The Red Sox are unquestionably a good team, but in the AL East, 'good' is rarely good enough. Here's the latest on the Red Sox, who are currently in third place, 4.5 games behind the Rays for the AL Wild Card:
- The Red Sox are interested in acquiring an outfielder, a catcher and a reliever, according to Joe McDonald of ESPNBoston.com. The team isn't close to making any deals at the moment.
- They have "strong interest" in Jayson Werth and are interested in David DeJesus.
- GM Theo Epstein has continued interest in Chris Snyder and Chris Iannetta, partly because both backstops are under control after 2010.
- The Red Sox had a scout at the Rockies-Marlins game last night, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The scout was not there to watch Iannetta and Renck suggests the Red Sox were eyeing potential relief help.
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com argues that the Red Sox are "worthy of postseason conversation," even if they don't currently hold a playoff spot. The team addressed many of its holes over the winter, as Bradford shows.
Potrzeba
Why would we wasted good prospects on werth? He’s struggling the way it is. Not worth our prospects. For our bullpen problem we should look into getting Sean Marshall of the cubs. He’s a lefty and and can be a long man.
Abraham Zapruder
Boston doesn’t have the prospects to obtain everything they need.
Bryan Leahy
Sure they do. What kind of prospect do you think it would take for Iannetta?
Potrzeba
I heard a while back they wanted bowden
Abraham Zapruder
Why? Bowden hasn’t shown the ability to pitch well at the Major League level.
Boston Tim
They’re called prospects for a reason…And Boston has enough to get anything they need easily…But they aren’t gonna part with most of them
Steve_in_MA
Very true. If we were willing to part with Jose Iglesias, we could have anyone we wanted. But we won’t be parting with him.
Steve_in_MA
Very true. If we were willing to part with Jose Iglesias, we could have anyone we wanted. But we won’t be parting with him.
Fangaffes
Because he was inconsistent at age 22? Please. Now he’s back with a functioning slider, another year of experience, and three scoreless relief appearances.
Bryan Leahy
Relief help should be their first concern.
Guest
at least Delcarmen is back within the next 2-5 days
CaptainCharisma
This is not a good thing.
Guest
Well, Hermida, Beckett and Buchholz are back…
Delcarmen is back very soon…
and then Lowell, V-Mart, and Varitek will return at the start of August…
Then Pedroia…
Then Ellsbury…
Boston Tim
DelCarmen has been back for days, he pitched the other night…And the word is Pedroia is much closer than Tek
Mark Mouded
Yeah. Pedroia is already back into light baseball activities. He could be back within a few weeks. Also, Martinez is very very close. Isn’t he hitting in the cage and catching already?
Boston Tim
Yes, hitting from both sides of the plate but he says he’s still sore in a glove, which I don’t think will stop him from playing…Just a matter of when the doc clears him…And Pedroia is off crutches and in a walking boot
soxfan0928
V-Mart is planning on catching a bullpen session on Saturday, then assessing his pain. He’s hitting from both sides of the plate right now. The fact that he’s even contemplating catching a pen session is great news right now. We have 4 days right now that we can survive (vs the Mariners). After that, Theo needs to make a move or we’re toast. I would guess Victor will be back for the Angels series.
bulldurham08
If BOS doesn’t want to waste prospects on J Werth, someone will.
ronny9
The bullpen has cost the Sox this year. They don’t have a guy that they can count on after Papelbon and Bard. While these two guys are two of the more dominant releivers in the game today, no contending team can expect to make the playoffs with a bullpen of 2 plus relievers and 5 guys that you can’t count on.
We all know what’s coming from the DL, and if this team had been healthy this season it would not have had many holes to fill at all.
OF depth and IF depth are all coming from the DL within the next couple of weeks (according to reports)
Hermida is on his way; at that point they will get rid of one of Nava or Mcdonald and have:
Hermida, Drew, Cameron, Patterson, (probably) Mcdonald and Hall.
Pedroia is on his way; at that point they will get rid of the other of Nava or Mcdonald and they will have:
Beltre, Scutaro, Pedroia, Youkilis, Patterson, Hall and Lowrie
Vmart is on his way; at that point Dusty Brown will be gone and they will have:
Vmart and Cash then later, probably when rosters expand they will have Tek as well.
**obviously they will need a long term solution to catcher, but i don’t see them trading for a catcher (and overspending their prospects) two trade deadlines in a row.
we all know they have 5 starters once Beckett is officially back and they have wakefield and felix doubront waiting in the wings
If they can get two solid relievers they will def be in contention for the rest of the season and with the starting rotation they have they will be in every single game.
Theo has a nack for TRYING to improve the bullpen and i think this year he will try again.
Leo Nunez is a right hander that is a lefty hitters worse nightmare. He gets righties out too, but against lefties he has been dominant this year. He’s struck out more righties but has a better BAA against lefties.
He is under team control past this year and is a solid reliever. He would be worth spending an above avg prospect or two on in my opinion
Add to that a lefty like Downs who CAN get batters out from both sides as well and you have a dominant bullpen. It will cost the sox some players that could contribute, but they are prospects for a reason
A bullpen of
Papelbon
Bard
Nunez
Downs
Delcarmen
Okajima
would be pretty dominant; combine that with what will be coming off the dl in the next couple of weeks and you have a pretty solid playoff contender with 60 or so games left. if you’re going for it go for it.
Abraham Zapruder
The Marlins won’t give Nunez away. He will cost MAJOR prospects.
Abraham Zapruder
The Marlins won’t give Nunez away. He will cost MAJOR prospects.
Potrzeba
Sean Marshall of the cubs would be a good fit. Maybe we can get a guy like Kurt suzki or Russel Martin to catch.
0bsessions
FYI, Nava’s already been optioned to Pawtuckett. He went down to make room for Lowrie, who came back yesterday.
soxfan0928
Clearly you don’t watch the games because Nava PH last night when Lowrie was playing. Shealy was DFA’d for Lowries return. Richardson was sent down to make room for Buchholz. Nava was sent down today to make room for Hermida.
Let
Nava has been sent down for Hermida, assuming he comes back today.
soxfan0928
That’s literally exactly what I said.
Let
So it was, my bad, missed the last line there. But I can see where Obsession’s confusion came from, the announcement to option Nava came yesterday before the game, the game that Lowrie was making his first appearance in.
0bsessions
FYI, Nava’s already been optioned to Pawtuckett. He went down to make room for Lowrie, who came back yesterday.
Kenny
thats alot of wishful thinking for a team looking up at TWO teams
ronny9
The bullpen has cost the Sox this year. They don’t have a guy that they can count on after Papelbon and Bard. While these two guys are two of the more dominant releivers in the game today, no contending team can expect to make the playoffs with a bullpen of 2 plus relievers and 5 guys that you can’t count on.
We all know what’s coming from the DL, and if this team had been healthy this season it would not have had many holes to fill at all.
OF depth and IF depth are all coming from the DL within the next couple of weeks (according to reports)
Hermida is on his way; at that point they will get rid of one of Nava or Mcdonald and have:
Hermida, Drew, Cameron, Patterson, (probably) Mcdonald and Hall.
Pedroia is on his way; at that point they will get rid of the other of Nava or Mcdonald and they will have:
Beltre, Scutaro, Pedroia, Youkilis, Patterson, Hall and Lowrie
Vmart is on his way; at that point Dusty Brown will be gone and they will have:
Vmart and Cash then later, probably when rosters expand they will have Tek as well.
**obviously they will need a long term solution to catcher, but i don’t see them trading for a catcher (and overspending their prospects) two trade deadlines in a row.
we all know they have 5 starters once Beckett is officially back and they have wakefield and felix doubront waiting in the wings
If they can get two solid relievers they will def be in contention for the rest of the season and with the starting rotation they have they will be in every single game.
Theo has a nack for TRYING to improve the bullpen and i think this year he will try again.
Leo Nunez is a right hander that is a lefty hitters worse nightmare. He gets righties out too, but against lefties he has been dominant this year. He’s struck out more righties but has a better BAA against lefties.
He is under team control past this year and is a solid reliever. He would be worth spending an above avg prospect or two on in my opinion
Add to that a lefty like Downs who CAN get batters out from both sides as well and you have a dominant bullpen. It will cost the sox some players that could contribute, but they are prospects for a reason
A bullpen of
Papelbon
Bard
Nunez
Downs
Delcarmen
Okajima
would be pretty dominant; combine that with what will be coming off the dl in the next couple of weeks and you have a pretty solid playoff contender with 60 or so games left. if you’re going for it go for it.
ColonelTom
The Phils keep looking for a third team to facilitate a Werth-for-pitching deal. Why not cut out the middleman and send him directly to the Red Sox for Dice-K and Lowell, with Lowell’s salary covered enough to even the money this year? The Sox can plug Beckett (returning from injury tonight) into Dice-K’s rotation slot, they get a big righty bat, and clear $10M off the payroll for 2011 and 2012, just in time to go after Cliff Lee. Philly gets a significant rotation upgrade (though not Oswalt or Haren, he wouldn’t cost prospects) and a bench bat to fill in for Utley, with Polanco moving to 2B when Lowell starts at 3B.
Abraham Zapruder
As a Phils fan, I want nothing to do with Dice-K or Lowell. And please, no Lackey either.Thanks
On second thought, I would trade Ibanez for Dice-K even up.
Fangaffes
I’d like to give Dice-K a few more starts before just giving him away. If his last two starts are any indication, someone finally got through to him that he should PITCH instead of nibbling all the time. I’d love to have Kurt Suzuki behind the plate to remind him of that, in Japanese, every inning or so.
Not worried about the trading deadline with Dice-K. With his salary, he could sail through waivers and be eligible for a waiver trade.
Devern Hansack
Kurt Suzuki is Hawaiian…
Fangaffes
D’Oh! Well, maybe he can get his grandparents to teach it to him phonetically.
Ian_Smell
I think that they have like translators to talk to him or something.
Fangaffes
Really? Ya think?
BoSoXaddict
A) Dice-K’s 2010 salary is 8million, not exactly outrageous for a pitcher of his caliber
B) Dice-K has a full no-trade clause
Abraham Zapruder
As a Phils fan, I want nothing to do with Dice-K or Lowell. And please, no Lackey either.Thanks
On second thought, I would trade Ibanez for Dice-K even up.
johnsilver
I would like to see Matsuzaka moved over the winter and Doubrant slide into his rotational spot, but don’t think Boston will take any chance with Beckett’s back this year and Wakefield’s that seems to flare up and land him on the DL sometime in late July/early August every year also. With all the injuries they have had this year, can’t see them moving a piece when they finally get all 5 starters back for the 1st time since early May.
Would look for Matsuzaka to be shopped to a NL team over the Winter however with Wakefield stepping in as the 6th man again.
The starting pitching and defense is really the only thing keeping them in games as it is right now and Matsuzaka has been pretty decent of late. better off keeping him in the roatation than wakefield and letting Doubront get more experience at AAA and Wakefield buried in the BP for awhile, or as emergency starter. Werth is not going to help that much as a solid starter like Matsuzaka has actually been in many of his games.
Over the off season, maybe revisit a Matsuzaka to Philly swap, but just can’t see it now with Hermida due back Friday and Ellsbury *hopefully* in 2-3 more weeks to follow.
johnsilver
I would like to see Matsuzaka moved over the winter and Doubrant slide into his rotational spot, but don’t think Boston will take any chance with Beckett’s back this year and Wakefield’s that seems to flare up and land him on the DL sometime in late July/early August every year also. With all the injuries they have had this year, can’t see them moving a piece when they finally get all 5 starters back for the 1st time since early May.
Would look for Matsuzaka to be shopped to a NL team over the Winter however with Wakefield stepping in as the 6th man again.
The starting pitching and defense is really the only thing keeping them in games as it is right now and Matsuzaka has been pretty decent of late. better off keeping him in the roatation than wakefield and letting Doubront get more experience at AAA and Wakefield buried in the BP for awhile, or as emergency starter. Werth is not going to help that much as a solid starter like Matsuzaka has actually been in many of his games.
Over the off season, maybe revisit a Matsuzaka to Philly swap, but just can’t see it now with Hermida due back Friday and Ellsbury *hopefully* in 2-3 more weeks to follow.
Yankees420
Why would Philly ever make that trade?
ColonelTom
The Phils keep looking for a third team to facilitate a Werth-for-pitching deal. Why not cut out the middleman and send him directly to the Red Sox for Dice-K and Lowell, with Lowell’s salary covered enough to even the money this year? The Sox can plug Beckett (returning from injury tonight) into Dice-K’s rotation slot, they get a big righty bat, and clear $10M off the payroll for 2011 and 2012, just in time to go after Cliff Lee. Philly gets a significant rotation upgrade (though not Oswalt or Haren, he wouldn’t cost prospects) and a bench bat to fill in for Utley, with Polanco moving to 2B when Lowell starts at 3B.
Steve_in_MA
I’d very much prefer Snyder to Ianetta because: (i) his bat is less anemic, and (ii) defensively, he is many miles above Ianetta. If we sign a catcher, what happens? Do we release Tek? Do we release Patterson and keep 3 catchers on the active roster? Its just a very complicated scenario.
soxfan0928
Tek probably wouldn’t come off the DL until Sept 1 when the 40 man roster opens up.
Potrzeba
We need to get rid of dice-k and wakefeild. Does lackey have any trade value? Maybe the brewers would be interested.
Abraham Zapruder
Yeah, if Boston paid 80% of Lackey’s salary
soxfan0928
More like 95%. The Brewers are trying to cut salary, not take 18mil/year for 1 pitcher.
Potrzeba
We need to get rid of dice-k and wakefeild. Does lackey have any trade value? Maybe the brewers would be interested.
jwredsox
I have never seen a player more hated than Dice-K. While he isn’t living up to the posting fee he is living up to his salary. He has been pitching well lately so I don’t get outside of fans being unhappy with the money the Sox spent on a guy who has been their 3rd best starter this year.
The_Silver_Stacker
hes a good but by no means a great pitcher, and you have to remember he was hyped almost like a strausburg type hype. So I at least see why fans dislike him because he was not like he was as advertised
jwredsox
It still isn’t his fault. And think that despite his inconsistency he has pitched his best this season. He is getting his innings up and is walking his fewest since his first year. Plus his last 9 starts he has a 2.89 ERA and 18 ER. His numbers just look bad because of his first 4 starts where he gave up 19 ER in 21.2 innings.
The_Silver_Stacker
he still is bust
zachary
I agree lwredsox, Dice-K is well worth his salary. His numbers are what you would expect given he pitches in the AL East. In the NL he would be a solid 2 on a poor team, and 3 on a play-off team. The posting fees…How much revenue has been generated in Japan after the acquisition of Dice-K? I’m guessing easily 50 mil. It’s really silly to keep using that number to evaluate the guy. His career numbers: k/9 is a very respectable 8.4. His whip is average 1.39, W-L is 44-24. And career ERA just above 4. He is worth 10 mil a year in the AL East.
jwredsox
WAR has him worth 39mil so far in his career counting this partial season.
jwredsox
I have never seen a player more hated than Dice-K. While he isn’t living up to the posting fee he is living up to his salary. He has been pitching well lately so I don’t get outside of fans being unhappy with the money the Sox spent on a guy who has been their 3rd best starter this year.
The_Silver_Stacker
why don’t we hear any rumors about diamondbacks catcher miguel montero? IF I was the red sox I would try to pick him up over Snyder and Iannetta, the guy can rake
Potrzeba
They already tried. They offered bard but they rejected it.
Steve_in_MA
That and Montero is having an awesome year as the full-time catcher. His performance is the only reason Iannetta is being made available.
ArmchairGM
I do believe you mean Snyder.
Bob Busser
DiceK has a no trade..plus I DOUBT anyone would want him at that idiotic salary. He is gone from the Sox after next year…. thank god! Unfortunately, the Sox are stuck with him. Also after next season, JD Drew should be gone too..
IMO…. I think the Red Sox don’t go after Werth.. I think they wait till the season ends and make a run at Crawford. And it would not shock me to see the Sox deal Ellsbury and Papelbon.
jwredsox
Please explain why his salary is idiotic? He is set to make 10 mil the next two years which is pretty cheap for a legitimate starting pitcher and has been worth 39 mil so far in his first 3 and a half seasons. And he will be gone after 2012. And are you joking on JD Drew? He has been great for the sox outside his first season and I actually hope they resign him after 2011 if he wants to make 14mil again and for maybe 2-3 years. He has been worth 12.9 wins for the Sox and fangraphs has his first 3.5 years being worth 56.3 mil. He has actually become one of my favorite players. But I agree with you on Werth and I hope they get Crawford but I doubt Ellsbury will be traded.
jwredsox
actually JD Drew is my favorite player. He is so underrated because of his average and power even though he always is near the league lead in OBP and is a very good fielder. He is an all around baseball player
johnsilver
I agree. so many Boston fans just fail to see how talented drew is in RF, not to mention he is decent with the bat. That guy is the best defensive RF’er have had since Dwight Evans patrolled the position, yet so many people that just see **14M** want to yak about that.. SO WHAT?? it’s over and done with! drew has done a decent job overall. Why not some of you supposed Sox fans that want to rake on him look at some USEFUL stats, like his OBP, defense and OPS for a change??
Drew’s OPS for 2007-9: .797,.914,.929. OBP: .373,.408.,393. Not to mention his power ain’t been all that bad either. get off his back. Typical, NE whiners…
ArmchairGM
Right field belongs to Ryan Kalish after Drew leaves.
jwredsox
Yeah you’re right. Sorry Drew 🙁
bomberj11
JD Drew is a very underrated player. He puts up solid numbers year after year, except 2007, and this year has been their most healthy outfielder. I don’t see why he should be gone…
Let
Can’t see the Sox making any major acquisitions. The team that they have got them to within a .5 game of first place and that was when they were still missing major pieces. The bullpen is the weakness and really the only position I see them trading for at the deadline. Werth, DeJesus? Ellsbury is on is way back, Cameron seems to be getting healthier and Drew is as solid as always, plus Darnell, Nava and Hermida all provide good depth. I can’t see them landing a catcher either with VMart close to being back and taking over full time duty, maybe to back him up but it won’t be a major trade either.
JDortmunder
The RS might trade DiceK somtime but it’s not going to be for a rental (Werth). It will likely be to a NL team on the coast (who he may be willing to go to with his no-trade). Has Werth even homered this month? The Red Sox first priority is RP and if they are interested in the RF they can try sign him as an UFA in November.