Transaction Analysis

Red Sox sign Hideo Nomo for 1 year, $4.5 million

The Sox are sporting a shaky defense these days, so it seems like they are trying to base their pitching staff on a rotation of strikeout pitchers to reduce the likelihood of being killed by unearned runs.  In that aspect, Nomo will help Boston, as he averaged 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings last year.   Nomo also should give the Red Sox bullpen a little more rest than they're accustomed to, as he averaged more innings per start last season (approximately 6.0) than any Sox starter not named Pedro.  Nomo posted a 4.74 ERA last season with some brutal run support, but should fare better with Manny Ramirez and company behind him.  He may not have the stuff to be the ideal #2 starter that the Sox wanted, but for one year, $4.5 million, this is a good move.

Triple Steal rating: Triple

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TripleSteal Rating Scale:
Grand Slam - A can't miss move; automatically makes the team considerably better.
Home Run - A great move; will help the team now and down the road.
Triple - A good move; plugs a temporary hole or will help in the future.
Double - An average move; team will get what they paid for.
Single - A head-scratcher; could help, but we definitely don't see how.
Out - A panic move; tells fans "hey, we're trying..."
Double Play - A disaster; will make fans angry just thinking about it.