Trades before the deadline?

[Thunder]

If Giancarlo Stanton was healthy, he would be a good addition to the Sox OF. The Marlins are definitely rebuilding, but he might be their franchise player.

[User Name]

If Giancarlo Stanton was healthy, he would be a good addition to the Sox OF. The Marlins are definitely rebuilding, but he might be their franchise player.

 

This is a pipe dream. The Sox don't have the pieces to trade for Stanton.

[Bellhorn04]

I think the only way the Sox contemplate a significant trade, assuming they stay in contention, is if they are really hurting at a specific position. Such as if Dempster and Doubront are both sucking, or a key player gets injured.

[jacksonianmarch]

This is a pipe dream. The Sox don't have the pieces to trade for Stanton.

 

A Stanton deal would be a system wrecker, and a system wrecker from a system that would be a top 5 hands down

[User Name]

A corner OF is not a need unless someone has a season-ending injury. Gomes should be afforded some more time to figure things out.

[Thunder]

This is a pipe dream. The Sox don't have the pieces to trade for Stanton.

 

Marlins are looking for prospects, not unlike the Astros. Might be too risky because the Marlins may ask for someone like Bogaerts. But Stanton is hurt, so what does it matter.

 

Other corner OF on teams who may be selling are:

Melky Cabrera

Alex Rios

Carlos Quentin

 

Might be good options to look at. I would have included more, but I doubt teams would give up stars like Ryan Braun or Carlos Gonzalez.

[Behindenemylines]

A corner OF is not a need unless someone has a season-ending injury. Gomes should be afforded some more time to figure things out.

 

If the Sox were 20 - 30 instead of 30 - 20 would we still be saying that Gomes should be afforded more time to get his sh%# together?

[BornToRun]

If the Sox were 20 - 30 instead of 30 - 20 would we still be saying that Gomes should be afforded more time to get his sh%# together?

 

Probably not but the fact that we're 30-20 means we can afford to give him some time to figure s*** out because the 30-20 means that other guys are doing well and, therefore, Jonny has a longer leash than if things were the other way around.

[Bellhorn04]

Probably not but the fact that we're 30-20 means we can afford to give him some time to figure s*** out because the 30-20 means that other guys are doing well and, therefore, Jonny has a longer leash than if things were the other way around.

 

Good answer.

[User Name]

And even if we were 20-30, then you'd give him a longer leash to see if he can build up some trade value to try and flip him to a contender at the deadline. There really is no other answer than "let him figure it out".

[SoxFanForsyth]

This is a pipe dream. The Sox don't have the pieces to trade for Stanton.

 

They have the pieces, it would just go against everything they are building towards. I would be shocked if they traded Webby, RDLR, Bogaerts, Bradley, Vazquez, Cecchini, Barnes, or Ranaudo, and that alone keeps them from Stanton.

 

Now, they could offer a deal of Bogaerts, Bradley, Barnes, and Webster and that would almost certainly net you Stanton, but you've got Stanton and no future.

[SoxSport]

I wouldn't deal for Stanton. I would rather have another ace pitcher.

[User Name]

They have the pieces, it would just go against everything they are building towards. I would be shocked if they traded Webby, RDLR, Bogaerts, Bradley, Vazquez, Cecchini, Barnes, or Ranaudo, and that alone keeps them from Stanton.

 

Now, they could offer a deal of Bogaerts, Bradley, Barnes, and Webster and that would almost certainly net you Stanton, but you've got Stanton and no future.

 

...which makes it an unrealistic scenario. The realistic scenario is someone with a deep-enough farm system making a big enough offer that the Sox can't match.

[Palodios]

The biggest need at the moment has to be 3B. I would look into a Chase Headley for Middlebrooks + prospects trade. I don't know what it would take, but it seems like it would make sense for both teams. Headley *might* hit better at Fenway, and the Red Sox have enough money to re-sign him and upgrade the position with more consistency. The Padres get a work-in-progress replacement that has likely potential to be just as good for more years.

 

The problem is that I would hesitate giving up more than mid-tier prospects along with Middlebrooks-- Maybe I'm being a homer, but they seem like they are of similar value at this point because Middlebrooks is controllable for 6 more years.

[User Name]

You are being a homer. Headley's value is sky-high right now.

[RiceLynnEvans]

The next 30 games will decide what kind of moves the team makes....and the next 30 games are wicked rough - Yanks, Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Orioles, Rockies...the only weak spots are Phils, Angels and Jays, and they can all be tough. If they get to game #80 and they're still 10 games up but Doubrant and Dempster haven't turned things around, then, of course, Lee looks more appealing.

 

It'll be interesting if things go south - Gomes, Drew, Vic, Dempster, Doubrant, even Naps, Salty, Els, and others could all be tempting to competing teams with specific needs....and might land the Sox some gems. The next month will tell the tale....should be very interesting indeed.

[SoxFanForsyth]

The next 30 will certainly be tough but even if they go 10-20, they're still at .500, and with the new playoff structure, a .500 team is certainly not out of it.

 

I think we're going to start seeing a huge increase in trades at they waiver deadline (Aug 31). The need to push back the trade deadline to 8/15 IMO.

[Palodios]

You are being a homer. Headley's value is sky-high right now.

 

Atleast I admit it

 

Middlebrooks was a top 50 prospect who has shown that he belongs in the majors, even if he might still be a work in progress. He also fills the hole left behind for 6 more years. I'd argue he's probably worth quite a bit more than A-ball blue chip at this point. If I was in the Padre fan-base, it would be a tough move that I'd respect, but they probably should expect one more top prospect from the Sox system, and that wouldn't be worth it for the Sox.

[a700hitter]

The next 30 games will decide what kind of moves the team makes....and the next 30 games are wicked rough - Yanks, Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Orioles, Rockies...the only weak spots are Phils, Angels and Jays, and they can all be tough. If they get to game #80 and they're still 10 games up but Doubrant and Dempster haven't turned things around, then, of course, Lee looks more appealing.

 

It'll be interesting if things go south - Gomes, Drew, Vic, Dempster, Doubrant, even Naps, Salty, Els, and others could all be tempting to competing teams with specific needs....and might land the Sox some gems. The next month will tell the tale....should be very interesting indeed.

Gomes and Drew would bring back very little-- an A ball reliever. Dempster at $13 million for next season will probably bring nothing but some salary relief. Most contenders have a first baseman that can swing a pretty good stick, so I don't see naps bringing in more that a middle reliever. Doubront could have some value being young and lefty with a lot of k's, but he's not going to bring in a major piece. Victorino, if he can stay healthy, could bring back some decent value.

[a700hitter]

Atleast I admit it

 

Middlebrooks was a top 50 prospect who has shown that he belongs in the majors, even if he might still be a work in progress. He also fills the hole left behind for 6 more years. I'd argue he's probably worth quite a bit more than A-ball blue chip at this point. If I was in the Padre fan-base, it would be a tough move that I'd respect, but they probably should expect one more top prospect from the Sox system, and that wouldn't be worth it for the Sox.

Headley has come into his own and is a young star in his prime. Even we don't know what Middlebrooks will become. He had a good half season last year and we got all excited. I have seen that many times before and the players never lived up to the hype afterward. I hope it is different with Middlebrooks. I was convinced it would be different, but I was also convince that Sam Horn would hit 50 HRs for us in one year and be a great Sox Slugger. He turned out to be nothing more that a name of a Sport Talk forum for boring statheads. very disappointing.

[Standing Room]

Doesn't make sense to give up on Middlebrooks after one and a half bad months. It's not like he's a Daniel Nava type that came out of nowhere. He's a highly regarded, young player who has some serious talent.

[mvp 78]

Doesn't make sense to give up on Middlebrooks after one and a half bad months. It's not like he's a Daniel Nava type that came out of nowhere. He's a highly regarded, young player who has some serious talent.

 

And he's only 24...

[BSN07]

Giving up on WMB after 7 rough weeks is ridiculous. It must be because the team is in "contention" at this moment that's causing this. Let's just toss out the system that brought this team together in the first place and go back to filling every position with "known" expensive players. I mean Headley is racking in San Diego, he will surely rake in Fenway

 

I don't think I would give up WMB straight up for Headley let alone a top prospect to boot when considering overall control and future costs. Headley is getting ready to be a 15M+ a year player. WMB is struggling but has the potential to be Headley like or even better and is cost controlled.

[Palodios]

Giving up on WMB after 7 rough weeks is ridiculous. It must be because the team is in "contention" at this moment that's causing this. Let's just toss out the system that brought this team together in the first place and go back to filling every position with "known" expensive players. I mean Headley is racking in San Diego, he will surely rake in Fenway

 

I don't think I would give up WMB straight up for Headley let alone a top prospect to boot when considering overall control and future costs. Headley is getting ready to be a 15M+ a year player. WMB is struggling but has the potential to be Headley like or even better and is cost controlled.

 

As I said, I wouldn't want to give up any top prospects besides Middlebrooks. One is a 30 HR third baseman with plus defense, and the other is potentially a 30 hr third baseman with plus defense.

 

If all it will cost to make the upgrade is money, then why not? That being said, the Padres will be looking for more than Middlebrooks, and I think giving up anyone more than a Britton or a Holt would be a mistake.

[User Name]

As I said, I wouldn't want to give up any top prospects besides Middlebrooks. One is a 30 HR third baseman with plus defense, and the other is potentially a 30 hr third baseman with plus defense.

 

If all it will cost to make the upgrade is money, then why not? That being said, the Padres will be looking for more than Middlebrooks, and I think giving up anyone more than a Britton or a Holt would be a mistake.

 

This is the type of mindset that got the Sox into the mess that forced them to pursue the big trade, mind you. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. The amount of money matters.

[Palodios]

This is the type of mindset that got the Sox into the mess that forced them to pursue the big trade, mind you. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. The amount of money matters.

 

Absolutely. If it will take 200 mill to resign Headley, that would be silly. The guy has a .770 career OPS. The problem is that Middlebrooks is going to take some time to figure it out in the majors, and if the Red Sox continue playing like they do, he's the weak link.

 

The challenge at the trade deadline is that the Red Sox have many good players, but few great ones. Being able to upgrade the team significantly over mid-tier players like a Gomes or a Morales will be costly. In terms of upgrading the team for a championship run without sacrificing talent, I can think of no other way.

[User Name]

You know what team has a lot of good players, but few great ones? The San Francisco Giants.

 

What could push this team over the edge is another reliable starting pitcher. Third base is not enough of a hole to justify sacrificing big money (if Headley's going to be re-signed) and prospects.

[Palodios]

You know what team has a lot of good players, but few great ones? The San Francisco Giants.

 

What could push this team over the edge is another reliable starting pitcher. Third base is not enough of a hole to justify sacrificing big money (if Headley's going to be re-signed) and prospects.

 

By the way, I love the concept of building a team this way-- Very happy with the offseason moves and strategy even before we saw the results. In years past there have been glaring holes that simply made sense to address, but it isn't necessarily the same way this year.

 

My ideal scenario is giving WMB + Britton for Headley, and re-signing him around 4-5 at 15 per, which would sit between A-ram (3/36) and Beltre (6/96) money. Probably a pipe dream.

 

Picking up good starting pitching is always very hard at the deadline-- finding someone who can produce noticeably better than 2012 Morales will cost a top 5 prospect from the farm.

[User Name]

...but would probably have a more significant impact than trading WMB for Headley.

 

The problem with trading this type of young guy without giving him a chance is that next thing you know, you traded the better player for the lesser one. Headley had gone mostly unnoticed until his monster 2012. Is that really sustainable?

 

This is a guy whose HR/FB jumped from four to twenty one percent. I wouldn't bet WMB and a prospect on a possible fluke, but that's just me.

[Palodios]

...but would probably have a more significant impact than trading WMB for Headley.

 

The problem with trading this type of young guy without giving him a chance is that next thing you know, you traded the better player for the lesser one. Headley had gone mostly unnoticed until his monster 2012. Is that really sustainable?

 

This is a guy whose HR/FB jumped from four to twenty one percent. I wouldn't bet WMB and a prospect on a possible fluke, but that's just me.

 

You could just as easily find big flaws in WMB as well. From his multiple injuries over the last year to his unfortunate strikeout numbers. CH will probably level out as a 20 HR hitter, but its hard to ignore the defense, speed, and OBP.