Teams are calling the Red Sox about the availability of “several” outfielders, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports. The Red Sox are “open-minded” about trading away an outfielder now that Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford are nearly ready to return to the MLB roster.
Ryan Sweeney and Daniel Nava could be trade chips for the Red Sox, but the team is “not looking to move Sweeney,” Silverman reports. Scott Podsednik and Ryan Kalish are at Triple-A, and Cody Ross fits well with Boston’s current needs.
Though the Cubs aren’t interested in Sweeney, the Red Sox are eyeing a pair of Cubs pitchers. Boston has expressed preliminary interest in Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster, but is “not fully engaged yet,” Silverman reports. I recently previewed the trade market for starting pitchers and outfielders.
Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal explained how Boston’s 40-man roster will impact the team’s next few weeks. The Red Sox are far more likely to trade surplus players such as Sweeney, Kelly Shoppach or Matt Albers than make major changes this month, MacPherson writes.
Somebody take Crawford so we can play Nava everyday.
unless you’re wanting to just dump salary I don’t see how that makes much sense
Only 5 1/2 years and 113 mil left. You’ll miss Carl once he’s gone. Look at TB…
I think someone might be willing to acquire him if we eat around two-thirds of his deal. Would a team take a flyer on Crawford on essentially a $30 MM, 5 year deal? I would think so.
The second half gives Crawford a chance to rebound from last years dreadful showing and if (big if at this point) he stays healthy he most likely will. You don’t lose your skills at that young an age. Doubt the Sox will eat two-thirds of that contract this early. No way. Lets see the guy play the second half.
Nava started out like a ball of fire and has regressed to what he is, a better story than a ballplayer. I love what he has done but he is a fourth or fifth OF on a contender at best.
Not really. We shouldn’t expect much out of him at all. He needs Tommy John surgery. He’s better off getting it now so he can be on the opening day roster next year.
Wow this is horrendous. And you’re actually serious.
Yes. OBP skills don’t erode and Nava’s peripherals don’t indicate that he will experience regression.
You’re really going to try to sell Nava over Crawford. Oye. I mean really.
Nava is a 27 year old who is a career AAAA player.
Crawford is a 4 time all star, GG winner, SS winner, 7th in MVP just 2 years ago.
And you want to dismiss all of Crawfords history for a 45 game heater?!? That’s unbelievable.
actually, Nava is 29
First off, those awards that you listed are completely and utterly worthless.
Second, Crawford has a career 110 wRC+. The vast majority of his value is from his defense. As his speed continues to erode, his defense will as well.
Nava should produce offensively at Crawford’s level and provides the OBP we need at the top of the lineup, thus making Crawford expendable. If we can move Crawford for salary relief, we can use that relief to upgrade the starting rotation.
What evidence do we have that his speed and defense will continue to erode?
You really can’t make that conclusion based on one bad season, especially when injury was/could have been involved.
lots of elite players have one bad/injury riddled season and then bounce back.
Come on, I have done plenty of bashing about CC’s contract, but this is nuts. A healthy CC is a pretty good tablesetter, he is overpaid, but that is history, why eat 2/3 if he is overpaid. Nava has done a good job filling in, but really has no speed or power. You don’t do brash moves like this after 2 months on a 29 year old.
“Tablesetter”? CC doesn’t get on base.
maybe if Soriano went the other way and the Bosox paid all of his sallery for a even money swap for crawford, I’m sure theo would approve that. the cubs and bosox each pay all but 30 mil of their traded players sallery and trade.
Before you start ripping on thais comment realize that soriano has 15 homers so far and is batting .265 with improved defense if necessary.
Just two thirds of $113MM? That’s all it would take?
5 years $30M for Carl Crawford? Who do I call?
Call me, then include Cueto!
Ummmmmmm no. ;P
Dude wasnt even an all star, I think you guys could part with him 🙂
Saw that one coming haha. Neither was Brandon Phillips, so we’ll throw him in for free.
Nah, we already have one non all star scrub 2nd, we dont need another.
Why would the Red Sox just through about $75 million dollars out the door?
You would think Shoppach and Sweeney will be moved. If they want to be in on Garza or Dempster it will cost some of that lower minor league talent…
Red Sox are fooling themselves. They forget they are dealing with their ex-gm,he is going to ask for the farm for Garza.
Theo basically emptied the farm trading away alot of prospects to get A Gonz, V Mart, Bailey, Melancon, Bedard to name a few. The farm has to hold on to what it has.
My guess any talks with Theo for Garza starts with Middlebrooks , Felix Doubront to start with.
Cherrington was responsible for Melancon, and Bailey Trades. The sox have a few high upside prospects down on the farm.
Only 3 of the top 50 in the mid season BA top 50 and thinking was 5 in Sickels top 120, with 2 more getting honorable mention.. No.. Not many high upside prospects in the Sox farm…
I said they had a few high upside prospects, that means something good, 3 in top is a few high upside….
Did a post on this a few days ago and not going to go back and make another comparison post, but seems like only 3-4 teams had as many as 5 in Sickels top 120 and they were in the top 3 with 3 in the top 50.
The lower system is loaded and Lavarnway (MLB ready at AAA) was not one of the top 50 even from the BA list.
The farm system is not regarded well by people here and never has been. Only when they produce the next Youk, Lester, Papelbon, Pedroia, Ellsbury and maybe Middlebrooks does a flash go off that they do a good job for a moment.
wrong
the sox farm is still relatively deep, and making a fair-value deal for garza would far from empty the farm.
you severly over rate garza
I would go make a deal around Cecchini (.309/.390/.448, 31 SB) for Garza. I’d hate to give him up but with Bogaerts and Middlebrooks, Cecchini is a bit blocked.
The only prospect that in the Sox system that would interest the Cubs would be Barnes.
Yeah because the Cubs wouldn’t be interested in Bogaerts who Theo called a potential 10 time all star. Good one.
Yeah, but not really.
The Cubs system is already ripe with position players.
Don’t get me wrong, Bogaerts is going to be a stud.
But, being a seller in a buyer heavy market-
Theo and Jed can hold out for a future ace in low A ball, ready to contribute by the time the team will contend.
I think the cubs should take more high upside guys. They are a ways off from competing so should take the best package available. They can always trade a position prospect that does work out for something.
That’s why they’re the Cubs.
I think you’d be interested in Bogearts, Bradley too but, like Barnes, they’re not going anywhere unless the Sox are getting a superstar.
No interest in Bradley.
The Cubs already have Szczur, Almora, Soler, Jackson, etc.
(Even Vitters has spent a little time out there.)
Bogearts would be a nice addition, but the farm system needs arms.
I would think the Farm System would need blue chip prospects, no matter what position they play.
Exactly.. Barnes, Bogaerts and Bradley are not going anywhere unless some top star deal comes along.
There is less than a 0% chance that the Cubs get Bogaerts, Bradley, or Barnes for Garza.
Those 3 would be guys you would deal for a Felix type player. Not a Garza. Garza may net you a Lavarnway though, which is still a very good return.
I wouldnt give up lavarnway for Garza!
It ll depends on how sold you are on Salty. Lavarnway is a 25 year old in AAA and has proven he can hit. The Sox need to get some value from him rather than letting him rot in Pawtucket. If they see him as the everyday catcher, then bring him up. I love Saltys pop but hate his K’s and low avg/obp.
The later it gets the lower Lavarnways trade value gets.
Lavs has a major league bat. They are letting him stay in AAA to work on his game calling, which they say has improved a lot.
I feel the sox are pretty high on him and are taking their time to let him mature into a good catcher.
Do you realize that catching talent in MLB these days is quite minimal? Regardless of Salty’s K’s and low AVG and OBP, he’s still a well above average hitter FOR A CATCHER. There just aren’t that many good hitting full time catchers these days. The Sox should be thankful that they have one of the “better” ones, even if “above average” for a catcher is less so for all hitters.
As for Lavarnway, he is NOT “rotting” at AAA. He’s catching full time to learn and gain experience on the defensive and game calling side of the position. I’m perfectly happy to see Lav’way stay at AAA for the rest of the season.
Exactly. Barnes, Bogaerts, and Bradley are only the team’s top 3 prospects. I’d think that they about as untouchable as can be, short of dealing for a true superstar veteran.
Untouchable is a strong word. The Sox will not make the playoffs without help. Unless they want to wait out the injuries and rot at .500. I’d think the Cubs will pry away at least one of those guys if they decide to deal Garza. If the Sox don’t want to do that, have fun sitting in 4th or 5th place.
I don’t think that Garza is worth any of those 3.
That is simply a terribly biased, homer fan statement. Garza is a proven #2 starter. I would trade any of those guys straight up for Garza. They are far from becoming good proven players in the MLB, and may never see a minute of the Major Leagues. I probably wouldn’t trade 2 for Garza, but again I would do any straight up.
Bullfeathers. Bradley is almost certain to be Ellsbury’s replacement when he walks for free agency. Bogearts has franchise player potential. And Barnes looks to have #1 or #2 starter potential. Garza isn’t worth any of them straight up.
None of them help the team now is the point, and all of them could flop.
So what? The GM’s job is about more than worrying about the here and now. He has to worry about the future, and the team’s payroll budget.
Just a correction, but Podsednik is off the DL and was optioned to AAA.
This logjam has been known for quite awhile now and it makes it that much more confusing that they chose to add Lillibridge in the Youk deal. I’m expecting him to be gone by the time the dust settles
lillibridge can play the infield positions. sweeney, nava, kalish, and pods can’t.
(Although it could be interesting to see a team trade for Nava to play 1B)
They have Punto to play the IF and what’s it say about him that they brought up Ciriaco and Gomez instead of playing Liilibridge? He’s not as good of a player as the others mentioned and expect him to be DFA’d. Didn’t understand his inclusion in the deal to begin with
I think Lillibridge has those same termites in his bats as Punto, only can’t field.. He reminds me of a Billy Hall that just makes generic outs rather than strike out.. Here is to hoping he is a short timer..
I wouldnt mind keeping Nava, he’s shown to be a nice leadoff hitter, and I think he’s the real deal. Besides, he could give ells/ crawford some rest days, and theres a chance one of them may get hurt again.
What they really need to do is trade some of this outfield depth for infield depth. These pieces aren’t actually going to be enough to get anything major back, but it’d be nice if we weren’t relying so heavily on Nick Punto.
ya, you know why management rely’s on Nick Punto so much and why they signed him in the first place…this just occurred to me the other day, he won the world series with the Cardinals…and they want someone who has experience if they even make the playoffs or want to make the playoffs
Wakefield has experience, and he hits better than Punto.
Also on the team (at the beginning of the season) with World Series champion experience:
Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Cody Ross, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett. Maybe some relievers too? I feel like they were fine in that regard, really.
I have a good trade idea that I believe will work for both TB and BOS, so everyone tell me if you think this is fair.
To Tampa Bay:
LF Carl Crawford – 7/142
SP Josh Beckett – 4/68
To Boston:
3B Evan Longoria – 6/17.5 w/ 3 options
Tell me if you think this is fair or not. Tampa bay will recieve a healthy GG LF they can move to CF to accomodate for Desmond Jennings and a potential ace in Beckett. Boston can move Longoria to LF to fill in for Crawford and accomodate for Middlebrooks. It also gives Boston much needed salary relief. Tell me what you guys think. Fair? And for who?
It’s not a bad trade for Fantasy Baseball, but in the real world this is beyond ridiculous.
Would Boston be willing to take Zobrist 3/14.5 w/2 options and Shields 5/17.75 w/2 options to even that salary gap out a little?
This is already ridiculously in Boston’s favour and you want to give them two more good players?
only if the Sox include Lackey
in the words of Billy Joel, “It’s just a fantasy”
notsureifsrs, and I’m not talking about the poster either
I remember my first beer.
This is more like Vodka.
in all honesty, probably the worst trade proposal I’ve ever seen
C’mon. It’s hilarious. Aren’t you glad your mouth wasn’t full of Coke when you read it?
My coworkers are looking at me funny because I burst out laughing after the suggestion of moving Longoria to left.
As a Red Sox fan, I find this to be the best trade proposal ever. As a person that does not smoke crack though, I find it ridiculous to even discuss.
I’m going to assume this is serious…
“It also gives Boston much needed salary relief.”
This is the biggest of several problems with your proposal. Yes, it certainly does give much needed salary relief to Boston — it does so by giving a small-market team players they wouldn’t be able to afford. Crawford isn’t a Ray because of the contract they thought he would get, which is even smaller than the contract he actually got. There is simply no way this deal could happen this way, without even getting into why TB would want to do it.
The best part was moving Longo to left to accomodate for Middlebrooks. WOOOOHOOOOO.
Literally every word in this trade proposal is absurd.
what? it wont be a week and crawford will be back on the dl.
The Red Sox are claiming to not be actively shopping Sweeney because they don’t want to give the image that they are desperately looking to deal him before they have to activate Ellsbury.
If Sweeney isn’t traded in the next 24 hours, he might be getting DFA’ed.
Kenny Williams might have an interest in Matt Albers we need bullpen help
vernon wells is available……take over payments
who in their right mind would take wells with 20mil per season hanging on his head. 227 average,7 hr’s 12 rbi’s woow what a catch hahaha.
Isn’t crawford scheduled for a tommy john?
not until the offseason
so he’s going to miss next year?
Position players only need about 5 months to recover, he should be ready to go by spring training!
I knew it was shorter, but not that short! interesting, thanks!
That might be too soon, its about half the time from what I have heard though.
Crawford will take a full yr, and Ellsbury will take a 1 DL trip to help him!
But, of course, if history is our guide he’ll wait until March to have the surgery.
wrong, he will try to rehab it all year, with multiple setbacks. Then contemplate surgery in fall of 2013
Crawford needs to get out of Boston. Fans are going to boo him every chance they get for game 162, poor performance and injuries. I don’t see him turning it around in Boston, never was a good fit.
I think Carl should just have the surgery now, so we have him healthy next season
It’s a year- a year and a half recovery time. We’d be lucky to get him back next year and even if we did, he may never be the same.
nope, yr for pitchers about half the time for position players
For pitchers its a year to a year and a half depending on the person, taking up to 2 years to be 100% again in some cases. You are correct about position players though, I did not realize there was a difference. Good call.
I would trust Theo to know what he is getting if he were to deal with the BoSox again. But truthfully I would rather try to make this trade with the Blue Jays or Tigers since they have a lot more talent to deal from. Unless the BoSox want to talk Middlebrooks then I am on board …
If I were Charrington, I’d probably hang up on anyone wanting to include WMB in pretty much any trade. IMO, WMB is essentially untouchable.
I think he’s only untouchable because there is not a viable replacement for third base right now, not because of his talent.
He was ranked as the top Red Sox prospect prior to being called up. I wouldn’t dismiss his talent. Oh, he may not be perfect. He doesn’t have Youk’s patience (and OBP), but all in all, I’d say that he’s one heck of a replacement.
Here’s a neat trade idea: OF Nava, INF Ciriaco, P Dubront for P Garza and $4 MM
I feel like Dubront has been just as valuable as garza.
Why trade for a player you are trading, and then throw in a good prospect and decent bench player?
Unfortunately, this trade doesn’t make sense for Boston. Dubront is their only pitcher giving them anything right now.
I don’t like the trade either. As you point out, Doubront has been one of the Sox most reliable starters this season. And though he may be nearing an innings pitched limit for the season, I think that Felix has a bright future and the Sox shouldn’t trade him away. Certainly not for a guy who doesn’t look like an upgrade to me.
Right, ‘like’ his comment on my original comment but don’t take .0005 seconds to like mine. smh
I’m getting tired of every player with elbow issues needing TJ Surgery.
Is Kalish no longer considered a prize prospect? Two/three years ago, he was one of the keys to the Sox future. Now, he barely gets noticed.
He is still in consideration for the future, he was injured quite a bit though.
He’s also going for an operation (I believe) so he’s probably off the block at this point…
I hate to admit it, but it seems like Sox fans won’t be happy unless Ben finds a way to land King Felix. Red Sox Nation have been having Pedro withdrawals for quite some time now, it’s time to get a true ace. If I’m Ben C I tell Seattle that they can trade Felix now and get a haul of young potential stars; or I’ll come in with a billion dollar offer when he is a free agent in 2014, and all they’ll get is a supplemental pick.
Mariners Get:
-Felix Doubront
-Anthony Ranaudo
-Ryan Lavarnway
-Jose Igelesias
-Garin Cecchini
-Bryce Brentz
Sox Get:
-King Felix
-Chone Figgins and his awful contract
-PTBNL
If it would take Bogaerts instead of Cecchini, or Kalish instead of Brentz, then so be it. I think the only two untouchables in the Sox farm system should be Bradley and Barnes. Heck, I’d even offer Lester instead of Doubrant.