Early Trade deadline deals the selling Sox should make

[southpaw777]

58 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Was Ole Red on B.com?

 

Maybe under a different name but it’s more just the back and forth like y’all had with the one poster you constantly called a clown…haha. It’s entertaining to me . I could read that banter for days.

[norbit]

Im in the sell camp now and I don't see the next couple of weeks changing that.

Must trade: Chapman, Gray

Willing to trade: Whitlock, Abreu, Durbin

Have to be overwhelmed:  Contreras, Early

When it comes to Duran, he has little to no value, might as well and see if he can right the ship and increase his value this offseason.

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

41 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Maybe under a different name but it’s more just the back and forth like y’all had with the one poster you constantly called a clown…haha. It’s entertaining to me . I could read that banter for days.

softlaw the clown?

Others called him worse.

Those were the days, for sure. Having rings scattered between the years helped.

One of the best songs has this ending...

Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want
Sorry, my dear
But where are the clowns?

Don't bothеr, they're herе

Quick, send in the clowns

[southpaw777]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

softlaw the clown?

Others called him worse.

Those were the days, for sure. Having rings scattered between the years helped.

One of the best songs has this ending...

Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want
Sorry, my dear
But where are the clowns?

Don't bothеr, they're herе

Quick, send in the clowns

Softlaw, that’s right, ! 😅

[southpaw777]

1 hour ago, norbit said:

Im in the sell camp now and I don't see the next couple of weeks changing that.

Must trade: Chapman, Gray

Willing to trade: Whitlock, Abreu, Durbin

Have to be overwhelmed:  Contreras, Early

When it comes to Duran, he has little to no value, might as well and see if he can right the ship and increase his value this offseason.

 

 

 

Durbin is a name I really haven’t heard yet. For what we gave up for him, and considering how he’s playing, I’d throw him in the have to be overwhelmed section…but that’s just me. I really like his game now that he’s got things right again. Rather see him at 2b though

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, southpaw777 said:

Softlaw, that’s right, ! 😅

At least he didn't make up positions other held and knew how to read.

[Old Red]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

At least he didn't make up positions other held and knew how to read.

Or is a phony, fraud, or flip flopper who portrays the man behind the curtain like yourself, and that’s the bottom line, because Stone Cold says so. As always it’s a gift, and not a curse.

[norbit]

1 hour ago, southpaw777 said:

Durbin is a name I really haven’t heard yet. For what we gave up for him, and considering how he’s playing, I’d throw him in the have to be overwhelmed section…but that’s just me. I really like his game now that he’s got things right again. Rather see him at 2b though

I haven't thought about Durbin at 2b due to the lack of 3b in next years free agent class, but what if San Francisco made Schmitt available? you could have Mayer and Durbin battle it out at 2b, Arias up around May 1st, a couple key free agent acquisitions and suddenly you have a Major League line up.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, norbit said:

I haven't thought about Durbin at 2b due to the lack of 3b in next years free agent class, but what if San Francisco made Schmitt available? you could have Mayer and Durbin battle it out at 2b, Arias up around May 1st, a couple key free agent acquisitions and suddenly you have a Major League line up.

We can actually add any position player to get the big bat we need, and hopefully we get 2 or 3 of 'em.

The only blocked position is 1B, and he turns 35 next May. One could DH for a year or two or share 1B/DH.

I'm assuming we trade or bench Duran,Story and Yoshida for 2027, so that frees up OF/DH, too.

[Nick]

7 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We can actually add any position player to get the big bat we need, and hopefully we get 2 or 3 of 'em.

The only blocked position is 1B, and he turns 35 next May. One could DH for a year or two or share 1B/DH.

I'm assuming we trade or bench Duran,Story and Yoshida for 2027, so that frees up OF/DH, too.

Trade Duran to the Phillies. You can do whatever you want with Story and Yoshida. Their 2027 salaries are sunk cost. What we don't want to see is for Breslow to see if he can recoup $5-6M of their salaries. Their at bats are a premium commodity that should go to someone else.

I love Sonny Gray especially his makeup as a starting pitcher. But this maybe the time to seriously consider trading him. Moon, what's the upside of him, what can we get for him? What if you package Gray and Chapman?

[Bellhorn04]

13 hours ago, norbit said:

Im in the sell camp now and I don't see the next couple of weeks changing that.

Must trade: Chapman, Gray

Willing to trade: Whitlock, Abreu, Durbin

Have to be overwhelmed:  Contreras, Early

When it comes to Duran, he has little to no value, might as well and see if he can right the ship and increase his value this offseason.

 

 

 

Why on earth would you consider trading Abreu or Durbin or Early. These are exactly the guys you don't trade, good players who are under control and cheap for now.  

[harmony]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

softlaw the clown?

Others called him worse.

softlaw once started a new thread to berate this poster for suggesting that Will Middlebrooks could use more time in the minors.😁

[southpaw777]

12 hours ago, norbit said:

I haven't thought about Durbin at 2b due to the lack of 3b in next years free agent class, but what if San Francisco made Schmitt available? you could have Mayer and Durbin battle it out at 2b, Arias up around May 1st, a couple key free agent acquisitions and suddenly you have a Major League line up.

I’d trade Mayer. Arias is looking more and more like the real deal. What would Schmitt be worth from us? I’ll have to look deeper into his numbers.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

15 hours ago, norbit said:

Im in the sell camp now and I don't see the next couple of weeks changing that.

I don't like what I'm seeing so far as suggested returns in any Red Sox trades from articles like those MLB.com pumps out: minor league pitching.

Of course, all stories on deadline needs focus on contenders, so none of them are giving up MLB-ready BATS or star minor league BATS. 

Ya know: the one organizational-wide paucity that mars respectable batting orders in Boston and its satellites.

So I'm willing to wait it out until the end of the month. Want a good pitcher for the stretch run? Show me the maples.

 

 

[southpaw777]

19 minutes ago, harmony said:

softlaw once started a new thread to berate this poster for suggesting that Will Middlebrooks could use more time in the minors.😁

Might have been me..haha. I remember him sending me DMs to discuss topics. He was rather cordial in that arena, but when we were back on the forum it was business as usual…

[Duran Is The Man]

19 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

How close to the bigs are the two prospects SEA sends to BOS?

i know you're not asking me, but i do know quite a bit about the Mariners farm system. both of them are currently in High A, but i think both will definitely start in AA next season. i think Celesten may even move to AA in the next month or so. with that in mind, i think '29 is the best for either, with '30 more likely. my two cents.

[Duran Is The Man]

19 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Thanks. I still think this is a type of deal we might make, but the other "sells" would have to be more 2027-centric.

i don't think the ETA's listed are realistic. it says '28 but that is late 28 at best. that's why i said early '29 or even '30, if there is any regression or injury.

[UtahSox]

12 hours ago, norbit said:

I haven't thought about Durbin at 2b due to the lack of 3b in next years free agent class, but what if San Francisco made Schmitt available? you could have Mayer and Durbin battle it out at 2b, Arias up around May 1st, a couple key free agent acquisitions and suddenly you have a Major League line up.

Mayer and Durbin battling it out on meritocracy, Mayer won’t play at all. Also with Schmitt at 3b (below avg defender) has had a career year in 2026 16 HR’s, 64 k’s to only 7 BB, obp% 300. 

id rather keep Durbin at 3b, sign B Lowe at 2nd base.

then use Mayer+ Early or Tolle+ Azocar+ Eyanson as trade bait to get a real DH/ 4th OF… BTV has that as 100+ value. Like a James Wood.

[notin]

16 hours ago, norbit said:

Im in the sell camp now and I don't see the next couple of weeks changing that.

Must trade: Chapman, Gray

Willing to trade: Whitlock, Abreu, Durbin

Have to be overwhelmed:  Contreras, Early

When it comes to Duran, he has little to no value, might as well and see if he can right the ship and increase his value this offseason.

 

 

 

Abreu? Durbin?

Why? 

[Duran Is The Man]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Why on earth would you consider trading Abreu or Durbin or Early. These are exactly the guys you don't trade, good players who are under control and cheap for now.  

i swear.....some people love the never-ending cycle of tearing down and building up and never getting anywhere. because propsects.

[Duran Is The Man]

38 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Mayer and Durbin battling it out on meritocracy, Mayer won’t play at all. Also with Schmitt at 3b (below avg defender) has had a career year in 2026 16 HR’s, 64 k’s to only 7 BB, obp% 300. 

id rather keep Durbin at 3b, sign B Lowe at 2nd base.

then use Mayer+ Early or Tolle+ Azocar+ Eyanson as trade bait to get a real DH/ 4th OF… BTV has that as 100+ value. Like a James Wood.

i wanted Brandon Lowe last winter. 

[notin]

Still thinking trade Chapman, Gray, Duran and Guerrero.

Trading more than 4 players is probably unrealistic…

[notin]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I don't like what I'm seeing so far as suggested returns in any Red Sox trades from articles like those MLB.com pumps out: minor league pitching.

Of course, all stories on deadline needs focus on contenders, so none of them are giving up MLB-ready BATS or star minor league BATS. 

Ya know: the one organizational-wide paucity that mars respectable batting orders in Boston and its satellites.

So I'm willing to wait it out until the end of the month. Want a good pitcher for the stretch run? Show me the maples.

 

 

I wouldn’t worry about it.  The most likely returns are minor league pitching, which the Sox can hold on to until November or December and then swap for bats.  No team is going to trade their MLB hitters right now; they need them for August/September/October.

If you look at the trades the Sox made last winter, nearly every trade involved moving minor league/young pitching.

Also no more maples.  Too dangerous…

[notin]

1 hour ago, southpaw777 said:

I’d trade Mayer. Arias is looking more and more like the real deal. What would Schmitt be worth from us? I’ll have to look deeper into his numbers.

Schmitt would be a great pickup, but SFG has been willing to play him anywhere…

[norbit]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Why on earth would you consider trading Abreu or Durbin or Early. These are exactly the guys you don't trade, good players who are under control and cheap for now.  

Scoring runs.  I think everyone agrees that the Sox offense is putrid. There will need to be at the minimum at least 3 offensive upgrades. I doubt the Sox trade Rafaela or Anthony, they could trade Contreras but then you're counting on Casas as the free agent class is trash. SS will be manned by Story at least the first couple of months and the hopefully replaced by Arias.  Catcher needs an obvious upgrade and I would assume the Red Sox will be in on Jeffers but so will several other teams.  That leaves 2b/3b, I could be wrong but I doubt they move Mayer for pennies on the dollar when his ceiling is so high.  

This is a personal opinion,  but I don't value defense at the corner positions.  Abreu has a league average bat and plays solid defense, belongs nowhere near the middle of the lineup.  Durbin is similar to Abreu as most his value comes from defense, but the offensive upside is limited as he just doesn't hit the ball hard(4th percentile exit velocity), even in his current hot streak his xwOBA is only .299 where league average is .320.

Early would be my choice if I had to move at pitcher in a package for a upgrade position player,  I think Tolle and Bennet are significantly better and Eyenson will be in AAA next year with couple of other interesting arms.

None of Durbin, Abreu, or Early alone will bring back an impact bat, but maybe if they are part of a package.

I think a lot of fans including myself get caught up getting the most value out of players, when the goal should just to be able just to get the best players.

[moonslav59]

6 hours ago, Nick said:

Trade Duran to the Phillies. You can do whatever you want with Story and Yoshida. Their 2027 salaries are sunk cost. What we don't want to see is for Breslow to see if he can recoup $5-6M of their salaries. Their at bats are a premium commodity that should go to someone else.

I love Sonny Gray especially his makeup as a starting pitcher. But this maybe the time to seriously consider trading him. Moon, what's the upside of him, what can we get for him? What if you package Gray and Chapman?

At this point, trading Duran for the best offer is okay, even if we dislike the return. Yoshida & Story? Sure, try to save $4-7M. This would open up 3 roster spots, and allow some of our current starters (1 from Narvaez/Wong and 2 from Mayer/Seagler/Monasterio) to become decent bench players for 2027.

I'm not so sure about trading Chapman, as he is under control for 2027, if he reached 40 IP. (He is on pace for close to that.) I have no idea what Gray and Chapman bring back. Their BTV value is shockingly low, so I would not go by that, I'd rather keep both and hope for a miracle than trade them for scraps.

IKF, Coulombe and Sandoval will also be dealt, if we are sellers. None have any more team control. They won't bring back much, but they should have value to several contending teams in desperate need.

The problem with deadline deals is that few teams will trade a ML ready top prospect or good established MLB player, because they need them, now. They want to trade single A prospects or maybe a AA one or two. I don't see the Sox thinking 2028 and beyond rebuild here, and I also think they are terrified of giving off that message to the fanbase. We will need immediate or near immediate return values, and that is not easy to pull off. Then, add to this the calculation that prospects or young players have more speculative value than proven value, so we have to trust we do well or "guess right." There are too many examples of failed guesses to list, but Vaughn Grissom, Jeter Downs and Kyle Harrison.... oops.... I mean YRod & Holobetz are but a few.

I really can't see this team turning it around so strongly that I have faith they can advance to the WS, but stranger things have happened, and I and many others felt this team on paper was as good or better than 2025's teams, and they got me encouraged, last year, so maybe I'm wrong (again.) As of right now, I'm leaning sell, but not totally teardown mode. Just the one year guys and maybe Chapman. (Duran, Story and Yoshida should be traded. Keeping Story as 2B depth might be okay.)

Sorry I can't offer specifics on who we can get for Gray + Chapman, but it should be someone viewed as a very good or better starting player in 2027- hopefully a SS, 2Bman or Catcher- maybe two.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, harmony said:

softlaw once started a new thread to berate this poster for suggesting that Will Middlebrooks could use more time in the minors.😁

You me the Will-DA-Beast?

He was so set in his opinions, nothing could budge him.

I made the mistake of agreeing with him that Ellsbury was not good on defense, and he wasn't year one and two, but when he started improving, softlaw would have none of that. Once he called him sucky, he had to stay that way.

(We both were happy we did not signing him to big money.)

He also agreed with me on my "No Manny- No Rings" thread which broke records for most posts and disagreements, but that was about the end of any similar views. I found it nearly impossible to have a person exist whereby I disagree on 99.9% of all his opinions. At times, I felt it was all staged or trolling, but I think he really believed every absurd idea he had. At least he was articulate in presenting his views and did not distort other's views- he just bashed them relentlessly.

The whole "pink hat Theo apologist" rants were epic, and of course wrong on several levels.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i swear.....some people love the never-ending cycle of tearing down and building up and never getting anywhere. because propsects.

There are times when you need to deal the no control players, but I fully agree. This cannot be a major teardown, even if you hate the foundation, as is.

We've watched a slow tear down beginning in 2019, when we failed to replace Kimbrell and Kelly. That's 7 seasons of mostly last places with a couple wonder years sprinkled in.

Right or wrong: we need to identify the keepers, fill 3-4 slots with top quality players and go for it in 2027. It's fine to try and get players for beyond just 2027, but we can't ignore 2027 and load up on prospects that have ETAs in late 2027 and early 2028 and beyond.

We just CANNOT!

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i don't think the ETA's listed are realistic. it says '28 but that is late 28 at best. that's why i said early '29 or even '30, if there is any regression or injury.

3 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i know you're not asking me, but i do know quite a bit about the Mariners farm system. both of them are currently in High A, but i think both will definitely start in AA next season. i think Celesten may even move to AA in the next month or so. with that in mind, i think '29 is the best for either, with '30 more likely. my two cents.

Thanks for this.

I would be okay with one trade like this, but everything else would need to be about adding top quality to the 2027 starting line-up and the high leverage pen.

[norbit]

2 hours ago, UtahSox said:

Mayer and Durbin battling it out on meritocracy, Mayer won’t play at all. Also with Schmitt at 3b (below avg defender) has had a career year in 2026 16 HR’s, 64 k’s to only 7 BB, obp% 300. 

id rather keep Durbin at 3b, sign B Lowe at 2nd base.

then use Mayer+ Early or Tolle+ Azocar+ Eyanson as trade bait to get a real DH/ 4th OF… BTV has that as 100+ value. Like a James Wood.

I would bet that Mayer is the better player in the next 500at bats, his ceiling is too high.  Durbin has already reached his ceiling.

I'm not a huge Schmitt guy, I was watching the giants game and thought he would be an interesting fit.  I'm not seeing where he is a below average 3b, per Statcast fielding at 3b 2023 2, 2024 0, 2025 -1, 2026 1.  I didn't realize that he's played ss and 2b.

I don't know if this is a career year for him, but every he gets better.. It's true that he doesn't walk much, but he still gets on base more than Durbin and without the walks still has a xwOBA .357 compared to Durbin's .281