With Johan On The Red Sox, The Door Opens For Kielty...Maybe

Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald wrote a nice piece today (Thursday) about our 2007 reserve "outfielder/righthanded hitter off the bench" Bobby Kielty. Kielty, whose home run in the World Series was pivotal, knows that the trade talk involving Minnesota lefty ace Johan Santana includes the name of Coco Crisp, who would, in most scenarios, go to the Twinkies to fill their centerfield void. This is what Bobby had to say when asked his feelings. I'll be back with a comment after you read this...

“Unless another team comes in with an unbelievable offer, I’m just going to wait it out and see what happens. I love Boston and I’m hoping something can work out.”
Kielty, who has drawn interest from “three to four” other teams, is just a .228 career hitter left-handed but a .296 hitter from the right side. He was brought in by the Sox last season to serve as their primary righty hitter off the bench, and he highlighted his stay with a pinch-hit home run in Game 4 of the World Series.
Although his preference is to remain with the Red Sox, Kielty might have to look at other options more intensely if Crisp’s situation isn’t resolved.
Other than waiting to see where he will be calling home next season, Kielty has been very pleased with his offseason.
“I’m excited about how I feel,” said Kielty, who has been able to work on his legs and mobility more than any point since suffering a torn meniscus in his knee in 2007.
“I’m finally where I need to be.”
“When I think of the Minnesota Twins, I think of Johan Santana,” he said. “You can’t get much better than him.”

Peter here, and when I think of Bobby Kielty, I think of his smash into the leftfield stands last September, up in the rarified air of Denver. I hope he'll be back with the Sox in '08, because that would mean the Sox would be "Coco-less" AND have another lefty in the rotation. But, and I've said this SO many times, the world champion Boston Red Sox, my team, and yours, are just fine the way they are right now. But to part with Jon Lester and Coco Crisp, AND two hot prospects, in order to add Johan Santana, well, that's the stuff that dreams are made of. I like to dream....don't you? And 2008 COULD be a dream season. But that's the future, and now is NOW.

Click on the title for the entire Bradford piece, and enjoy your Thursday, the third day of our new year. As always, thanks for being here to read my words, and click on that title. BE WELL!