Who Should the Red Sox Trade For?

[jacksonianmarch]

I think just getting Giles right now was a good move. Getting Paulino too was pretty nice. Great haul for Toronto and they get to rid themselves of a woman beater

[d-money]

Yankees get lance lynn. They must have liked the way he pitched against us.

[fxkatt]

Yankees get lance lynn. They must have liked the way he pitched against us.

 

If this is their last pitching move, then I think we might be fine, even with no more moves.

[d-money]

If this is their last pitching move, then I think we might be fine, even with no more moves.

 

I wish we could make another move for a relief pitcher.

[oldtimer]

I wish we could make another move for a relief pitcher.

 

We don't have much left to offer in return. Probably we are done for the trade deadline.

[jacksonianmarch]

We don't have much left to offer in return. Probably we are done for the trade deadline.

 

No way. There's always someone to get and the sox need a reliever. I know Brasier has looked good of late and Thornburg has had a good 8 game run, but who do you go to when you're facing Judge, Stanton and Sanchez in the 7th inning when your pitcher gets gassed and the game is on the line? You need a guy who can chew through RHH

 

Brad Ziegler is available, and after a terrible April and May, he has been almost unhittable. He's the kind of guy you get to counteract the RH power of HOU and NYY

[sk7326]

Yeah Boston is still going to fish for relievers because everybody is doing that. If they could find another innings soaking starter who could be swung to the pen in October that would be good too.

[notin]

It looks that way. They got 3 pitchers... the once closer Ken Giles, David Paulino (top prospect with a PED 80 day suspension behind him now) and Hector Perez, 22 years old and the Astros no. 10 prospect. Paulino is probably the key if he can turn his life around.

 

Paulino is the pitching version of Chavis.

 

This actually was a toppable offer for the Sox, but we can let it go since we now know he was working on another deal at the time...

[Dojji]

No way. There's always someone to get and the sox need a reliever. I know Brasier has looked good of late and Thornburg has had a good 8 game run, but who do you go to when you're facing Judge, Stanton and Sanchez in the 7th inning when your pitcher gets gassed and the game is on the line? You need a guy who can chew through RHH

 

Brad Ziegler is available, and after a terrible April and May, he has been almost unhittable. He's the kind of guy you get to counteract the RH power of HOU and NYY

 

I disagree that the Sox are desperate for a reliever. Our bullpen isn't the best in MLB, but it's solid. We have a good rotation to take into the playoffs and 4 potential backline starters with relief experience to pad the playoff roster (although of those, the only ones I'd absolutely trust are Velazquez and Johnson)

 

On the high leverage side, I have no reason not to trust Barnes and Kimbrel to get it done on the big stage, both have been very consistent this year. Like it or not, Barnes is a fine setup man and has done some good work this year.

 

With Velazquez probably a lock for the playoff roster and the need for at least one emergency starter, that only leaves maybe as many as 4 slots for all of Kelly, Brazier, Hembree, ERod, Wright, Thornburg, Pomeranz and whoever else distinguishes themselves down the stretch and in September.

 

The point is we're already going to have a fair number of pitchers on the outside looking in as it is, some of which would be deserving of playoff spots on many teams. There's always the possibility of upgrading with one more high leverage arm, but it's not an urgent requirement as long as Kimbrel and Barnes stay healthy. No reason to force a trade here.

Edited July 31, 2018 by Dojji

[notin]

Before last night’s marathon, the Sox bullpen was tied for fourth in MLB with Houston in fWAR, trailing only the Yankees, Padres, and Brewers.

 

I can understand that improving isn’t a bad idea, but why do people think this bullpen is so hopeless?

[Dojji]

Lighthouse fallacy. You only notice the bullpen when it blows the game, resulting in a buildup of confirmation bias as the season goes on. I don't think there's a fanbase anywhere in baseball that actually likes their bullpen.

[moonslav59]

Before last night’s marathon, the Sox bullpen was tied for fourth in MLB with Houston in fWAR, trailing only the Yankees, Padres, and Brewers.

 

I can understand that improving isn’t a bad idea, but why do people think this bullpen is so hopeless?

 

Not hopeless but certainly improvable.

[Dojji]

Not hopeless but certainly improvable.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminishing_returns

[notin]

Lighthouse fallacy. You only notice the bullpen when it blows the game, resulting in a buildup of confirmation bias as the season goes on. I don't think there's a fanbase anywhere in baseball that actually likes their bullpen.

 

I get that. It was more about pointing out the pen is good, and isn’t all Kimbrel.

 

On the other hand, if Dombrowski gets a bullpen arm, I doubt I’ll complain since we really have no untouchables left on the farm at this point.

 

It could be pointed out Dombrowski has acquired a bullpen arm. The acquisition of Eovaldi has pushed Johnson to the pen. I expect at some point Johnson and Pomeranz might change roles, but this still applies..,

[moonslav59]

We don't have much left to offer in return. Probably we are done for the trade deadline.

 

We have plenty of scraps like Buttrey, Jerez and the guy we gave up for Pearce.

[Dojji]

We have plenty of scraps like Buttrey, Jerez and the guy we gave up for Pearce.

 

The better your bullpen is, the more likely it is that an acquired reliever will only serve ti come in and cost some deserving rookie their spot and make things worse.

 

You know who would lose his job if we brought in another arm, and it wouldn't be Pomeranz and it wouldn't be Kelly and it wouldn't be any the other guys you're thinking of. It would either be Brasier or Johnson, and I don't want to relplace either of those guys.

[FredLynn]

Before last night’s marathon, the Sox bullpen was tied for fourth in MLB with Houston in fWAR, trailing only the Yankees, Padres, and Brewers.

 

I can understand that improving isn’t a bad idea, but why do people think this bullpen is so hopeless?

 

The bullpen is actually very good, but if the team has a remaining area for improvement, its getting a reliable LH RP. Johnson will eventually take Pomeranz's job I think. Pom has nothing left and should be DL'd to make room for someone who can actually help the club. If the pen performs up to its capabilities its fine the way it is. Even Kelly had a good outing last night....as did everyone else out there.

[notin]

The bullpen is actually very good, but if the team has a remaining area for improvement, its getting a reliable LH RP. Johnson will eventually take Pomeranz's job I think. Pom has nothing left and should be DL'd to make room for someone who can actually help the club. If the pen performs up to its capabilities its fine the way it is. Even Kelly had a good outing last night....as did everyone else out there.

 

This is Pomeranz’ option year, right?

 

I doubt it happens, but if he can’t turn it around, he could be released. It’s not like he’s getting a qualifying offer.

 

Personally I think he needs to go to the pen and pitch shorter outings and not worry about pacing himself...

[oldtimer]

Not hopeless but certainly improvable.

 

Sounds like DD has made some overtures that we not accepted and that he is waiting to see if one of those comes to fruition. He is willing to wait for the other guy to come to him now. If a bluebird flies in he won't reject it but it has to show that it will improve the Sox.

 

To clear space for those we already have, Lin will go when Kinsler is added (probably today). I understand that Devers is on the 10 day DL but with both a sore shoulder and a hamstring, he may well be out for longer. I didn't realize that he is 6' 237 #s. Pretty heavy for a 21 yo and approaching Pablo heavy. Kid should lose a few and he would probably improve his durability. When he gets back, we will have a decision to make about who goes down. Same with Vaz. E-Rod supposedly is doing well. Ligament damage for a pitcher sounds pretty severe. He may be out for several more weeks despite the rosy statements coming out about his progress. Pom may make the decision for us today if he has another poor outing.

[Jack Flap]

I agree that our pen is pretty good as constituted. Could we get better? Sure...but given that almost any move we make at this point is going to take us over $237M (if we aren't already), I don't think the FO is going to take that leap for just anyone.

 

Right now it just seems like we're being connected to every reliever on every bad team just because. Like, does bringing in Brad Ziegler or Fernando Rodney really improve us? Is anyone really thirsting for Bud Norris here? I hope if another move is made, it's for a real difference maker, not someone who's not any better than what we already have. If we're not getting a legitimate stud, I'm probably fine with standing pat at this point.

[Jack Flap]

I think just getting Giles right now was a good move. Getting Paulino too was pretty nice. Great haul for Toronto and they get to rid themselves of a woman beater

 

The Blue Jays got a lot more for Osuna than I ever would have guessed, and best of all (as you mentioned) made him someone else's problem. Kind of a shocking trade from the Astros' perspective (which they're rightfully getting torched for)...and I'm glad it wasn't us who made it, no matter how talented he may be.

Edited July 31, 2018 by Jack Flap

[fxkatt]

Yeah, Devers was listed as 195 pounds a year ago... he's now 237. That's a concern, for sure, but it's the first time I heard about this weight jump, and had to double check the 237 figure.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

The Red Sox are probably done. Do they even need a relief pitcher? They have Brandon Workman, an effective relief pitcher, sitting around in AAA. I don't believe the Red Sox are hunting for a rental relief pitcher, but they are probably open to trading for a relief pitcher who is controllable and can compete for the closer's role next season (I'm assuming the Red Sox aren't going to resign Kimbrel).

[oldtimer]

The Red Sox are probably done. Do they even need a relief pitcher? They have Brandon Workman, an effective relief pitcher, sitting around in AAA. I don't believe the Red Sox are hunting for a rental relief pitcher, but they are probably open to trading for a relief pitcher who is controllable and can compete for the closer's role next season (I'm assuming the Red Sox aren't going to resign Kimbrel).

 

The Sox are lacking a good lefty relief pitcher, so if they did try to fill that position I could understand. Don't think Pom is the right guy to fill that role. The only guy on the market who fits that bill is Jake Diekman and he a 31 yo Texas setup man. We would have to lose one of our right handers to make that move so I don't think it is likely, but who knows.

[Dojji]

A lefthander is not essential. I'd rather just have a bunch of good pitchers in general, and worry about matchups as they come along.

[oldtimer]

Yeah, Devers was listed as 195 pounds a year ago... he's now 237. That's a concern, for sure, but it's the first time I heard about this weight jump, and had to double check the 237 figure.

 

I knew he looked heavy but was shocked when I saw that number listed for him. I am a little taller and weigh about 232 and always get ribbed by my softball buddies as being to slow (too heavy). I'm going on 78 and am definitely not getting paid to play. This is a 21 yo kid who is likely to sustain avoidable injuries if he doesn't lose some of that weight.

[mvp 78]

Yeah, Devers was listed as 195 pounds a year ago... he's now 237. That's a concern, for sure, but it's the first time I heard about this weight jump, and had to double check the 237 figure.

 

The weight listed last year seems improbable to me.

[kenmeister]

You know who would lose his job if we brought in another arm, and it wouldn't be Pomeranz and it wouldn't be Kelly and it wouldn't be any the other guys you're thinking of. It would either be Brasier or Johnson, and I don't want to relplace either of those guys.

 

I suspect Johnson went to the pen instead of Pomeranz because he's our only lefty there. Brasier has been great so far. I just don't understand the need for yet another pitcher.

[harmony]

Yeah, Devers was listed as 195 pounds a year ago... he's now 237. That's a concern, for sure, but it's the first time I heard about this weight jump, and had to double check the 237 figure.

Pablo Sandoval was listed at 5-11, 246 pounds at the same age.

[notin]

1 hour and 15 minutes to the non-waiver deadline. No Red Sox buzz.