12:00 a.m.: Ben Cherington took some tough questions from the crowd with one on the decision to sign Mike Napoli over Adam LaRoche and another on why they didn’t sign Cody Ross. Cherington said the team offered three deals to Ross and ultimately the Diamondbacks offered a better deal.

Cherington said Napoli’s swing is well designed for Fenway, and they liked his patience at the plate. He said the decision not to sign LaRoche came down to the fact that they would have to give up a draft pick. The pair spoke about the minor league system a lot during the Red Sox Town Hall and it’s important to use the draft to build that system.

Cherington also spoke on the decision to trade for Joel Hanrahan. The bullpen was not a priority coming into the offseason, but they liked the value they could get out of Koji Uehara and Hanrahan. Cherington said Boston’s offer to the Pirates for the closer matched up well and that they also like Brock Holt, the prospect they got in the deal.

John Farrell spoke on the decision to name Hanrahan the closer now rather than during Spring Training. He said he’s been in that position before and he prefers players to have a certain mentality coming into the spring. He also said that just because a player has a role now, doesn’t mean he’ll still have it entering the season.

Farrell and Cherington were also asked a couple of historical questions. For an all-time Red Sox starting rotation, together they picked Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Jon Lester and Luis Tiant. Tom Caron joked that Cy Young was on line two.

Farrell was asked about the managers he had through his playing career and what qualities he took away from them. He said that Doc Edwards was like a father figure to him and that he reminded him a lot of his dad. He said that John McNamara was a players’ manager and that he turned a lot of decisions over to the players.

Overall, Farrell and Cherington are both very confident heading into spring training. They’re happy with the clubhouse chemistry they’ve built and the quality of players they’ve signed.

11:43 p.m.: Last season, the Red Sox made a difficult decision when they traded Kevin Youkilis to the White Sox. Cherington spoke about that trade at length at the Red Sox Town Hall. He said that if hindsight were 20-20, he may reconsider the trade.

After Boston made the Adrian Gonzalez trade in August, there was a hole at first base, one that Cherington says the team is still trying to fill.

At the time, Cherington didn’t see a way to deal with the situation the Red Sox were in with Gonzalez, Youkilis, Will Middlebrooks and David Ortiz that would work out productively and in the clubhouse and that would be fair to Youk.

John Farrell also says he has already identified Jon Lester’s issues and they’re all mechanical. If anyone can fix Lester, in John we trust.

11:31 p.m.: John Farrell praised the Red Sox ownership, saying that from 2002 on, this team has been second to none as far as what it’s accomplished. He said the focal point this season will be winning and concentrating on winning each and every game. Sounds a little like Bill Belichick down in Foxboro. Farrell also said he was surprised Craig Biggio didn’t get into the hall of fame.

Ben Cherington spoke about Red Sox legend Dwight Evans. Cherington thinks that Dewey should be in the hall of fame, and that if he played today he’d be valued much higher because of his ability to get on base, his fielding and his base running.

11:22 p.m.: There’s lots of talk about the Red Sox farm system at the Town Hall.

Cherington feels good about the farm system and says building a team on young players comes in cycles. Cherington said that even though the 2004 team is beloved, the 2007 and 2008 teams were the best because they offered a blend of veterans and young players.

Farrell says he feels good about the team that Cherington has assembled. They’re getting the team coming in fully healthy, which is something that rarely happened in 2012. Farrell also answered a question about interpreters and joked he wishes the team had them in 2007. The new manager supports the idea because when it gets down to more intricate language, it becomes more difficult to players that can’t speak English as well.

11: 12 p.m.: Ben Cherington shot down any rumors that the Red Sox front office is not committed to winning or that marketing as dictated team decisions.

He said he talked to Larry Lucchino when the current ownership bought the team in 2002 and they decided that having a winning team is the best way to build a business. Cherington said all decisions that have been made are to build a winning team.

John Farrell said that he believes that Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard are strong players to build around and that he has confidence in the starting rotation.

Farrell also discussed some lineup decisions. He said he could see Shane Victorino batting in the two hole against lefties with Dustin Pedroia sliding down to third. Against righties, Farrell says he can see Victorino batting fifth or sixth.

11 p.m.: Red Sox Town Hall is kicking off now on NESN. Ben Cherington and John Farrell will be answering fan questions with Tom Caron hosting.

8 a.m. ET: The Red Sox are in the midst of a very busy offseason, and the club’s roster is really starting to take shape. That doesn’t mean there still aren’t questions to be answered, though, and some lucky fans were fortunate enough to ask those questions as part of the annual Red Sox Town Hall.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and new skipper John Farrell were on hand to answer questions Thursday at La Salle Academy in Providence, R.I. Now, you’ll have a chance to hear those answers, as the 2013 Red Sox Town Hall Presented by Cape Air will air on NESN on Saturday at 11 p.m. — following NESN’s Boston Bruins coverage.

The annual event is one that continues to be a success, and during an active offseason like this, the open forum becomes must-see television.

So be sure to tune in to NESN at 11 p.m. Saturday to get your Red Sox fix, because, believe it or not, baseball is just around the corner.

Red Sox fans have plenty of questions about this year’s team heading into the new season after a tumultuous 2012 campaign and a busy offseason. Luckily, they will have a chance to see some of those questions answered by some key members of the Red Sox organization.

New Red Sox manager John Farrell and second-year general manager Ben Cherington will appear at this year’s Red Sox Town Hall presented by Cape Air on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 11 p.m. It will air on NESN.

Tom Caron will host the interactive event between the Red Sox and their fans along with reporters Adam Pellerin and Jamie Erdahl.

Additionally, fans at home can participate in the Q&A by submitting questions for Farrell and Cherington to answer using a #RedSoxTownHall hashtag on Twitter.

The Red Sox’ roster is taking shape with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to spring training in less than a month. But general manager Ben Cherington isn’t ruling out adding some pieces between now and then.

Cherington said before Thursday’s Red Sox Town Hall that he’s looking at some bench options, specifically a left-handed bat who can play both the outfield and first base. The assumption is that this player would back up both Mike Napoli — assuming he signs — and Jonny Gomes, both of whom are right-handed and have fared better against left-handed pitching throughout their respective careers. It sounds like whoever assumes that backup role could come from outside the organization, or the job could be won during spring training.

Cherington was also asked about the Red Sox’ pitching staff and whether the emergence of some of the organization’s young hurlers lessens the emphasis placed on bringing in veteran pitchers to compete in the spring. The Red Sox GM acknowledged that he is a bit more confident in the young guys now than a year ago, but he also didn’t rule out potentially adding an experienced pitcher if he thinks it’s a good fit.

Check out the video above to hear more from Cherington.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

It seems very likely that Mike Napoli will be playing for the Red Sox in 2013. Speaking before the Red Sox Town Hall on Thursday, Ben Cherington would not confirm the reports that the Sox have agreed to a one-year deal with the veteran slugger, but he did seem very optimistic that something could be announced before long.

Cherington acknowledged that the Red Sox have made progress in their talks with Napoli, who was believed to be on his way to Boston back at the beginning of December before a hip issue arose during his physical with the club. The Red Sox GM said he hopes to have more formal news very soon, even if it’s not within the next couple of days.

“We’re making some progress,” Cherington said. “It’s fair to say we’ve made some progress in the last day or so. Hopefully, we’ll have something more formal to say soon, but not [Thursday].”

Cherington was asked whether there has ever been any doubt about a deal getting done, but he pointed to the open dialogue between the two sides as evidence that something always seemed possible.

Check out the video above to hear more from Cherington.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Click here for an opinion on Napoli’s reported deal >>

It seems like just yesterday that John Farrell was leading the Red Sox’ pitching staff under Terry Francona. But two years have passed since Farrell left to manage the Blue Jays, so he understands some things in Boston have changed.

Farrell said before Thursday’s Red Sox Town Hall that he’s been trying to reconnect with players and meet new players since getting hired as the club’s new manager back in October. Farrell is known for taking a hands-on managerial approach, so this concerted effort to reach out to his players isn’t all that surprising. Still, the Sox skipper made it clear that interacting with guys before spring training has been a major emphasis.

Farrell wants the Red Sox to be as prepared as possible before heading into the 2013 season, and he couldn’t be any more excited about the idea of leading Boston back to the top of the AL East.

Check out the video above to hear Farrell’s take on the current offseason.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

In order for the Red Sox to rebound in 2013, they’ll need better starting pitching. Since success on the mound often starts at the top, the club will need Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz to perform well on consistent basis.

To manager John Farrell, that means the two hurlers must “pitch to their capabilities.” Farrell, of course, coached both pitchers in the past, so he understands what makes them tick, and he knows what they’re capable of when healthy and at the top of their game.

Farrell also talked about Daniel Bard while addressing the media before Thursday’s Red Sox Town Hall. The Boston skipper said he believes Bard’s mindset has gotten better, and he appears very optimistic about the right-hander’s 2013 potential.

Check out the video above to hear more from Farrell.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

John Lackey

Simply put, we don’t know what to expect from Lackey, who went 26-23 with a 5.26 ERA in two seasons with the Sox before undergoing Tommy John surgery during the 2011 offseason. He could follow in the footsteps of the many hurlers who have actually pitched better after the procedure, or he could still be the pitcher who has vastly underperformed since inking a five-year deal before the 2010 season.

For many Red Sox fans, it’s hard to be optimistic. Not only are there now health concerns regarding Lackey, although all indications are that he’s ready to go, but it’s also hard to get past the 6.41 ERA he posted in 28 starts in 2011.

Before writing Lackey off completely, though, let’s not forget the success he enjoyed in Los Angeles. The veteran righty gained a reputation as a guy who loved pressure situations, and he was widely considered to be the Angels’ workhorse. Lackey even finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2007, a season in which he went 19-9 with a 3.01 ERA.

The Red Sox are an interesting team heading into this season. There’s still plenty of talent on the roster, but last year’s struggles left a bad taste in the mouths of many. Climbing the AL East ladder won’t be easy, but in order to do so, the Red Sox need quality starting pitching — something they didn’t have last year.

While the pressure falls largely on the shoulders of the team’s top two starters, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, Lackey is a player who could end up surprising the skeptics.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Four members of the Red Sox — Shane Victorino (United States), Alfredo Aceves (Mexico), Xander Bogaerts (Netherlands) and Jose De La Torre (Puerto Rico) — are listed on the provisional rosters for this year’s WBC, which will be held in San Francisco. It’s the third edition of the event, and while it provides an opportunity to see some of baseball’s best go head-to-head on a global stage, there’s always going to be the inherent injury risk.

“I guess whenever you have less control over a player you have a little bit of anxiety,” Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said of the WBC before Thursday’s Red Sox Town Hall. “But, look, they’re going to be playing games one way or another. They’re either going to be playing games in Fort Myers [for spring training] or in the WBC. I guess perhaps the intensity level is a little bit different but you take it case by case.”

Case by case certainly seems to be the approach taken by this year’s Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia, who has battled finger injuries, opted to skip the event, and most others elected to do the same. The aforementioned quartet decided the experience is worthwhile, though, and Cherington is all right with their decision.

“It’s case by case, but the guys right now that are candidates to play we’re OK with,” Cherington said. “And those are guys that we’ve talked to and talked about and are comfortable with their participation.”

Cherington cites the safeguards that have been put in place for his increased comfort level, and he said that he supports the event. Red Sox manager John Farrell also wouldn’t put down the WBC, although he was quick to point out how important it is for major league teams to spend time together before the season, especially when there are new players involved.

“Well there’s a couple of things that quickly come to mind,” Farrell said. “In this first spring training for us, for the new staff, with a number of new players, the time that we spend together will be critical for us, as I personally feel how we identify each other is going to be key. But we’re not going to stand in the way, nor can we stand in the way of the WBC and representing countries that our players are from. So what that final roster looks like, who we might miss, we’ll probably reserve judgment until we see the total number of players that might be out of camp.”

The World Baseball Classic will kick off on March 2, and Japan will enter as the two-time defending champion.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

If it is, it’s Ben Cherington‘s best work.

While the Red Sox began to take some heat from those insisting the club should explore other first-base options, Cherington and Co. remained patient and kept their focus primarily on Napoli, and they’ve now reportedly inked the veteran to a very club-friendly deal. Napoli, according to reports, will earn a $5 million base salary in 2013, and could play his way to a $13 million payday if he doesn’t spend any time on the disabled list as a result of the hip injury that elongated the negotiations.

That’s a far cry from the three-year, $39 million contract the two sides reportedly agreed upon back at the winter meetings in December. It’s also a much better deal for the Red Sox in the wake of what was starting to take on “Hipgate” status.

The new deal — which Cherington wouldn’t yet confirm at Thursday’s Red Sox Town Hall at La Salle Academy in Providence, despite sounding optimistic — seems to be exactly what the Red Sox were looking for when they opted to reopen negotiations following Napoli’s underwhelming physical. The Sox no longer have to worry about getting bogged down with a bad three-year contract should Napoli’s hip issue linger, and they’re only on the hook for a maximum of $13 million — the same annual salary Napoli would have earned as part of the initial deal.

The Red Sox will also have an opportunity to reassess the situation next offseason, as the deal reportedly doesn’t include any options. Napoli will simply have one season to show that he has plenty of baseball left in the tank, and if he doesn’t, the two sides could simply part ways without any long-lasting repercussions.

Now, this whole situation could be looked at in one of two ways. If Napoli remains healthy, and thus provides the Red Sox with the right-handed power bat they so desperately need, this deal has the potential to be one of the biggest bargains of the offseason — for any team. On the flip side, such a club-friendly contract seems to indicate that the hip issue is very real.

For much of the offseason, we’ve heard about this rumored hip injury detected in Napoli, but not a whole lot was known about the severity of the ailment. And while we still don’t know the extent of it, it’s hard to be optimistic when a three-year, $39 million guaranteed contract reportedly dwindles to a one-year, incentive-laden pact. Clearly, there is some level of concern regarding Napoli’s health as we get ready to kick off spring training in a month.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, even if Napoli’s hip acts up and his production leans more toward his subpar 2012 season than his breakout campaign in 2011, they’ll be able to sleep easier at night knowing they won’t have to endure two more injury-plagued seasons after 2013. That relatively low risk, yet potentially high reward, makes this deal absolutely worthwhile for Boston.

The Red Sox reportedly did their homework on some other options, but the team wisely steered clear and set their sights on the guy they wanted from the onset. There were reports linking the Red Sox to Adam LaRoche, who eventually re-signed with the Nationals, and Mike Morse, who the Nationals traded to the Mariners. Neither was a very appealing option, though.

Signing LaRoche would have required the Red Sox to relinquish draft-pick compensation due to the qualifying offer issued by Washington. Additionally, LaRoche would have come with more of a financial commitment, while Morse would have cost Boston a high-end prospect. Those are some less-than-appetizing circumstances, especially when you consider Napoli is hands-down a better fit for Boston’s lineup.

Some might be enamored by LaRoche’s big 2012, and others salivated over Morse’s power potential, but Napoli’s patient approach and success at Fenway Park are much more substantial. LaRoche’s splits at Fenway aren’t too pretty, and Morse is a free-swinger whose walk-to-strikeout ratio (0.16) was the worst in baseball in 2012 among hitters with at least 400 plate appearances. Napoli, meanwhile, has the swing that’s tailor-made for Fenway, but also an approach that should force opposing pitchers to work hard every time he steps into the box — an approach conducive with the Red Sox’ overall offensive philosophy going forward.

One can expect Napoli, if healthy, to play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder this season. He’ll also be playing to earn a multiyear deal after this season, and a little extra motivation never hurt anyone.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

One player who was on the ballot for the first time this year, but failed to get in was Curt Schilling. Schilling has never been linked to steroids, so his snub was simply a product of the writers feeling that his numbers aren’t quite Hall of Fame worthy.

There are plenty Red Sox fans who might say otherwise, though. Schilling’s 2004 playoff heroics will forever live in baseball lore, and his postseason resume as a whole is very impressive.

Schilling, who has three World Series rings to his credit, was 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 career playoff starts, proving that the right-hander turned it on when the games mattered most. Of course, his most memorable performance — at least around Boston — was in Game 6 of the ALCS, when he shut down the Yankees for seven innings to help the Red Sox stay alive. We all know what happened after that.

Schilling is also highly regarded around Arizona because of his epic performance in the 2001 World Series, and there really is no denying his flair for the dramatic. His regular season numbers, while still impressive, are what ultimately could hold Schilling back.

The big righty went 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA over the course of 20 seasons. He earned six All-Star selections, finished second in Cy Young voting three times and won 20 games on two occasions.

That’s some impressive stuff, but Cooperstown is reserved for truly special players. Would you consider Schilling to truly be among the game’s all-time greats?

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

The Red Sox and Napoli have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford. According to Bradford’s source, the deal is for one year without any team, player or vesting options, although there are incentives that could net Napoli $13 million if he avoids the disabled list with any hip troubles.

Originally, it was reported that the team had signed the first baseman/catcher to a three-year deal worth $39 million. However, apparent issues on a physical prevented the Red Sox from making the deal official, and the two sides then reopened negotiations.

Last season, Napoli played just 103 games for the Rangers while batting .227. While he has spent much of his career as a catcher, Napoli is expected to start at first base for the Red Sox and play most of the time in the infield for the Sox.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall presented by Cape Air on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19. Submit your questions for Ben Cherington or John Farrell to answer on Twitter using #RedSoxTownHall.

Photo via Facebook/Mike Napoli

Dustin Pedroia

Pedroia, who is coming off a down season by his standards, was slated to represent Team USA in 2009, but he strained his oblique muscle while doing drills before a game. That, along with various injuries suffered to his fingers, is likely a big reason why the Red Sox second baseman opted to sit this one out.

Those in the Red Sox organization might be happy with this decision, as they saw Daisuke Matsuzaka seemingly wear himself down a bit during the 2009 tournament, but some Boston fans would probably like to see their guys play on the big stage — it’s similar to watching Bruins players lace up the skates in the Olympics.

All in all, however, there’s two sides to the added workload that comes with a WBC appearance. While some will insist it helps certain players get game ready — as a result of the preparation and competitiveness — before the start of the MLB season, others think the injury risk is far too high. After all, more games means more chances to develop some sort of ailment, and the extra work could cause players to wear down at some point during a 162-game big league slate.

So, Red Sox fans, what side of the fence are you on? Do you enjoy watching the hometown heroes put on a show for the rest of the world, or you would you prefer they all take a pass like Pedroia?

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Xander Bogaerts

According to ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes, Bogaerts, a native of Aruba, is likely to represent Team Netherlands in this year’s World Baseball Classic.

Bogaerts, who was on the Netherlands squad that upset Cuba in the 2011 Baseball World Cup, has quickly climbed the ladder in the Red Sox’ system, and he’s now considered to be the franchise’s shortstop of the future. Bogaerts played in 127 total games split between High-A and Double-A last season, and he hit .307 with 20 home runs, 81 RBIs and an .896 OPS.

Some have speculated that Bogaerts could eventually shift from shortstop to third base, a position generally more conducive with the 20-year-old’s 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame, but there’s no indication yet that the Red Sox are leaning in that direction.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Photo via Facebook/Xander Bogaerts

According to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox are exploring trades for a left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder.

Cafardo points out that such a player would compliment Mike Napoli at first base and Jonny Gomes in left field. That, of course, is based on the assumption that the Red Sox will eventually finalize a deal with Napoli, who still hasn’t officially signed with the club seven months after initial reports surfaced stating that a three-year deal was in place.

Napoli and Gomes are both right-handed hitters who have traditionally fared better against left-handed pitching. Napoli’s batting average and on-base percentage against left-handers are .273 and .381, respectively, while he’s a .253 hitter with a .347 on-base percentage against right-handers. Gomes has a .284 career average and a .382 career on-base percentage against left-handers, while he’s hit .223 with a .307 on-base percentage in his career against righties.

It remains to be seen who, specifically, the Red Sox have in mind to fill the role described by Cafardo. They have also checked out free agency, though, as they reportedly worked out Bobby Abreu a couple of weeks ago.

The Red Sox are exploring trades for a lefthanded hitting first baseman/outfielder to compliment Napoli at first and Gomes in left

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) January 16, 2013

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

According to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, Napoli and the Red Sox have made progress and continue to try to work out an agreement after the original three-year, $39 million deal hit a snag.

Multiple reports have indicated that the Red Sox are trying to alter their original deal with Napoli after the veteran was found to have a hip issue during his physical with the club. The Sox reportedly want some form of protective language, or they could seek a shorter deal out of fear that Napoli won’t remain healthy for the duration of a multiyear contract.

Heyman reports that there is a belief that there will be a resolution to the situation by next week at the latest, even though Napoli and the Red Sox are keeping their options open. Napoli is reportedly talking to a couple of other American League teams, while the Sox have been linked to some other first basemen, including Mike Morse, Casey Kotchman and Lyle Overbay.

Napoli reportedly is expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Photo via Facebook/Mike Napoli

MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez reports that the veteran right-hander has agreed to pitch in Japan this season. According to the report, Padilla has agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million with the SoftBank Hawks.

Source: Former Red Sox pitcher Vicente Padilla has agreed to a one-year deal for $3.25M with Japan's SoftBank Hawks. MLB.com

—
Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) January 16, 2013

Padilla spent the 2012 season with the Red Sox, where he was actually pretty effective. The 35-year-old made 56 appearances with a 4.50 ERA in 50 innings of work. He was  fairly efficient, registering a 3.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which was good for a career best.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

If the Sox were to go after one of the remaining hurlers in free agency, there aren’t too many household names available, although a few could turn heads if they’re able to pitch the way they have at times in the past.

One pitcher garnering a lot of attention lately is Javier Vazquez, who has been impressing scouts in winter ball down in Puerto Rico. He’s apparently regained the velocity he had early on in his career, and it appears he has the itch to pitch again after sitting out 2012. Vazquez went 13-11 with a 3.69 ERA 32 starts with the Marlins in 2011.

The pitcher available who had the best 2012 is Kyle Lohse, who went 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 33 starts last season. His market hasn’t really materialized yet, though, because whichever team signs the 34-year-old will need to relinquish a draft pick in addition to whatever financial commitment it makes.

Shaun Marcum, meanwhile, is an intriguing option because he’s proven in the past that he is capable of pitching in the AL East. Marcum went 37-25 with a 3.85 ERA during parts of five seasons with the Blue Jays, and he continued to pitch well upon being traded to Milwaukee, but health concerns have steered some teams away.

Then, there are the classic low-risk, high-reward hurlers who are tough to put a finger on. This season, Ben Sheets and Brandon Webb represent the class of those types of pitchers.

Sheets went 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA in nine starts with Oakland last season, but he’s a four-time All-Star despite missing all of 2009 and all of 2011.

Webb, who hasn’t stepped foot on a big league mound since 2009, and even then made just one start, was once of the game’s premier pitchers. The 33-year-old is a three-time All-Star who won a Cy Young award in 2006, and then finished second in NL Cy Young voting the two seasons after that.

When all factors — cost, talent, potential, etc. — are considered, who would you most like to see the Red Sox gamble on?

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

As the list of available hurlers — which was not all that impressive to begin with — dwindles even more this offseason, arguably the biggest news we’re getting slapped with is Javier Vazquez touching 95 mph on the radar gun down in Puerto Rico. And yes, believe it or not, people are getting pretty fired up about it.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported over the weekend that the Nationals have expressed “heavy interest” in Vazquez, who sat out the 2012 season after a nice campaign with the Marlins in 2011. They’re not alone in their interest either, as a few other teams, including the Red Sox, have reportedly sent scouts down to check out Vazquez.

But while Vazquez has some upside — something few pitchers remaining on the open market can claim to possess — and, by all accounts, has looked impressive during his winter ball stint, teams would be wise to contain their excitement and temper expectations when it comes to the right-hander’s 2013 outlook. That’s especially true when it comes to American League clubs.

Sure, a return to the majors would be nice to see for the veteran, and perhaps he could prove to be a worthwhile investment for a team looking to round out its rotation. To think he’s going to show up on a big league mound this season and mow down hitters with a fastball touching 95, however, would require a whole lot of optimism. More accurately, it would require false hope.

Vazquez’s velocity, which is what everyone seems to be focused on during his ongoing winter ball audition, might have increased, but one has to wonder if it’ll ultimately lead to him wearing down at an early stage in the season. Vazquez’s average fastball velocity sat at 90.4 mph in 2011, and that was a jump up from his 89-mph average in 2010. This year’s increase is an encouraging sign, albeit a development that’s hard to explain, but one has to wonder what kind of wear and tear the 36-year-old will be able to endure throwing 92-95 consistently, especially given the added workload he’ll face with the World Baseball Classic in his plans.

But the true concern surrounding Vazquez goes beyond just skepticism about whether or not he’ll hold up for a 162-game slate. After all, he has pitched at least 192 innings in 11 of his 14 seasons and has never been on the disabled list in his big league career, so from that standpoint, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Instead, it’s the red flags in his production, particularly as it relates to his time in the American League, that need be weighed heavily.

Certain pitchers tend to thrive while playing a National League brand of ball, but then struggle upon crossing over to the American League. Vazquez fits that bill, having endured his share of struggles during his five seasons in the Junior Circuit.

Below is a look at Vazquez’s career numbers in the AL, NL and overall.

National League (9 years): 103-104 (289 appearances, 288 starts), 3.99 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.1 strikeouts per 9 innings, 3.54 strikeout-to-walk ratio

American League: (5 years): 62-56 (161 appearances, 155 starts), 4.65 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 7.9 strikeouts per 9 innings, 2.97 strikeout-to-walk ratio

Overall (14 years): 165-160 (450 appearances, 443 starts), 4.22 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8 strikeouts per 9 innings, 3.32 strikeout-to-walk ratio

Obviously, the National League sample size is much larger, but the NL is also where Vazquez has had his best seasons. When you start considering whether or not he’d be a fit for an AL team like the Red Sox, who play in arguably the deepest division in baseball, there is something to be said for those splits.

Those numbers don’t even highlight Vazquez’s numbers against AL East foes, which are less than stellar. The righty has posted a 4.96 ERA in 54 career appearances against teams in the AL East not named the Red Sox. His ERA against each of those four teams — Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles — falls in the bottom 11 of his opponent splits, with his 1-5 record and 7.09 ERA in six starts against the Bronx Bombers being particularly alarming for those in the Boston area.

Then, there is the notion that Vazquez wants to pitch for a contender. It’s understandable, given he hasn’t had much of an opportunity to pitch in the postseason throughout his career, but his 10.34 ERA (18 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings) isn’t exactly an encouraging mark for a team looking for a battle-tested starter. Plus, one could argue that the Red Sox — while typically contenders — might not fall into that category heading into this season as a result of what transpired last year. In other words, should the Red Sox see enough out of Vazquez this winter/spring that they’d like to take a chance on him, luring him to Beantown might not be so easy, especially if they’re competing with the likes of the Nationals for his services.

Vazquez will continue to be talked about until he makes a decision, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that the interest is mostly a reflection of just how slim the starting pitching market is right now. At the end of the day, banking on Vazquez to make an impact in 2013 would require a little bit of a gamble, and the odds decrease significantly when you start talking about American League teams like the Red Sox.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Baseball season is just around the corner and a pair of new faces will help lead the Red Sox on the 2012 chase for the World Series crown.

General manager Ben Cherington and manager Bobby Valentine opened themselves up to fans and analysts on Wednesday, Feb. 1, as part of this year’s Red Sox Town Hall Meeting at Worcester Technical High School. The Town Hall aired on NESN on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 10 p.m.

The newly annointed managerial tandem answered questions from Red Sox Nation and discussed a wide variety of topics, including pitching depth, team chemistry and how the team plans to move forward from a disastrous end to 2011. There were plenty of laughs, some great analysis and an overwhelming excitement for the new season. 

Pitchers and catchers will soon head to Fort Myers for the Red Sox, and Opening Day won’t be far behind. But there are still some questions to be answered.

Tune in to NESN from now until the start of spring training to catch the Red Sox Town Hall for Ben and Bobby’s answers to some of those burning questions. You won’t want to miss what they had to say.

Here is the schedule of when the Red Sox Town Hall will re-air on NESN.

Friday, Feb. 3: 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 7: 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 8: 2 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 9: 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10: 9 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12: 6 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 16: 9 p.m.

If there’s one thing that Bobby Valentine has in common with Red Sox Nation it’s that both he and his fans have booming personalities.

The Red Sox manager was asked plenty of questions at the Red Sox Town Hall Meeting earlier this week and handful came with plenty of laughs, as seen above.