The Red Sox and Rangers discussed a trade that would have sent Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kelly Shoppach to Texas, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. It’s unclear what the Red Sox would have obtained in the potential trade, which was discussed in the days leading up to yesterday’s non-waiver trade deadline.
Bradford’s sources are divided on how serious talks were before the Rangers moved on and acquired Geovany Soto and Ryan Dempster from the Cubs in a pair of trades. GM Ben Cherington said the Red Sox explored a lot of options before deciding to complete one low-profile deadline deal.
"We did feel empowered to do something bold, we just didn't find something bold that made sense for us," Cherington said.
Trade talks never advanced to the point where the Red Sox asked Beckett about the possibility of waiving his ten and five rights. Beckett would have provided the Rangers with some rotation depth and Texas could have paired Shoppach with Mike Napoli behind the plate. Ellsbury, who’s under team control for 2013, would have represented insurance for the Rangers in case they don’t re-sign Josh Hamilton when he’s eligible for free agency this coming offseason.
What would have been the package coming to Boston? That could have landed us Jurickson Profar, Martin Perez, and more.
That wouldn’t land you Profar and Perez, much less more.
Um no. Profar would not be a part of that deal. Throw in A-Gon and you maybe correct.
I’m not sure you read my comment correctly. I said Profar and Perez for Ellsbury, Beckett, and Shoppach wouldn’t work because that is too much for the Rangers.
Unless they ate all of the money, they wouldn’t have got back as much as you think. First off, Profar is untouchable for them (and rightfully so). They wouldn’t need Olt. The deal would be centered around L. Martin (to replace Ellsbury) and a pitcher (maybe Perez). Still, would have been nice for Boston to get some more young pieces to go with Middlebrooks and Buchholz.
They don’t need Martin to replace Ellsbury, they have Jackie Bradley (not that they wouldn’t take him – he or Bradley could move to RF – but they wouldn’t likely be asking for him). I wonder if it would have been centered around either Andrus to open up room for Profar, or maybe Ogando to take Beckett’s place in the rotation.
Pretty sure Profar needs another year or two yet
He’s tearing up AA right now, so I don’t think it’s by any means a stretch to say he could be up sometime next season.
No we would have demanded Olt need or not, because Ben would have flipped him to someone else for a top pitching prospect. Leonys Martin is already 24, left handed, and trumped by a MUCH better prospect in Bradley Jr.
Ellsbury sure could have landed something good, but Beckett’s value seems limited – sort of like the Mike Lowell throw-in demand when the Sox got Beckett. My guess is Beckett would have done well in TX and I’m sure everyone anticipated that. Could have been a pretty good return, for sure. But I doubt it would have emptied TX’s farm system.
I would have been happy with David Murphy, Gentry and two top 8 prospects.
Anyone think it would have been Andrus + a couple of prospects. That would solve Red Sox SS problem and allow the rangers to bring up Profar.
Red Sox got Jackie Bradley Jr tearing up the minors to replace Ellsbury (not this year, perhaps 2013)
SS isn’t an issue either. They have multiple SS in the system and where they are loaded the most with Iglesias, Marerro, Lin,Vinicio.. Some are 2+ years away, but Iglesias is about ready. and bradley (as you posted) should be ready by 2013, with Kalish a stand in until then if needed.
The thing the team needs and it is embarrassing (to me) is pitching, which was something they had been good at developing in years past, but have either traded away of late, or been busts, injury delays..etc..
What IMO they should have strictly focused on was power pitching.. Tanner Scheppers, Barret Loux. They were not going to get the best of course. Focus on ones who had struggled (Scheppers) as SP, but still had the potential to be a shut down closer and Loux as a potential back end SP.
It’s about all the Sox could have hoped to get was a pair something like that.
JS, I have to disagree with you on the SS position. Getting Andrus would have been a solid upgrade in the here and now. As for Iglesias, he’s a stiff. I call him “Belanger” Iglesias because he’s all glove and no stick. And Sox fans wouldn’t put up with that type of SS for very long. As for the others, 2+ years away is 2+ years away. 😉
Obviously you weren’t here for the Alex Gonzalez seasons. We put up with a hole for no. 9 as good as the next fanbase.
Belanger played 18 years in the league and appeared in 4 world series. We should be so lucky!
That was a different era. And that sort of all glove, no bat SS just doesn’t cut it in today’s MLB, and certainly not in the AL. No team wants a black hole in its lineup (not counting NL pitchers hitting, of course).
I agree and disagree about a few things here. Yeah we got a few solid SS prospects but none of them are all around players. Iglesias is all D, Marrero is D with a bit of pop, and Vinicio is like Lin he is a batting average solid glove type. I do agree about pitching, however I don’t think its a symptom of any major problem, but more that we tend to spend our best picks on position players. We do need to emphasize on pitching this offseason though as the new HORRIBLE system is making it hard to build up picks, and sign FA’s. As for looking at the trade directly I can see why it didn’t get done from both sides. Rangers didn’t want to overpay, and we didn’t want to sell low on our entire roster like the league seems to think we will. This proves we won’t. If we are STRONGLY contending this next season none of those guys will be available unless its at top value except Ells (AGAIN barring a freak accident, as he is hardly ever injured by anything less).
A team, that generally produces as many runs as Boston can afford 1 position where offense is weak and that position (arguably needs the best glove) to save runs.
The people I listed as targets from texas there were reasons for.. Scheppers is another Bard.. 96-100mph flame thrower with a decent curve who throws strikes, much like Bard *used to* when he was a reliever and has shut down closer written all over him.
Loux, a back end SP candidate with 4 pitches. low 90’s and nothing special, but throws strikes. Scheppers was the key.
I have no illusions that proposed Beckett, Ells, Shoppach package would have yielded a good haul in return.. *unless* Boston paid a considerable portion of Beckett’s contract.
Giving the Rangers 1 and a half seasons worth of Ells would have somewhat negated 35m worth of Beckett’s deal and Shoppack an above average backup catcher the rest of the season.
Would Beckett have regained some semblance of his former self “home” at Arlington? Debatable. Home run happy stadium for sure and a fly ball pitcher who now operates in the 91-3mph range, I think he just needs a change of scenery, plus being at that location (Texas) the proper motivation for him to excel myself. He could have been a decent enough #3, though not the top of the rotation self he has been at times throughout his career again.
Now.. Not a whole lot and not Michael Olt class, nor was anyone of that caliber even asked. The sticking point was money for Beckett and who was paying.
I do think the Rangers should have worked hard on this one. Ellsbury is an impact player, something they could use. He does everything and certainly they won’t try to resign him after 2013, but for a season and a half he might have just given them a chance for 2 WS wins.
I am wondering if the deal was hinged on netfali and the elbow got in the way of the deal. It was no secret ben wants young cheap controllable pitchers.
Probably best that we kept Ells, because barring another freak accident (someone kneeing his ribs or landing on his shoulder) he will be at top value next deadline and command a top prospect and then some. If we aren’t contending, which I think we will be considering we are about as unlucky as a club can get these past several years.
Not anymore, players are considerably more valuable with a year+ of control left because of the way the new CBA works. They wouldn’t be able to get a whole lot for him next deadline, so his peak value was either yesterday, or this offseason.
I just don’t understand why we couldn’t deal Shoppach.
Because he’s the better defensive catcher right now
Maybe this offseason. This is the type of deal I was hoping for.
Ellsbury is a free agent, he’s not going to sign just to get traded. He’ll sign in Texas if he wants to be there.
Ells is a free agent after 2013. One more year of arb.
Well damn, you’re right. My mistake.
I just have a feeling Beckett will end up in Texas during the waiver period.
I’d of done that for Hamilton straight up.
What? Why? They’re not in a “win now” position and Hamilton is a free agent at the end of the season (a free agent they would be highly unlikely to re-sign). That wouldn’t make any sense at all.
Wait?! What?! Relax dude I’m a human and can voice my Opinon. Trade never happened anyways.
Wow…
Lets play the “since it would never happen game”
I trade, Schillings bloody sock to Mariners for Felix (now they have some post season history)
I trade, Shoppach to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp.
I trade, Lackey and Dice-K to Detroit for Verlander and Fister.
In all honesty, I would seriously make those trades, no joke!
“I trade, Schillings bloody sock to Mariners for Felix (now they have some post season history)”
Don’t tempt me.. Now ur trying to get ME into trouble…
Hmmmm, how to put this nicely ;-( Trade it to NY for.. Alex rodriquez.. Well.. Sort of…
We gotta be careful today, maybe tomorrow also Maine. Think there is sumfin’ goin’ around. We’ll call it “post 7/31 disorder”.
Maybe we’ll be famous for naming rights and royalty fees for naming rights?? 😉
I just miss the days when you could actually disagree with people on here without them getting all butt hurt every time.
No kidding…
I just miss the days when you could actually disagree with people on here without them always getting bent out of shape over it.
1. Dude? Really?
2. So … you’re a human. I’d have never have guessed.
3. And BTW, MaineSox is free to reply to your opinion with one of his own. It’s called a “discussion”. Maybe you’ve heard of them?
i need clarification on this human thing