2011 Trade Deadline Thread

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

iortiz since you want to improve pitching, let me ask you who would you like to see the Sox trade for?

[BornToRun]

To add to the conversation, I'd be very happy with Matt Garza but unfortunately it doesn't seem like that will cheap or possible.

[Palodios]

and why not prioritize, improve and focus on the weak side?

 

Adding pitching won't help this team in the playoffs. They have an elite bullpen, elite defense, elite offense, and three Cy Young contenders, and about ten different guys who could fill in for the one or two other starts in the playoffs. When October comes, I could care less who the #5 starter is. Adding a RHH RF bat is the most cost effective way to improve this team's weakest position.

[iortiz]

Our pitching has been injured and we are still playing .611 baseball.

Despite our pitching we are on that pace. The offense put that pace; and as I said, despite terrible TF's moves.

 

Again... why to prioritize that department and not the pitching? why?

 

Our issue is not pitching, what? look above the cold numbers!

 

We can get a RF for fairly cheap

 

Why is not Beltran already here or someone like him? cause i wouldn't accept less, would you?

[a700hitter]

Theo, Get your checkbook and go get Beltran. If you use the John Henry's jet, you can probably wrap the deal up in 3 hours door to door.

[iortiz]

Adding pitching won't help this team in the playoffs.

 

I am Not agreed at all.

 

Pitching weights more in Championships than offense. Look at SF.

 

They have an elite bullpen (agreed), elite defense (agreed), elite offense (the best already, despite TF), and three Cy Young contenders (mmmm... not sure, maybe just one at this point), and about ten? (i don't think so) different guys who could fill in for the one or two other starts in the playoffs. (Take away Buch's, Lester's and Becktt's numbers and look at the standings) When October comes, I could care less who the #4 and #5 starter is. Adding a RHH RF bat is the most cost effective way to improve this team's weakest position (agreed, --it is a need but is not our priority-- if the money is the issue. But if not, we should focus and prioritize the pitching).

 

fixed

[Palodios]

Not agreed at all.

 

Pitching weights more in Championships than offense. Look at SF.

 

They have an elite bullpen (agreed), elite defense (agreed), elite offense (the best already, despite TF), and three Cy Young contenders (mmmm... not sure, maybe just one at this point), and about ten? (i don't think so) different guys who could fill in for the one or two other starts in the playoffs. (Take away Buch's, Lester's and Becktt's numbers and look at the standings When October comes, I could care less who the #4 and #5 starter is. Adding a RHH RF bat is the most cost effective way to improve this team's weakest position (agreed, --it is a need but is not our priority-- if the money is the issue. But if not, we should focus and prioritize the pitching).

 

Not sure what the point of this dissection is. Buch and Lester were top 5 last year, Beckett is top 5 this year, and none of them have shown any drop in stuff. And when I say ten guys, I mean that we'll take the best of that group and let him pitch.

 

1.Lackey, 2. Wake, 3. Miller, 4. Doubront 5. Aceves 6. Millwood 7. Tazawa 8. Weiland 9. Atchison 10. Bowden. Sure, half of them are garbage, but that group has 3 All-Stars in it, and rookies with potential. Ten guys, one spot, 2-3 starts in the playoffs. I'm okay with those odds.

[iortiz]

Theo' date=' Get your checkbook and go get Beltran. If you use the John Henry's jet, you can probably wrap the deal up in 3 hours door to door.[/quote']

 

... and a SP porfa! hehehe:harhar:

[AtWork]

There's really not much sense in arguing about which one is a bigger need right now. There's a good chance that injuries or ineffectiveness on the part of Crawford, Reddick, Buchholz, Lackey or Miller will change this argument drastically over the next 16 games before the trade deadline.

[iortiz]

Not sure what the point of this dissection is. Buch and Lester were top 5 last year, Beckett is top 5 this year, and none of them have shown any drop in stuff. And when I say ten guys, I mean that we'll take the best of that group and let him pitch.

 

1.Lackey, 2. Wake, 3. Miller, 4. Doubront 5. Aceves 6. Millwood 7. Tazawa 8. Weiland 9. Atchison 10. Bowden. Sure, half of them are garbage, but that group has 3 All-Stars in it, and rookies with potential. Ten guys, one spot, 2-3 starts in the playoffs. I'm okay with those odds.

 

faaaaar from the numbers that took them there. If we gonna see that way, bring back Cameron hehehe.

 

and why to trust in rookie pitchers and not in Reddick, who has performed awesome.

Do you want to risk more on those rookie pitchers than Reddick in a playoff game? I don't think so my friend.

[Palodios]

faaaaar from the numbers that took them there. If we gonna see that way, bring back Cameron hehehe.

 

and why to trust in rookie pitchers and not in Reddick, who has performed awesome.

Do you want to risk more on those rookie pitchers than Reddick in a playoff game? I don't think so my friend.

 

Because you're getting the best out of 10 guys to play one to three games. Instead of relying on a rookie who will play up to 19 games. Plus, if a pitcher fails, the bullpen can bail him out. As far as OF depth, you have far fewer options. If this team goes into Philadelphia against Hamels or Lee, this offense is 4 deep, and the next five spots are a blackhole.

 

 

There will be no outpitching Philadelphia. The best this team can do is outhit them.

[AtWork]

What about Edwin Jackson?

[iortiz]

Because you're getting the best out of 10 guys to play one to three games. Instead of relying on a rookie who will play up to 19 games. Plus, if a pitcher fails, the bullpen can bail him out. As far as OF depth, you have far fewer options. If this team goes into Philadelphia against Hamels or Lee, this offense is 4 deep, and the next five spots are a blackhole.

 

 

There will be no outpitching Philadelphia. The best this team can do is outhit them.

 

Why jeopardized an entire game in the DS, ALSC, WS and every single for the rest of the season when our top 3 are out? Against giving the shot to the kid who through 70 AB he has done the job in both defensively and offensively.

Why expect that he won't perform at least as a AVG RF? Why?

 

He has the most important: talent.

 

BTW If our 3-SPs performs that good, send Pipi to First and A-God to OF

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Would they have Ortiz play 1st and A-God OF in the WS?

[AtWork]

Would they have Ortiz play 1st and A-God OF in the WS?

 

They probably would for at least one game. Ortiz played first in both the World Series games at Colorado in 2007.

[iortiz]

Would they have Ortiz play 1st and A-God OF in the WS?

 

Why not?

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Just asking. It's a big game so you don't want to f*** it up.

[iortiz]

Just asking. It's a big game so you don't want to f*** it up.

 

So... Bring a decent 4th SP then...

 

If the offense is the issue at a NL park, there is not better offense you can go with, even with a RF named Beltran already in the Roster than this!, and mostly assuming that our 3 top SPs perform that good.

[SoxSport]

Focus on that RHd OF bat. That's what Theo has to get.

[iortiz]

Epstein won't rest on laurels as Deadline nears

 

BOSTON -- With the All-Star break coming to an end, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein will be looking at his team with a microscope over the next two-plus weeks, trying to identify what moves he might be able to make before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

 

For Epstein, the endeavor won't be quite as stressful as some other clubs, given that Boston does hold the second-best record in the Major Leagues at 55-35. To this point, only the Phillies have been better.

 

That said, Epstein has never been one to rest on success. The 2011 Red Sox have a legitimate chance to win it all, and the front office will work diligently over these next couple of weeks to see if there is anything it can do to increase those chances.

 

"We will definitely be actively involved in trade discussions, and we'll see," Epstein said. "We may be very active in trades, we may be less active, we may do some smaller things. We're certainly not a perfect club -- that's for sure. There are needs that we have, areas that we're going to attempt to upgrade. Those upgrades might come from guys we have on the 25-man roster playing better and getting locked in."

 

Right field is a clear dilemma for the Red Sox as the Deadline draws near. J.D. Drew's struggles have been glaring, to say the least. The left-handed hitter has a .229 average, with four homers, 21 RBIs and a .646 OPS, which is 230 points below his career mark.

 

The 35-year-old Drew is entering the final months of a five-year, $70 million contract. In other words, Drew could be playing for his job over the next couple of weeks.

 

While a trade to acquire a corner outfielder is always an option, the Red Sox have a most intriguing player already on their roster. Josh Reddick has given the team both production and energy since Carl Crawford went on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. In 61 at-bats, Reddick is hitting .393 with two homers and 15 RBIs.

 

"You'd have to be blind not to notice that we're not getting much out of right field," Epstein said recently. "We're all expecting to get more out of it going forward. As I said earlier, it's a combination of letting the players with good track records play and, sooner or later, finding their stroke to produce and then also, especially while we're banged up, giving other guys opportunities and seeing who we can get hot. These things all work themselves out.

 

"I guess I am encouraged by the fact that we can be where we are offensively without much, if anything at all, out of right field. It will get better. There's no way we're going to have the same production the rest of the year that we've had so far. We'll improve internally and, who knows, there's a chance we'll improve at certain spots externally at some point, too. It'll get better."

 

The Red Sox seem to be fine offensively at all the other positions, particularly given the in-season resurgence from the catching tandem of Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek.

 

In other words, beyond right field, pitching is likely going to be where Epstein's focus is in the final weeks before the Deadline.

 

The rotation deserves large kudos for continuing to perform, despite a barrage of injuries. Daisuke Matsuzaka is done for the season. Clay Buchholz has been out of the mix for close to a month with back woes, and there's still no set timetable for his return. The Red Sox are hoping to get Jon Lester -- lower left lat strain -- back by July 22.

 

Tim Wakefield, Andrew Miller and Alfredo Aceves have all stepped in and generally kept the Red Sox in games when given the opportunity to start.

 

But if there's a chance to upgrade from outside the organization, Epstein will at least explore those avenues.

 

And, like 29 other teams in the Majors, Boston could always use another viable reliever to work in the mid to late innings. Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon are a nice 1-2 punch at the back end, but it's still hard for the Sox to know quite what to expect from Bobby Jenks. Since Rich Hill went down for the season following Tommy John surgery, the Red Sox have lacked a shutdown lefty.

 

With so many teams still in contention, Epstein could face an even bigger challenge than normal to add from outside the organization.

 

"I can't sit here and say we're definitely going to go out and make a blockbuster trade," Epstein said. "For one thing, there's just not a huge market of sellers right now."

 

I doubt that he goes for an OF. It's clear that he loves J.D. Drew --plus Reddick's performance--. The pitching could be an avenue to explore... we'll see.

[Interestedobserver]

Focus on that RHd OF bat. That's what Theo has to get.

 

 

That would be Beltran, but he won't come cheap. Back in March he was available for salary relief.

[a700hitter]

That would be Beltran' date=' but he won't come cheap. Back in March he was available for salary relief.[/quote']He'll cost $6 million. Anyone who wants to pick it up will get him.

[Interestedobserver]

From what I read, the Mets were more interested in prospects and would eat salary to get a better prospect. If Wells can be traded multi year for value, Beltran having a good season will cost talent.

[a700hitter]

From what I read' date=' the Mets were more interested in prospects and would eat salary to get a better prospect. If Wells can be traded multi year for value, Beltran having a good season will cost talent.[/quote']Money is paramount to the Mets right now. Control of the franchise will be lost if the Wilpons cannot repay $200 million in 2 years.

[Youk Of The Nation]

EDIT: Wrong thread.

[FredLynn]

From what I read' date=' the Mets were more interested in prospects and would eat salary to get a better prospect. If Wells can be traded multi year for value, Beltran having a good season will cost talent.[/quote']

 

I agree. What I have read is that the Mets won't dump Beltran for nothing. They will want prospects. Furthermore, our ownership isn't going to pick up that much salary.

Another more likely player to get is Josh Willingham from the A's. He is signed just through 2011 for $6M. Although his OPS is not great (.736) he plays in a cavernous ballpark. His career OPS is .831 and I think he would thrive at Fenway. The A's are in last place or close to it and will be sellers.

[SoxSport]

From what I'm reading, there's competition for Beltran (Giants, etc), and the Mets figure they have some leverage to get a good prospect.

Don't be surprised if they get Cuddyer. I saw him huddled a couple of times at the batting cage with several Red Sox players before the all-star game on MLB.com. Cuddyer is the type of player who would fit better in a platoon. And, no, he is not Wily Mo Pena in RF.

I hope some of you guys get MLB.com. It's about the best thing Selig does.

[redsoxbeatz]

Lackey has shown signs of improvement? I would say he has shown signs that he is capable of pitching better. However, I still think that every time he goes out to the mound we could get something horrid or something decent. There is no chance of telling. Improvement would be if I was under the impression we'd get 6.0 IP and 4.00 ERA majority of the time.

 

Edit: Add to the rotation. Reddick & Drew can take RF. There shouldn't be such a worry about the #1 offense.

[a700hitter]

Lackey has shown signs of improvement? I would say he has shown signs that he is capable of pitching better. However, I still think that every time he goes out to the mound we could get something horrid or something decent. There is no chance of telling. Improvement would be if I was under the impression we'd get 6.0 IP and 4.00 ERA majority of the time.

 

Edit: Add to the rotation. Reddick & Drew can take RF. There shouldn't be such a worry about the #1 offense.

Without Ortiz in an NL park, it is no longer a number 1 offense.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Red Sox Notes: Beltran, Ortiz, Papelbon, Garza

By Mark Polishuk [July 14 at 9:51pm CST]

The Red Sox kick off the second half on Friday with a big series at Tropicana Field against the Rays. Here are some notes about the club with the AL's best record...

 

-The Red Sox have contacted the Mets about Carlos Beltran, a Boston team official tells Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston (Twitter link). According to the official, however, the Sox were "just doing [their] due diligence."

-Beltran would certainly fill Boston's hole in right field, an area that GM Theo Epstein admitted is an area of concern, reports MLB.com's Ian Browne. Epstein said he would make a move if necessary, but the GM also noted that the Sox could improve at the position from within, either with Josh Reddick playing more or J.D. Drew breaking out of his season-long slump.

-WEEI.com's Ryan Hannable has a partial transcript of Peter Gammons' appearance on the Mut & Merloni radio show today. Gammons said Boston faces "difficult decisions" on pending free agents David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon, particularly Papelbon since Daniel Bard is waiting in the wings as the club's next closer. Gammons believes if Papelbon wants a three-year deal worth $36MM or more, the Sox will let him go.

Also from Gammons, he doesn't think Boston will trade a number of prospects for a starter like Matt Garza in order to solve its lack of rotation depth.

-The Red Sox face a 40-man roster crunch this winter, reports Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. "For that reason, the Red Sox can afford -- and, indeed, might be wise -- to trade three or four high-level prospects for an impact player," MacPherson writes. "Not only could that impact player help them win the World Series, but the trade could clear the 40-man-roster logjam and allow the Red Sox to retain some of the other prospects they've devoted so many resources to developing."

 

Very, very interesting. I wonder if this is really a thought process from Theo, and if he would be more willing to make a move now or during the offseason. I don't want to drain the farm, but at the same time if we're overstocked, it would be a perfect time to unload some prospects for an impact RF like Beltran, although I wouldn't touch anything that resembles a high level prospect in that deal.

 

I'm still not sold on the fact that the Dodgers aren't at least listening on Ethier. If the Sox can give them a deal they want, I think they would deal him.