Items on the Red Sox and Mets..
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has a list of suggestions for fixing the Red Sox and writes that the club should seek out a starting pitcher who can make a difference. Ryan Dempster of the Cubs, Heyman writes, would be a solid fit.
- Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter) wasn't confident that David Wright would be a lifelong member of the Mets a year ago but now thinks that there's a good chance the club will pony up more than $100MM to keep him.
- Mets reliever Tim Byrdak could use support from a second lefty in the bullpen, but pitching coach Dan Warthen told Rubin that the club is unlikely to deal for one. Byrdak has made a league-leading 19 relief appearances.
- The Red Sox signed Pablo Murena, a 17-year-old catcher out of Panama, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Murena became a catcher just a couple months ago and the team was impressed with his arm strength at the position.
Dempster to the red soxs would be a interesting trade but dont the redsox and cubs have to finish the Byrd and Theo trades first?
I hope Byrd is the PTBNL in the Byrd trade. That hasn’t happened in quite a while.
Johnny Mac !
No you cannot have him
Theo’s compensation should be finished, the whole Chris Carpenter injury happened after they sent him, and I believe MLB ruled no more Theo compensation, I also believe the trade for Byrd was straight forward. The only compensation I don’t think the Cubs has finished is the Hoyer compensation, but again I’m not fully sure.
You’re just a big pile of wrong tonight, Zach- if you’re fully sure that is your name
In regards to Heyman’s piece, I’ll reply to all the points individually:
1. Even if Middlebrooks continues to play well, Youkilis should start when healthy. Why? Youkilis could net a prospect from a team in need of a first baseman or DH. Benching him would hamper his trade value.
2. Lavarnway > Saltalamacchia. I agree with Heyman.
3. I agree that Iglesias should get a shot. He’s significantly better defensively than Aviles. Plus, Aviles’ offensive production finally regressed towards his career norms.
4. Lin should get a chance in CF. Byrd is cooked.
5. Bobby V was a terrible hire from the start. Letting him be himself will just anger more players, IMO.
6. Would Dempster be part of a bad contract swap? I think that a returning Matsuzaka could have a bigger impact than Dempster and wouldn’t cost $14 MM.
Dempster is better than Matsuzaka and is a free agent next year so its not a “Bad Contract” Swap situation
Fair, but we have already paid for Matsuzaka, who will also be a free agent at the end of the year.
I think if Theo made that trade, there would be a revolt. Cubs are looking to restock and i doubt they would trade Dempster as he is a fan favorite and is getting the job done.
It’s certainly not a “good” contract. He’s been lights out so far this year, but it has been on the back of some extremely fluky peripheral stats (and a really small sample size). He’s also 35 and already been injured once this year, so $14M (or the remainder of $14M anyway) is quite a bit of money to spend on a guy you have to hope remains somewhat effective and stays healthy.
I think 3 and 4 are tied together. If they call up Iglesias they likely move Aviles to LF and play Ross and Sweeney in RF and CF.
Dempster’s only good if you need a Harry Caray impersonator
And who doesn’t?
Nobody at Fenway. They don’t sell beer at Fenway in the bleechers (don’t think) and have broadcasts from there in the late innings (think Harry did the bottom of the 7th some times from there wasn’t it) Half tanked up on Budweiser.
Dempster’s trade value should be very high right now. I would guess that a lot of “contenders” will be asking about him. If the Red Sox come calling I think that Theo should have good idea of their system, to know who to ask for.
The Red Sox do not need another overly paid, 35-year old tired arm or tired bat on their 25-man roster. After watching the enthusiasm and energetic play of Millbrooks and Nava these past few days, all eyes should be directed towards Pawtucket or Portland, to see who else down there, under age 30, is drooling to get a shot at playing in Fenway. Whatever the reason is that Epstein wants to jettison Dempster, it should be reason enough for Cherington to look the other way. No more birdies….
who’s “millbrooks”?
Caught me napping….. Middlebrooks….Sorry about that…