Who Should the Red Sox Trade For?

[notin]

I doubt we make any move that puts us over the maximum penalty limit ($2-3 M to go), but then again, the penalty is not really all that horrible as a 1 year thing.

 

Here are the best hitters vs LHPs since 2017 (100+ PAs) that may be available:

 

1.024 Adrian Beltre

1.004 Jose Abreu

.981 Avisail Garcia

.973 Nick Castellanos

.970 Josh Donaldson

.934 Brian Dozier

.927 Whit Merrifield

.900 James McCann

.889 Jonathon Schoop

.871 Jorge Soler

.863 Joey Votto

 

I doubt we have the pieces to get any of the above players, but maybe one from below is doable:

 

.914 Justin Smoak

.899 Adam Duvall

.887 Kendrys Morales

.868 Ehire Adrianza

.810 Todd Frazier

 

.756 Jed Lowrie is not what we need.

 

Asdrubel Cabrera has a .864 OPS vs LHP in that same timeframe. He makes $8.2mill this year, which should be under $4mill at the deadline, and is on the books for $10.2mill for next year (including the buyout). The Mets are going nowhere fast. This makes him an upgrade over Nunez and his .647 OPS vs LHP...

[Emp9]

How awesome is it that we don’t need to trade for a SP at the deadline? Pretty godamn awesome if you ask me. My guess is that we’re still waiting to see on Pedroia for 2B and Thornburg for the BP. Let’s assume both come back and the best case scenario happens and they’re both upgrades and stay healthy (long shot, I know), what would be our biggest weakness then? 1B offense? CF offense? Catcher Offense?

[CharlieWhigg]

Yup ...I think he would sign with us after playing at Fenway and us fans .

 

Devers is probably going to be better than Machado (or at least a similar player) and be considerably cheaper. Also, we couldn't sign Machado and stay under the luxury tax unless we got really creative with it. DD says he's going to try to stay below it

[CharlieWhigg]

Lowrie doesn't hit lefties well.

 

Lowrie's hitting .305/.340/.432 against lefties this year with a 114 wRC+. He's a career .282/.346/.426 hitter with a 112 wRC+. That's pretty good! Not elite, but a lot better than what we currently have

[Emp9]

I honestly can't tell if you're being ironic or if you actually believe this. And I'm usually very good at making that distinction, even online. So well done, I guess?

 

It’s a toss up. Natick is either bat-s*** crazy or horse-s*** crazy. But theres crazy in there somewhere, that we can be sure of.

[Maxbialystock]

Not against a trade, but would remind everyone this is already a pretty good team as defined by winning record, nose to nose series with other contenders, team pitching and hitting stats.

 

Lowrie seems to get a lot of mention. He had a great April, a so-so May, and even worse June so far (OPS .613).

[kenmeister]

No worries ...I would expect a trade within 10 days for Machado

 

Gosh it makes me so nervous to think about who they'd have to give up. Swihart for Machado I'd do :)

[Dojji]

Wouldn't be too upset if they sat pat.

[notin]

Gosh it makes me so nervous to think about who they'd have to give up. Swihart for Machado I'd do :)

 

Jalen Beeks, Blake Swihart and the rights to "Sweet Caroline", of course. What else would you expect?

[OH FOY]

Thornburg got hit pretty hard, against a pretty weak hitting team yesterday.

[notin]

Wouldn't be too upset if they sat pat.

 

Teams that stand pat always get ripped by the media for doing so. And this means many fans will believe the team is wrong for doing nothing.

 

"What kind of message does this send to the players? That the FO thinks they're good enough and don't need any help? Yeah right!!"

[Kimmi]

2 months plus 10 years yes .

 

10 years?

 

Now is when we need that GIF of me shuddering.

[Kimmi]

How awesome is it that we don’t need to trade for a SP at the deadline? Pretty godamn awesome if you ask me. My guess is that we’re still waiting to see on Pedroia for 2B and Thornburg for the BP. Let’s assume both come back and the best case scenario happens and they’re both upgrades and stay healthy (long shot, I know), what would be our biggest weakness then? 1B offense? CF offense? Catcher Offense?

 

IMO, this team does not really have a weakness that needs to be addressed, provided the team stays healthy. If Pedroia cannot return, I would look to upgrade at 2B.

[Kimmi]

Wouldn't be too upset if they sat pat.

 

Nor would I.

[Slasher9]

IMO, this team does not really have a weakness that needs to be addressed, provided the team stays healthy. If Pedroia cannot return, I would look to upgrade at 2B.

 

i actually think 2b is our weakness. specifically 2b defense. DD needs to upgrade here. Pedroia IMO is not going to contribute this year. and we have a good shot at making the postseason so should be all in on 2018.

[kenmeister]

Jalen Beeks, Blake Swihart and the rights to "Sweet Caroline", of course. What else would you expect?

 

I actually cringe at the thought of losing Jalen Beeks for a short-term rental like Machado. Yes his MLB debut wasn't very good; I think he was over-throwing and nervous. But I think he's going to be a quality pitcher in the years to come.

[FredLynn]

I think our outstanding weakness is our offense v LHP. The rest of our team is fine aside from that. I Beltre would be a nice addition and contrary to what Jacko thinks, an elderly FA to be can probably be had on the cheap, relatively speaking. Then we could return Devers to AAA, which is where he belongs right now.

[moonslav59]

So? We need an upgrade for 2B from Nunez.

I'm waiting on Pedey, but right now, our biggest issue is hitting lefties not 2b. Nunez and holt can bridge us to Pedey or the deadline.

 

If we need a 2bman at the deadline, I'd look for one who kills lefties.

[Maxbialystock]

Wouldn't be too upset if they sat pat.

 

Exactly. I'm not against tweaking, but absolutely do not buy the general gloom and doom of this thread.

[OH FOY]

Rusney Castillo started out as a 2nd baseman, and he kills Lefties. For Cuba he was the starting 2nd Baseman in the WBC. Its only money. Wont happen though. Edited June 18, 2018 by OH FOY!

[jacksonianmarch]

Yanks in on Happ per rotoworld

[notin]

I actually cringe at the thought of losing Jalen Beeks for a short-term rental like Machado. Yes his MLB debut wasn't very good; I think he was over-throwing and nervous. But I think he's going to be a quality pitcher in the years to come.

 

I don't.

 

I think he is Henry Owens 2.0, with the new "less hype" feature.

[S5Dewey]

Yanks in on Happ per rotoworld

 

Yawn. Does anyone on this Red Sox board care?

[fxkatt]

Rusney Castillo started out as a 2nd baseman, and he kills Lefties. For Cuba he was the starting 2nd Baseman in the WBC. Its only money. Wont happen though.

 

Since he certainly seems about worth his contract now, why isn't he traded?? If we can't afford to bring back another contract in exchange, why not get a couple of prospects for him?

[moonslav59]

Since he certainly seems about worth his contract now, why isn't he traded?? If we can't afford to bring back another contract in exchange, why not get a couple of prospects for him?

 

I think you question pinpoints his value

[Larry Cook]

Thornburg got hit pretty hard, against a pretty weak hitting team yesterday.

 

I watched him throw and was really disappointed. His pitches had no movement and got a lot of the white part of the plate.

 

But on the bright side, it looks like yesterday, he just did not have it. For whatever reason. A couple of adjustments and better location and maybe he can contribute this year.

[Natick to NC]

Only player that can put this team over the hump is the only player we should explore ....The player is Machado and the cost maybe Devers ....at his best Devers would be what ? an All star third baseman ??? No ....a good DH ? Yea but on the Papi level??? No ....Cruz level ? Yeah maybe ? ....is he a better player ever than Mchado ? No ...will he catch fire and get us over the hump ? Doubtful at best ...will he ever ??? Maybe ??? Can Machado deliver a championship caliber at bats ??? I think so ....yeah I'm all in this year Dave.. Edited June 18, 2018 by Natick to NC

[sk7326]

Only player that can put this team over the hump is the only player we should explore ....The player is Machado and the cost maybe Devers ....at his best Devers would be what ? an All star third baseman ??? No ....a good DH ? Yea but on the Papi level??? No ....Cruz level ? Yeah maybe ? ....is he a better player ever than Mchado ? No ...will he catch fire and get us over the hump ? Doubtful at best ...will he ever ??? Maybe ??? Can Machado deliver a championship caliber at bats ??? I think so ....yeah I'm all in this year Dave

 

Devers would be the youngest position player in SALEM. He is younger than a significant chunk of the 2018 draft class. And he has played a bit better lately. It would be a huge overpay for half a season of even someone Machado's skill level.

[jung]

I would not give up Devers for Machado either. Devers is just young. He is not a terrible player. He is probably not even a terrible fielder once he learns how to field. At the same time, I would agree that a Machado or a player very close to a Machado would be a most needed and most significant improvement...enough to make this team a true post season contender. They are at least an everyday player short no matter how you slice it. As much as I would like more relief help our pen might be OK or at least something we can supplement successfully at little cost in anything but money. A real everyday player that can actually help this team....that is a whole nuther' story. Where we are "lucky" is that through a Machado would be as good as it gets for this team for a third of a season and post season run, we could use help at 1st and maybe even 2nd depending on what is really happening with Pedey. So really only OF and Short and Catcher are set for this team. That leaves three positions with which to work to bring in an upgrade with Machado being perfect. If there is a real shame here it might be that we were not prepared to try to capture Moose at the money he was able to command even for just one season. We are an everyday player short.

 

I could be swayed to trading Devers for Machado if Machado came packaged up with more than 2018 in a Sox uni. But would not do Devers just for the remainder of Machado for 2018. Machado would have to come with a WS trophy or at least a WS appearance sticking out of his back pocket for me to be OK with that.

Edited June 18, 2018 by jung

[Natick to NC]

....I really think it's about a World Series title right ? Raffy Devers vs Machado this year who gives us the better D and offense for that push ? I think it's Machado and I'd make the trade today .Go all in Dave it's time .