Red Sox: Jayson Werth
The terms of Werth's deal were seven years and $126 million, figures Epstein was unlikely to approach.
Those numbers also don't figure to bolster Epstein's case if he still has hopes of negotiating an extension with Gonzalez.
“You’re chasing a ghost,’’ the source said when asked how deep the Sox were in on Werth, the 31-year-old All-Star outfielder who is eligible for free agency after the season.
Werth is putting up some good numbers, including a league-leading 32 doubles and 13 home runs to go along with a .286 batting average, but has confounded the Phillies with his failure to hit with runners in scoring position -- .165 (14 for 85) with RISP, just .106 (5 for 47) with RISP and two outs.
Still, with the Phillies just 3 1/2 games out of the wild card, they may not move Werth at all, especially if they are unable to close a deal for Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, who prefers to pitch in St. Louis (which wants him) or Atlanta and has no-trade contract protection.
Boston starter John Lackey worked only five innings and allowed four runs on six hits (two home runs) with five walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander drops to 4-3.
The Phillies’ Ryan Howard hit a solo homer in the fourth inning before teammate Jayson Werth crushed a two-run shot into the upper deck in left field in the fifth inning.
Victor Martinez counted for Boston’s lone run with a solo homer in the top of the first inning off Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels, who finished seven innings and allowed only one run on three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.
The Sox send Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 7.89 ERA) to the mound on Saturday against the Phillies’ Kyle Kendrick (2-1, 5.24).
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAM | 27-18 | 17-7 | 10-11 | W2 | |
| BOS | 22-22 | 9-11 | 13-11 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAM | 27-18 | 17-7 | 10-11 | W2 | |
| BOS | 22-22 | 9-11 | 13-11 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAM | 27-18 | 17-7 | 10-11 | W2 | |
| BOS | 22-22 | 9-11 | 13-11 | W1 |