Should the Sox trade some Bullpen arms?

[Lord Snow]

I think a prime way the Sox could further rebuild their farm system is to trade their stocked bullpen for quality prospects.

 

Viable options for next year's Red Sox bullpen:

 

Daniel Bard

Junichi Tazawa

Andrew Bailey

Andrew Miller

Scott Atchison

Craig Breslow

Alfredo Aceves

Vincente Padilla

Franklin Morales

 

Franklin Morales had a lot of success as a starting pitcher but I don't see him as a long-term solution in the Boston rotation. Atchison's trade value has never been higher nor has Andrew Miller's. There has been rumors of Aceves being shipped out of town (although he would be sold low after 2012).

 

I'd be happy with a Sox bullpen built around a core of Bard, Bailey, Tazawa, and Padilla. Heck, I'd even be okay with them keeping Aceves. Tazawa is the only guy I wouldn't part with if I were Ben Cherington. Sell high on all the guys that can be sold high, keep the guys coming off bad years.

[mvp 78]

They aren't getting jack s*** for those bullpen arms.

[BSN07]

I'd shop Aceves hard.

 

If someone bit on Atchinson then take it and run. Love seeing him in spring training though, he always looks like he spent the whole winter on a beach drinking beer I'd like them to keep Morales and I'm not against him getting a full season shot at SP.

 

I'd like to see Bailey and Bard kept, but if the return was significant enough I wouldn't be upset. But most of those guys are add ins,

[a700hitter]

They aren't getting jack s*** for those bullpen arms.

Agreed. Other than Bailey, I don't think any of those guys will fetch more than a PTBNL. As for Bard, after watching him September, I am fairly convinced that he is through-- no command and his velocity is down about 5-7 mph.

[BSN07]

Agreed. Other than Bailey, I don't think any of those guys will fetch more than a PTBNL. As for Bard, after watching him September, I am fairly convinced that he is through-- no command and his velocity is down about 5-7 mph.

 

I think a winter and ST to prepare as a RP will help. I'm not selling on Bard yet.

[Station 13]

I would've deal Baily and sign Madson. That train has left last evening.

[User Name]

Yup, trade away the guy with the injury history and bring in a post-TJ guy to replace him.

[Palodios]

Part of me feels like they need to just dump Rich Hill. He's very talented, and Boston born, but does anyone actually believe he'll ever be healthy again?

[bubbakeg52]

I would trade Aceves,Bard,and Atchinson. They will all be replaced in 2 years including Padilla. Wilson would be nice to be the Sox closer but we don't need Bailey becoming Melanson. They should trade Melanson. Bard stuff will never be the same again because he won't throw as hard and his pitches are s*** because of it . Then he thinks he will improve his other pitches and be better but they won't be as good as his fastball.

[bubbakeg52]

Alex Wilson, Tazazawa, and Wilson (SF) Not to mention DelRosa will be Sox bullpen in 2years

[Station 13]

Yup, trade away the guy with the injury history and bring in a post-TJ guy to replace him.

 

I take the guy like Madson over Bailey anyday. Baily get hurt sneezing or wiping his ass cuz he can't reach all the way down.

[Behindenemylines]

The Sox have a lot of bull pen arms and need to set their 40 man roster so I can see them moving some. Don't know if they will get much back, but if packaged with a catcher they might be able to fill one of their holes. There will be some action in the next week in regards to this. Rumors continue that they have interest in other bullpen arms so some of the current arms will be moved.

[a700hitter]

I think a winter and ST to prepare as a RP will help. I'm not selling on Bard yet.

No other team is going to give us anything for him unless he re-establishes himself. I saw almost everyone of his outings when he came back from Pawtucket. He was brutal. He was also brutal for about 2 months in AAA. Did you see him in September. Based on what I saw, it is a real longshot that he can be salvaged. If the Sox plan on him as being anything other than a middle reliever, that would be poor planning IMO.

[User Name]

I take the guy like Madson over Bailey anyday. Baily get hurt sneezing or wiping his ass cuz he can't reach all the way down.

 

So you'd get rid of him for another post-op? That makes no goddamn sense. How about getting rid of Bailey and signing a healthy guy even if it's a bit more expensive?

[Station 13]

No other team is going to give us anything for him unless he re-establishes himself. I saw almost everyone of his outings when he came back from Pawtucket. He was brutal. He was also brutal for about 2 months in AAA. Did you see him in September. Based on what I saw, it is a real longshot that he can be salvaged. If the Sox plan on him as being anything other than a middle reliever, that would be poor planning IMO.

 

Why they didn't shut him down is just another long list of what went wrong with the management. He obviously needed to completely revamp his mechanics. This is done by not letting him pitch a few weeks. They just dragged him out and he continues to show no sign of improving.

[Station 13]

So you'd get rid of him for another post-op? That makes no goddamn sense. How about getting rid of Bailey and signing a healthy guy even if it's a bit more expensive?

 

TJS is very common these days. The Red Sox also had 3 of their guys went through it recently. Bailey is just a chronic problem. a 3.5M contract is a drop in the bucket. The team will benefit great if Madson pitch to his potential, and lots of post TJS guys do, especially relievers taking less time to return.

[User Name]

TJS is very common these days. The Red Sox also had 3 of their guys went through it recently. Bailey is just a chronic problem. a 3.5M contract is a drop in the bucket. The team will benefit great if Madson pitch to his potential, and lots of post TJS guys do, especially relievers taking less time to return.

 

You said it. "If". The team is full of "ifs". Why add more? Some of those guys who've had TJ have had minuscule setbacks that have become significant amounts of missed time. There's no reason for the Sox to be investing in post-op pitchers. None.

[redsoxrules]

You said it. "If". The team is full of "ifs". Why add more? Some of those guys who've had TJ have had minuscule setbacks that have become significant amounts of missed time. There's no reason for the Sox to be investing in post-op pitchers. None.

 

I'd gamble on Madson at a mere 3.5 MIL over Bailey any time.

[User Name]

I'd gamble on Madson at a mere 3.5 MIL over Bailey any time.

 

Or you could trade Bailey and get a guy that's not Madson and is not coming back from TJS. We're not reinventing the wheel here.

[Spitball]

The Red Sox can't be blamed for not signing Madson. They currently have a closer, and there is no reason to believe he wanted to come to Boston. Madson is from California. The fact that a Boras client signed this early...for so little...has to tell us he wanted to be with the Angels.

[Lord Snow]

The Red Sox can't be blamed for not signing Madson. They currently have a closer, and there is no reason to believe he wanted to come to Boston. Madson is from California. The fact that a Boras client signed this early...for so little...has to tell us he wanted to be with the Angels.

 

Agreed. Why would anybody even suggest that the Sox sign Madson? There is no need there. The Red Sox have plenty of options for the bullpen. It's the one area on the team that didn't need improvement last season. If anything for the first time in a very long time the Sox have a surplus of quality relievers.

 

The main needs are in the rotation. Which is in need of a major overhaul, especially with the subtraction of Josh Beckett. Outside of Buchholz & Lester there really isn't anybody reliable and even that is banking on Buchholz not taking 2 months to get going, and Lester returning to prime form.

 

And obviously there are holes in the offense.

[RedSoxNC84]

Should have just signed Papelbon...

[a700hitter]

Agreed. Why would anybody even suggest that the Sox sign Madson? There is no need there. The Red Sox have plenty of options for the bullpen. It's the one area on the team that didn't need improvement last season. If anything for the first time in a very long time the Sox have a surplus of quality relievers.

.

The bullpen in late inning and close game situations was the worst in the league in 2012. It was a horror show.

[mvp 78]

The bullpen in late inning and close game situations was the worst in the league in 2012. It was a horror show.

 

Aceves won't be closing in 2013. The bullpen will be ok whether or not Bard comes back.

[Lucienbel]

Agreed. Why would anybody even suggest that the Sox sign Madson? There is no need there. The Red Sox have plenty of options for the bullpen. It's the one area on the team that didn't need improvement last season. If anything for the first time in a very long time the Sox have a surplus of quality relievers.

 

The main needs are in the rotation. Which is in need of a major overhaul, especially with the subtraction of Josh Beckett. Outside of Buchholz & Lester there really isn't anybody reliable and even that is banking on Buchholz not taking 2 months to get going, and Lester returning to prime form.

 

And obviously there are holes in the offense.

 

While I certainly agree the bull pen was pretty strong last year, I do still expect them to bring in one or two guys. However, I highly doubt it'll be anyone to close games up. It seems a lot of people don't like Bailey, but with the trade investment they put into him I'd be he'll be around a while unless something drastic happens.

 

It seems that the Red Sox might be interested in someone on a budget to pitch the 8th inning though....while Melancon was good, it was only at times. While Tazawa is capable, he certainly has more value elsewhere. Seems that there could be a tiny hole there that could possibly be filled internally, but it seems safer to fill it externally.

[User Name]

Should have just signed Papelbon...

 

No, they shouldn't have. What they should have done was bring an adequate replacement like Joe Nathan.

[a700hitter]

Aceves won't be closing in 2013. The bullpen will be ok whether or not Bard comes back.

Other than Bailey (who hasn't pitched more than 45 inn in the last 3 years) who are our reliable late inning guys? I'll go with Tazawa and Miller (as alefty specialist), but that is not close to being a deep pen.

[mvp 78]

Other than Bailey (who hasn't pitched more than 45 inn in the last 3 years) who are our reliable late inning guys? I'll go with Tazawa and Miller (as alefty specialist), but that is not close to being a deep pen.

 

I said the bullpen would be "ok." I didn't say it would be great. I think Breslow and Morales are also decent in late innings. I'd fill in the other 2 spots with Wilson and Delarosa.

[a700hitter]

I said the bullpen would be "ok." I didn't say it would be great. I think Breslow and Morales are also decent in late innings. I'd fill in the other 2 spots with Wilson and Delarosa.

If Bailey stays healthy, there should be enough arms to get by provided the starters can stretch out beyond 5 innings. Deep innings from your starters can cover up a pen's weakness and keep the reliable arms fresh.

[iortiz]

Should have just signed Papelbon...

 

Yup. Look what he did with us. Look what he did with Philly. There's no sign of decline or something there. He'll be solid the rest of his contract in Philly IMO given the facts.. He is durable, reliable, and solid. He's simply the best closer in the league.

 

Yup, We should have resigned Pap, but our great FO again, didn't... Instead and as usual brought/trade a sack of overpaid busts :thumbdown