Already known to have Todd Frazier, Martin Prado, Jed Lowrie and Yangervis Solarte on their radar, the Red Sox are also scouting two Pirates (Josh Harrison and David Freese), a pair of Mets (T.J. Rivera and Asdrubal Cabrera) and the Giants’ Eduardo Nunez as they search for a third baseman, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
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Of that five-man group, the versatile Harrison may be the most difficult to acquire – especially considering the Pirates will aim to contend next year even if they don’t make a serious playoff push this season. With a .273/.352/.424 line to go with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases across 377 plate appearances, in which he has accumulated 2.1 fWAR, the 30-year-old is having a fine campaign. Harrison is also on a reasonable contract, one that pays him $7.5MM this year, $10MM in 2018 and carries club options for 2019 ($10.5MM) and ’20 ($11.5MM). While Harrison would be an immediate upgrade at third for the Red Sox, it’s questionable how he’d fit into the organization in the coming years. Boston’s much-ballyhooed third base prospect, Rafael Devers, is nearly major league ready, and the club has Harrison’s other positions – second base and the corner outfield – covered with Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi.
Freese, 34, would also be more than a rental, as he’s due a guaranteed $4.25MM next season and has either a $6MM club option or a $500K buyout for 2019. Currently on a $6.25MM salary, the long-competent hitter has paired a respectable .245/.376/.364 slash in 271 trips to the plate with decent work at third (two defensive runs saved, 1.7 UZR/150).
The two Mets also come with control beyond this season, though the Red Sox would have the ability to decline Cabrera’s $8.5MM club option for 2018 in favor of a $2MM buyout. Cabrera, who’s earning $8.25MM now, brings a solid offensive track record to the table and has been OK in that department this year (.250/.333/.408 with nine homers in 270 PAs). However, the switch-hitter has just one career appearance at third base, which came back in 2007, and hasn’t looked good at all in the middle infield in his age-31 campaign. Cabrera has combined for minus-14 DRS and a minus-15.2 UZR/150 at shortstop and second, his customary positions.
Rivera, who at 28 is younger than Cabrera and won’t even be arbitration eligible until after the 2019 season, has survived a low walk rate (3.9 percent) since debuting last year to post quality numbers at the plate. Through 311 PAs, including 202 this year, Rivera has batted .315/.348/.469 – a line that’s either 15 percent or 17 percent better than league average, depending on whether you prefer OPS+ or wRC+. As such, he joins Harrison in looking like someone who’d be rather tough to pry from his current employer.
Nunez, a pure rental, is earning $4.2MM and has hit a playable .297/.323/.414 over 280 trips to the plate during his platform year. More impressively, the 30-year-old has stolen 17 of 20 bases, meaning he’d provide another speed threat to a Boston team that already ranks eighth in the majors in steals. Nunez is also capable of playing second, short and left field, though he hasn’t garnered particularly positive reviews anywhere as a defender.
As Boston continues to mull its options before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, it’ll utilize a platoon of Brock Holt and Deven Marrero at the hot corner, tweets Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. After the Red Sox defeated the Yankees on Sunday night, they optioned third baseman Tzu-Wei Lin to Triple-A. Lin fared nicely before his demotion, hitting .280/.379/.360 over the first 59 PAs of his career, but the 23-year-old owns a meager .638 OPS in a much larger minor league sample of 1,954 PAs.
OPS+ is fine but who would prefer it to wRC+
This is when baseball becomes not fun..
when it all becomes advanced statistics?
How do statistics detract from your enjoyment of the game? If you prefer to look at batting average and RBIs, knock yourself out and watch the games. I love advanced statistics and I love watching baseball. They aren’t mutually exclusive.
Same here if u hate metrics then u don’t have to look at them. To me, it makes the game better
Room full of Johnny Superscouts
Right!$
The Red Sox really don’t need to get a 3B. They have done fine without much offensive support from that position and will continue to be fine as long as they receive production throughout the lineup. Out of the names mentioned, are any of them really going to be the difference between winning a World Series or not winning a World Series? Probably not. I’d focus on another bullpen arm…or two.
could be the difference in winning or not winning the division, which is a big deal.
Unless it’s the difference between winning the World Series or not, I think they should stay under the luxury tax threshold. That has more long-term implications
They DFAd panda, so if he gets traded or more likely cut, they still have to pay the 20 MM but it doesn’t count towards the luxury tax
Pretty sure they are still on the hook for the Panda salary on the luxury tax unless he is signed by someone else then that prorated amount would not be subject to the tax. Since someone who signs will do so at league minimum then it won’t help much.
Wrong
If the past weekend makes you think the lineup couldn’t use an upgrade…sheesh.
What drugs are you on? We already have to lowest homerun total in the league and the worst 3rd base production. The hell they don’t.
What i wish they do is give Devers a look atleast. He can’t do any worse at 3rd then who’s there now. Give him a taste of the majors like they did with Moncada last year. I think he would hold his own he’s ready now. Let’s go.
They traded Shaw for a young relief pitcher so it can’t be all that bad. After all, Shaw performed like a young prospect. Wait, what? Thornburg is on the 60-day DL? Shaw is doing pretty good? Oh jeez that trade went south
Well, it’s easy in hindsight but you can’t predict injury to a pitcher with no real injury history. Stuff happens.
Why don’t you look at Shaw’s splits last year. Let’s talk after this season is over.
Look at Shaw’s splits in 2015 then let’s talk about his ability. And davidcoonce74 – Thornburg had 2 arm injuries over 3yrs or so prior to joining the Red Sox. This year’s injury wasn’t related to the others. Even though I felt the Brewers got the better end of it at the time of the trade it could have been called a win/win.
Even if you give weight to 2016 splits, with Shaw they could have have had a third baseman that would produce for 70% of the games as opposed to the garbage they have now.
The big thing is that I think everyone was seeing Middlebrooks 2.0 and didn’t want to see that again.
Donaldson
Doubt that happens.
As a Red Sox fan. I don’t see them trading for Donaldson.
Adrian Beltre
He just signed an extension
Mike Moustakas
royals are contending… they won’t sell
Miguel Cabrera
Wade Boggs
Arod
Honus.
Wagner
Brooks Robinson
Your mom
Been there, done that.
Jesus
Elmo
Nolan Arenado
Keep dreaming
how about Colin Moran to the Red Sox for Robby Scott? Sounds like a fit for both teams…
Other than the fact that Moran hasn’t done anything to prove he’s an upgrade over anyone they already have.
I mean except his performance in AAA this year unless you haven’t looked at stats ?
Can’t trade Robbie Scott. He’s been a beast from the left. Too important.
Lol. 5.31 FIP. Definition of replaceable.
This article is nothing but a smokescreen. The Red Sox are looking for somebody on the cheap, so you can cross most of the names mentioned off the list.
True buts that’s not typically how DD rolls.
Why no love for Yunel Escobar? Triple slash is just as good as Nunez (.287/.344/.413) which becomes an even stronger .318/.378/.458 if you take away a slow April. Exceptional 12%K rate, passable glove (-1.5 UZR150), dude is an asset. Will be a bargain too seeing as how his market is virtually nonexistent
Bad character guy, though, right (Escobar)? But he can hit.
Meh, I think he’s matured since his early days but the label continues to hound him. Hard to say though
Yeah I think Yunel would be good for them.
Jedd Gyorko
I’d love that. He’s a local guy for me. I liked Alex Wilson for the same reason
Todd Fraiser will excel at Fenway. He’s a rental so he wouldnt cost a lot.
Jose Abreu to the Jankees to counter the red Sox.
David Robertson to the Nats for cash or ptbnl but after the non waiver trade deadline.
Abreu isn’t going to be traded and Robertson is worth more than cash or PTBNL
I wasn’t serious. But Frasier would do great at Fenway but again he’s a rental. Do the red Sox really want to give up prospects for a 2month rental? Doubt it.
Yes it’s not going to be top prospects
Uh first off, no way ptbnl or cash is enough. Secondly, no way robertson makes it to the Nats on waivers. Doubt he even makes it out of the AL without being claimed.
Astros indians cubs rays diamondbacks rockies all have higher priority on the claim so no way he even makes it to the Nats.
Almost anyone who’s not a young underpaid star will make it through waivers pst the deadline. From what I’ve heard there’s a thing where GMs just let each other get players through waivers and then other GMs let them get players through waivers. It’s a thing everyone does and if you try to screw other people over they will screw you over. Additionally if u try to claim Robertson off waivers the ChiSox just pull him back. Teams figure they have a far better chance of trading for players than claiming them. But you’re right that he’s gonna cost way more than a PTBNL or cash
Players get claimed after July 31st all the time. The originating team then has a few days to work out a deal with claiming team, take him off waivers and he cant be dealt for the remainder of the trading season, or let him go ala Alex Rios.
Yeah where did he get all that from?
That’s if those teams want him. You don’t know if it will or won’t happen.
He wouldn’t make it through.
Yunel Escobar anyone? Please take him off the Angels hands…
I hope Anaheim locks him up long term. Lol
Ok. If you take the Kung Fu Panda.
What’s holding up Devers?
Patience
I’m wondering that too. Could be a makeup thing, not in a bad way. He’s young and didn’t go to college. Maybe they want him to mature a little more.
Think Devers just turned 20… maturity, and no way he can fill the very large hole at the 4-5 hole that is lacking in the lineup. That would be silly to ask a kid to handle that at this point
Makes sense…I didn’t realize he was only 20 lol.
Well then get poor Yangervis out of San Diego, he deserves to be on a better team.
Wow the 3B class is ridiculously stacked this season when you consider these are just the sellers.
None of these players are particularly good. They’re all about average to slightly below
Agreed!!!! Let’s trade Escobar and get anything decent… As it is… with the pitching we’ve got … we are going no where…
I really hope the Angels get some better luck with regards to their starting pitching. I really want to see Trout on the biggest stage in his prime.
As a Red Sox fan I would prefer Harrison ideally. But considering rental length and the present state of the farm system, Rafael Dever’s great but not to be rushed development, I’m betting Frazier is the trade deadline pickup. The question for me is if and how David Robertson is included.
Harrison might cost the Bosox Devers is the problem with that situation so it’s moot. I don’t see much being available at a acceptable cost besides maybe Frazier.
I would think the Mets would be willing to give away Cabrera.
I am a Pirate fan and I would love if the Pirates got Devers for Harrison. On the other hand I am also a realist and there is no way he is worth that. He would be a nice fit for the Sox though. Can play 2B and 3B. He has played some OF too. Not a great defender there but could give a guy a day off here and there without hurting the team.
That’s basically what I was saying.
I hope management has more than just DD making the decision on the 3 B and the pen.
What the Sox don’t need is another Pedro or Crawford or before last night, Price, that can’t take the bright lights at Fenway and playoff time..
Robertson would be a great pick-up for the run–I like Freese with his experience. Would the Angels ever move Trout? In addition to Mookie what would it take? We have Trout now in Mookie–IMHO–Trout is better but not by much.
Bogaerts has not been the same at the plate since he got hit before the AS break. He may need a 10 day DL to rehab. Lin is not Boggie but he can handle things for 10 days with Holt as a back-up.
Where tf did Trout come from?
Undiagnosed head injury or radon gas leak–take your pick.
If you truly believe the Red Sox already “have Trout now in Mookie”, then there is no need to muse about trading Mookie for Trout, right?
Beyond the fact the Angels wouldn’t entertain a trade offer the Red Sox wouldn’t make in the first place, it’s a fine idea.
And when Mookie has shown not only excellence, but escalating excellence, for five straight seasons, then we will play the “Mookie is as good as Trout” game. Until then, he’s just a good player on the Sox.
If you hate Price that much, how about this? Shoemaker Escobar Cam Bedrosian and Cron for Price? And the Sox eat about 10 million a year of his contract. Cron would thrive at Feenway. And is wont be a FA until 2021.
Lin should have known something was up when they Sox came back after the All Star break and they changed his uniform number from 73 to Nomar’s old #5. Was just a matter of time before he was gone.
If the Sox acquired Asdrubal, they would have to move Bogaerts to 3B. Asdrubal is a big baby and only wants to play SS at this time in his career. Is that really what the Red Sox want? Go out and get Frazier.
They had Orlando Cabrera before.
How about Sandoval,Swihart,Owens,Brentz and so on for Belt and a SP or BP guy? Ramirez back to 3B and also then Travis for other help?
“Here’s every thing I don’t want on the team for Brandon Belt”
You forgot castillo
Since all you said was “Sox”, I’m going to assume you meant the White Sox since they went by the “Sox” moniker first.
The Red Sox are looking for a bat first 3rd baseman which should kick Nunez and Rivera off the list. A trade for Frazier would be nice and a trade for Harrison wouldn’t be bad either
And why option Lin? He has done better than Merrero, I would rather them platoon Lin and Holt and not Merrero and Holt.
Who was called up.then?
E-Rod was activated and will start today and they kept Holt on the roster who was called up to be the 26th man for last nights double header. So to make things easier to understand Lin and Madux were sent down and Holt was kept on the roster and E-Rod was activated
Lin’s a lefty and so is Holt. Marrero’s a righty. They now have a third base platoon.
Trade sandoval and pieces or cash for nunez
If it were only that easy. Plus I don’t think we need Nunez, he is basically Merrero who can run better and can hit a little better. We need a guy like Frazier who is a true power threat. We should be able to get him for a cheap price and maybe resign him to a cheap(ish) one year deal next offseason to give Deverse one extra year
Freeze would be a “rental” under contract for this year and next and an option for 2019? I’m tired of these idiots throwing around the term “rental” when they don’t know what the h it means.
*Freese. I also hate when posters cannot spell… oops
Yes, but The Freeze would be quite the speed threat at the top of the lineup. The question would be whether he could hit and throw.
Baez for ERod and Johnson.
Do you suppose the Sox are holding up the Frazier trade until the price goes down?
OR they don’t want to part with a good prospect for a rental?
Or the WS want them to take both Robertson and Frazier…
Since all you said was “Sox”, I’m going to assume you meant the White Sox since they went by the “Sox” moniker first.
I am calling it right now.
Watch the Mets. They will be active in trades and don’t be surprised if Asdrubal Cabrera moves to Red Sox to play third. Actually hitting well and would play decent third base. Duda could be moved to Yanks for peanuts. Mets will be active and the market will be crazy because of it.
Mets are all over the place right now. They need a 3B, AS, After this year they’ll need 2B. Lucus Duda isnt gonna tuen heads at 1st either.
I’d be pretty elated if the BoSox grabbed Frazier and Drob. Gut feeling they somehow let Groome go in that deal if the Sox eat 50%+ of the salaries and I’m uneasy about it so I’ll say, Chatham, Cedrola, and Darwinzon would be a very solid package for both parties
Go after a third baseman that isn’t under control after this season. Devers should start next year in Boston
The old adage if you cannot score you cannot win applies to Boston, the lineup is horrible especially when you have a Chris Sales depart a game with two outs in the 8th inning with a lineup that generated only 1 run. Seriously? As I see it Boston needs two bats not one you need one at 3rd and one at 1st base without that no matter how good your starting rotation is the chances of the Red Sox advancing to the World Series in minimal at best..
If the Red Sox got both of Robertson and Frazier then the White Sox would have to eat some salary because that would push them over the luxury tax line. I know that DD said that resetting isn’t a priority but I think that is just posturing the Red Sox want to reset those penalties.
I’m sure they’d be willing to eat a nice chunk of it if the prospects coming back are worth it. At that point, we’d see just how big of a priority it is to DD.
White Sox SHOULD be absolutely willing to eat some salary to get a better return. Now, whether they will or how much, that is another story.