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Gave him a B. Only move I didn't really like was the Lackey move. Though I suspect there is something behind the scenes with that contract situation that we don't know about. Lester trade was solid. I wanted Pederson/Tavares too but clearly the market is not yielding that (Price with 1.5 years didn't get anything like that). Sox needed OF power badly and Cespedes should be a core piece for a while (I assume they will resign him when the time comes). BA had Owens/Swihart (and Mookie too) as top 15 prospects, makes me wonder what one of those could fetch on the open market. Miller trade was great, a top 75 prospect (Law had him at #43 in his midseason fwiw) for like 15 innings of Miller? Awesome move. Drew getting dumped to the Yankees was a nice surprise as it allows Bogaerts to reclaim his normal spot. Peavy trade brought in two solid arms (Escobar had a nice 6.0, 5 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5K debut in Pawtucket). I think Escobar's struggles were PCL league related, think he rises up the ranks once his stats are corrected.

Well I can only hope the front office doesn't feel the same way about jettisoning a top prospect after 170 AB

Nice try but no. He had a .275/.374/.469 line in over 300 AB in AAA last year while flashing impressive gap power and HR power for a CF. He's always been a great hitter in the minors, the AA is no more representative of his abilities than his A+ and AAA work.

anyone have a stream?

Hard not to look at Bogaerts and see a future star. So composed, and despite limited playing time so far he had a huge impact in game 4. I remember watching David Price in the 2008 ALCS come in for the final 4 outs of game 7 and just being awestruck at how little chance we had against this guy. Got the same feeling watching Xander last night.

Red Sox top pitchers have been killing it the past couple months: Webster last 8 starts (AAA): 45.2 IP, 28 hits, 2.56 ERA, 15 BB, 49 K, 3 HRA Ranuado in AAA: 30.1 IP, 32 hits, 2.97 ERA, 7 BB, 21 K, 1 HRA Owens (AA): 24.2 IP, 12 hits, 1.09 ERA, 14 BB, 38 K, 1 HRA I don't have Barnes numbers for AA, but his last month or two before his promotion was his best stretch of the season, and his first start in AAA was a success. RDLR has definitely hit a wall since July. Not sure if its fatigue or what but he'll need more time in AAA. Britton and Workman have also both looked good so far the majors. Still think Workman is a starter though long term

Nice debut in AAA for Ranuado also: 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Nice nights for Barnes and Webster: Barnes (AA): 5.2 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K (third good start in a row after a midseason rough patch) Webster (AAA): 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K

Barnes coming back to life: 5.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K (7.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K in his start before that)

Ben the boob really screwed the pooch on that trade huh

Nice start for Owens today: 6.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 ER, 4 BB, 10 K

ended up going another 0.2 IP and got a K, good to see him not walking people, and going deeper into games

Lackey (4-5 3.08 ERA) vs. Alvarez (1-0 1.50 ERA) lez go

Gallardo is a guy I would throw some prospects at. 27 years old, consistent 185-200 IP with 200+ Ks

Webster 6 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K Xander 1/2 with a BB

I've always liked Marcum too but I would have liked him in Dempster's spot. I don't think it makes any sense to block a top prospect like Allen Webster with him.

Granted the Sox system is stocked, but 20th prospect is a high upside guy like Montas/Margot/Jacobs. Ciriaco sucks, is a single hitter at best with poor plate discipline and mediocre fielding abilities. Nothing significant is coming back and that's fine. Addition by subtraction

If Garza proves he's healthy and the results get better is Doubront for Garza a fair trade? Who says no?

Monster outing for Ranuado: 7.2 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 13 K 67.0 IP, 41 hits, 21 BB, 76 K, 2.15 ERA on the season

Here's the Pacific League and the International league, sort by age: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=3219ab1a http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=0032a9b6 only a couple 21 and even 22 year olds. 20 is just ridiculous

Can't wait! He's the youngest player in AAA

Bailey's line going into last night was 18.1 IP, 6 BB, 27 K, 1.47 ERA, 2-0, 1 Blsv Doesn't get much better than that, line still looks good after last night also

Ciriaco hit .340 in his first 75 AB last year and look where he is now

Lester has one more year on his contract after this season at 13 mil. So the questions for discussion: 1) Should the Red Sox explore a trade in the offseason? James Shields who I would say is a fairly comparable pitcher, netted the Rays a consensus top 5 prospect (Myers) and another guy Odorizzi who was a top 50 prospect by some rating sites. Quite the haul for a 30 year old pitcher. 2) Should they extend him? He's due for quite a pay raise and the first year of his contract will be his age 31 season. Grienke got 6/159 but is probably a tier above Lester in pitcher quality. Anibal Sanchez got 5/88 and is probably a notch below Lester. I think Lester is due for at least 5 or 6 years at 100 or more. Do we want him at that price?

Likely no. Teams aren't going to make decisions based on his whole minor and major league record. I think continued decent major league hitting raises his value significantly.