MLB Network analyst Peter Gammons made his weekly appearance on the Mut & Merloni show Thursday to talk about the trade possibilities for the Red Sox as the July 31 deadline nears. Gammons, however, was first asked about Jacoby Ellsbury and the likelihood that the Sox would be able to lock the center fielder up to a long-term deal before he hits the free-agent market after the 2013 season.
"I'm sure they'll push but it won't happen," Gammons said. "Scott Boras doesn't do long-term deals. I would be shocked, I just don't see it happening. I think that they'll try but it's just not Scott's nature. He likes to go to free agency. He sees that he has a star-quality player in Ellsbury. And I think if it gets to the middle of next year and is playing like he is now, there's a chance that the Red Sox would come close to what Scott wants."
Carlos Beltran is a name that has been mentioned prominently over the past few weeks as a possible trade target for the Sox. Gammons thinks the emergence of Josh Reddick and the reluctance of the Sox to part with Felix Doubront make this potential deal unlikely to occur.
"Beltran isn't out of the realm of possibility, though do you want to get rid of Doubront?," asked Gammons. "It will probably be Doubront, I've heard Chih-Hsieh Chiang's name, I've heard other names that the Mets like. The Mets haven't got back to the Red Sox with names, but I don't know if you dare trade Doubront at this point, just because of the fear of guys getting hurt. ... I think they might go get a right-handed hitting outfielder, like a Reed Johnson. I know they keep dabbling with the Mets. One thing about Theo Epstein is he that always stays in on the high-ceiling guys, just in case. Remember two years ago when they got Victor Martinez they had one deal involving Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee, and another five for one with Roy Halladay and a six for one with Felix Hernandez."
Gammons wouldn't rule out a trade with Colorado for Ubaldo Jim?nez, another name that has been linked to many recent trade rumors. Jim?nez -- 6-8 with a 4.00 ERA for the Rockies this season -- is just 27 years old and for $18 million over the next three seasons.
"He [Theo Epstein] is going to try," Gammons said. "Now, I know [Colorado GM] Dan O'Dowd has said he can't take a deal similar to the one the Guardians got on Colon or the Rangers got on Teixeira. They took Double-A down to Single-A players and could wait two or three years. He can't do that, so I don't see it."
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21122436/gammons-sox-are-gonna-try-jimenez