The idea of trading a solid young everyday player for a reliever makes me gag. The fact that said reliever is having a horrible season doesn't help, of course...
Computers are there to crank out data, but humans still have to make the decisions, for better or worse.
With Dave Dombrowski and Tony Larussa, I think we've still got a little old school thinking going on, for better or worse.
Which shows the limited value of such simulations.
Would anyone in their right mind trade Benintendi for Diaz (plus $11.3 million more of theoretical trade value) right now?
I'm sure Dave Dombrowski would have a good laugh at the idea.
I think it's quite possible the Sox front office is now looking at the team as being a solid Wild Card contender and not much more. Statistically, the chances of catching the Yanks are very small.
As a Wild Card contender you have a 'puncher's chance'. But you're not going to go overboard on further investment in the team.
The Red Sox obviously like having a right handed bat available off the bench.
Hernandez has done very well, but he's kind of redundant with Holt also playing well.