Craig Hansen

[AT]

Rumor has it that he's about to sign a major league contract after Boras is done giving it to Theo. Could be a nice closer at the end of the season for H2H Playoffs...

Craig Hansen (P) BOS - Jul 17
http://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.htm?id=8621

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein would not confirm a rumor that Hansen was in Boston to be medically evaluated, the Boston Globe reports.

ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: If the rumor is accurate, it means the team is close to a deal with Hansen, who was picked 26th overall in the MLB draft. Boston is expected to make an exception by signing Hansen to a major league contract.

[thomasps3]

If this guy is as electric as they say, he might(hoping) be able to provide us with the depth we need to get Schill back into the rotation. Highly doubt it, but could happen.

[AT]

If this guy is as electric as they say, he might(hoping) be able to provide us with the depth we need to get Schill back into the rotation. Highly doubt it, but could happen.

Long way from him being considered more than a "who knows" at this point. He was filthy at St. Johns and is pretty widely considered to be ready for the majors and combined with the need in the Boston bullpen, depending on what they do at the deadline, I can see Hansen as a realistic option at the end of the year.

[thomasps3]

I couldn't agree with you more. The only question is, does he come in and go to the back of the pen, or does he simply add another quality arm. I really can't see Theo/Terry putting him in the closer's role this year.

[AT]

I feel like things would have to get progressively worse in the pen or some wacky trade to restructure the pitchers they have for Hansen to end up in the closer's role this season. It's one thing to put Schilling in the closer's role instead of Timlin, but to bring in a recently signed guy right out of college and put him ahead of Timlin would probably create a lot more unrest... Anyway, I think Hansen has a great arm and is going to be a good reliever/potential closer sooner rather than later and I'm pretty jealous.

[stevethumb]

very unrealistic scenarios...there are less than 70 games remaining in the season, chansen hasn't even signed yet, he hasn't pitched in 6 weeks, and the sox are in a struggle to make the playoffs...certainly not the usual route that a contributor to a pennant race would take...IF he appears at all in boston it will be a token appearance, contractually stipulated, in the sox final series sept 30-oct 2