Wickman to the Sox?

[Sizzlin22]

According to Sports Center under the radar trade of the deadline is Bob Wickman to the Boston Red Sox. Now that Schilling is ready to go back to the rotation and because Foulke is still on the DL the Red Sox plan to aquire Bob Wickman.

 

If there is any truth to this it is HUGE. Wickman is a great closer who would GREATLY help our pen. The only problem is who do we have to give up for him?

[CrespoBlows]

According to Sports Center under the radar trade of the deadline is Bob Wickman to the Boston Red Sox. Now that Schilling is ready to go back to the rotation and because Foulke is still on the DL the Red Sox plan to aquire Bob Wickman.

 

If there is any truth to this it is HUGE. Wickman is a great closer who would GREATLY help our pen. The only problem is who do we have to give up for him?

 

Well that's IF the Guardians fall out of the race, and I don't think they will. But to guess, they'd probably want 2 prospects in return.

 

I'm guessing they'd want Dustin Pedoria or Hanley Ramriez to be their 2nd basemen of the future (our maybe even Kevin Youkilis to play 3rd) and one of the big three (that's right I'm annoting Sanchez, Papelbon, and Lester as the big three)

 

Too much to give up for a 2 month rental. Keep Schilling where he is 'till Foulke is back, then make the switch and send Arroyo to the pen. That's basically adding another effective RH reliever. If the Twins want to send us Romero for Mueller, I'd do it.

[Manny Goes Boom]

WOW, now that would be something, but (Im guessing hes a FA after the season) Crespo is right...too much for a rental, unless he would want to resign, but I don't know anything about him as far as where he would want to pitch after this season

[example1]

I don't like that trade at all. In fact, I don't want the sox to give up anyone for Wickman. He's got decent numbers, but I just don't trust him as far as I can throw him and that's not far at all. I doubt if Theo is going in that direction, unless he plans on using wick as a set-up man. I don't want him on the mound in a game 7 9th inning against the Yanks, or White Sox or Angels.

[riverside sluggers]

I think Schilling should work until mid-August to get his stuff back 100%, right now hes probably at 80% compared to last season

[stocker323]

Wickman said he may retire at the end of the year. Not someone we would want to trade top prospects for.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

I think Schilling should work until mid-August to get his stuff back 100%, right now hes probably at 80% compared to last season

Schilling has stated that he's ready to start ( according to him throw about 100 pitches ). But, as we've seen before sometimes his "can do" and "bull dog attitude" has led to problems. I love the guy, but he should remain where he is till mid-August or Setember ( when the roosters expand ). This would probably be best for the team and Schilling.

[bigpapi349]

definitely not a good deal, unless they can stay outside of their top 10 prospects which i dont see happenen. This guy is old(36), injury prone(injured the last 3 years, missed all of 2003 season). I think he'll collapse second half. he's like a dan kolb

[26 to 6]

I dont think the Sox would have to send top prospects over for Wickman. Maybe 2 mediocre prospects and maybe a DiNardo type of guy...theres plenty of those guys (back and forthe between AAA and the majors) in Pawtucket.

 

...I dont think Buster Olney was saying that discussion were taking place between the Sox and Guardians, he just said that it would fit well for the Sox, so I doubt something like this will go down.

[bigpapi349]

i think the Guardians think they are in the playoff race and wickman is a key piece for them. If dinardo for wickman was possible, then id do it.

[26 to 6]

i think the Guardians think they are in the playoff race and wickman is a key piece for them. If dinardo for wickman was possible, then id do it.

obviously not just DiNardo, like DiNardo and 1 or 2 mediocre prospects playing in Wilmington or Portland....it wouldnt require top prospects.

 

But I dont think the Guardians are going to be trading off players. But the last 2 days I have heard rumors saying that the Guardians are shopping Millwood.

[bigpapi349]

ya, millwood has a pretty good era (3.34) but is 3-9

[riverside sluggers]

yes milwood is 3-9, but that ERA indicates he should have a good record and run support

[riverside sluggers]

wow i was right on that one, in 17 games he has pitched this season, cleveland offense behind him is sloppy just averaging 2.5 runs support a game

[yankeessuck013]

Buster Olney on sportscenter said.

 

Bob Wickman to Boston within the next week, no, it isn't a done deal, and this is the first time I heard it from a respected baseball personality, Buster said he put the pieces together that Schilling wants to go back to the rotation, and the sox are going to need a closer. He said that the Guardians are falling out of it and dont have a real shot at wildcard anymore and the strong bond between Theo and the Guardians GM could make something happen.

 

I guess i'm just afraid of closers who don't strike people out and have to rely on the fielders all the time, which Wickman does. Foulke, even though he's never thrown hard, has always been a K pitcher, getting at least a K per inning pitched.

 

But yeah, i will take him if there is nothing else out there...but I would much rather have wagner, but who would cost an ass load of $$$

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I wouldn't have a problem with Wickman because a guy that age won't last long....the Guardians are a young team and I dont think they would require much....CERTAINLY not a top prospect...thats a bunch of crap....

 

The nice thing about adding Wickman is it would leave the Sox open to other trades. They would still have the resources to go after Romero, Burnett, Schmidt or others. They would still need a lefty to replace Embree but Wickman would only help. The guy can pitch and although he isn't stellar he is a good replacement until Foulke gets back....and if Foulke faulters....its an alternative....Wagner is too expensive and I dont think he will be available.

[MC Hammer]

If you can't get Wickman why not go after Mesa. You know the Pirates will give him away for nothing, and although he hasn't been perfect this year (24/27 4.03) most of his troubles came in games that he came in losing, or in a tie game. I think that he can still be very productive for the rest of the year, and changing leagues can only help him. The Pirates are ready to move (former Red Sox) Mike Gonzalez to the pen as soon as he's healthy, so they'd be more than willing to move Mesa ASAP.

[elsrbueno]

If you can't get Wickman why not go after Mesa. You know the Pirates will give him away for nothing, and although he hasn't been perfect this year (24/27 4.03) most of his troubles came in games that he came in losing, or in a tie game. I think that he can still be very productive for the rest of the year, and changing leagues can only help him. The Pirates are ready to move (former Red Sox) Mike Gonzalez to the pen as soon as he's healthy, so they'd be more than willing to move Mesa ASAP.

 

The knock on Mesa is that he hasn't pitched in a meaningful game in a LONG time. He did not pitch well for Philadelphia when he was in a pennant race there, and the feeling around baseball is that his performance in key situations in a big game is at least a HUGE question.

 

I looked deeper at Jose's 2005 performance, and I'm very unimpressed. He averages 6 K's per 9 innings, which isn't horrible, but hitters are .293/.370/.421 against him. EEK!

 

Mesa's stats (ESPN)

 

Personally, I'd rather give a guy like Declarman or Papelbon a shot before going after a guy like Jose Mesa... but that's just my opinion.

 

I've got reservations about Bob Wickman as well. He's got an injury history, a 36 year old arm, and a $2.75 million contract. He's a quality pitcher but his 4.3 K's/9 aren't exactly ideal for a closer-- it tells me he doesn't have dominant stuff. I'd take him off of Cleveland's hands if they weren't looking for big-time talent, but with Cleveland only 2.5 games out of the Wild Card race, I don't see them trading their closer away.