More photos » by Lynne Sladky - ASSOCIATED PRESS

What role will Jeremy Hermida have with the Sox? (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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After Tuesday's trade with the fabulous floundering fish, the Florida Marlins, the Red  Sox have a new outfielder, Jeremy Hermida. This unexpected deal raises the question of what role he'll have on the team.

Hermida was a forner top prospect who has largely disappointed in the bigs. His best year was without doubt 2007: .296 / .369 / .501 (.870 OPS), 18 HR, 32 doubles in 123 games. Unfortunately, Hermida's star has fallen significantly since then, along with his OPS, which was .729 in '08 and .740 this year. Defensively, Hermida is not impressive, with a career -26.7 UZR, mostly in right field. In left, his numbers aren't very impressive, and he's spent almost no time in center.

My initial thought was that the Sox wanted Hermida as a bench player / 4th outfielder or as a piece for a trade. But Theo's remarks yesterday suggest they see something more:

"Hermida is a player who hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet. We acquired him today for a reasonable cost to see if he might be able to fulfill that potential with us. He’s somebody who has positive indicators that future performance might be better than his past performance. His minor-league track record, his age, his draft pedigree, our scouting reports over the year indicate there’s a chance that he can turn into the player he was once thought to be."  Source

Maybe the Front Office thinks they can bottle lightning with Hermida. Theo has gambled on high ceiling position players before - think Wily Mo Pena or David Ortiz. Assuming Theo is high on Hermida, hopefully he's still looking at outfielders, because otherwise Hermida is going to be under a lot of pressure to replace Jason Bay's production. Holliday or Bay,or leaving a horse head in Andrew Friedman's bed and grabbing Crawford, should be the Red Sox plan for LF this year.

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP

1 day ago: FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2009, file photo, Boston Red Sox's Hunter Jones poses for a photo. Jones and teammate Jose Alvarez were traded to the Florida Marlins for the Marlins' Jeremy Hermida, the Red Sox baseball team said Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Steven Senne,file)

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It's been a few hours and the Jeremy Hermida trade is still a head scratcher.

Hermida, who hasn't done much at the MLB level, has potential. That's about all he has. And a $2M+ price tag, but nothing the Sox can't afford. Perhaps Theo Epstein will be using Hermida as an insurance policy if he can't get a better left fielder via free agency. Maybe Theo just plans to use him off the bench. Who really knows?

The Globe's Amalie Benjamin via Twitter on the Hermida trade:

1) Baseball source said #RedSox made the deal bc they got Hermida on the cheap, and there's a chance he performs better than did with FL.

2) Source also said Hermida might not factor into the team in 2010. Appears to be some early insurance for the #RedSox.

So, basically, the beat writers don't know either.

Just looking at the trade right now, let's grade it. To clarify, the Sox get Hermida and the Marlins receive Hunter Jones, a decent left-handed option out of the 'pen, and Jose Alvarez, a young left-handed pitcher.

More photos » by Matt York - AP

3 months ago: Florida Marlins' Jeremy Hermida throws his bat after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game in Phoenix, Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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The Red Sox have reportedly acquired Florida Marlins outfielder Jeremy Hermida:

The Boston Red Sox have acquired outfielder Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins for minor-league left-handers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

Hermida hit .258 with 13 home runs with 47 RBIs for the Marlins last season. Florida drafted Hermida as the 11th pick in the first round of the 2002 draft.

Jones, 25, was 4-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 36 appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket last season. He had 9.24 ERA in 11 appearances in two major-league stints with the Red Sox.

Interesting move by the Sox here. Hermida could potentially replace Jason Bay in left field, but there would certainly be a drop in numbers between Bay and Hermida. However, Hermida does have a lot of potential -- that's been the word on him for a few years. Could he break out in Boston? Does Theo Epstein think a full-time gig for Hermida could be a cheap cure for left field? It's possible. Or, Hermida will just be a backup outfielder with, potentially, Rocco Baldelli.

We'll have more on this trade soon.

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

2 days ago: New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera pitches to the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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The New York Yankees are the 2009 World Series champions.

The Philadelphia Phillies were a great team this season, but the Yankees were the best -- all season long. So it wasn't a huge stretch of the imagination to see this happen tonight.

Congrats, Yankees, but the Red Sox will be gunning for you in 2010.

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP

about 1 month ago: FILE - In a Feb. 24, 2008, file photo, then-Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schiling poses for a photo in Fort Meyers, Fla. Schilling won't run for Edward M. Kennedy's seat in the U.S. Senate. Schilling made the announcement on "Joe Buck Live" on HBO on Tuesday night, Sept. 22, 2009. Earlier this month, the 42-year-old Schilling expressed interest in running for the seat held by the Massachusetts Democrat for almost 50 years before he died in August. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

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If Curt Schilling was still playing, he'd be pitching on three days rest tonight. Why? Because that was the man Curt Schilling was:

From a starting pitcher’s standpoint, three days’ rest in October was never an issue, because from the time you’re 5 years old, doing that "World Series" replay in your back yard, it’s the game, the innings, the at-bats you’ve always dreamed about having the ball in your hand for.

I’ve always appreciated the respect pitching on three days’ rest in October got you, but go back to 2001, go to 2004 and beyond, and when you look at anyone pitching on three days’ rest you realize there were far bigger goings-on.

[...]

I always felt the other teams thought that they were going to be getting a "lesser version" of me on three days’ rest. The Yankees said as much after the 2001 World Series. I thought that gave me a huge advantage. Before they could figure out I wasn’t "less," and didn’t have diminished stuff, we’d be in the third or fourth inning.

I guess for me it comes back to the player. I always felt the need to make sure the manager KNEW I wanted to do it, and ya, I’d put up a fight to get the shot to be able to do it. If as a player you don’t assert this, you leave the manager sitting there in a no-win, really. If he does it, and you don’t do well, it’s his fault for pushing you. If he doesn’t do it, and you lose, it’s not your fault because he didn’t ask. That’s the easy way, I think, and I’ve watched guys take it more than once. Being the "quiet type," I never could. You may never be there again, and the belief that in October I could not be outpitched, regardless of whether it was true or not, made me push to get the ball in my hands if at all possible.

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More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

3 days ago: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez speaks to reporters at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in New York. Martinez is scheduled to pitch against the New York Yankees on Wednesday in Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Pedro Martinez is the man. I think most of us can agree on that. But it's not just what kind of pitcher that he was (or is?) -- it's also the character that he brings to the table. I, for one, will always remember some of his classical quotes ("Wake up the damn Bambino..."), but he's still dishing them out as a Philly:

On Red Sox fans: "I know they don't like the Yankees to win, not even in Nintendo games."

He also said that he still considers himself a Bostonian and that he treasures his relationship with Red Sox fans. Earlier, he joked with reporters that he "wants his props" now and not when he dies.

[...]

On Red Sox fans: "I'm pretty sure that every Boston fan out there can feel proud that I'm going to try and beat the Yankees and I'm going to give just the same effort I always did for them. They're special fans and they will always have my respect."

Pedro also reflected on his legacy as a Major League pitcher, one that will make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer:

"I'm pretty sure my name will be mentioned. I don't know in which way. But maybe after I retire, because normally when you die, people tend to actually give you props about the good things. But that's after you die. So I'm hoping to get it before I die. I don't want to die and hear everybody say, 'Oh, there goes one of the best players ever.' If you're going to give me props, just give them to me right now."

Hey, Pedro. Go out and win game six, buddy. I hope you get another ring. You deserve it.

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

28 days ago: Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett argues with the home plate umpire during the seventh inning of the Red Sox 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in Game 2 of the American League division baseball series Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Josh Beckett, his agent and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein are expected to talk contract with Beckett within the next couple of weeks:

Josh Beckett, who was in Boston to be honored for his commitment to Children’s Hospital, told WEEI.com that he and his agent, Michael Moye, are planning to meet with Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein in the coming weeks to discuss the . pitcher’s future with the team.

"We’re just letting things die down a little bit," Beckett said. Beckett is entering the last year of his contract with the Red Sox after having his option for the 2010 season vest thanks to making 28 starts in ‘09

This is sort of surprising to me considering Beckett already has his money for 2010 and it seems too early to talk about 2011. Theo has more important things to worry about -- like a left fielder. Or a shortstop. Or just making that offense thump a little bit more. Beckett can't wait a little bit.

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