The Red Sox are interested in Scott Downs and have also had internal discussion about acquiring Kerry Wood, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. However, given the price tags on Downs, Wood, and other veteran arms, along with the Red Sox' reluctance to part with prospects for relievers, the team may just attempt to shore up their bullpen internally instead.
Cafardo suggests that the Sox are trying to find their "2010 Billy Wagner," a reference to the club's late-season bullpen addition last season. After coming to Boston from the Mets, Wagner posted a 1.98 ERA in 15 appearances. The Sox could once again be in the market for a southpaw this year, with Hideki Okajima battling back issues. Both Downs, whose trade value we looked at yesterday, and the Orioles' Will Ohman may be options for Boston.
If the Sox don't trade for a reliever, help could come from the minors, in the form of Michael Bowden. Cafardo notes that the team has moved the right-hander from the Triple-A rotation to the bullpen, a move that suggests a call-up may be in his near future.
Wasn’t pretty much the same article posted about the Tigers earlier?
Downs for Ryan Kalish straight up?
Downs for Kalish, seriously, the sox would never do that, not it 50 years, maybe for a josh reddick, and thats a big maybe
No thanks, I dont think Reddick is even doing that good.
Relievers are as volatile year to year as prospects so I don’t know what your problem is.
Volatile? Scott Downs ERA as a reliever the last 5 years:
2006: 2.77
2007: 2.17
2008: 1.78
2009: 3.09
2010: 2.80
I meant relievers in general. Who’s to say Downs just loses it next year and has a year with an ERA over 4.5? Not unheard of.
Would they want to bring back Javier Lopez?
Please no, not another rubbish throwing left hander, especially one that they finally got Francona to unload 2 years ago.
Bowden may be a decent long guy to give a shot, he has done pretty decent over his last 5-6 starts, actually been dominant for the most part, but that guy has long ball written all over him and probably not good for the long haul.
Coello, Richardson and Manuel probably about it, unless they decide to give F-Cab another go at it, but they didn’t seem to enthused at what he had last September, but from what Okajima and Ramirez have show.. Why not?
As to moving Ryan Kalish in the post above. he’s probably not going anywhere, they would move Lars Anderson in a deal 1st.
Jays have Wallace so there is no need for Anderson.
Do you guys just want to offer prospects that are playing like crap this season? lol.
Says the guy who wants Ryan Kalish for a 34 year old reliever
You make it sound like Kalish is an elite prospect. He is a good prospect but Downs is a very very good player and one of tops in the league in the past few years as stated below me.
Besides, Kalish is just a prospect, who knows if he can ever even make it to the bigs. There have been many great prospects that are far better than him that have put up great numbers in minors but cannot translate it to the bigs. And if you want Downs, you have to give up something of quality or Jays will just take the 2 picks as compensation and your bullpen can continue to suck while you guys lose WC to the Rays.
“Besides, Kalish is just a prospect, who knows if he can ever even make it to the bigs.”
I’m not going to argue with someone who uses that logic…its pointless. I argued with Blue Jay fans all last year when I explained why I wouldn’t trade Buchholz and more for Halladay and you people acted like it was Red Sox fan arrogance and couldn’t accept a legit explanation.
One last thing though
“There have been many great prospects that are far better than him that have put up great numbers in minors but cannot translate it to the bigs.”
Yet you act like Lars Anderson and Josh Reddick are scrubs based on minor league stats? Do you understand how that sounds? Lars Anderson is a very legit prospect and has been for some time…if you don’t like him whatever, but don’t act like its an absurd suggestion because it isn’t.
I hope you realize you sound retarded saying you wouldn`t trade Buchholz + for Halladay – a guy that is one of the best pitchers in the game. Besides, that is a legit argument. Do all good rated prospects make it to the big and become successful? If Jays are trading for Downs, one of the best relievers in the game for the past few years and you aren`t willing to trade a B level prospect then we will just take the compensation.Ugh… minor league stats matter. If you have great minor stats, then it increases your chances of becoming a successful major leaguer but where are you going to get by having scrub stats like the ones Reddick has right now? BTW, I would have liked Anderson last year but with Wallace now, Jays have no need for him especially when he`s been falling as a prospect and is not having a good year so far. I would want either Kalish or that SS prospect (starts with i but I forget the name).
Serious question…do you watch baseball?
It was hypothetically moving Anderson in a trade before Kalish. I can’t see Anderson being moved for a reliever probably only a tad better than MDC, or Ramirez. Anderson has WAY to much upside for a mid 30’s reliever and Epstein is not known for making bone headed deals.
Now, to mention some serious trade targets I’d like to see the BoSox go after: (1) Frank Hermann/Cleveland Indians; (2) Brandon League/Mariners; (3) Craig Breslow/A’s; (4) Drew Storen/Nats or Sean Burnette/Nats; (5) Evan Meek/Pirates; or (6) Kyle Farnsworth/Royals. Add two or three from this list, release Delcarmen and Okajima, work in Bowden from the minors, and we’ve got a live bullpen again. NOt sure what we’d have to give up to get some of these, but we really just have to pay whatever the prices are, or face elimination in August.
RELEASE Okie & MDC? WTF u smoking?
My Beckler-carved meerschaum (CAO) portrait of Sigmund Freud with a kind Middletons cherry blend. The question is, if you don’t think we should release them, WTF are you smoking? They are horrible. Release may be too good for them.
I wonder if sniderlover would trade Scott Downs for Travis Snider if the Sox had Snider who is pretty unproven in the majors too.
To the guy who thinks the Sox should give up Ryan Kalish. YOU ARE fuckin IDIOT. Lars aint going any were eaither, not for a 34 year old RP. Lars was on a tear in AA he got promoted and has struggled some hes still a top 50 prospect and very young at 22 years old he has plenty of time to live up to his potentiel. Downs is 34 and how much does he have left in the tank to compete at a high level hes just a rp and an old one, hes not worth more then Che sun Lin who a great prospect just not a top prospect like Rizzo, Kelly, Lars, Kalish etc. Guys who could go for a good RP are Reddick, Lin, Bowman, Navaro, Mybe Tejada but unlikely, Lavarnway, Gibson. Just because a young prospect with a high ceiling isnt having a great year doesnt meen hes not a top prospect/good prospect and doesnt meen his value isnt high in a trade. Dont be hating man our farm system is one of the best in baseball which you cant say is so. Blue Jays system may be on the rise but it isnt at our level and half the guys that are good in your system you got threw trade. Ours we have been getting threw great scouting and drafting. Jays farm looks to be on the rise this year but most of that is based on one year lets see in a year or 2 if there still on the same road.