Fan_since_Boggs

I forgot about Berrios. For me, he should be trade target #1 for the Red Sox. He is younger than Gibson. For Berrios, the Red Sox should be willing to up the ante and offer such prospects as Downs, Bello, or Jimenez.

I turned the game on just as the bottom of the ninth began. Perfect timing, LOL. I can't remember a season in which the Yankees had such crushing late inning losses. Of course, when you have M.Rivera for as long as the Yankees did, late inning losses were pretty rare. Funny they ripped off his shirt, just to prove he wasn't cheating.

Looking over the Rangers farm system, they have some promising infielders, but lack pitching prospects (ouch, that's one of the reasons they probably can't pass on Jack Leiter). My offer would be Groome, Winckowski, and Marcus Wilson for Gibson. That would give the Rangers two decent pitching prospects, while adding a guy who profiles as a solid 4th outfielder, platoon bat (useful). This trade would reduce next season's 40 man roster crunch for the Red Sox. However, my offer might not be enough.... BTW, why is Gibson so good this year, after sucking in 2020? This article addresses his improvements: https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/rangers-gibson-gaining-league-wide-attention-with-stellar-season

I think N.Yorke is a better prospect and has made Downs expendable. Just looking at the Red Sox playoff rotation: 1.Sale 2.Eovaldi 3.??? 4.Pivetta Sticking with what we have: 1. Sale 2. Eovaldi 3. Pivetta 4. Perez The Red Sox need an upgrade in the rotation. I don't want Perez in the postseason rotation, he doesn't miss enough bats. I would prefer Pivetta as the 4th starter and find someone better to pitch third in the rotation (2 starts in a 7 game series versus 1). This would be better: 1. Sale 2. Eovaldi 3. Gibson 4. Pivetta What would it cost to acquire Gibson? What other starters could the Red Sox pursue in the trade market--again, we want a starter who would slot into the third spot in the postseason rotation? How about Michael Pineda? Danny Duffy? Boyd? German Marquez?

This arguably takes the Red Sox out of the C.Kimbrel sweepstakes, since a big benefit of acquiring Kimbrel was the uncertainty regarding next year's closer. Maybe the Red Sox will focus now on acquiring a starting pitcher.

I like this idea, but I would try to unload Dalbec on the Royals. The Royals have a young 1b of the future (Pratto, who looks awesome) and this is why Santana could be traded, but the Royals might want to look at Dalbec at 3b. Dozier looks like a bust and I don't if the Royals have any solid 3b plans for the future. And if the Red Sox acquire Santana, they have no room for Dalbec. Since the Royals are rebuilding, they are the kind of team that can afford to give Dalbec at bats at the major league level. I don't know if the Royals would have any interest in Downs, but I would be willing to include Downs in the trade. I would also be open to trading Groome, but not both Downs and Groome. If not Duffy, then Zimmer? I guess that goes back to the debate on whether the Red Sox should trade for a starting pitcher or a relief pitcher.

At this point, Downs can't be the Red Sox starting second baseman next year anyway--he isn't hitting. Moreover, I think Duran is basically a lock to be the starting CF next year and that means that the Red Sox will have Hernandez and Arroyo for 2b next year. They have Arroyo for 2023, but they might want to pick up someone if they aren't fully confident in Arroyo. Yorke should be ready by 2024. Of course, Yorke might be a total flop but the same could be said for Downs. I'm not a big fan of trading for rentals but the top trade market bullpen arm, Kimbrel, is not a rental. A starter like Kyle Gibson wouldn't be a rental either.

Off the top of my head.... I remember the Hanley trade. It didn't happen at the deadline, but in the offseason. Even though Hanley had a nice career, we don't look back at that trade with regret--the Red Sox don't win a championship in 2007 without Beckett. The Craig Kimbrel trade didn't occur at the deadline, but the Red Sox gave up some quality prospects in Margot and Logan Allen. The Sale trade didn't occur at the deadline but the Red Sox gave up stud prospects, such as Moncada and Kopech. As far as deadline deals go, the Red Sox traded top pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza for Drew Pomeranz. The Red Sox won that deal--Pomeranz had an excellent year in 2017. The other trade deadline deal that comes to mind: trading J.Beeks for Nathan Eovaldi, but I don't think Beeks was a top prospect, he was just OK. The Red Sox won that trade big time.

What is interesting is that Leiter, who is trying to get to the Red Sox, is telling the Pirates, Rangers, and Tigers that he will not sign for slot value and will want over slot. In contrast, when speaking to the Red Sox, he must have already told them that he will sign for 6.6 million slot value. LOL. We will soon learn if that strategy works.

Everyone has Mayer going to the Pirates at 1. But what is interesting is that Mayer will easily go in the top 3 if he doesn't go to Pitt at 1. As such, Mayer isn't going to agree to a big under slot discount. If Cherrington is prioritizing an under slot discount with the first pick, maybe Mayer won't be the selection after all? I would think that Lawlar is more likely to give the Pirates a large under slot discount. Lawlar is more likely to fall out of the top 4, and he must know that, his agent must know that. If the Pirates can save several million by taking Lawlar, and only half a million by taking Mayer, wouldn't the Pirates take Lawlar instead? If the Pirates take Lawlar, there is a greater likelihood that the Red Sox end up with Leiter in that Mayer will go to the Rangers or Tigers. Although, even if the Pirates take Lawlar, the draft could unfold like this: Pirates: Lawlar Rangers: Mayer Tigers: Leiter Red Sox: Davis or like this: Pirates: Lawlar Rangers: Leiter Tigers: Mayer Red Sox: Davis It is pretty well known that the Rangers are enamored by Leiter, but even if they take Mayer over Leiter, the Tigers like Leiter too and so there is no easy path that gets Leiter to the Red Sox. Nevertheless, if Mayer is available when the Rangers or Tigers pick, that will increase the odds that Leiter slips to 4. If we want the Red Sox to draft Leiter, we should root for the Pirates to take Lawlar over Mayer.

Great question. The latter is preferable to the former--3 championships are better than 1. HOWEVER, a GM can make a huge and arrogant blunder in striving for the latter and not the former. This was arguably Brian Cashman's mistake over the last several seasons--he held on to his prospects like they were gold, didn't adequately strengthen his teams at the deadline, and the Yankees came up short in the playoffs. Cashman was playing the long game, hoping to build a dynasty, but look at where the Yankees are today. Accordingly, I believe an organization must go all in (within reasonable parameters) when the opportunity presents itself. Championships are elusive and when you have an opportunity to win one, you increase the odds by adding contributing players to your team and subtracting from your farm system. Let's face it, the Cubs were right to give up Torres for Chapman even though Chapman was a rental. So many top prospects never live up to the hype anyway and even if they look like the real deal, as Torres did for a number of seasons, so many things can go wrong--look at Torres now. Accordingly, when your team has an opportunity to win a championship, you go for it and must be willing to subtract talent from your farm system. Jeter Downs seems like a tradable asset to me. First, he is underperforming so far this year and has been a disappointment. Of course, we are dealing with a small sample size and Downs is adjusting to AAA. He could have a big second half. Second, I think N.Yorke is the future starting 2b for the Red Sox and so Downs isn't needed long term. I also think the Red Sox and Bogaerts will come to a long term agreement and so Downs isn't needed at SS either. I generally don't like trading away quality prospects, but winning a championship is more important than holding on to some prospect who you believe is going to be the next great Hall-of-Fame player but more often than not doesn't live up to the hype.

Tomase: Why Chaim Bloom needs to trade prospects before deadline https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/mlb-trade-deadline-why-red-sox-may-need-trade-prospects

If the Red Sox trade for a starting pitcher, the postseason rotation would look something like this: 1. Sale 2. Eovaldi 3. TRADE 4. Pivetta or Perez The starting pitcher acquired in a trade would need to better--clearly better--than Pivetta or Perez to make it a worthwhile trade. How many pitchers on the trade market are decidedly better than those two? The list is probably a short one. But I am also assuming that Sale will return and will lead the rotation later in the season and in the playoffs. If you have doubts about Sale contributing to the rotation this year, the Red Sox need for a SP increases significantly.

OK, if you want to acquire a starter, which would allow the Red Sox to move a current starter to the bullpen, then yes, I think that strategy could work as well. In fact, it might be a better strategy than targeting a bullpen arm. Of course, acquiring a quality starter--a guy you would have confidence in in a big spot playoff game--will be costly in terms of prospects. The Red Sox won't be able to acquire a really good starter without parting with an excellent prospect (or two). But I think the Red Sox should do it. They need to make a trade and upgrade their pitching, and increase their chances of winning a championship this year. In turn, a top Red Sox prospect must go.

Ottavino (35 years old): struggled at the end of the 2020 season, sucked in the 2020 playoffs (one appearance) Was mediocre in Sept. 2019 and was completely useless in the 2019 playoffs (multiple appearances) Dominant first half in 2018; mediocre second half in 2018; terrible in the 2018 playoffs Barnes: having a career year thus far. I hope it continues. Ottavino and his late season struggles concern me more than Barnes. Do others believe the Red Sox should simply go with what they currently have in the bullpen or should the Red Sox pursue another reliever at the trade deadline? Of course, that reliever doesn't have to be Kimbrel, but Kimbrel is the best one available, but he will also be a costly acquisition in terms of prospects. I think it would be foolish to do nothing when bullpen upgrades are possible through trades. Again, we don't want Bloom to be another Brian Cashman.

The idea is to upgrade the bullpen, which has been really good, but will it continue to perform at a high level? Who cares if that upgrade is or isn't a closer. The only goal is to add a really good bullpen arm to replace one of guys who will not be trusted to pitch in the postseason: Workman, Rios, Andreise. If the Red Sox acquire Kimbrel, I would keep Barnes as the closer and use Kimbrel as a kind of weapon to be used in crucial situations to stop a rally (a game is sometimes decided in the 6th or 7th inning, for example). Kimbrel would undoubtedly understand the dynamics of that (he is an excellent teammate) and of course Kimbrel would reclaim the closer role next season when Ottavino and Barnes are not here.

DD= a great GM, who left the Red Sox farm system in better shape than most people knew (while winning a championship). Bloom= 0 championships. I like Bloom, but he has not yet achieved what DD achieved. It would be insane to not pick up Kimbrel's option. The Red Sox would be acquiring a relief pitcher who is having an historic season and can contribute to two possible championship runs. We don't want Bloom to be like Brian Cashman, who had a few opportunities to win championships (recently) and didn't do enough at the trade deadline. There is a pejorative phrase for that: "prospect hugging."

You never know: Al Leiter is involved in this. Perhaps he is calling up the Rangers and Tigers and telling them: "don't take my boy or I'll send someone to your house to mess you up!" I remember the 2004 NFL draft when Archie Manning was heavily involved in getting Eli to the Giants. If Al Leiter succeeds in getting his son to Boston, maybe the Red Sox should reward him with a front office position. LOL.

Very true. I would offer Jeter Downs, but at the end of the day the Cubs may get a better offer.

The team that acquires Kimbrel will need to give up a quality prospect in return. We can be certain of that. Kimbrel isn't going to be traded for a couple of mediocre prospects. While I would trade Jeter Downs for Kimbrel in a second, I might prefer some kind of trade with the Royals where the Red Sox acquire Santana and a relief pitcher.

Moon, I would like to see the Red Sox keep M.Wilson on the 40 man next season. He could be a quality 4th outfielder who puts up impressive numbers against lefties. Chavis will definitely be left off if they can't trade him. Interesting stat: Chavis has a 63 OPS+ since the start of the 2020 season in just over 200 plate appearances.

This is what Peter Gammons had to say on Twitter--he obviously read my above post: Club drafting after the top five says it believes the first four are set:1.Mayer, Pitts.; 2. Leiter, Tex.; 3. Jobe, Det.; 4. Davis, Boston. Career hit tool meter on Davis:32 XBH, 39 BB, 28 K, contrary to the silly who think exit velo and launch angle are legit scouting tools.

While I don't believe Duran will be rushed into a starting role this year, I do believe he will be the starting CF beginning next season, with Arroyo and Kike as the 2b options, and Kike providing OF depth. For 2021, Duran will see the big leagues in September and will be on the postseason roster as a backup OF and base runner, but he starts in CF next year. I think that is locked in.

And since Ward had TJ Surgery, no one will take him in the Rule 5 draft, and so it doesn't make sense to put him on the 40 man. Hold it, Mata is on the 40-man roster. I'm now totally confused. edit: OK, I think I have it figured out. Mata was placed on the 40-man roster prior to getting injured and needing TJ Surgery. Ward is different in that he needed TJ Surgery prior to getting placed on the 40 man. As such, the Red Sox aren't going to place Ward on next year's 40 man roster.

After taking a closer look at this, I think the following will happen as it pertains to next year's 40 man roster. German: will not be protected Feltman: tough call, maybe Alex Scherff: he has looked great with the move to the bullpen, impressive stuff. Now in Double A. If he continues on his current trajectory, he will be protected. Kutter Crawford: a dark horse candidate for the 40 man roster -- impressive ratios but how does he profile as a reliever? Kaleb Ort: no idea. Projecting the Red Sox bullpen next year, and working on the hopeful assumption they trade for Kimbrel at the deadline. Kimbrel is needed next year even more than this year. 8 bullpen slots, since I'm giving the Red Sox 6 starting pitchers Kimbrel Taylor Hernandez Sawarmura Braiser Bazardo 7. ? 8. ? possibilities: Valdez - one option remaining Scherff - 3 options Feltman - 3 options Crawford - 3 options Kaleb Ort? Rios - out of options and so I doubt he makes the 40 man roster. Trade or free agent?