4:46pm: The Red Sox have given up searching for starting pitching help and they'll rely on one of their own pitchers in the event of a play-in game tomorrow, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (on Twitter).
12:17pm: ESPN's Buster Olney and CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam both find the Red Sox trading for a starter to be unlikely, to varying degrees (Twitter links). Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star hears that the Royals and Red Sox are discussing Chen, but one official calls a trade a "long shot."
10:18am: Royals lefty Bruce Chen is among Boston's trade targets as they consider acquiring a starter for a potential Thursday play-in game, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Chen is scheduled to start tonight in Minnesota as he seeks to tie his career-high of 13 wins.
Chen projects as a Type B free agent, and an arbitration offer from Kansas City is realistic. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein would have to surrender something significant to best the value of that potential draft pick, and he'd probably have to complete the trade before even knowing whether he'd need Chen for tomorrow. At most, the Red Sox would be able to use Chen for that one game, as he would not be eligible for the postseason roster. As Rosenthal notes, the lefty has already cleared waivers. The 34-year-old Chen has a 3.98 ERA, 5.7 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 1.1 HR/9, and 35.5% groundball rate on the season.
In theory, Epstein could also look at fully rested starters such as Chien-Ming Wang, Rodrigo Lopez, and Aaron Harang, though Harang also may be a Type B. If the Red Sox do not acquire a starter, they might have to use John Lackey or Tim Wakefield on three days rest should a play-in game occur Thursday at Tropicana Field. Another option might be activating Clay Buchholz, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford.
This is stupid. If he hasnt been part of the team he shouldnt be allowed to play! This is like bringing in a ringer and someone who will not be comfortable with our catchers. I do not feel that this is fair to the Rays even if it is within the rules, we should have to use someone who has been on the roster before a potential play in game.
Dont get me wrong, I would like to have him as he would be our best option but I do not think this is right.
Also do the red sox want to pin the season on a pitcher who hasnt played for them this yr?
The only place the Bruce Chen should be considered a ringer is in a high school playoff game….
I don’t know about that. Have you seen the Sox Rotation?
Hey Chickinithica, why do you want to fling vile crap for no reason?
Chen is a solid pitcher, I know it, everyone with half a brain knows it…oh, I just answered my own question
Hey Chickinithica, why do you want to fling vile crap for no reason?
Do I want to ask?
Well done with the play on my name… and I’m just making a joke. Chen is a decent option, but in no case would I consider him a ringer. And I’m sure if he was the same pitcher on any other team, and not the average pitcher he is on the team you root for, then you probably would have found my comment humorous.
Hey Chickinithica, why do you want to fling vile crap for no reason?
Chen is a solid pitcher, I know it, everyone with half a brain knows it…oh, I just answered my own question
I agree with you Fantasy_Theo.
I agree this is stupid and show be illegal. This reeks of desperation on the part of the Sox. They should be made to use someone on their own 40 man roster.
This is also dumb since the pitcher ,whomever he is would not be eligile for the playoffs. And hasn’t Theo done enough bad trades this year. He gave up 4 prospects in that 3 team trade for Bedard. Now, he wants to give up more for a 1 game rental. Then the Sox could be stuck with the salary of a player that they don’t want next year? But, on the other hand , they are being choked by Crawford’s salary and that wife deserter Lackey.
People whine and complain that the Yanks buy championships. So do the Sox. They have the exact same motto as the Yankees. Win at all costs, and WS or season is a bust.
Cashman would never make a despetration move like this .He would concede the playoffs. Maybe Theo is worried about his job? Hey, he can always take the Cubs job.
lol
I wish you didnt agree with me! It makes me look bad
A team is allowed to do that? Would they also be able to play in the play-offs?
No. A tie-breaker is considered part of the regular season, but because he was not on the roster before Sept. 1, nor was he on the 40-man, he would not be allowed to play in the playoffs.
Not eligible for the playoffs. The Royals dumped Jose Guillen on the Giants last year for the post-season run but he was acquired after the cutoff, which I believe is Sept 1, so he wasn’t eligible to be on the playoff roster. The tie-breaker is technically considered a play-in, so it’s allowable, albeit stupid.
Chen might very well accept the arbitration offer, so a pick isn’t guaranteed. As a Royals fan, i can think of worse things than having Chen at the back of our rotation next year. Hopefully we get two legit starters in the trade market and make it a moot point.
Actually, Guillen was acquired by the Giants on Aug. 13. There was talk here in S.F. about why he was left off the postseason roster, so I knew that after-the-deadline stuff was incorrect.
It was because of his drug policy violation and team embarassment.
actually Bruce Chen was with the Red Sox before …for about 6 months.. in 2002 .. I believe… Why not?? If it doesnt cost much cant be any worse than the flottsam and jetsam they have now!!…
I’m a Red Sox fan, and yet this doesn’t seem right on principle; it’s simply another instance of trying to ‘buy a win’. Ugh.
Why? The rays could do it too. They just don’t need to.
Milwood because was already on 40 Man? Doug Davis doesn’t cost anything?
they would not be allowed in the playoffs. only will pitch that one game for the red sox and thats it. This is not like bringing in a ringer, because whoever the red sox get, will not be a ringer, an ace, or even a 2 starter. Red sox pitching lacks and they need something, to get in the playoffs. if they miss the playoffs they lose 15 million dollars. so, its also about the money for organization.
I don’t see how this could possibly go wrong :
I think we should just let the cards fall where they may at this point. We are really at the point of brining in a guy for a potential tie breaker after we were the kings of the division? Please. Lets just put our best foot forward and hope we make it, God knows we dont deserve it…
our “best foot” has the gout
Is David Wells still around? 🙂
All anyone can say is WOW!
Good Lord.
If the Sox get Chen, they can easily sign him for 2012. I’m pretty sure he would want to return to Boston as well.
Boston will pay through the nose for any of these guys! Gotta love it! Its like selling a new tire to the guy on the side of the highway with a flat. Open that wallet!
Does anyone think this is a good idea?
Bringing in a pitcher who hasn’t pitched for the team and throwing them in the lion’s den. Also oh yea, they don’t have the same incentive to win the game because they are banned from the playoffs.
Call me dumb, but I don’t get it at all.
I can’t speak for Bruce Chen, but if I was in his shoes – uniquely acquired to make a single start – I sure as hell would give it my all. Not being playoff eligible wouldn’t change that for me.
But… why? What’s the incentive? Loyalty to a team you’ve been a part of for a few hours? I’m with @yahoo-QW4N5V7UBGLMW2CMWLJKYGQD74:disqus , I don’t get why Chen would give it his all.
Pride
It would be a great feather in Chen’s cap if he could go into free agency or arbitration with the mantle of “Season Saver” around his neck.
Big late moments can turn into big pay bumps, sorta like a small-scale version of Carlos Beltran, Cody Ross, or Juan Uribe.
I wouldn’t start Chen even if he we got him for nothing. Everyone but Lester would be available. EVERYONE> Start Lackey, first sign of trouble, yank him. Seriously, he pitched okay last Sunday night in a must-win against NY.
what game were you watching – guy throws basketballs up there
the first sign of trouble is that lackey’s starting. by your own theory, someone else should be put in before the game starts
I’m a huge Red Sox fan, but I really hope that nothing like this happens. There is no way that something like this should be allowed.
i don’t understand this point of view at all. it’s the red sox getting screwed here, not anyone else. the rays could do it too if they wanted, but they don’t need to
I understand it completely. Yes the Red Sox would get killed value wise in the trade, but it still makes very little sense for it to even be allowed. Why even have a trade deadline if we’re doing this?
what are you even
do you understand that this trade could have happened at any point between august 1st and now? you were not upset it about back then and the only team that is hurt by it happening now instead of then is boston
No I don’t understand that. Is there not a waiver trade deadline?
to quote MLB’s trade deadline FAQ: “No.”
mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070731&con…
in case it’s not clear, the reason you almost never see september trades is because the acquired players would ineligible for the postseason and playoff teams are usually the ones acquiring players
boston has broken the suck barrier this september and that calls for unprecedented emergency maneuvering
So then the deadline is for players to be put on waivers but not necessarily traded?
what. the july 31st deadline is for non-waiver trades. no waivers required
there is no subsequent official deadline for trades. the august 31st is deadline applies to playoff eligibility. anyone added to the roster in september — by trade or callup or any other means — is ineligible for the postseason roster. there is no prohibition of trades after that date, but there is usually no reason for teams to give up resources to acquire a player that can’t help them in the playoffs
The waiver deadline or whatever that thing in August is.
the “waiver deadline” as it is often called is just a postseason eligibility deadline. it doesn’t change the ability of a team to make trades; it just limits the usefulness of any player traded for
I getcha. Well done sir.
fun facts:
– In 1964 the Yankees acquired Pedro Ramos from the Indians in September
and he proceeded to do a fantastic job in relief down the stretch. He
wasn’t eligible for the post-season, though.
– In 1987, the Giants, heading for the NL West title, made a trade to get
Dave Henderson from the Red Sox on Sept. 1. When Henderson got to San
Francisco, he told the writers how excited he was to get another chance
to be in the postseason. They gently broke the news to him he wasn’t
eligible. He didn’t know.
– In 1990, the Blue Jays traded for Bud Black on September 18. They didn’t
make the playoffs, but he wouldn’t have been eligible anyways.
– The Braves traded for Damon Berryhill with one game left in the 1991 season.
Peavy’s available – throw in Dunn for a PH – for Bowden and Bard
Theo Epstein sounds like he’s really a desperate man these days! Bruce Chen, that’s hilarious. This isn’t the leadership of someone who’s won “Two” World Series! That Payroll of his between Crawford, Gonzalez, Jenks and now he’s reducing himself to Bruce Chen? I hope Bruce Chen tells him, No!
PS, I wonder what that medical report said about Rich Harden and nixed the trade. Harden didn’t miss any starts since the report as far as I know. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. What makes it even better is the fact how well the Rays have played especially with their thimble sized budget.
lets not go crazy here. Harden has pitched 19.1 innings in 4 september starts (hasn’t been skipped, but has been given plenty of extra rest) with a 6.98 ERA and a 5.20 FIP.
So he didn’t go to the Red Sox, but he’s been pitching like he has.
Of course he is, he wants to win!! But if Garcia and Colon hadn’t greatly exceeded their expectations, Cashman would have looked like a desperate man (which he was when he signed them). Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t.
Here’s hoping the Yanks blow it in the first round!
Brett myers? Astros save $11MM next year but would need a viable starter in return at the very least.
…and he and Lackey can compare notes on women.
Joe Blanton, anyone?
I couldn’t agree more. It is not like they are just opening their wallets to write a big paycheck. They might have to give up a legitimate prospect to just try and put a patch on the rotation for one day.
(This was a reply to notsureifs)
even as a sox fan, this is pretty funny stuff. the week would be really enjoyable if it were happening because the two teams were playing great baseball down the stretch instead of one crapping the bed a little bit less completely than the other
This is strictly up to the Royals. If they can get a good and I mean good prospect in return then why not? Cafardo seemed to think the Mets should have just given them Capuano for nothing. The Mets who got screwed before by the BoSox said no thanks.
Capuano? If the Sox has simply stolen Capuano from the Mets as an Oriole Fan I would have been upset.
1.) Because the Orioles should have signed Capuano over Duchsherer
2.) Plus the fact I would have rounded up a few of my associates and taken a battering ram to Bud Selig’s old Mahogany Door at his office and then personally complained to him about the lack of “True Competitive” Spirit in Major League Baseball
3.) I was also upset when Ed Wade in my opinion gave away Hunter Pence to the Phillies
I don’t Selig doing anything about any this; it insults the Commissioner’s Job and insults the game!
Gave away Pence? According to some people they paid a steep price. We’ll see but having Pence sure looks good right now if you are a Phils fan.
It’s true… if they gave anyone away this year, it was Bourn… Jordan Schafer? Really?
I am a Phillies fan, we DID give away a ton for Pence, do not listen to any Phils fan who tells you different. Singleton is going to be a stud, Cosart will be a 3/4 starter at worst, and Santana has huge upside also. Sure, Pence looks good in 2011, but in 2014, when our core is in their late 30’s and Pence is going to free agency, will it still look like a good trade? Only if we win another title. No title…not so much.
In what way did the Astros “give away” Pence? Most articles I’ve read thought the Phillies OVERPAID for him.
Certainly Wakefield can go on short rest. I don’t see the trade for Chen happening, but I am thoroughly amused by the possibility.
This makes the most sense to me.
I love it! It is do or die time. It seems to me like Theo is exploring all his options. Let the whiners whine – they just wish their team’s GM was as creative.
pe-dro! pe-dro! pe-dro!
Schill-ing! Schill-ing! Maybe he can get the lucky socks from the HOF!
And maybe it would get him to quit running his mouth about how he doesn’t think that the Sox will/deserve to make the playoffs
His best line must be how he doesn’t think Detroit should even start Fister in the playoffs since he doesn’t have power stuff
I hadn’t heard those quotes, but that is absolutely hilarious. Fisters been filthy not only since joining the Tigers, but in his previous 4 or 5 starts before leaving Seattle as well. I’m pretty sure he gave up 2 or 3 runs over that stretch of 5 starts, and still ended up with only a win or two….
doesn’t sound like something schilling would say. he rants about command more than stuff, and fister is one of the best command guys in the game right now
He said it in an article in ESPN the magazine where they try projecting teams playoff rotations
no link i’m guessing? he doesn’t usually say dumb things about pitching, but that definitely qualifies. especially since schilling himself didn’t throw any harder in 2007 than fister does now and he did just fine in the playoffs
posted a link. wel see how long it takes to get approved…
What, no love for Roger?
Ingrates.
If you can’t get the bloody socks I would gladly volunteer to bloody his ankles!
This is only compelling if they were getting the likes of Felix Hernandez or raising Cy Young from the dead. Don’t understand why so many of you are up in arms over this. This is well within the rules to do this. It’s called strategy.
If Chen was pitching in Fenway I would say hell no. But Tampa a bigger park which work in Chen’s favor.
“C’MON CHEN!!!” – Will Ferrell
How about Denny Galehouse?
Carlos Zambrano should be fully rested and available!
Take Brad Penny……… please!
What I would give to see every team give them a big middle finger when they inquire about this…
Dumb. If it makes the other team better they should do it.
Oh i got it, lets not make our team better just to piss off the red sox…hrrr hrrr hrrrr thatll show em!
In the hypothetical world I created in the above comment, yes, that’s what I’d like to see.
And if, by “that’ll show ’em” you mean, “that’ll keep them out of the playoffs because they spent $100+ million on .255 Carl Crawford instead of finding a decent #3 who isn’t made of play-dough,” then yes, you’re right. Though I guess you’re “Fantasy Theo,” who lives in a Fantasy World in which the SAWX are still paper champions in February.
do you guys like baseball too, or just the ESPN soap opera stuff?
Your hindsight must seem like infinite wisdom but dont be fooled it is just hindsight!
Why do they need to pick up a starter for one game? I don’t follow the Sox, so forgive me, as this is apparently obvious to everyone else. But why can’t they just use who they have? Or if injuries/rest complicate things, use a AAA pitcher? Is Bruce Chen that much better than the current Sox options that this really helps?
Yes, it really does help, especially when your other option is John Lackey.
The hope of “Sox nation” potentially rests on Bruce Chen? Wow, sawwwks are pathetic right now. GO RAYS!
How the hell did Chen clear waivers? 2 Million / year for a type B?
Well, he’s a soft tossing 34 year old with a shaky injury history who gets shelled fairly regularly. But mostly because he’s Bruce Chen.
I know the ethics of the sport say that this isn’t fair, but the rules don’t. If and when that changes, you could have a legitimate gripe, but right now, the Sox are just using the system to their advantage in a way other teams hadn’t. It’s like moneyball lol
Plus, if the Sox do get Chen, they still have to beat the Rays, which is not easy since who ever the Rays put on the mound would still be better. And two, the Sox lose a prospect for a one day rental. As a Yankees fan, it’s a win/win.
Carmine (Theo’s computer) told him this was a good idea. Then again, Carmine is (supposedly!) responsible for Lackey, Lugo, Rent-a-Wreck, Smoltz, Cameron, moving Ellsbury to LF in ’10
I believe Carmine is the program. I also assume it was hacked by NY several years ago which explains some of the dreadful decisions it has spewed out. Then again maybe Theo is a clone and the real Theo is in the foundation of the new Yankee Stadium and the faux clone is first under the evil direction of convicted felon owner and now his spawn – the Brothers Grimm. I see conspiracy everywhere! Maybe they’ll get Big Foot to pitch?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA that made me laugh!
Lackey or Wakefield? Who would “The Nation” rather have on the bump? I’d go with Lackey. He pitched decent his last time out against the Yankees.
lackey for 2, wakefield for 2, aceves for 3, bard then papelbon
more realistically: lackey for 1.1, wakefield for .2, aceves for 5, bard for .2 then papelbon 1.1
and then lose in extras
As long as Lackey’s cellphone is left off… that’s a good game plan.
Do you think Beckett would be available out of the bullpen? I know they’d need him for a game one but I’m sure he could pitch an inning and it wouldn’t hurt him too much. Kind of like what Oswalt did for the Phillies in the NLCS last year.
but why save beckett? if they don’t use him, theres a chance they lose anyways.
but why save beckett? if they don’t use him, theres a chance they lose anyways.
why can’t beckett go on short rest.. even 4-5 innings…
beckett pitched monday, so he’d be pitching on 2 days rest. anything’s possible, but i wouldn’t give him the start
lackey for 2, wakefield for 2, aceves for 3, bard then papelbon
more realistically: lackey for 1.1, wakefield for .2, aceves for 5, bard for .2 then papelbon 1.1
and then lose in extras
Royals fan here. I don’t think some of these Sox fans realize how good Chen has been lately. I don’t have the stats in front of me, but I’m pretty sure he’s one like 7 out of his last 8 decisions or something like that. He’s a real consistant guy. Love him to death though, and hope he stays in KC. Go Rays!
Royals fan here. I don’t think some of these Sox fans realize how good Chen has been lately. I don’t have the stats in front of me, but I’m pretty sure he’s one like 7 out of his last 8 decisions or something like that. He’s a real consistant guy. Love him to death though, and hope he stays in KC. Go Rays!
So instead of “buyings wins,” they were contemplating buying each individual win?
Boy, never heard so much bad mouthing about a pitcher that has a 3.89 ERA. Chen is a viable pitcher right now.
Ummmmmm……like apples?
Longo
Seriously…..if the Yanks meet the Rays in the playoffs, the Yanks better destroy them. I couldn’t swallow the irony.
good call boston
Choke.
NEVERMIND.