Kuzul

Shane Victorino was one of the lucky players to be selected to play for Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Victorino signed a three-year deal with the Boston Red Sox over the winter and departed from spring training early to go represent his country. In five games with Boston during camp, he went 0-for-11 with a pair of runs, four walks and three strikeouts. One of four outfielders on manager Joe Torre’s United States roster, Victorino played a variety of roles. Ryan Braun, Adam Jones and Giancarlo Stanton were more dangerous threats, so Victorino didn’t see much time in the outfield. He did get his fair share of playing time, though. Unfortunately for Victorino and Team USA, the Americans’ dream of winning the WBC came up short. The United States went 2-1 in Pool D play, but later lost two of three in Pool 2 and were eliminated ...

ESPNBoston’s Gordon Edes has reported that the Boston Red Sox and free agent outfielder Shane Victorino have agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract, pending a physical. The deal is already being widely lampooned, with ESPN.com’s Keith Law saying the deal “vaults to the top of the rankings of the worst contracts signed so far this offseason,” in his insider column. As of right now, Victorino is slated to be Boston’s starting right fielder, while providing backup depth in center field. However, the Boston outfield could continue to change as additional signings or trades are pondered. ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted that entering the offseason, it was estimated by at least one front-office man that Victorino would be lucky to get a one-year contract for modest money. One team guesstimated early in offseason that Victorino could be a good value buy at about $6-7 million on a one-year deal #explodingprices— Buster Olney ...

When the Boston Red Sox pulled off their franchise-altering trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in August, general manager Ben Cherington spoke of how the club planned to be more "disciplined" going forward.Assuming that's still the case, I can't wait to hear Cherington's rationale behind his decision to sign Shane Victorino. With the contract they've reportedly given him, the Red Sox are stretching the limits of the term "disciplined."Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe was the first to report that the Red Sox had a three-year offer worth $38 million out to the former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com came out and noted that the offer was actually worth $37.5 million. Big difference, you know.At any rate, Alex Speier of WEEI.com was the first to report that the deal is done: Sox have agreed with Victorino on 3yr deal— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 4, 2012 Indications are that Victorino will ...

Shane Victorino statistically had the worst full season of his career in 2012. Yet, the Red Sox still signed the free agent to a three-year, $39 million deal. Victorino posted career-low numbers in batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage. Last season, the 32-year-old hit .255 and slugged .383 with 72 runs, 29 doubles, seven triples, 11 homers and 55 runs batted in. He had a career-high 39 stolen bases, but he also posted a career-high 80 strikeouts and a career low .704 OPS. Not once in the 2012 season did the Hawaiian native hit greater than .290 or slug greater than .450 in a month (excluding October, in which he played three games). In the final two full months of his contract year, Victorino hit .239 with only 13 extra base hits and 15 RBI combined. The soon-to-be Red Sox right fielder really hasn’t been that great over ...

After shedding millions of dollars in bad contracts last season, the Boston Red Sox Tuesday surprised a lot of people by signing Shane Victorino to a three-year contract for a reported total of $38 million (via Boston.com).  The 31-year-old outfielder is expected to be the Opening Day right fielder for the Red Sox and could spell center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury when needed. Grabbing someone with the ability to steal over 30 bases a year and has Gold Glove defensive ability really is not the worst thing the Sox could have done, but signing someone who cannot consistently hit left-handed pitching and teaching him to play right field for three years is another matter. In essence, they gave Torii Hunter money for a player that is a bit faster, but has less power. For all the talk of fiscal prudence, Victorino becomes the second player in as many days to get around ...

The Boston Red Sox are making moves at the winter meetings that make sense, like signing Mike Napoli to play first base on a three-year contract. First, there was a tweet from the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo saying that the Sox are close to signing Shane Victorino to a three-year contract. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal then tweeted that the dollar amount for the potential signing would be $37.5 million. WEEI's Alex Speier has reported that it is a done deal. Yikes. $37.5 million for Shane Victorino seems like a lot of money for a player who looks to be on the downside of his career. The 32-year-old Victorino isn't a bad player, but the Sox could have done better to upgrade their outfield. The switch-hitting Victorino struggled in 2012, ending the season with a slash line of .255/.321/.383 split between time with the Phillies and Dodgers. Looking at his splits, ...

Free-agent outfielder Shane Victorino has inked a deal with the Boston Red Sox.The news comes to us via Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Sox have agreed with Victorino on 3yr deal— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 4, 2012 The 32-year-old veteran was one of the top free-agent outfielders available this offseason, and despite his advancing age, the two-time All-Star still has plenty of value.According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Victorino's three-year deal is worth $39 million. Victorino and #RedSox: Three years, $39M.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 4, 2012 Victorino is a three-time Gold Glove winner, and his defense remains above average. He can play any position in the outfield with competence, but he is at his best when roaming in center.He also swiped a career-high 39 steals last season, and he was caught stealing just six times. He remains one of the elite base-stealers in the game. If age is going to rob him of a step, ...

Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has certainly proven himself this winter as being a man of discipline.Well, thus far anyway.In signing David Ross, Jonny Gomes and Mike Napoli there has been one consistent theme: overpay for shorter contracts while filling a need.The Red Sox gave free agent catcher Ross two years and $6.2 million to be a back up; or so it seems.They followed that move up by signing Gomes to a two-year $10 million contract, which had some fans scratching their heads. For all intents and purposes, Gomes will likely be a fourth outfielder. Many fans have been clamoring to Boston sports radio, calling for the team to bring back Cody Ross.Reportedly, Cody Ross is looking for a three-year deal in the ballpark of $25 million—a price the team has yet to cough up for the slugger.By adding Mike Napoli to the mix, once again the team likely overpaid, ...

It's Day 2 of the MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. and rumors continue to swirl, all while free agents are scooped up off the market (see Dan Haren to Washington via USA Today).One of this winter's top targets is outfielder Shane Victorino, who has as many as seven suitors according to Jon Heyman of cbssports.com.Of those seven teams, almost half of them reside in the AL East division (those being the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees).All three of these teams are either contenders or a few pieces from being contenders, and the Yankees and Red Sox have the money to spend (though both teams are saying they're going to be slightly more conservative than they have been in years past).With the Rays recently losing B.J. Upton to the Braves, the Red Sox having major holes in their outfield and the Yankees having lost ...

Whether or not the San Francisco Giants are able to re-sign center fielder Angel Pagan, the team is lacking in outfield depth.  With a free-agent market full of big-name outfielders (Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn), the Giants have several options.  The Los Angeles Dodgers' Shane Victorino is the best fit for San Francisco.  The Giants were successful in 2012 for a variety of reasons, two of which included their ability to manufacture runs and their unique team chemistry.  Victorino would not only contribute to, but would also ultimately strengthen, this style of play.  These are only a few of the reasons the Giants should take a good look at the Flyin' Hawaiian.San Francisco hitters may not be the most patient at the plate, but they do make a lot of contact. Second baseman Marco Scutaro led all of MLB with a 92.5 percent contact rate, and fellow G-men in ...