Fan_since_Boggs

Maybe they play Frazier at 1b or move Headly to 1b? Don't know, just hope they gave up something good. But knowing Cashman, the Yankees have probably acquired both players and gave up nothing more than a crap prospect like J.Matao. edit: just looked at C.Headley's stats. He probably goes to the bench--he has been awful this year. Thus, Frazier replaces Headley as the Yankees starting 3b.

To improve the lineup, it is more important to replace Moreland than Hanley, since Hanley has a better bat. Alonso would allow the Red Sox to send Moreland to the bench, where he can be a useful player (give Hanley an occasional day off against a tough righty). In this scenario, the Red Sox middle of the order would revolve around Alonso and Hanley. In contrast, a Martinez acquisition would likely send Hanley to the bench (or put him in a strict platoon) and the middle of the order would revolve around Martinez and Moreland. Offensively, I think Alonso and Hanley are better than Martinez and Moreland. I don't think the Red Sox would seriously consider playing Hanley at 1b at this point and thus if they acquire Martinez, Hanley replaces C.Young as Benintendi's platoon partner and Moreland remains the everyday 1b. True, Martinez is better than Hanley and so an upgrade occurs (also, Hanley is better than C.Young) but the acquisition leaves in place a slumping 1b in Moreland and the Red Sox would still need to address the 3b situation. Let's say they acquire JD Martinez and Nunez for 3b. Against RHP Nunez (3b) Pedroia (2b) Betts (RF) Martinez (DH) Moreland (1b) Benintendi (LF) Bogaerts (SS) Bradley (CF) Vazquez © Against LHP Nunez (3b) Pedroia (2b) Betts (RF) Martinez (LF) Hanley (DH) Bradley (CF) Bogaerts (SS) Moreland (1b) Vazquez © Such a lineup would be better than what they have now. That much is true. But maybe there is a better way to do this....

Interesting. According to MLB Rumors, the Red Sox are one of the teams that have shown the most interest in JD Martinez. But Benintendi isn't going anywhere, right? So maybe Martinez to DH, Hanley and Moreland platoon at 1b? Against righties, Martinez DH, Benintendi LF, Hanley or Moreland 1b? Against lefties, Martinez LF, Hanley DH, Moreland or Travis 1b? I see Y.Alonso as a better target, since he can play 1b. But Martinez would be a nice addition to the lineup.

LOL. Thanks for the help guys. LOL.

The moves: (1) Release C.Young and promote Brentz (2) B.Johnson and M.Chavis to the A's for Y.Alonso (3) M.Shawaryn to the Giants for E.Nunez Lineup against RHP Nunez (3b) Pedroia (2b) Betts (RF) Alonso (1b) Ramirez (DH)* Benintendi (LF) Bogaerts (SS) Bradley (CF) Vazquez © *Moreland will get an occasional start against RHP, with Alonso moving to DH, and Hanley to the bench LINEUP against LHP Nunez (3b) Pedroia (2b) Betts (LF) Alonso (1b) Ramirez (DH) Bradley (CF) Bogaerts (SS) Brentz (LF) Vazquez ©

Moreland has fallen off the cliff in the month of July. He moves to the bench. Alonso takes over 1b, a true middle of the order bat, putting up big numbers this season. Moreland will provide quality depth and will give Hanley a day off from time to time against certain RHP.

How about M.Chavis and B.Johnson to the A's for Y.Alonso? Am I giving up too much, not enough? B.Johnson is out of options next year and the Red Sox don't have a spot for him in their rotation. The A's might be interested in giving him a shot. The A's will want a high upside prospect for Alonso, which is why I included Chavis.

Yep, which is why the Red Sox might be better off saving their prospects for a more potent bat, e.g., Y.Alonso, and let Devers take over 3b in September.

Bogaerts has really been exposed in the series against the Yankees. Bogaerts has an OPS below .600 in the month of July (BTW, Moreland has an OPS below .600 in the month of July as well). Moreover, Bogaerts has been dreadful in the field. It looks like Bogaerts may never take that next step as an offensive player and his defense seems to get a little worse each year as his body changes. Bogaerts is a good player, of course, but it looks like his ceiling might not be what we thought it could be several years ago.

PLAN 1: (1) Release C.Young and promote Brentz or Castillo (probably Brentz--add some power to the bench against LHP). (2) Continue to platoon Lin/Marrero, let Devers finish out the minor leagues, and then Devers takes over the starting 3b job for the Red Sox. (3) Call B.Beane and trade for Y.Alonso (the Red Sox need to add a significant bat to the middle of the lineup). If you can't acquire Alonso, go after Bruce, who is having an excellent year with the Mets. Sept and Oct lineup against RHP Betts RF Pedroia 2b Alonso 1b Ramirez DH* Benintendi LF Bogaerts SS Bradley CF Devers 3b Vazquez C *Moreland gets an occasional start at 1b against RHP, with Alonso moving to DH, Hanley to the bench. Sept and Oct lineup against LHP Betts RF Pedroia 2b Alonso 1b Ramirez DH Bradley CF Bogaerts SS Brentz LF Devers 3b Vazquez ------------------------- PLAN 2: (1) Release C.Young and promote Brentz or Castillo (probably Brentz--add some power to the bench against LHP). (2) Trade for T.Frazier--Devers takes over 3b in 2018. (3) Call B.Beane and trade for Y.Alonso (the Red Sox need to add a significant bat to the middle of the lineup). If you can't acquire Alonso, go after Bruce, who is having an excellent year with the Mets. Alonso will not be easy to acquire and thus I'm inclined to support Plan 1 over Plan 2. By not trading for Frazier, the Red Sox would save a prospect or two who, in turn, could be shipped to the A's in a package for Alonso.

According to my plan, after the Red Sox acquire Alonso, the Red Sox would reduce the playing time of Moreland more than Hanley. Hanley will DH against all lefties and most righties, but he will sit on occasion against a righty to get Moreland in there. This is a good thing insofar as Hanley is often banged up and needs an occasional day off to stay fresh.

The Red Sox should look for two offensive upgrades. First, it sounds like they are pursuing and are likely to acquire Frazier. Once that deal is complete, they must target another hitter IMO. I would go after a J.Bruce or Y.Alonso. Such an acquisition would lead to reduced playing time for Moreland (and, to a lesser extent, Hanley) and allow the Red Sox to bat Bogaerts lower in the order where he belongs.

Cashman still won the deal -- how good was steroid user J.Montero for the Mariners?

After the Red Sox acquire Frazier, assuming it happens, I wonder if Y.Alfonso should be the Red Sox's next trade target? Frazier and Alfonso would add a lot of power to the lineup. Betts RF Pedroia 2b Alfonso 1b/dh Hanley dh Benintendi LF Bogaerts SS Bradley CF Frazier 3b Vazquez C With Moreland getting playing time at 1b, moving Alfonso to DH, Hanley to the bench, against tough righties

Ben Badler loves Devers: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ben-badler-on-red-sox-third-baseman-rafael-devers/#yW816xfFrDRl2sWO.97 After putting together a dominant start last time out, T.Ball was absolutely atrocious tonight for Portland: 1 inning, 9 hits, 7 ER. Bummer.

Ben Badler absolutely loves Rafael Devers--listen to the video: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ben-badler-on-red-sox-third-baseman-rafael-devers/#yW816xfFrDRl2sWO.97

LOL. They will sign him for 1b and he will hit .360 with 14 HR in the second half.

Also: And: I can understand a team having interest in Marrero if they need a SS, but I thought the White Sox liked T.Anderson? Anderson isn't hitting very well this year and maybe his glove is nothing special? Don't know much about Anderson. If the White Sox trade for Marrero, they probably have doubts about Anderson.

Maybe not, but he does have a longer track record than Lin. Just read this:

Good point.

Not sure where the Giants reporter is getting the info but said: Nunez would make sense for the Red Sox as it would allow them to move Betts to the middle-of-the-order with Nunez leading off. I doubt the Giants are expecting a big return for Nunez. To acquire him from the Twins, the Giants gave up a prospect who profiles as a bottom of the rotation starter.

Sandoval is such an *******. You would think the guy would demonstrate just a little loyalty to the organization that paid him 100m and accept the assignment and try to turn his career around. Maybe Sandoval needs playing time to make adjustments as a hitter (lay off bad pitches) and AAA would be the place to get this playing time. He took 100m from the Red Sox, didn't produce at all, and gave the organization the finger as he left town. Scumbag.

Oddly enough, his brother (in the Mets system) might be following a similar career path. GAVIN C. looked like a really good prospect a year or two ago but is now struggling with mediocrity in AAA.

Moving the Rays to Brooklyn doesn't work because (1) you would be penalizing the Mets more than the Yankees. If you want to move another team to N.Y. I think you would pick an area north of Bronx, like Westchester or Yonkers, but the Yankees would flip out over that. Another option would be Northern N.J. In that scenario, you would be penalizing the Yankees and Mets equally. (2) The Rays aren't moving! The State of Florida has just as many people as the State of N.Y. and Florida is growing whereas N.Y. is not. The Rays have an ugly stadium and terrible attendance, but they get high TV ratings and that is important. They need a new stadium, and that'll eventually happen. I would like to see the Expos return, and put in the same division with the Blue Jays to create an awesome rivalry. Las Vegas could be the site of a second expansion team but maybe Northern New Jersey would be a better choice. North Carolina is interesting too.

This is a good question. Some teams have probably lost interest, but he is a catcher and you only need one team to believe they can fix him. I was thinking about the Mets--they could use a catcher of the future and so it would just depend on what the Mets scouts and front office think of Swihart at this juncture of his career. I think Swihart is out of options next year but the Red Sox don't necessarily need to trade him. Swihart could make the team next year and platoon with Vazquez. The Red Sox can part ways with S.Leon, who is nothing great anyway.