GM Theo Epstein says the Red Sox will evaluate the players replacing Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez before deciding whether to pursue a trade for depth up the middle, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Bill Hall, Eric Patterson, Jason Varitek and Gustavo Molina will get the chance to fill in while Pedroia and Martinez heal.
If that quartet is as productive as outfielders Daniel Nava and Darnell McDonald, Epstein may not have to deal at all. The club may consider pursuing other players, but as Epstein points out, standout second basemen and catchers are hard to find.
“Those middle of the field guys who can really make an impact offensively, they’re the toughest ones to replace,” Epstein said.
Not only would it be difficult to trade for a productive catcher or middle infielder, it would be necessary to create roster space when Martinez and Pedroia return. That’s another consideration for Epstein, who says trades would have to make sense long-term and short-term.
“You don’t want to make a major trade that all of a sudden three or four weeks from now doesn’t fit,” Epstein said.
Earlier today, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reported that the Red Sox and Cubs talked about a deal that would have sent Mike Fontenot to Boston. WEEI reported last week that the Red Sox have some interest in Adam Everett. The Red Sox appear to be considering options in case Hall and Patterson do not meet expectations, but Epstein says the current Red Sox will be given every opportunity to succeed.
I don’t know…that’s a big risk, considering how it’s far more likely Mcdonald and Nava crash down to earth in nasty way than them continuing as they are now.
It will be pretty remarkable if this team finds a way to make the playoffs.
Once he’s healthy I mean.
They have the Second best record in baseball without haveing Ellsbury and Beckett most the season, Cameron and Hermida have missed time, V-marts going to miss two weeks and pedrioa six to eight, not to mention what evers going on with Buccholz.
The biggest deadline deal ever would be to see all theis guys on the field at once.
Hermida could return July 20, Ellsbury should be back Aug.1. They’ve got Patterson to play a bit of OF and backup Hall. As long as Drew stays healthy they should be able to wait this out.
Interesting Theo says trades have to be made with long-term in mind which says he’s considering some good players who could displace one of the three starters permanently.
“As long as Drew stays healthy”
I believe that statement is an oxymoron.
How about trading Ellsbury?
Why? he’s thier best defensive asset in the OF, The teams only source of speed, and is now going to cost atleast 25% less in his first arb. year.
The outfielder and even 2b with Hall/Patterson combo does not scare me as much as Varitek and Molina do. Varitek just flat out cannot throw, will cease to hit entirely after playing in more than 4-5 games in a row and to call Gustavo Molino a AAAA catcher even is stretching it. Boston might have been better off going ahead and just calling up one of the superb defensive catchers they KNOW can play defense in Exposito at AA, or maybe even Federowicz at High A ball to catch/throw out runners. Both have reputations as good game callers with rifle throwing arms, just still developing hitting skills and molina is not going to hit anyway…
They still might,plenty of time.
I hope not that would be a huge mistake, you cant just rush kids up, esp. federowicz, high A to the majors, has this ever been done before??? lol its not mlb the show, its real life, the likeyhood of these guys crashing and burning and ruining them forever is VERY high, and many teams have ruined their prospects by rushing them to the majors because of injuries, instead of being patient and letting a journeyman hold it down for a week or two, which theo is doing, as he should
Hey.. I agree entirely it’s not the best thing in the world to call up a good prospect like Exposito and especially Fed-X who is not ready with the bat yet for the big show, but it’s not like they would be playing more than 2-3 games each week and then probably only against teams likely to steal against them. Expo especially probably was going to get called up in September anyway for a “look see” and get into a few games, so not a lot of difference in playing 2-3 games a week for maybe 3 weeks and now, could use his tough grit and cannon for an arm, all the while see how he can perform when it counts.
Sox should make a deal with the Astros for Kevin Cash. The facts that he’s familiar with the staff and can catch the knuckleball would make him a good temporary addition and he shouldn’t cost too much to aquire.
Give Ibarra a chance!
Isn’t the deal still pending a physical?
They lost half of their Outfield to fluke accidents, any way when Beltre’s a free agent enyone else see UFC being a surprise bidder?