In today’s column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggests ten steps to help fix the Red Sox. The first item on the list is one that has been discussed quite a bit – Boston’s need for a true ace in the rotation. Beyond that, Cafardo would like to see the Sox trade Clay Buchholz, focus on acquiring players who can thrive in their environment, and hire an executive to oversee and question the moves of GM Ben Cherington. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from Cafardo’s Sunday offering..
- White Sox left-hander Chris Sale is on a strikeout tear and teams would surely like to add him this summer. However, team sources tell Cafardo that Sale is not available. Even though the White Sox are in last place, they see him as the cornerstone of their franchise. Sale, 26, has a 2.74 ERA with 12.1 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 through 13 starts this season.
- There have been conflicting reports on the subject, but Cafardo hears that the Mets have made inquiries on Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez, who turns 37 this week, has hit just .220/.256/.405 in 211 plate appearances this season. However, some feel that a move to a contending club could get him back on track. Cafardo also writes that it wouldn’t be surprising if the Giants or Padres got in the mix on the veteran.
- Teams are watching Red Sox closer Koji Uehara and monitoring him to make sure that he’s free of serious injury concerns. At the same time, his $9MM salary for next season is a deterrent for rival teams. “There’s always going to be a holding of your breath to commit to him, but he’s still very good. Boston would have to pick up some of the salary. But I think teams will definitely inquire and make a push for him,” one AL evaluator told Cafardo.
- Jonathan Papelbon would seem to be a great fit for the the Blue Jays, but money continues to be an issue for Toronto. The Phillies could probably assume a lot of Papelbon’s deal for this year and some of the $13MM vesting option for 2016, but the sense is that Toronto wants to go even cheaper. Also, they don’t want to give up youngster Daniel Norris to find their late-inning solution.
Cant even begin to imagine what it would take to get Chris Sale…
Trading Clay is a no-brainer and Ben should be all over that but I bet he isnt. They Must trade Napoli as well. I too would move on from Koji, he should Never have been re-signed. Complete list of who I would move, like yesterday: Buchholz, Napoli, Koji, Breslow, Ross jr, Masterson (not that anyone would want him), I think thats all of them but with this team who knows, a new name pops up everyday.
I would have signed Koji for one year but not a second. Koji’s in the same boat right now as K-Rod. You can’t get a save if your team loses.
I think Ramirez is just off to a very slow start. He’s starting to pick it up more. His career numbers just don’t show that he should be declining this rapidly.
Aramis has hinted that he will retire after this season, given that and his lack of production this season, coupled with a high salary makes him untradeable.
The fact its a partial season is a plus. He’s been hitting much better lately and the money isn’t really all that much for a partial season.
The salary would not be a problem if he were still good. He isn’t, though.
Sox need to blow up this team, and look to next year, I would wait and get an ace from the free agents. Key question for the Sox is who is to be on the team going forward,and who’s not!
It really isnt a hard question to answer. Who Ben should peddle from today til the August deadline: Buchholz, Napoli, Koji, Breslow, Masterson (not that anyone would want him), Ross jr. Keep the rest and add thru free agency (Upton & a top starter) and trades next winter, then they will be contenders.
Caffardo listed mostly guys who really have negative, or no value anyway in trades.. Nava, Victorino, Masterson, Breslow, Craig.. Only Napoli, Uehara and Ogando could be moved without paying off close to the entirety of the contract total and Hannigan will have to prove he’s healthy from the broken hand before he has any value with 2y on his deal left.
That said? Bucholz is the best really movable piece with those 2 13m team options and he’s pitched well since the blowup in NY his 2nd start. I can see Ogando being moved and replaced by flamethrower Pat Light soon.
They cant afford to trade Hanigan even if he had any value as Vazquez will take more than a year to come back from his elbow surgery. Also Swihart shouldnt even be on the MLB roster, he shouldve remained and needs to go back to AAA. I know he’s hit better of late but he isnt a complete player yet, still has alot to learn in the Minors before taking over in the Majors.
Not so fast, look at all the teams that made big moves in the off season, Sox, Padres, and White Sox!
I’ve never looked at Toronto as a realistic option for Papelbon. They always seem to be interested in the rumors, but I don’t view them as a serious contender for his services. Everything says they don’t want to give up any good prospects or spend much money on a closer, yet they’re linked to guys like Papelbon, Clippard, K-Rod, and I’d assume Uehara (if he was made available). To get any of these guys and expect the team trading them to eat salary (especially with Papelbon and Uehara for next season), Toronto will have to give up a semi-decent prospect. Clippard could be a rental so I get not wanting to give up too much for him, but Oakland isn’t going to give him away. And K-Rod is on an extremely reasonable contract and pitching well, so he will cost a good amount too.
I know the market has plenty of options for Toronto, but eventually they’re going to have to decide if they’re serious about any of these guys. In the end, I see them going the K-Rod or Clippard route if they do anything (and they’d be crazy not to).
Toronto has 2 issues, 1 is they have a budget that ownership doesnt want to go over and 2 is the fact Papelbon (for one) has expressed the fact he Doesnt want to go to Toronto. The only way I see Toronto getting acloser is if the other team will take on money or a player of equal contract or for a guy who is in his last year of arbitration and isnt getting that high salary yet. Good luck to them, hard to see them finding that kinda player or team willing to deal.
The Phillies have already said they’d be willing to eat money on Papelbon’s contract (presumably some of what remains this year and some of the option year) if it means it brings back a better prospect(s). But Toronto has budget issues AND doesn’t want to give up decent prospects, so I find it to be a tough match.
But to correct your one point, Papelbon has said he would go to Toronto. Apparently his top choice is the Cubs, but he would go to Toronto (would want his option picked up even though it’s going to kick in regardless). Cole Hamels is the one who doesn’t want to pitch in Toronto.
Then he’s changed his stance because ive heard him say and seen it reported that he wouldnt want to go to Toronto, most players dont want to for 1 reason or another.
And I thought Philly would Only kick in money for this year not next. Either way Amaro never seems to back down from his demands and that is why he is still stuck with these expensive players. If he’s serious about wanting to rebuild he Must back off of his ridiculous demands. Why they havent fired him at this point is mind boggling.
I’m pretty sure they’d be willing to kick in money on both years if the return package is right. RAJ has been awful (despite his last couple trades of Byrd and Rollins being good) and should be canned. I hate leaving the most crucial trade deadline in years in the hands of the GM that has put the team in this situation, especially when he is most likely gone after the season. Hopefully Gillick is the one who makes the call (or MacPhail if he’s hired in time). And the sad part is, I’ve referred to the previous 2 trade deadlines as the most crucial for the Phillies and we’ve seen how they’ve turned out. Third times a charm?
I don’t buy into a lot of the rumors that Amaro has asked for a team’s top 3 prospects with a refusal to eat money. Some I believe are partially true, others are just a joke and in no way can be true. When it comes to Toronto though, I believe the blame lies more with Toronto than Amaro. There is no shortage of closers available (Papelbon, K-Rod, Clippard, probably Uehara), yet Toronto hasn’t made a move. You can’t tell me 3-4 teams are asking such outrageous prices that they’re all the crazy ones.
He’s been wanting to come since spring training.
Papelbon said in the offseason Toronto would be a great spot for him to land. I’m not sure what you’re referring to. It’s been very public his interest in Toronto.
Papelbon will go to any team that’s a contender and will use him as a closer.
I always enjoy Nick Cafardo’s columns. He lists the Phillies liking two CFs and a SS. The Phillies are deep in fast CFs without much power and their best prospect will be playing SS next year. The Phillies have a lot of holes and aren’t going to trade for players who play at the few positions they actually have someone. That appears to be a list of players the Red Sox will trade, not a list of what the Phillies want.
Carfardo has been on the Hamels bandwagon for a long time, but a package of Margot, Johnson, and Brentz/Bradley/Marrero doesn’t cut it. Ideally the Phillies get players back that play positions they’re currently shallow at (C, corner OF, can never have enough SP), but in the end I just want the best prospects they can get regardless of position. They need talent, no matter the position. They can figure out the rest later (whether it’s other trades or whatever).
Sorry but youre 100% wrong on that. papelbon has publicly stated he would be very interested in playing in toronto.
AA will have to make the right moves at the deadline or he’s gone!
No one would turn down a top 20 prospect because they already had another player. The Red Sox package listed includes the MLB.com #99 prospect, a nice pitcher, and a bunch of aging prospects. Every team has players like that. If that’s all you’ll get, you at least get those players at positions you need.
Brian Johnson was #82 and Margot #72. MLB has Margot at #99, tho most people are going to take the BA rankings a LOT more serious than those at MLB,com and Margot has a LOT higher of a ceiling than does Johnson, though Johnson is right at MLB ready, he’s just one of those High floor, low ceiling guys that has 4 pitches, though none of them stand out lefty type of guys and has exceptional command.
Betts, Owens, Swihart, have all been devalued at this point!
Not really. Mike Trout has given people the wrong impression of highly touted prospects. just because your a highly touted, rated prospect doesnt mean you come out of the gate like your hair is on fire. 95% of prospects, regardless of whether their labeled a #1 or #100 tend to start off their MLB careers slowly, that is why those players really shouldnt be judged. Just like in the NFL after a prospect is drafted, in this case make the Majors in baseball what they give you After 3 years is what they should be judged on, not the first season and more than likely not the second either.
Betts, Owens, Swihart havent lost anything, they have retained 100% of their prospect value. I would suggest reading player scouting reports regularly, scouts will tell you when their value has dropped and presently no Red Sox prospect has lost his value. The Only player that MLB question, are very curious about is Jackie Bradley Jr but even he has regained alot of his value by having a great season thus far in AAA.
The Red Sox have been over valuing their prospects for the past several years, they would have been better serviced dealing Betts, and Swihart for Hamels. You snooze, you loose.
What you missed in your recap is that he revealed the Sox will retire Pedro’s number on Jul 28. No one else seemed to notice until the Sox announced it today.