Trades before the deadline?

[a700hitter]

I'm really trying to figure out what this team could use, but (not to be arrogant) its hard to find an area to upgrade when your team has the best record in the AL (.603 W%, 98 win pace), and is top 3 in runs, average, OBP, and SLG.

 

The SP ERA is 8th in the MLB and 3rd in the AL (basically tied for second, Sox at 3.61, Rangers at 3.60).

 

The back end of the bullpen has been very good with Bailey (1.56 ERA), Uehara (1.90 ERA), Tazawa (2.30 ERA) and Breslow (2.30 ERA).

 

As much as I'd love to see this team utilize some of the prospect depth for a player to push us over the edge, it would be hard to justify it. The Sox certainly have the pieces to make a monster blockbuster deal for anyone, Stanton, Lee, etc. But do they really need to?

 

Nava is playing out of his mind, but is it sustainable? Gomes is starting to come along so I have some comfort in him against left handed pitching. Is Victorino going to stay healthy?

 

Another option that the Sox could look for is a deal for Mauer. If there is a major weakness on this team is the low contact rate, which is helped in large part by Salty. This team is built around grinding out at bats and getting on base. Can you imagine a lineup of Ells Pedey Mauer Ortiz?? Not to mention that Mauer can play 1B next year when Napoli leaves.

 

This team could have 4 guys with OBP's over .400 with Pedroia, Mauer, Ortiz, and Nava. And Mauer has an inside out swing that would bang doubles off the monster all year.

 

All of these things will sort themselves out and the picture will be much clearer in a month and a half, but I think Mauer would be an extremely intriguing option, and the Sox have the chips to get it done.

Pedey, Mauer, Ortiz? I have to go take a cold shower.

[MJantomaso]

I'd love to see Mauer in Boston.

[SoxFanForsyth]

So trade for a guy making over $20 million per who has a history of being unable to stay healthy? Also, Mauer has a full NTC and the Twins have zero interest in trading him anyway. The Sox offered to take on all of his contract in December of this year (Gammons reported it, look it up) and got told no before they could even finish offering.

 

This is a fantasy that doesn't make sense in any way.

 

Right. That was this past offseason. You know who else wasn't available this offseason? Stanton, Lee, Papelbon, among many others, who are all anticipated to be available at the deadline.

 

Mauer had exactly ONE year where he wasn't able to stay healthy. He played 147 games last year and 55 this year. That's just lazyness from you for not looking this up. It's virtually the same as saying you wouldn't trade for Pedroia because he got hurt in 2010. Get your facts straight.

 

Saying a player won't be available in June because he wasn't available in December is outrageous. He may not be available, but to say that he certainly won't be? That's absurd. And yes, I knew that they asked about him this offseason, along with Lee. And we're rebutted the same. But somehow, Lee isn't an outrageous fantasy but Mauer is? Contradicting arguments.

 

You're wrong on all aspects that you came up with man.

[User Name]

SFF, it gets very difficult to interact with you when you get into "mental masturbation mode" regarding a player.

 

Mauer has been playing with a significant number of maladies over the past few years, which have significantly hurt his ability to hit with power and reduced the number of games he can play at C. I guess you're "lazy" for not looking it up? He won't last the duration of his contract at C, and that's where his value lies.

 

Otherwise, you're just throwing a bunch of s*** at the wall and spouting it as fact. Who told you Lee is definitely available? What makes you think Mauer is available? This is all conjecture on your part. All of those names you're saying aren't "anticipated" to be moved. Talking heads have mentioned their names, that is it. Stanton is the only one who's a near certainty because the player has made his desire to leave the team public.

 

But hey, continue with the mental masturbation. Just don't mention conjecture as definite possibility. In fact, i would be interested in a sig bet regarding Mauer. He won't move, and i'm willing to bet on it.

[VA Sox Fan]

I like Mauer a lot but have always had the impression he will retire in a Twins uni. But these days, who knows?

[MJantomaso]

When a team is losing. Anyone is available.

 

Also, Joe Mauer has never been known for his power. He is a gap hitter who can spray it all over the park. He had one season where he hit 20+ hrs. He's also 30 years old which will almost certainly cut into a players appearances behind the plate now days.

[VA Sox Fan]

When a team is losing. Anyone is available.

 

So true.

[User Name]

Then why is Felix still in Seattle? Why is Braun still with the Brewers? The list goes on and on. It gets even worse when the player has a big-ass contract and is the face of a franchise. Give me some examples or players in losing franchises who teams repeatedly try to trade for, but never move.

 

Are you interested in the sig bet as well?

[SoxFanForsyth]

SFF, it gets very difficult to interact with you when you get into "mental masturbation mode" regarding a player.

 

Mauer has been playing with a significant number of maladies over the past few years, which have significantly hurt his ability to hit with power and reduced the number of games he can play at C. I guess you're "lazy" for not looking it up? He won't last the duration of his contract at C, and that's where his value lies.

 

Otherwise, you're just throwing a bunch of s*** at the wall and spouting it as fact. Who told you Lee is definitely available? What makes you think Mauer is available? This is all conjecture on your part. All of those names you're saying aren't "anticipated" to be moved. Talking heads have mentioned their names, that is it. Stanton is the only one who's a near certainty because the player has made his desire to leave the team public.

 

But hey, continue with the mental masturbation. Just don't mention conjecture as definite possibility. In fact, i would be interested in a sig bet regarding Mauer. He won't move, and i'm willing to bet on it.

 

Mauers power went down because he's an opposite field hitter and Target field is death to LF, not because of anything else. I don't want Mauer as a C going forward, I want him as a 1B, which would protect him from injuries and keep him on the field (a la Napoli). For a guy who will hit you 45-50 doubles a year, get on based at a clip of over .400, and play 1B everyday, 20mm isn't a bad contract.

 

Like I said, I'm not certain that he will be available, I just think its ridiculous to call him a certainty to not be available. I don't know if anyone will certainly be available this deadline other than maybe a Matt Garza type who is in the last year of his deal on a losing club. If the Sox offer the Twins a good deal in terms of prospects and eat most of his salary, I'm sure the Twins would at the very least negotiate. Whether a deal gets done or not, who knows.

 

He's not a guy I "mentally masturbate" over, like Bogaerts or Stanton, he is a guy who I think would fit in perfectly with the lineup and fill a huge void at 1B that we really have nobody in the minor leagues to fill. And in a couple years, after Ortiz leaves, he can split time at 1B/DH, as he gets older.

 

The good thing about Mauer is that he is an OBP machine, and that isn't something that tends to drop off significantly with age like power or speed. So he would still be a very effective player at the end of his deal if he was in a modified DH/1B role.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Then why is Felix still in Seattle? Why is Braun still with the Brewers? The list goes on and on. It gets even worse when the player has a big-ass contract and is the face of a franchise. Give me some examples or players in losing franchises who teams repeatedly try to trade for, but never move.

 

Are you interested in the sig bet as well?

 

The Brewers were good only a couple years ago. I have no idea why Felix is still in Seattle, that seems very dumb to me.

 

Who expected Adrian Gonzalez to be traded last year? He was a major face of the Red Sox in 2011, and he was gone 8 months later.

 

And no, no sig bet. I said it before, I don't think he will certainly be traded, but I also don't think it's a certainty that he won't, which is what you were saying

[User Name]

I don't think he'd be a decent value at $23 million per if he can't play at least 120 games a season at C. And let's see your power point is legit, the fact that his time at C is getting severely limited to protect him from injury is impossible to refute. He played 74 games at C last year, and only 37 of his 55 so far this year.

 

We can agree to disagree on this one, but: A ) He'd be almost impossible to move, and they have little interest anyway. B ) Unless he can stay at catcher full time, he's not worth 23 per.

[MJantomaso]

Then why is Felix still in Seattle? Why is Braun still with the Brewers? The list goes on and on. It gets even worse when the player has a big-ass contract and is the face of a franchise. Give me some examples or players in losing franchises who teams repeatedly try to trade for, but never move.

 

Are you interested in the sig bet as well?

 

Adrian Gonzalez, Miguel Cabrera...

 

Edit: Wait I'm confused, I thought you were arguing the opposite of what you are saying now.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't think he'd be a decent value at $23 million per if he can't play at least 120 games a season at C. And let's see your power point is legit, the fact that his time at C is getting severely limited to protect him from injury is impossible to refute. He played 74 games at C last year, and only 37 of his 55 so far this year.

 

We can agree to disagree on this one, but: A ) He'd be almost impossible to move, and they have little interest anyway. B ) Unless he can stay at catcher full time, he's not worth 23 per.

 

Mauer's wRC+ last year (140) would have ranked 3rd in all of baseball for first basemen.

 

His wRC+ this year (148) would rank 5th.

 

He would be an elite 1B, I don't know how his value would be all that diminished. A 140 - 150 wRC+ guy at 1B is a 20mm+ player.

[MJantomaso]

Mauer has played over 100+ games every year except for 2011, he's played in 130+ games in every year except for 2011 and 07.

[rjortiz]

I don't think Mauer is available, but he's the type of player they should be looking to add. Impact players, who can help the Red Sox win the division, and make a deep run in October.

[User Name]

Mauer has played over 100+ games every year except for 2011, he's played in 130+ games in every year except for 2011 and 07.

 

2012: 74 G at catcher. Not a full-time catcher anymore. That's the point.

[SoxFanForsyth]

2012: 74 G at catcher. Not a full-time catcher anymore. That's the point.

 

The entire premise of this is that he would be our 1B going forward (meaning in 2014 and forward).

 

He could still catch 20-30 games though, if he had to for IL games with Ortiz at 1B

[User Name]

Mauer's wRC+ last year (140) would have ranked 3rd in all of baseball for first basemen.

 

His wRC+ this year (148) would rank 5th.

 

He would be an elite 1B, I don't know how his value would be all that diminished. A 140 - 150 wRC+ guy at 1B is a 20mm+ player.

 

Do you think he'll keep up that type of production as a full-time 1B for the remaining years of his contract? If you do, then you've got a point. I find it extremely unlikely.

[User Name]

I'm sorry, but i just don't buy Mauer as a full time 1B for 23 a year. We can definitely agree to disagree.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Do you think he'll keep up that type of production as a full-time 1B for the remaining years of his contract? If you do, then you've got a point. I find it extremely unlikely.

 

Well, considering its almost exclusively driven by OBP, which doesn't diminish like power or speed, I certainly think he can keep it up. His contract runs through his age 35 season, it's not an awful contract at all. It's not like he's going to be getting paid through 42 or something like ARod or Pujols. Age 35 is a very reasonable age still to put up monster numbers, or, at the very least, well above average numbers

[reYoukilis]

I would love to get a good, smart catcher, but one who is going to be around for awhile.

 

What about bullpen, isn't that still the glaring need?

[SoxFanForsyth]

I'm sorry, but i just don't buy Mauer as a full time 1B for 23 a year. We can definitely agree to disagree.

 

Fair enough, agree to disagree.

[User Name]

If you're that keen on good-hitting catchers that aren't particularly K prone, Brian Mccann is a free agent after the season:

 

He's a 279/.351/.476 .826 career hitter who has never struck out more than 100 games in a season in his career. He's coming off injury, but is looking great behind the plate and at the dish. He will also not cost even close to 23 million a year.

[a700hitter]

From 2006 to present, Mauer has won 3 Batting Titles and finished in the top 4 in 5 seasons. I know Batting Average means nothing , but he also finished in the top 3 in OBP in those 5 years, and that means something. Other than his one injured year (2011), his worst season in that span was 2007 when he hit .293 with an .808 OPS. The guy is a complete stud with the bat. His value isn't just as a catcher. He is a top 5 hitter in the league.

[User Name]

I would love to get a good, smart catcher, but one who is going to be around for awhile.

 

What about bullpen, isn't that still the glaring need?

 

Define "glaring". The Sox have a 4.07 team bullpen ERA. Most of the damage has come against Alfredo Aceves and Clayton Mortensen, who is essentially the one true weak link this BP is dealing with right now.

[User Name]

Top 5 hitter in the league? Helloooooo hyperbole.

[a700hitter]

Mauer has been durable and consistently excellent.

[rjortiz]

Top 5 hitter in the league? Helloooooo hyperbole.

 

Yeah, he's top 20 for sure, but not that elite.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, he's top 20 for sure, but not that elite.

AL or MLB?

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

If you're that keen on good-hitting catchers that aren't particularly K prone, Brian Mccann is a free agent after the season:

 

He's a 279/.351/.476 .826 career hitter who has never struck out more than 100 games in a season in his career. He's coming off injury, but is looking great behind the plate and at the dish. He will also not cost even close to 23 million a year.

 

I was going to mention McCann. Completely forgot he was a FA after the season. I was going to suggest a trade so we can pick him up, and just DFA Salty