2011 Trade Deadline Thread

[Spitball]

Just a few thoughts before I head out to celebrate the 4th.

 

The Sox are first or second in most offensive catagories. It is pitching depth/quality that hurts their cause. Outside of right field, they have enough offense. Right field can be improved with a minor leaguer (Kalish, Reddick, Nava) or a lesser trade (Ludwick, Francouer, even Cabrerra).

 

If the Red Sox can find a quality starting pitcher, I'd feel much better. I have little condidence in Millwood, and as much as I love what Wakefield has done through the years, he worries me. I'm just not sure there is one out there. Maybe Kuroda or Wandy Rodriguez, or Bud Norris. Matt Garza would be an interesting option.

 

Also, I'd really like to see is the Sox acquire some relief help. Heath Bell, Chad Qualls, Ernesto Frieri, and/or Mike Adams from the Padres would be perfect. A relief pitcher or two to push Jenks and Wheeler down (or out of) the line of relief would strengthen the team greatly.

 

There is little chance the Sox will feel the need for a Beltran-level upgrade. Unless the bottom falls out on the Sox or there are significant outfield injuries before July 31, there won't be enough panic to trade for a Beltran level outfielder. The fact the Sox have stuck with their current situation in right for more than half a season should be evidence they are not about to panic at this point.

[AtWork]

I'll just respond to everywhere in this post.

 

I'm not concerned about the bullpen, I think our bullpen is good enough to be a serious contender. I'm concerned about our starting pitching which statistically has been our weakest area. I'm not comfortable with John Lackey, Andrew Miller, Tim Wakefield and Kevin Millwood making nearly half of our remaining starts or more if someone gets hurt.

 

I don't think the Mets are going to help us out by taking garbage prospects from us in return for Beltran. Beltran is earning his salary this year and if he's traded on July 31st, the team that acquires him will only be responsible for something like $6 million of his salary anyways. We're not the only team that's interested in him, in addition to taking on his salary it's going to take mid-level prospects.

 

As for Josh Reddick, what adjustment do you anticipate pitchers making?

[Station 13]

As for Josh Reddick, what adjustment do you anticipate pitchers making?

 

less fastballs.

[AtWork]

Reddick is already seeing well below the league average percentage of fastballs and the only breaking ball he's struggled with is the curveball to a small degree.

[a700hitter]

I'll just respond to everywhere in this post.

 

I'm not concerned about the bullpen, I think our bullpen is good enough to be a serious contender. I'm concerned about our starting pitching which statistically has been our weakest area. I'm not comfortable with John Lackey, Andrew Miller, Tim Wakefield and Kevin Millwood making nearly half of our remaining starts or more if someone gets hurt.

 

I don't think the Mets are going to help us out by taking garbage prospects from us in return for Beltran. Beltran is earning his salary this year and if he's traded on July 31st, the team that acquires him will only be responsible for something like $6 million of his salary anyways. We're not the only team that's interested in him, in addition to taking on his salary it's going to take mid-level prospects.

 

As for Josh Reddick, what adjustment do you anticipate pitchers making?

There aren't a lot of teams looking to add $6-8 million in payroll for 3 months. The owners are facing losing control of their team if they can't repay $200 million in 2 years. They need the $ not the prospects.

[AtWork]

I disagree. I would be very surprised if the Mets traded Beltran for garbage prospects.

[Spitball]

I'll just respond to everywhere in this post.

 

I'm not concerned about the bullpen, I think our bullpen is good enough to be a serious contender. I'm concerned about our starting pitching which statistically has been our weakest area. I'm not comfortable with John Lackey, Andrew Miller, Tim Wakefield and Kevin Millwood making nearly half of our remaining starts or more if someone gets hurt.

 

One more comment and then I am gone until tomorrow.

 

The bullpen is 10th in the AL in ERA. They are nearly a run worse than the Yankees. The starters ERA is 8th, but only the Royals and Orioles have fewer quality starts. There are needs in both areas. The thing is, quality relief pitchers (like Heath Bell, Chad Qualls, Ernesto Frieri, Mike Adams) will be easier to add than a quality starter or two.

[BornToRun]

One more comment and then I am gone until tomorrow.

 

The bullpen is 10th in the AL in ERA. They are nearly a run worse than the Yankees. The starters ERA is 8th, but only the Royals and Orioles have fewer quality starts. There are needs in both areas. The thing is, quality relief pitchers (like Heath Bell, Chad Qualls, Ernesto Frieri, Mike Adams) will be easier to add than a quality starter or two.

 

ERA isn't the best stat, last time I checked fangraphs, our bullpen actually ranked up as one of the best in the league.

[AtWork]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Red Sox trade for a starter and then DL Lackey so he can have Tommy John. I think they'll try to wait it out so they don't look desperate for pitching.

[AtWork]

One more comment and then I am gone until tomorrow.

 

The bullpen is 10th in the AL in ERA. They are nearly a run worse than the Yankees. The starters ERA is 8th, but only the Royals and Orioles have fewer quality starts. There are needs in both areas. The thing is, quality relief pitchers (like Heath Bell, Chad Qualls, Ernesto Frieri, Mike Adams) will be easier to add than a quality starter or two.

 

Our bullpen's WAR is 5th in he majors, 3rd in the AL and our rotation's WAR is 18th in the majors, 10th in the AL.

[BornToRun]

Our bullpen's WAR is 5th in he majors' date=' 3rd in the AL and our rotation's WAR is 18th in the majors, 10th in the AL.[/quote']

 

How bad is the rotation sans Lackey's numbers, can you figure that out?

[AtWork]

How bad is the rotation sans Lackey's numbers' date=' can you figure that out?[/quote']

 

With Lackey, our rotation has a 3.92 ERA (8th in AL) and a 1.27 WHIP (4th in the AL). Without Lackey our rotation has a 3.51 ERA (would be good for 5th in the AL) and a 1.22 WHIP (would be good for 3rd in the AL).

[BornToRun]

With Lackey' date=' our rotation has a 3.92 ERA (8th in AL) and a 1.27 WHIP (4th in the AL). Without Lackey our rotation has a 3.51 ERA (would be good for 5th in the AL) and a 1.22 WHIP (would be good for 3rd in the AL).[/quote']

 

Jesus Christ he's awful.

[Spitball]

Our bullpen's WAR is 5th in he majors' date=' 3rd in the AL and our rotation's WAR is 18th in the majors, 10th in the AL.[/quote']

 

I would love to see the Red Sox acquire help for the rotation, but quality starting pitchers are hard to find. Who is out there? I've heard Hiroka Kuroda and Wandy Rodriguez, but I believe the Yankees, Rangers, and others will also be seriously competing for whoever is available to strengthen a rotation. If there is a starter the Sox can acquire, they should make that move. I never suggested the Red Sox should not try to improve their starting rotation.

 

Bullpen help should be easier to acquire, and it is doubtful the Sox would have to outbid the Yankees. And, acquiring bullpen depth would help the rotation that is near the bottom in quality starts.

 

I never suggested the Red Sox should not try to improve their starting rotation. If they can get someone (or two) who can fill in for Lackey, Wakefield, or Buchholz (while injured) then obviously they need to go in that direction. But, if that direction is blocked, any one or two of Heath Bell, Chad Qualls, Ernesto Frieri, or Mike Adams would improve the quality of the Red Sox. I don't see how that can be argued.

[Palodios]

Honestly, I say screw the back-end of the rotation. This playoff rotation will be just as good as any in the game, besides Philly and maybe Tampa/Oakland/Brewers/Angels. Look at what the Yankees have done with a pile of filler. Pick up Beltran, and the Sox have the best lineup in the majors, by a significant margin.

 

Millwood, Tazawa, Doubront, Aceves, Wakefield, Lackey, Weiland, Miller. There has to be something in that mess that will give some kind of production as #4/#5 pitching.

[alphilip77]

Marlins trade for Cameron:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/marlins-acquire-mike-cameron.html

 

Apparently he DOES fetch more than a bag of balls.

[BornToRun]

Too bad the only balls he's good with are the ones he sucked at playing baseball.

[Spitball]

From MLBTradeRumors.com:

 

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 6 at 8:50am CST]

 

Since few teams have been completely eliminated from contention, the trade market is developing slowly, according to Newsday’s Ken Davidoff. As of today, the top commodity available is relief pitching and there’s lots of interest in that department. Here are the rest of Davidoff’s notes on the trade market:

•Heath Bell, Francisco Rodriguez, Chad Qualls and Luke Gregerson are available.

•The Mets believe they can keep their fans interested even if they trade Rodriguez.

•The Diamondbacks, Brewers, Cardinals and Rangers are among the teams that are heavily in the mix for relievers.

•It appears extremely unlikely that the Mets will trade Jose Reyes, but his top suitors would likely include the Reds, Guardians, Giants and Mariners, four teams that have poked around for infield help, according to Davidoff. It’s even possible that the Red Sox would pursue Reyes if he became available.

•The Orioles aren’t quite ready to shop Koji Uehara and the Twins aren’t quite ready to shop Matt Capps. In fact, the Twins aren’t going to sell until they’re sure they’re out of contention.

•The Yankees are focused on finding a lefty reliever, a commodity the Red Sox and Tigers would also like to acquire.

•Though no frontline starters appear to be available, the Yankees are looking to acquire a top starter. Cleveland and Detroit are also looking for rotation help.

[Steagles]

I want to try and trade Papi and a few prospects, likely Lowrie and Reddick, along with JD Drew and McDonald to the Mets for Reyes and Beltran

[Palodios]

Why would the Mets want any of those players

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Maybe we should bring back Coco Crisp. Proven veteran' date=' golden defensively, good numbers v LHP, Ells can play right if he has to. Heck he won a ring with us, and not just won it, was a huge part of how we won it. He's not the superstar we thought we were getting last time but what he is is a good speedy switch hitting roleplayer.[/quote']

 

You and I see eye to eye on this. I would LOVE to get Coco back on the team! I hated when we let him go and thought it was a mistake at the time.

[BornToRun]

I want to try and trade Papi and a few prospects' date=' likely Lowrie and Reddick, along with JD Drew and McDonald to the Mets for Reyes and Beltran[/quote']

 

I want Anthony Weiner to take his job back, doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

[a700hitter]

Why would the Mets want any of those players

They'd take Reddick and Lowire if we took Reyes and Beltran's full salaries. They don't want Drew or Ortiz unless we eat those salaries.

[Palodios]

They'd take Reddick and Lowire if we took Reyes and Beltran's full salaries. They don't want Drew or Ortiz unless we eat those salaries.

 

In a Papi/Lowrie/Reddick/Drew for Beltran/Reyes deal, no team wins. Papi does zero good at Citi Field as a PH. The Sox lose two good prospects and pay a significant amount of money (likely 8-14 million+) for two rentals--whose production probably will only barely replace Ortiz-- and the Mets completely lose their fanbase. Why not just buy Beltran and be done with it?

[a700hitter]

In a Papi/Lowrie/Reddick/Drew for Beltran/Reyes deal' date=' no team wins. Papi does zero good at Citi Field as a PH. The Sox lose two good prospects and pay a significant amount of money (likely 8-14 million+) for two rentals--whose production probably will only barely replace Ortiz-- and the Mets completely lose their fanbase. Why not just buy Beltran and be done with it?[/quote']Oh, I'm not proposing any such trade. No, no, no! I was simply answering the question of whether the Mets wanted any of the guys mentioned in a post. If the Mets got Papi and Drew and we paid their salary and they got Reddick and Lowrie for dumping Beltran and Reyes and their salaries, the Mets would be making out like bandits. The Red Sox would be idiots to make such a trade. I disagree that no one would win in that trade. The Met owners would be big time winners. They get two major league ready prospects and two big name players -- one who can still hit a ton (Ortiz). Ortiz would not be any PHer for the Mets. He'd be the first baseman.

[Palodios]

I disagree that no one would win in that trade. The Met owners would be big time winners. They get two major league ready prospects and two big name players -- one who can still hit a ton (Ortiz). Ortiz would not be any PHer for the Mets. He'd be the first baseman.

 

Is Drew recognized nationally as a good player? I just figured if his production was quiet here, I certainly don't think many fans would be showing up in droves to see JD Drew play. Hell, he goes undrafted in quite a few fantasy leagues. I also think there are considerable concerns about Ortiz at 1B, not just defensively, but whether he'll be able to stay healthy while playing the field consistently for the first time in a decade-- and if he'll be able to hit at the same time.

 

I guess we disagree on this, but I think that the Mets will be able to get considerably more than Reddick/Lowrie for Beltran/Reyes... not necessarily because the players involved aren't good, but because Ortiz loses significant value if you're really asking him to play 1B.

[a700hitter]

Is Drew recognized nationally as a good player? I just figured if his production was quiet here, I certainly don't think many fans would be showing up in droves to see JD Drew play. Hell, he goes undrafted in quite a few fantasy teams. I also think there are considerable concerns about Ortiz at 1B, not just defensively, but whether he'll be able to stay healthy while playing the field consistently for the first time in a decade-- and if he'll be able to hit at the same time.

 

I guess we disagree on this, but I think that the Mets will be able to get considerably more than Reddick/Lowrie for Beltran/Reyes... not necessarily because the players involved aren't good, but because Ortiz loses significant value if you're really asking him to play 1B.

If they got Drew and Ortiz for free, why not take them. The Mets owners are just after the money. Don't expect them to get much in the way of major league ready or blue chip prospects for either Reyes or Beltran.

[Palodios]

I figured. We do disagree

 

Let's see what the Mets do with them at the TDL

[SoxSport]

Cameron is one of those Red Sox players a Globe writer alluded to when he said there were players on the team who looked out of shape. Lackey was another. I thought Cameron had put on weight vs a couple of years ago. Maybe that was Papi's problem, too. Papi seems to have gotten himself in great shape this year--hard for a DH.

[Spitball]

Actually, Lackey came to spring training 10 lighter than last year.