Red Sox Shop Talk: Trading Assets and Who Could be Moved
by BobZupcic on Nov 2, 2011 4:53 PM EDT
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PrintRecent history would attest to the fact that the Red Sox FO has done a pretty good job in the trade department (and much less so in the free agent department). The 2011-2012 off-season may or may not see a large turnover of the roster, but it is possible that one, maybe two trades can and will happen to improve the club. With that in mind lets look at the roster and the best assets the Sox have to offer when it comes down to the negotiating table.
....after the jump
1. Kevin Youkilis: It would be a sad day indeed if/when Kevin Youkilis is traded. Having been with the club for his entire 8-year career, he has become a fixture at the plate and in the heart of the order for the team. The crowd chants of "Yooook" would surely be missed as well as his countless 9 pitch at-bats. No for the hard part - Youk as a tradeable asset. Many teams this winter could be looking at holes and upgrades at the 1B position. The top two Free Agents (Pujols and Fielder) are waaay out of most team's league when it comes to the long-term contracts and $$ they will command. Youkilis has to be viewed as a 1B commodity and if he is, he's just a rung lower than the top tier. He's a middle of the order bat, with a solid glove that would only run a club 12 million for the season with a 13 million option or the 1 million buyout. UPSIDE: Salary savings, probably large market. DOWNSIDE: Hole in the middle of the lineup, Low-tier 3B options. VERDICT: I would only look at this type of move if I got a solid starter in return and maybe a bigger RF bat and Ortiz was already back in the fold.
2. Josh Reddick: Reddick is a young, cheap, major-league ready outfielder. Basically an asset that most major league teams would go for, especially low-budget teams like the Royals, Pirates, Astros, etc. Reddick has displayed power and some superb fielding at times, but has also shown lack of plate patience and has gone stone cold for stretches at the plate. The Sox also have the equally as young and potentially better Ryan Kalish waiting in the wings. If Reddick can be part of a trade to bring back pitching then he is an asset worth giving up. UPSIDE: Young, cheap outfielder who could be part of a trade package. DOWNSIDE: Opens a hole at RF. VERDICT: I think most fans would be ok with Josh going to another club if its the right deal. His bat can be replaced in RF fairly easily.
3. Jed Lowrie: Hard to believe that Jed Lowrie will only be turning 28 when the 2012 season begins. Maybe that's beause he seems to be in the body of a 40 year old. Lowrie's injury history makes him a hard trade, but his cost and potential helps to off-set that a bit. A team looking for some pop out of its infield or heck, an infielder that can at least put bat to ball on occasion. Lowrie is due for a change of scenery and could be sent packing without much loss due to the presence of Mike Aviles. UPSIDE: Still young, teams may still see potential, redundant on the roster. DOWNSIDE: Limits the bench and flexibility. VERDICT: Seems like a piece that could be enticing in the right package. Change of scenery may do him some good (or at least he gets away from the Sox medical staff)
4. Jose Iglesias: The young cuban short-stop with the flashy glove is obviously not ready with the bat (and may never be) so it may be time for some other team to take on the risk. A NL team that plays small-ball or with a ground-ball pitching staff may like to get their hands on the next Ozzie Guillen/Omar Vizquel type. UPSIDE: Young, cost-controlled somewhat and hyped defense makes the selling easier. DOWNSIDE: Not much else at SS in the system until you get to 19-year old Bogaerts. VERDICT: Use the potential label before it goes away and package up Iglesias for pitching.
5. The "Warn-Out-Our-Welcome" Duo: Lars Anderson, and Michael Bowden: Both Anderson and Bowden have had their chances at the major league level and blown-them. The 24 year old Anderson was almost dealt for Rich Harden while Bowden put up an impressive season in AAA and is only 25 years old. Neither looks to be in line for a job with the parent club (although Bowden might get another bullpen shot) but both could be useful players on other teams. UPSIDE: Clears roster space of 24/25 year old fring players. DOWNSIDE: Bowden may still be useful. VERDICT: Types of players that are fill-ins on larger deals or maybe PTBNLs.
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I left off players who are obvious no-trades
those like Pedroia, Lester, Buchholz, etc and those like Lackey, Dice, etc.. Also those in positions that could not be filled easily (Salty, Bard, etc.)
Moving Youk also loses us a right-handed bat
of which we are VERY light. That definitely needs to be added to his DOWNSIDE.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
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If we get a freakin' awesome heap in return? Sure.
Elsewise, I’m cool with keeping him right where he is.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven
Agreed. We should accept nothing else than a young, cost controlled ace in return.
aka. Bumgarner, Kershaw (even though he’s arbitration, and Dodgers have Kemp), Hanson/Braves prospects, etc….
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
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Bumgarner might be the closest thing to a match I have heard of
though I gotta think that Bumgarner has more value than 2 arbitration years of Ellsbury. Still, Ellsbury is pretty much precisely what the Giants need now.
I think the Giants know their window is closing once Cain leaves.
They’re going to have to infuse talent somehow and fast and a trade would be the way to do it, albeit not Ellsbury. I dunno.
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
I'm back, that's all, formerly known as Sox-Inda-South!
I don't know if that's the case
they have a crazy amount of money coming off the books the next couple years. They could certainly afford to keep Cain, and they aren’t exactly in the toughest of divisions.
While I am a fan
the Red Sox do have a lot of Lefty bats. Ells stock is probably as high as it ever will be and you know Boras is waiting in the wings ready to stick it to the Red Sox.
Its not a bad idea. But I would want pitching, no excuses. If they want Ells they have to give up a young starting arm.
not at all
Cain is under 1 less year of team control than Ells, and is an extreme flyball pitcher- a very good one, but I can’t imagine he’d be as effective at keeping the ball in the park at Fenway as at AT&T. Don’t get me wrong, I like Cain a lot, but Ellsis wayyyyy more valuable.
Contrary to what I said in Mattsullivan's GM post
I’d be okay with flipping Josh Reddick and taking on someone like David DeJesus (I know he’s another LHH), if it netted us something that fills our glaring needs. Mostly, of course, starting pitching. That would give Kalish time to get in a full season in AAA and then see what happens next year there.
Other than that, I’m in basic agreement with most of what you’ve posted. I think Iglesias has to go now while the gettin’s good.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven
DeJesus is a decent buy-low candidate
Just wish he was right-handed.
by South Coast Ghost on Nov 3, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with all except I would like to see Youk DH and wave good bye to Papi
I think Youk would be a good DH who adds depth at the corners. IMO, he is more valuable then Big Papi for that reason – plus as my esteemed friend Bloggy mentions he is a right hand bat…Does Papi get the Sox two first round drafts if he walks?
"Man that ball got outta here in a hurry, you know anything that travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don't you think?" - Crash Davis
I think the 'handedness' of our lineup is being over blown.
We were first against righties and second against lefties last season by wOBA, not in the league, but in all of baseball. Keeping the balance the same or adding a bat or two in either direction probably won’t make much of a difference and probably shouldn’t be a major factor in who to keep, who to let go or who to acquire.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
I really think Middlebrooks is the guy to concentrate on.
Sounds like he could have breaking ball trouble, but he has the type of power that gets him attention. With Youk at least serviceable defensively and a + bat offensively in control for the next couple of years, Middlebrooks is going to be a moveable piece.
I really think he will be the guy to bring a good young pitcher, especially one nearing the end of team control.
I'd consider this ONLY
if they think Cecchini will stick at 3B…otherwise we’d have a 33 year old thirdbasemen nearing the end of his rope and nothing in the minors
Well, this is the result/effects of bringing on Gonzo and having Youk move to 3rd
Don’t get me wrong Gonzo is a masterpiece -and a great addition but the Sox essentially have two 1B players. Perhaps, some of Youk’s alleged bad attitude is that he is no longer at first – that is understandable if true. He paid his dues in the Sox organization…so he might feel jilted? I think he would be a fine DH if the Sox could find another 3B replacement. Or, maybe, Youk wants to be traded to play 1B? It would probably prolong his career. Gonzo was more of a want than a need. Many of us mentioned this when the Sox picked up Gonzo – what do you do with Youk? I think some of us also mentioned retaining Beltre – all water under the bridge but I mention it to point out that the Sox really have a hole at 3rd that needs to be filled and nobody really sees Youk as the solution.
"Man that ball got outta here in a hurry, you know anything that travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don't you think?" - Crash Davis
That's why last year,
was time to sign Beltre and trade Youkilis. This year, unless somebody like David Wright can come for a bucket of balls or a pitching machine, Youk’s not going anywhere.
by aubatron2011 on Nov 3, 2011 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Me, too.
Really wanted to keep Beltre last year. Damn, I love those one-knee bombs.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven
Yup what might have been
"Man that ball got outta here in a hurry, you know anything that travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don't you think?" - Crash Davis
well I mean, everyone struggles with breaking balls
the minors are basically years of hitters trying to learn to hit breaking balls. It sounds to me like he’s improving quite a bit.
sure, if he’d bring a good young pitcher, absolutely I’d trade him. I’d much prefer to not keep trading away our most promising prospects every year though.
I know it was a long time ago.
But I saw Middlebrooks play multiple times when he was with Greenville and frankly I’m surprised he’s made it as far as he has. He looked terrible. I’m all for trading him now before he has a chance to bust.
Kind of reminds me of Shea Hillenbrand (circa 2002-3) a young third baseman with a ton of hype, but not actually able to cut it in the majors.
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
I'm back, that's all, formerly known as Sox-Inda-South!
Ken Rosenthal
who is as good as anybody in the business, is reporting the A’s will listen on Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, and Kurt Suzuki.
Interesting
I had thought they wanted to keep Suzuki but maybe they are ready to commit to the other guy whose name I can’t remember and am too lazy to lookup.
If they are going to listen on Gio and Cahill then I have got to imagine that McCarthy and Brett Anderson are on the table as well. I imagine Cahill and Gio in particular will bring in some good prospects.
by The Name is Dalton on Nov 4, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
He said they'll
listen on anybody but Jemile Weeks. If there was any way the Sox could get one their pitchers, that would be awesome. I don’t think it will happen, but if I’m Ben and Co. I come up with as many possible combinations as possible. Even if we have to goe four or five teams.
I think they are really going to be pushing for good minor league prospects and a lot of them with not much MLB service time.
I have to wonder if part of this is that their stadium situation is still not figured out, so they’ll just dump as much salary as possible until it gets figured out. Cahill is due 3.5, 5.5 and 7.7 over the next three years, Suzuki 5 next year and 6.5 the year after and apparently Gio is a super two arb eligible (which is terminology I’m not super familiar with).
by The Name is Dalton on Nov 4, 2011 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
The stadium situation is the
main issue of why they would be willing to dump anybody. They want to move to San Jose, but they haven’t been cleared yet, is what I took from his story.
But yeah
See what it takes Ben! Not sure out of Cahill or Gio whose peripherals are more suited to Fenway. But either would make a very nice addition to the rotation.
by The Name is Dalton on Nov 4, 2011 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
They wanted Lars last year
send em some combo of Lars, Bowden, Iglesias, Lowrie, Reddick…..all young, cost controlled and nearly ML ready
I think they filled
first base after they wanted Lars so I don’t know if Lars will be in a package.
Out of those
I would imagine they would go for Bowden, Lowrie and Reddick. Iglesias is a slick-fielder but their top prospect is one of the better SS prospects out there and almost ready for the MLB from what I understand.
by The Name is Dalton on Nov 5, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
You're probably right.
If I was Ben Cherington and Allard Baird, and the rest of baseball Ops. I’d be calling Billy Beane so many times with combinations, that he might file a restraining order against us.
In all seriousness
though, I think there would be away to get one of those pitchers, in a less expensive way. The Royals have made it known they want young cost-controlled pitching, the Red Sox need pitching. How about a three team deal where the Red Sox get Gonzalez and if possible Soria (long shot, but could work), the Royals get Cahill and Bailey, and the A’s get a bunch of prospects from both teams? The Royals have a couple outfielders that could be appealing to the A’s, Lowrie and Bowden may be appealing to the A’s too.
I would assume that Iglesias and Youk are the two expendibles
with Scutaro and Middlebrooks.
But who knows who is available.
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