Red Sox Send Renteria and $11MM for Andy Marte

Today, the Red Sox sent shortstop Edgar Renteria and $11MM for third baseman Andy Marte.  That's got to be a record for Martes traded in one day.  I don't think it was a bad move by the Braves, considering that they'll have a decent shortstop for three years at less than half the price of Rafael Furcal.

On the other hand, Marte has the potential be a star.  I know, "potential" is a loaded word.  But when a player hits .275/.372/.506 in Triple A at age 21, it screams "future star."  Marte was ranked the best prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus heading into 2005. 

Conditionally, this could be a historic trade by the Red Sox.  I say conditionally because if the Red Sox flip him to Tampa Bay for a mere Julio Lugo, it would be a colossal mistake.  I don't know who should play short for the Red Sox, but it shouldn't be at the expense of Marte.  Sign Alex Gonzalez or Nomar, whatever.

Fenway would be very beneficial to Andy Marte, as it inflates home runs for righthanders by 13%.  Could be an extra 40-50 bombs over the course of a long and illustrious career.  It would be a shame if Mike Lowell got in the way for more than a month or two just because he makes a lot of money.   

Comments

[Braveswin]

Marte was basically blocked from 3B with Chipper restructuring his contract and being around a few more years. On top of that Atlanta has a couple of 3B prospects who should be ready by Chipper's departure.
Atlanta gets Renteria for three years at 6 mill/season. an economical choice considering the Braves payroll.

[Army Guy]

Now why could the Cubs not take advantage of this situation. Think of the possibility of having Rentaria, whom the Cubs tried to sign last year. Sure he had an off year last year, but he'll bounce back. He's good defensively, and would be a good hitter in the 2 spot in front of Lee and behind Pierre. Man, the possibility with him in the mix.

[White Sox fanat1c]

Hey, couldn't the Red Sox move Lowell to first base and play Marte at 3rd?

[RumorMonger]

Sure could, that would be a smart move. Although Lowell's never played there in the Majors.

[Andrew]

Good. Renteria was an error machine(30!) who only hit .276.

[dan]

the sox denied that theyd move marte to the rays for lugo/huff.. so since the sox are out, and the braves have their man, the door is obviously opening a little further for the cubs to make that aquisition.

[leefanatic25]

and the cubs desperatley need lugo, though i may prefer bradley to huff due to fielding and potential

[dark]

Boston says they're keeping Marte, and Tampa already rejected a straight Marte/Lugo swap, anyway. If the Sox really wanted Lugo bad enough, they could maybe get him and Huff for Marte/Shoppach/Arroyo, but I doubt Hoyer/LaJoie et al are stupid enough to do that.

[leefanatic25]

no one cares about the red sox this trade will ultimately affect the cubs

[Marte's right arm]

I will play OF and 3B for the Sox and hit .275 with 22 HR, 80 RBI and will soon be the AL MVP in 2008.

[No head cases, please.]

As a Cubs fan, I am also hoping Jim Hendry now has an open door to Huff and Lugo. A 25-35/90-110 lefty like Huff would look good in LF at Wrigley, batting between Lee and Ramirez; Lugo would fit in nicely in the number two slot in the order at SS, and would shift Cedeno to 2B to make a solid defensive infield - or keep Walker around.

Pierre (L) CF
Lugo (R) SS
Lee (R) 1B
Huff (L) LF
Ramirez (R) 3B
Cedeno/Walker (L) 2B
Barrett (R) C
Murton (R) RF
Pitcher (R/L)

Not bad...not bad at all.

I'll take a pass on that virus - that absolute cancer of a person named Milton Bradley. He's got barely above average talent and severe anger issues that even an L.A. address and professional counseling hasn't slowed down. Rather than sacrifice 2006 on the hopes that he'll finally play 160 games, completely rehabilitate his entire lifetime of behavior, and perform to the maximum of his abilities, all just in time to play for the Cubs - well, I'll play double zero on the roulette wheel instead; I have much, much better odds of winning there.

No to Bradley, no to Mench, yes to Abreu (not for Prior), yes to Huff, yes to Dunn, no to Kearns (we need major league players in 2006).

[No head cases, please.]

Sorry, switch RF/LF on that post...ugh!