Sox Interested in Bruce Chen for Game 163

[a700hitter]

Report: Red Sox considering Bruce Chen

Globe Staff September 28, 2011 12:29 PM

 

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

 

BALTIMORE — If there's a play-in game tomorrow, who pitches for the Red Sox?

 

How about Bruce Chen?

 

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting today that the Red Sox are investigating trade possibilities at this late hour to find a pitcher for a possible Game 163.

 

The particulars:

 

• Any traded player must have cleared waivers already.

 

• The player would not be eligible for the postseason roster, having been obtained after Aug. 31.

 

• The Sox would have to find space on the 40-man roster.

 

Chen, 34, is a well-traveled lefty from Panama who is 12-8 with a 3.98 ERA this season. He has not faced the Rays this season but was 1-1, 0.92 in six appearances (two starts) from 2007-2010. Over 19.2 innings he allowed six runs (2 earned) on 11 hits with six walks and 17 strikeouts.

 

Johnny Damon owns Chen (13 of 28, 5 extra base hits) but the rest of the Rays roster has little experience against him. B.J. Upton is 1 for 12, Evan Longoria 0 for 2, Ben Zobrist 1 for 7 and Casey Kotchman 0 for 4.

 

The Royals, rightfully so, would expect some value in return for Chen. The Sox would likely have to give up two solid prospects.

 

It sounds a little crazy, bringing in a pitcher for one game, especially the likes of Bruce Chen. But the alternatives are Tim Wakefield or John Lackey on short rest or Kyle Weiland.

 

Weiland has started twice against the Rays this month. He gave up seven earned runs on nine hits and five walks over seven innings. Lackey is 1-2, 6.46 in three starts against the Rays this season. Wakefield is 0-2, 4.11 in three games, two starts.

[Palodios]

Two prospects for Chen? He's going to be a free agent in 2012, and based on his stats, I don't think he'll be a Type B. Kansas City's season will already be done on Thursday. If I were them, I'd simply take what I can get.

 

That being said, with the right deal for both parties, I'd do it.

[SoxSport]

Hey, any volunteers to pitch for the Sox tommorrow?

[Cocos Disciples]

I threw a no-hitter in little league when I was 9, can I start?

[WhiskeyBreath]

Hey, Theo. How about making that deal a month ago you moron.

[Spitball]

I threw a no-hitter in little league when I was 9' date=' can I start?[/quote']

 

I bet you threw harder when you were 9 than Bruce Chen does now.

[a700hitter]

Hey' date=' Theo. How about making that deal a month ago you moron.[/quote']This really smacks of desperation. It's embarrassing. Bruce Chen stinks. The fact that we don't have someone better than him to start a one-game playoff speaks volumes to the inadequate job done by the FO in building this pitching staff.

[Palodios]

This really smacks of desperation. It's embarrassing. Bruce Chen stinks. The fact that we don't have someone better than him to start a one-game playoff speaks volumes to the inadequate job done by the FO in building this pitching staff.

 

Chen has a 3.98 ERA this year. He's had a mediocre career, but he's having a good year, and one good start is all the Sox are going to need.

[TheMeanWalrus]

I threw a no-hitter in little league when I was 9' date=' can I start?[/quote']

 

i threw a perfect game vs Bellingham . . .

 

.. . . .25 years ago

[a700hitter]

Chen has a 3.98 ERA this year. He's had a mediocre career' date=' but he's having a good year, and one good start is all the Sox are going to need.[/quote']Mediocre? He's played for 11 teams in 13 years and he's won a whopping 60 games. He makes it necessary to come up with a new term to describe him, because it would be a compliment to call him a journeyman. Carl Pavano has had a mediocre career. Bruce Chen stinks. I think someone better than him had to be available at the trading deadline.