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All things being equal (cost wise), I'd like to see the Sox go get AJ Burnett. He's young, very talented, and by far has the most potential of any of those arms. He's got ace-like stuff if he can stay healthy, and I'd much rather see the Sox trade for, then resign him to a long term deal. I still think it's much harder to find great starters than it is to find great closers.

On this note, Kotsay signed an extension with the A's through 2008 this weekend. This means that he's going nowhere, and makes for a pretty crowded Oakland outfield if this deal goes down. Rumers are also that Theo's trying to get a third team involved to send Payton to a team where he would play everyday. If Payton ends up in Oakland, they'll have to make room for him in the lineup or deal with his unhappiness--unless of course they spin him off to a third team.

Why on earth would the Red Sox want Kevin Millar? The world is filled with mysteries nobody can explain. That being said, the Phillies probably WOULDN'T be interested in Embree.... he's got to establish himself as a decent reliever first, and just like Millar, there's only one team willing to keep giving him opportunities: The Boston Red Sox.

ignorant f***ing Yankee fans. Only a Yankee fan would say something so stupid. "Derek Jeter is the best baseball player in the game today." I heard a Yankee fan have the nerve to tell me he was the greatest shortstop EVER. And you wonder why all smart people hate Yankee fans. You bring it on yourself. Derek Jeter isn't even the best SHORTSTOP on his team. Let alone best shortstop in the game today, or even in the past decade. How in the hell is he the best baseball player? He's not even in the top 10.

Tell you what. I'll take last year's results EVERY SINGLE season. Your basis of confidence has very little to do with the actual talent on the field. All you did was site that the Yankees have come from behind in the past (and that automatically means they will come back this year?!?). Schilling as a reliever is a band-aid until Foulke comes back. Everybody knows that. Earth to Yankee fans: We're in first place WITHOUT Schilling. Why would we need him to be a savior?!?

I can see both sides here. First of all, the transition for a young kid like Hanley Ramirez would be much easier if he wasn't forced to make adjustments both at the plate, and in the field. I can easily see the merit of playing the kid at short because that's what he's familiar with. On the other hand, are you hurting the team in the long run replacing a sure handed shortstop with a player who's a bit erradic defensively, and putting your shortstop at a new position? I say we cross that bridge when we come to it, because Hanley won't be ready to start for the big club in 06. He still hasn't figured out AA yet. On the subject of Stern as an everyday man, right now the Red Sox aren't convinced that he'll hit enough to be qualified to play everyday. Obviously you won't know unless you give him a shot, but the Red Sox have been very reluctant of late to just hand over the everyday job to an inexperienced player... so I wouldn't count on that. I expect them to make every effort to retain Johnny Damon or another veteran before they resort to a Hanley Ramirez/Adam Stern option.

First of all, the Yankees are NOT out of it. Why? They're only 4 games out and both the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles have big holes. However, the confidence YANKEESRULE is expressing is downright sickening. Your "ace" is only 8-6 with a 4.14 ERA. Backing him up is Mike Mussina's 9-5 record, 3.97 ERA. Wang has been one of your best pitchers, but considering that he has a 28:19 (less than 2:1) strikeout to walk ratio, and 3.3 K's/9, and he's given up 72 hits in 76 innings. He has in no way dominated the opposition this season. In fact, if you include the 6 batters he's hit, he has struck out 28, but given free passes to 25. That doesn't bode well. Jaret Wright's coming back? With an ERA over 9 and 36 hits in 19 innings pitched... you must be so excited. Kevin Brown? 91 hits in 65 innings. The Yankees are better off WITHOUT these guys. Carl Pavano has yet to earn his paycheck either, as he's 4-6 with a 4.77 ERA. Mussina's your most reliable starter, and in 3 starts against us, he's 0-2. In 14 innings, he's given up 11 earned runs (14 total). That's an ERA over 7. Your bullpen is basically Rivera and Gordon, and BOTH of which have a hard time beating the Red Sox. I predicted that the Yankees would win the division, and as I've been saying all along they are not out of the race-- not by a long shot. But the fact that you expect this team with no pitching to just walk all over the rest of the American League is amazing. The hitting is hot right now, but the Yankees have been so streaky this season. You had a devastating offense last year and no pitching, and where did it get you?

Then you're saying Kevin Millar should be the bench coach? I'd be OK with that. Either way, get his bat out of the lineup and stop giving the other teams outs for free, and get him out of the field and stop giving the other teams outs for free.

So you're the one. I have to ask this, because I am really curious: What in the world is there to LIKE about Kevin Millar? He can't run, hit, field, or throw.

thanks for the info. I probably should have researched who was denouncing the move vs who was supporting it yesterday, but it seemed like yesterday everybody was all about Schilling in the bullpen, now a lot of people are against it-- Of course, that's just my perception, it could be a few people who really like the idea posting a lot....

I'd really rather see the Sox hold on to Declarman, he looks like he could be very good. Plus, I always like to see the local boys get a shot at playing for the Sox. Abe Alvarez is really an enigma to me. He has the talent to become a Tom Glavine type pitcher with a lot of success (especially in Boston, who will always score runs), or he could end up like a Bruce Chen type pitcher who just doesn't blossom into that great MLB pitcher everyone expects him to. (I admit Bruce Chen has been good this season, but he was a can't miss Braves' prospect in the late 90s) The soft tossing lefties (like Chen, or even David Wells) rely on command more than anything else because they CAN'T blow people away with their stuff. Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux made a living on the corners (and really good one at that) but I'd say more pitchers fail than succeed with that caliber stuff. I don't see the Sox going seriously after Wagner, because the price would be so high. They're in love with Ramirez, Pedroia, Papelbon, Lester, and Declarman (our most desirable prospects) and I don't see them making a deal-- unless the Phills are interested in talking about Kelly Shoppach, who seems to be the biggest trading chip for the Sox so far.

You make a really good point. I mean, relief pitching might be costing so much right now that the price of a Chad Bradford is a guy like Jay Payton. I'm just not sold on Bradford. He was very good before 2004, but seeing as how 2004 was the most recent season, and the fact that he's missed the whole season so far after back surgery (which I read was his second such surgery) makes you wonder: How much of a contribution are you really going to get from this guy? If he's able to come into the game and compliment Myers from the right side, then he'll be a huge help. To me right now, that seems like a HUGE if. And even if Bradford comes in, is a dominant situational righthanded pitcher, I still think the Sox need another good quality setup arm out of the bullpen. Like I said, I'll hold off on judgement until the official deal is announced, but I'm skeptical of this to say the least.

And Mantei was a dominant closer before getting injured, and he just couldn't get the job done for the Sox. Obviously people are different and we can't say that Braford can't come back because Mantei didn't, but this helps put things into perspective.... A healthy Chad Bradford is at best a situational righthanded reliever. He is not the savior of this bullpen. I wonder if Jay Payton pushing the Sox to trade him killed the Sox on the trade market. This just doesn't seem like they're getting enough value back for a quality player.

Wow. I can't believe how many folks turned on Schilling and the Red Sox' decision after ONE outing. Yes, this was not an adequate outing for a potential closer, but it was his first try at it, and he wasn't exactly sharp in his starts-- meaning he's still coming back from that injury. That having been said, the more I think about this the more I think Schill to the bullpen is just a bad idea. YES, we've survived without him thus far, and YES, we are desperately in need of a closer, and YES, if Schill can throw 95 with a good splitter he can be a dominant closer (stuff-wise) but let's face facts: Mike Timlin can close ballgames for this team. Nobody in the rotation is a #1 starter. Bronson Arroyo is probably best suited for a long relief/setup role. Assuming Schilling could become a dominant closer for a minute-- What's best for the Boston Red Sox as a team? Having Curt Schilling as a dominant closer, or having Curt Schilling, the dominant ace starter? Right now I have to say it's ace starter ALL THE WAY. I don't know how many people would feel comfortable with Matt Clement facing off against the Randy Johnson's, Roy Halladay's, Johan Santana's of the American League, but I think the Red Sox are at a distinct disadvantage in any one of those matchups. Put Schilling in his place, and the Red Sox look much better. Then Clement would oppose much more managable guys like Pavano, Radke, or Ted Lilly. Matt Clement starting game 7 of the World Series?!? As much as I respect and apprecaite what he's done so far this year, that doesn't instill a lot of confidence for me. Right now I think the Sox would be best served by staying the course, getting Schilling as many STARTS he needs at Pawtucket to get himself ready to help Boston in the ROTATION. Even though I have very little doubt that Schilling could become a dominant closer, I don't think that's what is best for the TEAM.

I'm with you. As a matter of fact, BK Kim had BETTER numbers in Arizona before coming to Boston. As a matter of fact, Kim was a DOMINANT closer turned decent starter... Bradford is a situational righty who's 30 years old, and has already had 2 back surgeries. I don't have a good feeling about this deal, Bradford seems WAY too risky.

This is very true. Apparently the Red Sox TRIED to trade him, and had only one team with interest: the Astros, who had lukewarm interest. Now that they're playing Berkman at first, that lukewarm interest has turned to no interest. Who in their right mind would want an overweight first baseman making $3 mil a year who can't hit, field, throw, run, or keep his mouth shut? It's a sad day when the Red Sox are forced into letting a productive player (Payton) walk away when they could have been playing him everyday instead of fatass. Is it too late to get that Michael Jackson used condom for Millar?

The man should be happy. He's getting way more playing time than he deserves right now.

Bradford's not a bad guy to add to the bullpen if this deal goes down as reported by ESPN. It seems like a HUGE risk though considering Bradford just had back surgery and last year was by FAR is worst season in the big leagues. He has kind of a submarine type delivery (ala BK Kim) and dominates righties but has troubles with lefties. He seems like a situational type guy who can get key righties out (and then Myers could be brought in for lefties) late in games. This guy is certainly not a closer type pitcher, so Mike Timlin or Curt Schilling would still have to fill that role. Seems like we could have gotten more for Jay Payton than a 30 year old situational righty coming off back surgery-- but I'll wait to pass judgement until something's officially announced.

Tex, I'm all for Ortiz at first, and we could get a better bat for DH, but Youk could fill in from time to time. With Youk able to play first and third, you could even spell Mueller by DHing him once in a while, and have David play there sometimes too. This team SOOO does not need Millar. The Red Sox are only 3 games up on the Orioles, 3.5 up on the Yankees. Anyone who thinks that lead is safe is fooling themselves. The Red Sox need production from first base.

One thing that WEEI said was that Theo already had a deal in place for Payton, and that trade would be announced around the All Star Break. Sounds like maybe they're working out final details? SOMEthing's in the works, and it seems like if it was a minor deal they would have already announced it. That's just a hunch though.

I'd like to see that, but they haven't shown confidence in him before in those spots. Right now since Adam Stern is lefthanded (isn't he?), he's not an option to fill in for Nixon vs lefties.

This certainly would be a nice chain of events... however there'd have to be a hell of a lot more than Payton involved to make that happen

I dunno. The Padres gave up 2 pitchers (albeit struggling ones) for Paul Quantrill... so it's possible. I've got to think Theo has a plan here..... if they let Payton go for nothing they basically got Alex Cora and Dave Pauley (minor league pitcher) for Roberts.... it seems like they could have held on to Payton long enough to make a trade... Could he have been upsetting the clubhouse? Why didn't they designate Kevin Millar?!? Payton's a WAY better player. Who's going to play right field when the Red Sox face lefties? I can't stand watching Millar play the outfield. Payton is way too good a player to let him go for nothing. I can't accept that.

Kevin Millar is very simply WAY OUT OF LINE here. The Red Sox have been TOO patient with him. The only qualified first baseman who has fewer homeruns than Kevin Millar is Sean Casey. The only two who have lower OPS: Phil Nevin and Eric Hinske, both of which have higher slugging percentages. Kevin Millar isn't even in the top 20 offensive first baseman in the big leagues. For a team who considers themselves a contender, they're giving away at bats by having someone so awful hit so often. Kevin Millar should be greatful that he's still allowed to wear the uniform, let alone all those ABs they waste on him.

This is the smartest thing I've ever heard a Yankee fan say in my entire life. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart. As cool as it will be for Johnny Damon to start the All Star game, wouldn't it be better for him to take the 3 days off, especially because he's so beat up? Matt Clement isn't going to the All Star game-- Fantastic. He'll be fresh and ready to go against the Yankees. Same with Timlin. 3 necessary days off. Sure, it'd be nice for the Red Sox to have home field advantage IF they make the World Series this year, and that's something to root for, but in the end, wouldn't you rather have your guys take the 3 days off to get healthier?