The Red Sox officially replaced Jonathan Papelbon earlier today, acquiring Andrew Bailey (and Ryan Sweeney) from the Athletics for Josh Reddick and two prospects. Let's round up the latest from Boston, starting with GM Ben Cherington's conference call following today's trade, courtesy of WEEI.com's Rob Bradford…
- "We’re going to continue to work," said Cherington about the team's pursuit of starting pitching. "We’re actively considering and looking at starting pitching options also, but we haven’t found one yet where we feel like the acquisition cost is the right one. That doesn’t mean that it won’t come. It just hasn’t come yet."
- Cherington said they are comfortable with Bailey's injury history, which includes Tommy John surgery several years ago and another minor elbow procedure in 2010. Talks about the right-hander started way back during the season, when they were looking for bullpen help during the summer.
- Sweeney will be in the right field mix, as will Mike Aviles and Darnell McDonald. Cherington said they've tried to acquire Sweeney in the past.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says the trade "looks like a steal" for the Red Sox, calling it the finest moment in Cherington's young career as GM.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports echoes what Cherington said in the conference call, that the Sox are exploring all avenues for rotation help (Twitter link)
this trade looks like the kind of trade a guy like jon heyman would think is a steal. doesn’t know anything about reddick (let alone alcantra & head) and knows bailey is a magical ~*closer*~ with a shiny career ERA. obviously it must be a heist!
in reality, oakland did pretty well. meanwhile the three players boston gave up were more or less expendable for them, given the presence of kalish, a half dozen 3B options, and adrian gonzalez
solid trade that serves the needs of both teams
Well, they acquired a seasoned OF who can bat what Reddick did (and even better considering Sweeney was better at a pitcher’s park and he’s moving to a hitter’s heaven that can increase stat lines eaaasily).
The Sox also acquired a MLB closer.
And they only had to give up a bench player and two pitchers nowhere close to the majors.
So, yeah, it was a solid trade to both teams, LMAO.
They have up an outfielder (Reddick), one pitching prospect (Alcantara) & a third base prospect (Head).
And as someone who isn’t a Reddick fan, Reddick > Sweeney.
Reddick’s upside is certainly greater than Sweeney’s, but one season, half in the minors, isn’t enough to convince me that Reddick will ever have Sweeney’s batting eye.
Reddick could be an excellent get if he takes a step forward, but I think he’s as likely to take a step back.
Very true, which is why I had no problem with them trading him away. I like Kalish a lot better, despite his injuries anyway.
never in his career has sweeney hit as well as reddick did last year – and that’s using park-adjusted stats
“they only had to give up a bench player and two pitchers nowhere close to the majors.”
ohhh, i see what’s going on here. well i do agree that if you know nothing about the players involved, this looks lopsided
I really dont know how many times I need to write that Sweeney’s knees are chronic and his career in the bigs is nearing the end. Reddick has and will continue to demolish Sweeneys ceiling as a player. If Bailey throws under 40 innings in any year in a Boston uni and Reddick has a few 3-4 WAR seasons, the A’s win this trade. If they use the cash freed up in this deal to get Soler then this move was a very good one and if the 2 prospects pan out then the A’s REALLY won this deal. Boston gets their closer and he’s cheap too. They gave up teenagers with high ceilings but they have so many 3B Head wont be missed and pitching prospects are what they are.
As an A’s fan I simply love this deal. When I first heard it I was disappointed but after looking at it with the cash freed up and the prospects and Reddick, who was Boston’s #4 best prospect at the start of 2011, this really is a nice haul.
Nobody puts Reddick in 3-4 WAR category but people who are determined to make it look like Beane got a good deal.
Hey Boston fans, Sweeney’s last 180 games in MLB have netted him a massive WAR of 1.0. His career in the bigs is toast and Beane wanted to get rid of him, thats the point of not grabbing any of Bostons top 10 prospects in a Bailey deal. It would be a minor miracle if Boston got any use of him, he’s been an absolute nonfactor since his awesome 09 season. Trading Sweeney in this deal is nothing but a salary dump by Beane. I’d say theres a 75% chance he is released at some point in 2012.
Totally agree. I think this is a good trade for both sides and anyone who has seen me post knows I usually bash these trades.
I really like Reddick’s upside and Bailey’s current ability. Honestly, Reddick is my favorite player in the trade.
he’s been an incredibly streaky player his entire pro career, but the deciding factor him will be discipline. when he is taking walks and driving good pitches, he actually does have “all-star” potential
i don’t expect him to fulfill that potential completely, but i do expect him to be a valuable everyday RFer. and what better place to go than oakland if what you need to work on is plate discipline? no pressure to swing early in that org
Exactly, Reddick getting 600 PA and playing everyday without the pressure of Kalish or Drew being there or just the general Boston “You must immediately be great or we will hate you” pressure, he really does have a chance to show everyone what he’s got. As of now that’s a 3 WAR player even with all that, without it, he has a chance to excel and take his time to learn more and expand his game.
I think Miles is the loss here, Reddick will have issues with the strike zone and Sweeny will be a God send replacement to mcDonald so they can send him along his merry way.. It should work out and they have enough people to play 3B in the system already.
Alcantra is the only one nobody is sure about and he is years away.
Sorry to say, but McDonald and the Sweeney of now are a wash.
Sweeney is not better than McDonald. He was simply a salary dump, that’s why Beane didn’t get any of Bostons top 10 prospects for Bailey, he won this deal via another way, getting rid of the overpaid and chronically hurt Sweeney.
How does it serve Reddick? The Red Sox banished him to Oakland!
The A’s have not a chance competing in the AL West.
It’s a shame the A’s used to have some of the Best Fans out there.
Come to think of it, the Orioles used to as well.
josh reddick isn’t a team
oakland isn’t a hitter’s paradise, but hey that lineup ought to make him feel good about himself
Wonder how Papelbums over the top stare down will work on another team.
I’ve liked Beane’s deals this offseason thus far, but this one has me scratching my head. Feel like Boston stole this one…
It’s a pretty good deal if Reddick’s improved batting eye last year improves still further. He could be an above-average regular, and cheap. Not a bad idea to take a chance on a cheap upside play if you’re the As.
The centerpiece of the trade is not Sweeney .. So dont compare Sweeney and Reddick .. Sweeney can replace Reddick.. Ok, But Bailey is much better and have many experience .. So .. You like or not .. The red sox win and steal the A’s .. easily
No, Beane hosed Boston by taking Sweeney and Bailey is hurt all the time. He freed up cash to throw at Soler and got an everyday OFer and 2 high ceiling teenagers. This was simply a “need” move by Boston who gave up too much and had to take the soon-to-be-released Sweeney on as part of the bargain. Even if both are totally healthy, Reddick will have a higher WAR than Bailey no matter what as closers dont have more than 2 WAR too often, and Reddicks a shoo-in for 3+. The A’s got better with this and Boston filled a need. Getting better > Filling a need. A’s won.
wow. A’s dropped the ball.
I like the deal Boston made today. Oakland did okay though.
thats all it took to get bailey……what a steal for the sox
Sweeney is an excellent defender when he’s healthy and able to play. He was a good addition to the Bailey acquisition for the Red Sox.
Sox still need a C, RF and #3 and/or 8th inning pitcher if they are going to compete for a title with the Yanks, Phillies, Angels, Rangers, etc.
The Sox are fine at catcher with Salty and Shoppach with Lavarnway waiting in the wings in Pawtucket.
Sox’s top 3 in the rotation is set with Lester. Beckett & Buchholz. (#4 & #5 are the question marks)
The Sox are also fine in the 8th and 9th innings with Bailey & Melancon (and potentially Bard in the mix there too if he’s not the solution for one of the spots in the rotation).
How so? We got Lavarnway/Salty/Shoppach for C. Without a quality RF we have a top 3 offense that can compete with anyone. And we have a quality candidate in Kalish who could potentially win it out of ST. The 8th inning will be handled by either Melancon, Aceves, Bard, or even Bailey depending on how things shake out. If Bard makes the rotation its a split between Aceves (Doubt him and Bard make rotation) & melancon. If Bard doesn’t make it IMO Bard will be given a chance to close ahead of Bailey. Bard has the higher celing and better stuff. . Rangers and Yanks don’t have as quality a front three as the Sox, Angels, or Phillies do. The Phillies and Angels don’t have as good an offsense as the Sox, Yanks, or Rangers do. Angels and Phillies pen are weaker than Sox, Yanks, and Rangers. We can compete with any of those teams.
What are you talking about? Catcher is taken care of by Salty and Shoppach (and/or Lavarnway), #3 is Buchholz, and Melancon is the 8th inning pitcher. They could use a RF but they have internal options that would be more than good enough for a team with Boston’s offense, and they could use another starting pitcher but they have internal options for that too, if it comes down to it.
whoa, bro…
Red Sox have the best catching depth in MLB! Shoppach is just on the squad to pick his brain about Rays staff, Salty is solid and Lavarnway is a straight up BEAST!
Yea the Vartiek and Salty combo worked rather well last year…hopefully Salty can keep it up!
“Lavarnway is a straight up BEAST” If Lavarnway is a beast Montero is a God. He is certainly not a God therefore Lavarnway is something like a solid backstop.
Why do I like Aceves as a starter more than Bard…
I think both would be good, but Aceves just going as long man doesn’t fit with the rest of the guys in the pen. I think he could be an intimidating 4th starter, as long he keeps his composure and arm slot.
Bard can close until he blows up and Melancon/Bailey/Jenks can fill in potentially.
BTW Remember last year when the Sox supposedly had the most depth in starting pitching in the AL….? Let’s not get to high on this bullpen, yet.
Looks like it will be Aceves
“Remember last year when the Sox supposedly had the most depth in starting pitching in the AL”
nope. epstein was open before the season began about his concerns over the lack of SP depth
you also should definitely not like aceves as a starter more than bard. people have begun to really overrated aceves. he isn’t an elite arm. he’s valuable because he can pitch multiple innings multiple days and handle the 7th. he would not be great as a setup man and certainly wouldn’t be great as a starter. his value is maximized as a long reliever
did they give up more potential talent for melancon then they did for bailey?
No, I’d say they gave up more potential talent for Bailey.
So far I think Cherington has done a good job with trades, bringing in Melancon and Bailey only losing Lowrie and Reddick (most significantly). Lowrie has potential, but always seems to be injured, and Reddick has even greater potential, but for Bailey, it’s definitely worth it.
Billy Beane is showing how a rebuild is done. Astros will still be sitting in last place when they move to the AL in 2013. Now all they need is a ballpark.
I like reddick too but I have 2 words for that. Ryan Kalish
time will tell
The A’s got much better with adding an everyday OFer who was Bostons #4 overall prospect last season, and cleared salary. The teenage prospects cant really be looked at yet but Sickles says they both have high ceilings. How can anyone think Beane did badly in this trade? He killed it.
Boston gets a risky closer and Sweeneys albatross of a contract. Boston filled their need and didnt have to buy Madson and also have Melancon as a backup if Bailey is out injured. None of the guys moved had much of a future in Boston anyway so its no skin off their nose if the A’s “win” this deal in the long run, which looks very likely.
Hate to tell you but it’s highly up in the air as to whether Reddick can be an everyday OF.
I’m thinking Ryan Sweeney wouldn’t sign an autograph for you? or buy you a drink? you’ve been ranting about his Bobby Orr knees and now you’re on about his $1.4M “albatross” of a contract ?????????? you’re a man on a mission that nobody ordered
I’m thinking Ryan Sweeney wouldn’t sign an autograph for you? or buy you a drink? you’ve been ranting about his Bobby Orr knees and now you’re on about his $1.4M “albatross” of a contract ?????????? you’re a man on a mission that nobody ordered
Aviles is a decent bench player – even though I don’t care for his attitude.
Play him full-time in right field and that will fail.