility of an open check for occasions when things don't really -- to -- -- you can just go there and because he thought if I could -- -- I -- out alright yeah I know he's. Definitely narrow. We need funded because for a few days and then couple years ago reality is that. Let me ask you this I hear -- as a player on the Red Sox roster it's going to be a free agent at the end of next season. He has a pretty. Formidable. Agent what your relationship what mr. For us. I think it's just you know workers got a lot of things in the past. And I think it you know one thing that. Maybe people don't know as is that he's. He's such a Smart baseball guy he is that he was a baseball player. And he's been around the game so much he really knows the game you can evaluate. He knows what. Players need to -- improvements that are. Once when you have a player in the organization represented us out and try to get something done -- player. On the field -- in conditioning. You know season. He's he's very helpful in those areas is ultimately. He wants the same thing we do a lot of the players succeeds. Good for us it's who plays different it's -- on. You know it comes to contract negotiation. These he's as Smart very Smart lawyer. And he's he's a tough negotiator and he's got a job -- in -- What is your response and I know it's the other way if we don't talk about the other New York team very much. General manager spots -- Mets. And David -- you know for years. I think generally was you player of that caliber who's been in. Organization like that for that long and these guys from. Find that he'll make sense it's a good thing it's a good thing for baseball -- thing and that's to think David Wright. I think baseball benefit from. Having star level players. Who have come up and -- Opener or is -- to become the face of the franchise. That and find a way to keep those players can't do that -- one obviously it's it's not the nature of the game. But I think when it when it does have a -- Longoria. Earlier David Wright and other examples. It's a good thing for baseball. That possibility for Jacoby Ellsbury is no question we'll see you know he's -- guy -- you know -- is. When he's healthy and on the field he's had some tough dramatic injuries. That you know he couldn't control the ball flying things on the field and you know we're hopeful we'll have that conversation at the right this offseason. One way -- another -- we're excited that he's -- to if you work at put a percentage time you think more changes we'll be neat. I prayed for by free agent signing. I was asked that question earlier today I don't know I think I think that what it means that it's easy answer for that against. So much of it up the next week as -- -- you know you're dancing. Agents advances teams through. You know out what's can take to get something done. And then things start to happen the dominoes Arkansas and then it becomes clearer it does -- so this won't cost them this. And that sort of guide your direction you go more toward free agency more -- period so I think will be an answer that question better in the next week does that make it more difficult so when you have. A shopping list like things that you. Know you have to do. It's not a lot of luxury of having a full roster are ready and just kind of thinking we do it loving it just makes it makes our job. It makes in this certain people as many balls you can. And that's what we're doing both in free agency and trade discussions. But it's fun you know you kind of put together a puzzle. Keeping keeping as many volunteers and fans there's going to handle things the right ones ball. And and that's were doing and they'll start the policies are the -- sometimes -- this article from from. Used to talk to Theo was very have they talked I thought that you know people -- every team. You know and then the season right now last year it worked out for the Red Sox. Sure I think it is more focused on the Cubs but -- if they're good they're doing a great year 300 guys that -- How do you start any anybody's. Didn't hear -- part of this and there's about Boston's -- these -- -- Two. Well as they -- only thirty days left in 2012. I know that you would -- ever but it John. Tom and everybody else can't wait for 2013. The Red Sox fans of the Brewers. Thanks Matt thank them into a fair opportunity general manager of the Boston Red Sox joining us at Christmas that we have Sports Radio WB yeah.