Red Sox have acquired 2B Aaron Hill from Brewers

[Kimmi]

@overthemonster Are people actually talking about a Pedroia trade? That's not happening. Why WOULD it?

 

LOL Admit it MVP, this trade got your hopes up a little bit, didn't it?

[Kimmi]

This moves makes no sense to me. The last place I thought we needed help was infield, even if the INF defense has been somewhat of a liability lately, sans Bogaerts.

 

It makes sense. It's an upgrade of the bench. He gives the team not only better quality depth, but also better insurance in case one of our infielders hits the DL. He is good enough to be a starter, if it came to that. Plus, he's a right handed bat.

 

Personally, I've always liked Hill.

 

I understand the concern about giving up starting pitching depth. The point made about how having Miley as additional depth would have helped the team, even if he isn't pitching that great, is valid.

 

Dombrowski isn't stupid. This move all but guarantees starting pitching is coming our way soon, and probably more than one starter.

 

It's not a huge move, and I'm not crazy about giving up Wilkerson, but I like the move overall. I like the addition of Hill to the team.

[Kimmi]

Let me also add that both Farrell and Butterfield have first hand knowledge of Hill and they both think quite highly of him.

[Slasher9]

my reaction to hearing about this was...why not.

this will not be the last move. that is for certain.

[User Name]

This is a precursor to other moves.

[Jack Flap]

This is a precursor to other moves.

 

It makes sense. It's an upgrade of the bench. He gives the team not only better quality depth, but also better insurance in case one of our infielders hits the DL. He is good enough to be a starter, if it came to that. Plus, he's a right handed bat.

 

Personally, I've always liked Hill.

 

I understand the concern about giving up starting pitching depth. The point made about how having Miley as additional depth would have helped the team, even if he isn't pitching that great, is valid.

 

Dombrowski isn't stupid. This move all but guarantees starting pitching is coming our way soon, and probably more than one starter.

 

It's not a huge move, and I'm not crazy about giving up Wilkerson, but I like the move overall. I like the addition of Hill to the team.

 

I agree, Kimmi...nothing earth-shattering here, but a solid move to shore up our depth without giving up a whole lot. We could stand to make a couple more of these.

 

Another shoe is definitely going to drop soon. Funny how this move seemed to coincide last night with the report of interest in Hellickson, which makes all the sense in the world to me. He's been around the AL East, and you have a pretty good idea what you're going to get from him. He's also a rental and shouldn't cost a whole lot. If we can get, say, Hellickson and Rich Hill this month while saving our top five prospects, I'd be a pretty happy camper.

[Hugh2]

This was the exact type of move I was suggesting earlier in the year, although I also suggested a possible LFer with Holt taking more reps at 3B and the infield.

 

I immediately feel disgusted for typing that as I've become "that" guy, the "look at me I was right" I guess I feel a bit vindicated when some treat it like it's the most ridiculous suggesting in the world. Ok, I'll stop but I don't think DD is done yet. If they view Holt back in the utility role then Hill is either here to platoon with Shaw or replace someone who could be part of a trade chip elsewhere.

 

This is the exact type of small move I thought this team could make to get better, but I don't think it will put us over the top. Hills spray chart suggests he could hit very well at Fenway, however sometimes history has taught us that those who should hit here don't and those who shouldn't do.

[Hugh2]

Shaw has struggled mightly against Lefty's this year and for several years his whole career. He got hot last year but the course of 7 professional seasons of baseball he has struggled against LHP all but 1/2 a season. I said it in the trade forum 2 months ago and I'll continue to say it now, the Sox would be better with a RHH infielder who can spell Shaw.

 

I would have been fine with that guy being Holt, if we put him back in the utility role. Holt is a LHB but he has some nice splits vs lhp/rhp.

[mvp 78]

LOL Admit it MVP, this trade got your hopes up a little bit, didn't it?

 

The one thing I hope for is a TOTR guy coming over in a trade. Nothing else really matters to me.

[Maxbialystock]

I applaud all of you analysts who overall seem to think this was a good move. While even I can see the advantages, I also think improving the bench is a sideshow when the pitching is so bad. When Dombrowski makes a move like this, it's like Richard Gere in the movie Chicago doing that "Razzle Dazzle them" number to confuse the jury.

[User Name]

Improving the team is improving the team. If pitching is not available (Sox brass can't simply wave a magic wand and force other teams to give up pitching), or the planned pitching move is of a larger scale, why should that preclude them from making other improvements? That makes zero sense.

[mvp 78]

I applaud all of you analysts who overall seem to think this was a good move. While even I can see the advantages, I also think improving the bench is a sideshow when the pitching is so bad. When Dombrowski makes a move like this, it's like Richard Gere in the movie Chicago doing that "Razzle Dazzle them" number to confuse the jury.

 

Yup, one note. A billion dollar company like the Red Sox shouldn't be focused on more than one thing at a time and that one thing should be the thing I think needs fixing!

 

They should make all the moves they feel necessary. If they have to make cursory moves before they can acquire starting pitching help, why be a dingus about it?

[Hugh2]

Championship caliber teams and organizations make all the small moves too, this trade could easily stand alone or be part of more to come. A larger trade could be in the works regardless.

[Jack Flap]

I applaud all of you analysts who overall seem to think this was a good move. While even I can see the advantages, I also think improving the bench is a sideshow when the pitching is so bad. When Dombrowski makes a move like this, it's like Richard Gere in the movie Chicago doing that "Razzle Dazzle them" number to confuse the jury.

 

Not to pile on, but I never understand reactions like this. Do you think there's any chance that Dombrowski isn't burning up the phone lines looking for pitching help? Does getting A.Hill, who fills a need for us, somehow preclude him from also trading for a pitcher or pitchers?

[mvp 78]

Not to pile on, but I never understand reactions like this. Do you think there's any chance that Dombrowski isn't burning up the phone lines looking for pitching help? Does getting A.Hill, who fills a need for us, somehow preclude him from also trading for a pitcher or pitchers?

 

He outright said he's on the phone all day talking about pitching. If an opportunity comes around to improve part of your team, you jump on it. I'd rather have Hill on the team than Rutledge or some other AAAA guy. This team is also really young right now. The more veterans you can put on the bench, the better.

[Kimmi]

I agree, Kimmi...nothing earth-shattering here, but a solid move to shore up our depth without giving up a whole lot. We could stand to make a couple more of these.

 

Another shoe is definitely going to drop soon. Funny how this move seemed to coincide last night with the report of interest in Hellickson, which makes all the sense in the world to me. He's been around the AL East, and you have a pretty good idea what you're going to get from him. He's also a rental and shouldn't cost a whole lot. If we can get, say, Hellickson and Rich Hill this month while saving our top five prospects, I'd be a pretty happy camper.

 

I would be a happy camper too. The Hellickson speculation seems to be picking up steam.

 

My contention has always been that we should not mortgage our future with a 'win now at any cost' philosophy. I understand that we have to give up something of value to get get something of value back, but I think that it's possible for us to improve our pitching staff without gutting our farm system. We might not get a flashy ace type pitcher in return, but IMO, we don't need one.

[mvp 78]

I would be a happy camper too. The Hellickson speculation seems to be picking up steam.

 

My contention has always been that we should not mortgage our future with a 'win now at any cost' philosophy. I understand that we have to give up something of value to get get something of value back, but I think that it's possible for us to improve our pitching staff without gutting our farm system. We might not get a flashy ace type pitcher in return, but IMO, we don't need one.

 

I believe that we need one, but think we'd be better served grabbing the TOTR guy in the offseason.

 

This is a flawed team that is both maddening and delightful to watch. I'm just going to enjoy the ride and hope that if they do trade away more top prospects that they bring the right guys in.

[Kimmi]

I believe that we need one, but think we'd be better served grabbing the TOTR guy in the offseason.

 

This is a flawed team that is both maddening and delightful to watch. I'm just going to enjoy the ride and hope that if they do trade away more top prospects that they bring the right guys in.

 

Do I want the team to grab a top of the rotation guy? Absolutely. Do I think it's an absolute need? No.

 

Price needs to be an ace. Porcello needs to keep doing what he's been doing. Wright, even with a little coming back down to earth, should still be solid. Get us a couple of consistent and durable mid or bottom rotation guys, and I think our staff will be fine.

[illinoisredsox]

Improving the team is improving the team. If pitching is not available (Sox brass can't simply wave a magic wand and force other teams to give up pitching), or the planned pitching move is of a larger scale, why should that preclude them from making other improvements? That makes zero sense.

 

^This

 

It's not the 1950s. The Sox aren't the Yankees and the Kansas City Athletics aren't there to supply any major league ready parts needed in exchange for junk or kids who need to be seasoned and reacquired later.

[a700hitter]

Dombrowski isn't stupid. This move all but guarantees starting pitching is coming our way soon, and probably more than one starter.

 

I am hoping that you are right about this, but I am not connecting the dots about how this move makes it more likely that we will obtain pitching.

[User Name]

Improving the rest of the roster does not preclude them from acquiring pitching.

[S5Dewey]

Catching up with past posts:

 

I don't see that picking up A. Hill has to have anything to do with pitching - or it might. Whichever it is, I see the rationale in picking up (A) Hill.

 

Beyond that, IMO we have to think about our expectations for this team. Is last to first reasonable, or can we be satisfied with moving in the right direction? I'm not in favor of shooting our load this year to try to win the WS (sorry Papi) and in the process mortgage the future.

 

IMO making the playoffs is the goal, anything beyond that is, as a friend of mine would say, "Gravy on the cake".

[a700hitter]

Improving the rest of the roster does not preclude them from acquiring pitching.

I get that, but I am not getting why the acquisition of Hill would make it more likely that we get pitching. What am I missing?

[mvp 78]

I get that, but I am not getting why the acquisition of Hill would make it more likely that we get pitching. What am I missing?

 

The trade in and of itself doesn't make a pitching deal more likely, it just shows that moves are closer to being made as the trade deadline season is starting to heat up. There's certainly more chatter about trades this week than we have had previously. I think people are just trying to say "this isn't the only deal that will be made, there's more to come."

 

Did they bring Hill in to dangle Hanley or Shaw? Maybe, but I don't see it.

[a700hitter]

The trade in and of itself doesn't make a pitching deal more likely, it just shows that moves are closer to being made as the trade deadline season is starting to heat up. There's certainly more chatter about trades this week than we have had previously. I think people are just trying to say "this isn't the only deal that will be made, there's more to come."

 

Did they bring Hill in to dangle Hanley or Shaw? Maybe, but I don't see it.

...or Pedroia.

[mvp 78]

...or Pedroia.

 

You guys would never hear the end of it.

[mvp 78]

I get that, but I am not getting why the acquisition of Hill would make it more likely that we get pitching. What am I missing?

 

“We have had more conversations about pitching, but again, I’m not sure that means we’re any closer to making a deal or not,” he said.

 

DUMBrowski doesn't know what he's talking about...

[FredLynn]

I don't care if Wilkerson is a AAAA scrub, YOU DON'T TRADE PITCHING DEPTH.

 

If the Sox never made the Wade Miley trade, that 5.36 ERA would probably have us in first place with this offense.

 

There is THAT too. Wilkerson may not have had what it takes to make it in the majors, but his ERA at Pawtucket indicated that he was deserving of a chance before he got shipped away. I hope we don't read the box scores and see that Wilkerson is tossing goose eggs for some other team in the near future.

[Nick]

"Because Travis Shaw is hitting .211 with a .620 OPS and 21 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances against lefties, Hill will likely slot in as the third baseman against southpaws.

 

Hill is hitting .283 with a .780 OPS and eight home runs overall. He has a .725 OPS against lefties.

 

“Travis, recently he’s had good at-bats, but his numbers against left-handed pitching have not been that good this year,” Dombrowski said. “How (manager John Farrell) decides to (handle the workload), that’s of course up to him.”"

 

Despite the contradicting chatter on this board, this is how DD views Shaw. And he counts more than any of us. Shaw has been anemic against left handed pitching. The game where Kimbrel blew up in the 9th comes to mind. We could have used Hill to pinch hit for Shaw with bases loaded (?) in late innings against a left hander.

[moonslav59]

Shaw has struggled mightly against Lefty's this year and for several years his whole career. He got hot last year but the course of 7 professional seasons of baseball he has struggled against LHP all but 1/2 a season. I said it in the trade forum 2 months ago and I'll continue to say it now, the Sox would be better with a RHH infielder who can spell Shaw.

 

I would have been fine with that guy being Holt, if we put him back in the utility role. Holt is a LHB but he has some nice splits vs lhp/rhp.

 

I think he did better vs LHPs back in 2012 (A or AA), but I'm not sure.

 

Clearly he has had major issues vs lefties for his whole career. Expecting a player to have mastered something like that seemingly over night is probably more wishful thinking than logical projecting.