Trades before the deadline?

[User Name]

Well my friend we can agree to disagree on this one. I think XB will become an elite bat, and wouldn't trade him in a package unless the pitcher coming back was both elite and cost-controlled.

[Palodios]

Price has a career 2.80 ERA in Tampa, and a 3.80 ERA elsewhere.

 

We see it year after year. Tampa builds up a pitcher's reputation with that ballpark and defense. They trade him early, and get a haul. Sometimes the pitcher turns out to be not-as-good as he was, and sometimes he just implodes. Price is probably worth Bogaertz, but it will probably take Cecchini and Webster as well to get him.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Well my friend we can agree to disagree on this one. I think XB will become an elite bat, and wouldn't trade him in a package unless the pitcher coming back was both elite and cost-controlled.

 

Ah doesn't matter, the Rays would never trade inside the division without an outrageous premium.

[Spitball]

I am not a Matt Garza fan, but after seeing the crappola the Cubs accepted for Feldman, it is possible they will take a moderate package for Garza.

[Standing Room]

Who would Garza replace in the rotation? Lester's our only starter with an ERA+ below 100, and in my opinion it makes more sense to stick with Lester and see if he can work things out. I can't say I'm expect him to. But I also don't see Garza as much of an upgrade.

[SoxFanForsyth]

No thanks on Garza. Unless its for a top of the rotation arm (Lee, Price, etc), we should address other needs (power bat would be nice, bullpen arm perhaps). This team doesn't need a whole lot.

[Standing Room]

Yeah, unless we can acquire a number one starter type, I wouldn't waste resources on a starting pitcher. We've got Aceves, Webster, De La Rosa, Ranaudo, etc. as depth. It would be nice to add a righthanded power hitter, but maybe Middlebrooks could be that guy and we could use Carp at first base. It would also be nice to add a reliever, maybe De La Rosa could be that guy. It would also be nice to add a middle infielder off the bench, Bogaerts could possibly be that guy. This isn't a team with a whole lot of glaring needs. We have upgrades that could be made, especially another reliever for some depth. But we have multiple internal options to fill those kinds of roles.

 

I'd give it until the end of the month to allow issues to present themselves before we give up anything of value to try to fix them.

[Spitball]

A top of the rotation starter will mean taking on an eventually bad contract (Lee) and/or giving up top prospects (Price).

 

I am only interested in a starting pitcher if he comes without being owed lots of money and/or he isn't going to cost a top 15 prospect.

[a700hitter]

A top of the rotation starter will mean taking on an eventually bad contract (Lee) and/or giving up top prospects (Price).

 

I am only interested in a starting pitcher if he comes without being owed lots of money and/or he isn't going to cost a top 15 prospect.

Even if it gives the team what it needs to make a run at a Championship?

[SoxFanForsyth]

A top of the rotation starter will mean taking on an eventually bad contract (Lee) and/or giving up top prospects (Price).

 

I am only interested in a starting pitcher if he comes without being owed lots of money and/or he isn't going to cost a top 15 prospect.

 

And who would that pitcher replace? You've got Doubront and Dempster who are equal to Garza, and Lackey, Buch, and Lester who are all better than Garza.

 

I'm not sure what the purpose of getting a bottom of the rotation starter would be. Particularly when you've got Aceves, RDLR, Webster, Workman, and Ranaudo who all have the ability to fill in.

[Standing Room]

Even if it gives the team what it needs to make a run at a Championship?

 

We're already good enough to make a run. We have two #1 starters, two above average starters and plenty of depth. If we were in need of a starter to make a run, that would be different.

[jung]

I think the starter question still hinges on Buch. Get him back and we should be fine. Without him its a different story.

[a700hitter]

I think the starter question still hinges on Buch. Get him back and we should be fine. Without him its a different story.

This hits the nail on the head with regard to the pitching need. If we don't need pitching, we should make a move for a big bat. When you have a team that can make a run at the championship, IMO you load for bear and go for it. We haven't been to the playoffs in 3 seasons. You don't have this kind of team every year. When you have a team like this, you need to reinforce it to give it the best shot at winning. If we don't add, our competitors will add to their teams. When you have a team like this, that is when you buy at the trading deadline.

[Standing Room]

This hits the nail on the head with regard to the pitching need. If we don't need pitching, we should make a move for a big bat. When you have a team that can make a run at the championship, IMO you load for bear and go for it. We haven't been to the playoffs in 3 seasons. You don't have this kind of team every year. When you have a team like this, you need to reinforce it to give it the best shot at winning. If we don't add, our competitors will add to their teams. When you have a team like this, that is when you buy at the trading deadline.

 

In a perfect world, of course it's always nice to be able to add to the team. The issue is that adding to a team is never free.

[seabeachfred]

I think it's a good idea to have a second team just as long as it is a very distant second, and I'm sure that applies to you as well as me and anyone else who has another team they sometimes follow. Of course, it would be better if that team was in the other league except when you have to play them as we had to in the current series. Both my wife and I like the Padres which gives us some basis to unity since she is a diehard Angels fan and me a Red Soxer. There might be a little tension this weekend in the Peritore household.

[seabeachfred]

Besides that Ted we have a hole in our rotation with Doubrant. He still has not emerged as the pitcher the Red Sox were talking about him being. I think we can do better there whether it's Garza, Pevey or someone else. Tomorrow he will attempt to give me a chance to eat my words when he opens up the series against the Angels out here, and frankly I'm worried about him getting lit up badly. I want to see him pitch well on this road trip because for the most part he hasn't done so this year with the exception of that great game he hurled against the Yankees the last time we played them. Today Webster pitched better than he has before but was that him or are the Padres that weak a hitting team? Buchholz is the key and we need him back but by now we know those injuries he suffers tend to lag on and on and on. Pitching is going to be difference in the final analysis and in my opinion we are not completely up to snuff there, either in the rotation or the bullpen.

[jung]

I don't think the Sox will spend any time thinking about replacing the starter in their 5 hole.

[Palodios]

Besides that Ted we have a hole in our rotation with Doubrant. He still has not emerged as the pitcher the Red Sox were talking about him being.

 

The thing about Doubront is that he has been very consistent for the Red Sox this year. He has made 14 starts this year, and in 13 of them he has allowed 3 or fewer earned runs. He hasn't gone nearly as deep as we'd want him to, but he has faced many good teams already this year.

 

If someone is willing to give up significant value for him I might be interested, but you're talking about a healthy 25 year old left handed power pitcher that can reach up to 96 mph, and hovers around 9 K/9. If he puts it all together, the Sox would feel a good deal of seller's remorse.

[a700hitter]

In a perfect world, of course it's always nice to be able to add to the team. The issue is that adding to a team is never free.

That's why it is called buying and not stealing. You buy to push your team over the top. That's when you do it.

[a700hitter]

The thing about Doubront is that he has been very consistent for the Red Sox this year. He has made 14 starts this year, and in 13 of them he has allowed 3 or fewer earned runs. He hasn't gone nearly as deep as we'd want him to, but he has faced many good teams already this year.

 

If someone is willing to give up significant value for him I might be interested, but you're talking about a healthy 25 year old left handed power pitcher that can reach up to 96 mph, and hovers around 9 K/9. If he puts it all together, the Sox would feel a good deal of seller's remorse.

I have no problem with Doubront's performance in the 5th hole.

[Spitball]

As I said, I have never been a Garza fan, but if he is available, the Sox need to be in the hunt. I don't want them to overpay, but they need to be sure the Yankees or Orioles don't get him at a ridiculously cheap price(see Feldman).

 

And for those who question the need for pitching depth, I am guessing you are recent baseball fans. You never have enough pitching. The Sox have a question about the health of Buchholz and Doubront has a whip near 1.5. He barely makes it to the 6th inning.

Edited July 5, 2013 by Spitball

[Standing Room]

Doubron is far from a "hole", he's been an above average pitcher. 4.22 ERA, 3.87 xFIP, 3.68 FIP, 3.99 SIERA, 103 ERA+. You really want to give up prospects to get a pitcher who will probably do worse?

 

Speaking of pitchers, the Mets just DFA'd Brandon Lyon. He might be worth taking a flier on for some bullpen depth.

[a700hitter]

As I said, I have never been a Garza fan, but if he is available, the Sox need to be in the hunt. I don't want them to overpay, but they need to be sure the Yankees or Orioles don't get him at a ridiculously cheap price(see Feldman).

 

And for those who question the need for pitching depth, I am guessing you are recent baseball fans. You never have enough pitching. The Sox have a question about the health of Buchholz and Doubront has a whip near 1.5. He barely makes it to the 6th inning.

Buchholz's health is a major issue, but if he is healthy again and the rest of the starters are healthy, the starters are good enough to get us to the post season. If they miss a turn or two, we have Ace and Webster to take spot starts. In the playoffs, you don't need a #5, maybe not even a #4. Getting an ace for the playoffs wouldn't hurt if Lester continues to be inconsistent, but I don't think we can get Lee, and Garza and others are not upgrades. I think a hitter might be the better move.

[RedSoxNC84]

Doubron is far from a "hole", he's been an above average pitcher. 4.22 ERA, 3.87 xFIP, 3.68 FIP, 3.99 SIERA, 103 ERA+. You really want to give up prospects to get a pitcher who will probably do worse?

 

Speaking of pitchers, the Mets just DFA'd Brandon Lyon. He might be worth taking a flier on for some bullpen depth.

 

I don't think his point was that Doubront is a bad pitcher. I agree with the fact that you can never have enough pitching. You always need depth, even if you have to take out fliers on guys that may or may not stick, it can't hurt.

[RedSoxNC84]

Buchholz's health is a major issue, but if he is healthy again and the rest of the starters are healthy, the starters are good enough to get us to the post season. If they miss a turn or two, we have Ace and Webster to take spot starts. In the playoffs, you don't need a #5, maybe not even a #4. Getting an ace for the playoffs wouldn't hurt if Lester continues to be inconsistent, but I don't think we can get Lee, and Garza and others are not upgrades. I think a hitter might be the better move.

 

Does anyone else think maybe they could try Carp out at third? I think he needs to get more playing time any way he can. I guess slotting him at third would leave a hole at first though, especially if Napoli needs a break

[User Name]

It would not be a good idea at all. He has never played any position other than the OF corners and 1B professionally. He couldn't just learn the position out of the blue mid-season.

[Spitball]

No, I am not talking about significant prospects. The Orioles gave up Arrieta and Strop for Feldman. What were the Cubs thinking? Feldman is a good number 5 or maybe a passable number 4, but Arrieta and Strop are late twenty-somethings, totally non-prospects.

 

Epstein and Hoyer are either trying to stick it to the Sox...or total idiots. If they are indeed idiots, the Sox need to jump on Garza.

[a700hitter]

No, I am not talking about significant prospects. The Orioles gave up Arrieta and Strop for Feldman. What were the Cubs thinking? Feldman is a good number 5 or maybe a passable number 4, but Arrieta and Strop are late twenty-somethings, totally non-prospects.

 

Epstein and Hoyer are either trying to stick it to the Sox...or total idiots. If they are indeed idiots, the Sox need to jump on Garza.

I think it is a combination-- half idiots and half sticking it to the Sox.

[Palodios]

I think the Red Sox need to put aside Workman, Britton, Kalish, Bard and possibly Brentz and see what turns up. A 8th inning reliever a backup catcher, and another infield bat would help this team significantly, and those positions shouldn't cost that much. Unless its Lee/Stanton, overpaying in prospects for anyone should be out of the question right now.

[Thunder]

I've said this before and I'll say it again. The Red Sox do not need to do anything.