Sox ink right-hander Bard to one-year contract

BOSTON -- The Red Sox avoided an arbitration hearing with righty Daniel Bard, signing him to a $1.6125 million deal on Saturday.

The agreement comes four days after the sides exchanged arbitration figures. Bard's representatives had asked for $1.825 million while the Sox submitted a $1.4 million figure.

Bard will attempt to make the transition from setup man to starting pitcher during Spring Training. The Red Sox have said there's still a chance Bard could return to the bullpen, but he clearly has a chance to pin down a rotation spot during camp.

Jasper's Thoughts:  I agree whole heartedly with the move.  Bard has had shaky points in the season, but I still think that he is a GREAT option out of the bullpen (not as a starter).

Stuck in contract limbo, Papi not fretting future

redsox.com  BOSTON -- David Ortiz arrived at the annual dinner for the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America not knowing how much money he will make in 2012, but with the knowledge that he'll be back for a 10th season of driving in runs for the Red Sox.
"[Heck] yeah, another year that you come in and do your thing, like usual," Ortiz said on Thursday night.
But it's a bit unusual for Ortiz in that he accepted Boston's offer for arbitration instead of keeping his free-agent rights, and the designated hitter might actually go to a hearing with the team he's played for since 2003.

Jasper's thoughts:  I am glad to see that Ortiz will be coming back with a Red Sox uniform on.  I would be very mad if they let him go seeing as he's been an anchor for this team since 2003.  It is also a smart move to bring him back, Ortiz posted career high numbers last year batting .309 with 29 home runs and 96 runs batted in.

Thomas Wins Goalie Vote

NEWARK, N.J. --Tim Thomas winning the fan vote among goalies for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game is confirmation of what everybody in the hockey world already agrees upon, according to Bruins coach Claude Julien.

"It shows that he's got some recognition around the League and people see him as the great goaltender that he is," Julien said Wednesday from Prudential Center. "At one point we have to get past the fact that he was the unknown and he's come from nowhere. He did, but that's in the past."

Thomas won with 626,540 votes, finishing ahead of Toronto's James Reimer by more thna 120,000 votes in the NHL All-Star Fan Balloting, presented by Sirius XM, to guarantee a spot in the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. 

TIM THOMAS

GOALIE - BOS

RECORD: 17-6-0
GAA: 1.90 | SVP: 0.940

Provided he stays healthy, Thomas will be making his fourth consecutive appearance in the All-Star Game (2008, 2009, 2011), and he'll be looking for his fourth straight victory, as well. There was no All-Star game in 2010 because of the Winter Olympics.

But, this is not merely a legacy vote. He has the statistics to back up his candidacy again this year.
 
Thomas is among the top-five in the League in goals-against average (1.90) and save percentage (940). His 17 wins rank No. 5 in the NHL, which is even more remarkable when you consider 21 goalies have more starts than his 24.

Jasper's thoughts: I am very proud of Tim, it is a big accomplishment to be in the all star game for 4 years in a row.  Thomas, being a UVM grad.  It is debatable that he has had the most successful UVM grad.  that has gone to the NHL, seeing as he has had 4 all star  game appearances, 1 olympic appearance, 1 Stanley Cup, 2 Vezina trophies, and 1 Conn Smyth trophy.