Hugh2

In terms of player development, I still trust their judgment. As I said before the only way I see Benintendi this year is if he really continues to hit and forces the issue. If he's still mashing the ball they might be comfortable moving him up to Pawtucket some time around July 31st, and if someone goes down in August and he's hitting in AAA it could happen. At this point I think it's more likely than not we don't see him. I too would be interesting to see how he does, great prospects struggle often when they come up and it doesn't mean they aren't going to be great players E.G. Bogaerts and JBJ and sometimes guys pretty much hit the ground running too E.G. Ellsbury and Betts.

I know the perception is this wasn't the "good Basabe" but this guys stock was skyrocketing, impressing scouts all year, so for all we know there are teams out there who view him as the better prospect right now.

Whats the worst that could happen? You completely screw up a guys development and screw with him for a year plus. This guy just got to AA, I don't care how well he's hitting there you don't take a guy who just got out of A ball and look at his slash line and immediately think he must be ready and should be called up to the big club. Thank god front offices don't think like that. I placing my wagers right now that the only way we see Benintendi this year before September 1st is if he's really pushing it in the minors AND one of JBJ/Betts goes down.

Torn meniscus is not a sever injury, it's nerve racking anytime you think about having a knee injury and needing surgery. If this was an torn tendon that would be a completely different story but we should get him back and he should be able to get a good month under his belt before seasons end.

Years of control is close to irrelevant if a guy is ready. I have an insanely hard time seeing a guy who is 6 weeks removed from A ball being MLB ready.

And that deal by consensus was considered an overpay by the Sox. Teams overpay, and get steals all the time. Perhaps a G.M. out there would make that trade, but that would be a bad trade for the Boston Red Sox and I think DD would be chased out of town if he gave up both Benintendi and Espinoza for a middle of the rotation starter.

I'd inquire on the price of guys like Tanner Roark, or Drew Pomeranz. I'm not as low on Teheran as others here but I don't think he has any more upside than who he is now. He could help the rotation but they'd still need an ACE or Price to step it up in the 2nd half.

I'd consider Kopech, Devers, Owens for Teheran...especially if we can get a lower level prospect back in the deal as well.

I think the odds that Espinoza is included in any trade is slim to none, with a much better shot if it's part of a larger package for a #1. If the Sox sign Groome, I think the odds are still against it but they may go up.

Every trade and situation is different. What did Texas give up for Cole Hamels at the deadline last year? a better pitcher with a much better track record. Also, elite pitching is more valuable than elite hitting. Espinoza is being talked about as the best possible pitching prospect right now. He still ranks behind Urias, but some scouts are starting to say they see a higher ceiling in him. Every trade and every situation is different, needs and farm system depth also need to be considered. A team willing to go for it my be more willing to deal top prospects. DD has a reputation of trading but also hoarding.....I highly doubt he'd trade both Espinoza and Benintendi unless it's in a package to get a TOTRS back.

So the sum of these two prospects rankings are twice as high as Hanley and Sanchez, also you 're comparing rankings from a decade apart. I like your response coining the phrase "symmetry" but specifically if you were a GM would you make that trade? without just looking at a number, taking into account the scouting reports and how each projects as well.

Would you trade Anderson Espinoza and Andrew Benintendi + another lower level prospect for Julio Teheran???

Championship caliber teams and organizations make all the small moves too, this trade could easily stand alone or be part of more to come. A larger trade could be in the works regardless.

Shaw has struggled mightly against Lefty's this year and for several years his whole career. He got hot last year but the course of 7 professional seasons of baseball he has struggled against LHP all but 1/2 a season. I said it in the trade forum 2 months ago and I'll continue to say it now, the Sox would be better with a RHH infielder who can spell Shaw. I would have been fine with that guy being Holt, if we put him back in the utility role. Holt is a LHB but he has some nice splits vs lhp/rhp.

soxprospects has come out with a new podcast where they talk about the situation. http://news.soxprospects.com/2016/07/podcast-ep-101-trade-and-penalties-fill.html

This was the exact type of move I was suggesting earlier in the year, although I also suggested a possible LFer with Holt taking more reps at 3B and the infield. I immediately feel disgusted for typing that as I've become "that" guy, the "look at me I was right" I guess I feel a bit vindicated when some treat it like it's the most ridiculous suggesting in the world. Ok, I'll stop but I don't think DD is done yet. If they view Holt back in the utility role then Hill is either here to platoon with Shaw or replace someone who could be part of a trade chip elsewhere. This is the exact type of small move I thought this team could make to get better, but I don't think it will put us over the top. Hills spray chart suggests he could hit very well at Fenway, however sometimes history has taught us that those who should hit here don't and those who shouldn't do.

Agreed, I got no problem riding the hot hand.

As I was saying before, context also must be painted into the picture as well. Devers is the 3rd youngest player in the Carolina league this year. I forget the exact number but someone reported (soxprospects or BA) that Devers has only faced 1-2 pitchers younger than him his whole professional career so far.

I pretty much agree with this. I'm very against rushing Benintendi at all this year but if he's still mashing it in AAA come late august and JBJ/Betts goes down I'd have zero problem giving him a shot. Otherwise keep him in the minors, but he should be moved up to AAA at some point if he keeps hitting.

Shaw has also come back down to earth, lets see what he does for the rest of the season. Also, people like Shaw outperforming their minor league numbers is easily the exception and not the norm. Arguing the exception and not the norm from a 8 game sample size is nothing more than wishful thinking.

Not yet, but I highly doubt 8 games this year. Last time he was given this many MLB at bats he put up a .692 OPS. I'm happy he's performing well, but it is insanely more likely he's the guy we've seen the past 7 years than the guy we've seen the past 8 games. He's currently the 35th ranked prospect which means he could as easily be ranked 60th or not at all.

At 27 years old Brentz has spent the past 5 seasons in AAA. In that time he's accumulated a line of .251/.315/.439 with what equates to about 15 HR a season pop. No speed and average defense on the corner. and a 25% K rate. He's a nice guy to have around for depth, but I'd rather see elite defense, speed and better contact ability with more versatility from a 4th outfielder. I'm very happy he's done well so far however, he got hot at the right time when this team needed it the most.

While I'm generally against "cherry picking" it's so much more subjective in the minor leagues. If a guy is playing the level really really well he never sticks around long enough to have a really large sample size. Also, these guys are constantly moving up from level to level and it's hard to hold against a guy what he does his first week or two at a new level when he is adjusting. Look at what Bogaerts did his first month in AA, he hit good but his 21/1 KK/BB strike out ratio would have made a lot of skeptics. But context is also always needed in the equation he was new to the level and one of the youngest guys in the league. Benintendi is still a prospect and a lot can still go wrong, but he's had what has amounted to 2 bad weeks and has mashed it ever since. He has a higher floor than most other highly regarded prospects and while (I'll say it again) a lot can still go wrong there is a really good chance we have an all star in the making. However I agree with the opinion that he should spend some more time in the minors. While he might be really really close he likely still has a few things to learn before being MLB ready.

If all continues to go well with Andrew Benintendi I see him moving up to Pawtucket in August early. If they want to make the room they will put him on the 40 man and give him a cup of coffee in September. Of course, I'm not the end all nor do I have a crystal ball but I'm fairly confident that that is more likely than he's called up to be the everyday LFer by August.

Oh he's big league ready because he's been hitting one level up from A ball for 1 month? He's still two levels below MLB. Remember when JBJ crushed AA for a couple months and everyone thought he was ready? turns out he needed a few more years. I doubt AB still has that much developmental time left and I think he is a great offensive talent, one of the most talented prospects in the game but 1 month crushing AA ball doesn't mean he's MLB ready.