Red Sox Hesitate To Trade Prospects For Relievers
The Red Sox would like to see more consistent production from their bullpen, but they aren’t about to give good prospects up to acquire relievers, GM Theo Epstein told Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Red Sox relievers not named Daniel Bard have had ups and downs this year, so Epstein is open to adding arms.
“It’s no condemnation of our current bullpen, but to be realistic about it, you add a really good reliever it always makes our team better,” Epstein said.
The Red Sox thought they were adding a really good reliever in 2007 when they acquired Eric Gagne for Engel Beltre, Kason Gabbard and David Murphy. As any Red Sox fan will tell you, Gagne’s stint in Boston (6.75 ERA) was not a successful one. Last year, the Red Sox traded Chris Carter for Billy Wagner and even obtained a top pick in this year’s draft. The Red Sox may need help behind the plate, in the infield or in the outfield, but if they decide to prioritize relief help, don’t expect them to hand over highly-valued prospects.
Red Sox Will Let Backups Play Before Making Moves
GM Theo Epstein says the Red Sox will evaluate the players replacing Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez before deciding whether to pursue a trade for depth up the middle, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Bill Hall, Eric Patterson, Jason Varitek and Gustavo Molina will get the chance to fill in while Pedroia and Martinez heal.
If that quartet is as productive as outfielders Daniel Nava and Darnell McDonald, Epstein may not have to deal at all. The club may consider pursuing other players, but as Epstein points out, standout second basemen and catchers are hard to find.
“Those middle of the field guys who can really make an impact offensively, they’re the toughest ones to replace,” Epstein said.
Not only would it be difficult to trade for a productive catcher or middle infielder, it would be necessary to create roster space when Martinez and Pedroia return. That’s another consideration for Epstein, who says trades would have to make sense long-term and short-term.
“You don’t want to make a major trade that all of a sudden three or four weeks from now doesn’t fit,” Epstein said.
Earlier today, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reported that the Red Sox and Cubs talked about a deal that would have sent Mike Fontenot to Boston. WEEI reported last week that the Red Sox have some interest in Adam Everett. The Red Sox appear to be considering options in case Hall and Patterson do not meet expectations, but Epstein says the current Red Sox will be given every opportunity to succeed.
Red Sox, Cubs Discussed Fontenot Trade
Before the Eric Patterson trade, the Red Sox and Cubs discussed a possible deal that would have sent Mike Fontenot to Boston, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The Red Sox are down an infielder now that Dustin Pedroia's fractured foot has sent him to the DL. The Cubs could deal Fontenot, who doesn't play every day, and keep their starting lineup together.
Fontenot, 30, makes $1MM this year and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2013 season. He is hitting .286/.331/.414 in 145 plate appearances and has been an average defender in recent years according to UZR/150. So far in 2010, he has played second, third and short, so his versatility no doubt appeals to the Red Sox.
The Cubs' recent trade talks don't mean they are willing to start selling. Two sources told Morosi that the 33-43 Cubs are "halfway" to sell mode (Twitter link). If Fontenot is available, the Phillies and Angels could also have interest given injuries to their infielders.
Giants, Red Sox Among Teams Eyeing Royals
The Giants and Red Sox are among the teams eyeing Royals players, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Royals GM Dayton Moore is willing to listen to offers, but anticipating the return for the likes of David DeJesus and Jose Guillen is difficult, even for those in the team’s front office.
“I can tell you this much,” one Royals official told Dutton, “nobody is willing to take on payroll. But teams don’t want to deal prospects, either. So it makes it tough to do anything.”
Dutton reports that the Giants have interest in Guillen on the condition that the Royals absorb most of the $6.3MM or so remaining on his contract. Earlier today, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported that the Royals are looking to move Guillen and are willing to pick up most of his salary in a trade, but Moore insists that the Royals are not actively looking to trade. Two rival scouts told Dutton that the Royals say they will take on a considerable amount of Guillen’s salary, so it doesn’t appear that Guillen would be tough to obtain.
If the Royals decide to start selling aggressively, they could discuss Mike Aviles and Willie Bloomquist with the Red Sox, who see the infielders as candidates to fill in while Dustin Pedroia's fractured left foot heals. The Red Sox are considering infielders and had some interest in Adam Everett before Pedroia's injury. One scout said Kyle Farnsworth could appeal to teams as a reliever if the Royals decide to part with him.
Red Sox Designate Fabio Castro For Assignment
The Red Sox designated lefty Fabio Castro for assignment to create roster space for new acquisition Eric Patterson, according to the team. The Red Sox acquired Patterson from Oakland over the weekend after the A's designated the infielder for assignment.
The Red Sox have called Castro up twice this year, but manager Terry Francona has yet to bring the 25-year-old into a game. In 17 Triple A appearances, he has a 6.65 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9. Castro last appeared in a major league game as a member of the 2007 Phillies.
Boof Bonser Elects Free Agency
Boof Bonser has elected free agency after clearing waivers, according to the Red Sox, who designated the righty for assignment earlier in the month. Bonser’s groin injury has limited him to two appearances since the Red Sox acquired him from the Twins over the winter. In two innings, Bonser allowed six hits and walked a pair without recording a strikeout.
Bonser, now 28, was a reliable starter for the Twins in 2007. He started 30 games and logged 173 innings, though his ERA was 5.10. The former first rounder posted strong strikeout (7.3 K/9) and walk (2.9 BB/9) ratios in his three-year stint with the Twins, but has not proven himself in the majors since the shoulder surgery that sidelined him for 2009.
Red Sox Rumors: Cash, Ibarra, Ranaudo
The injuries keep coming for the Red Sox and so do the rumors. Here's the latest on Boston's options behind the plate, now and in the future:
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com notes that the Red Sox could have interest in Kevin Cash if Victor Martinez goes on the DL. Cash, now in Houston's system, has experience catching many Red Sox pitchers, including Tim Wakefield. He would probably be available for a small return.
- Cash could become Boston's immediate solution, but today they moved closer to adding a backstop who could help them in a couple years. Cuban catcher Adalberto Ibarra took his physical today according to the catcher's agency on Twitter. Speier notes that the deal should become official once the results of the physical are available. The Red Sox agreed to a $3MM deal with the 22-year-old in April.
- Red Sox 2010 draft pick Anthony Ranaudo is returning to form in the Cape Cod League, according to Jason A. Churchill of ESPN.com. Ranaudo's stock fell as the draft approached and elbow issues surfaced, but he has considerable upside, as MLBTR's Mike Axisa explains in this post.
Odds & Ends: Patterson, Marlins, League, Zambrano
Some Saturday links as the Red Sox suffer their latest injury, this one involving Clay Buchholz and running the bases…
- FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Red Sox's acquisition of Eric Patterson came together quickly; they had yet to inquire about him as recently as noon Eastern time today.
- Marlins' first base coach Dave Collins abruptly resigned today, reports Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post. He wonders if the move may be related to an imminent Bobby Valentine hiring, but president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said that was not the case (all Twitter links).
- Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says (via Twitter) that Brandon League is the Mariners' second best trade chip behind Cliff Lee. The hard-throwing righty reliever is owed approximately $590K the rest of the season, and is under team control for two more years.
- With the Yankees facing off against the Dodgers, Tyler Kepner from the New York Times reminds us that Alex Rodriguez was almost a Dodger back in 1993. Fortunately for the Mariners, the first pick still alternated yearly between the AL and NL back then.
- In the comments of his blog, the Atlanta Journal Constitution's David O'Brien says that conversations with people across the Braves organization yesterday have him convinced more than ever that Fredi Gonzalez will be the Braves' next manager.
- Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times says the Cubs may have reached the "breaking point" with Carlos Zambrano, and says they're probably better off eating the $45MM left on his contract and trading him away.
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier says that Dustin Pedroia's foot injury is going to test Boston's less than stellar infield depth.
- Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer says that the Indians will probably be able to make smaller deals like they did last year with Rafael Betancourt (to the Rockies) and Ryan Garko (to the Giants).
Red Sox Acquire Eric Patterson
The Athletics have traded outfielder Eric Patterson to the Red Sox for minor league lefty Fabian Williamson, according to the team's official Twitter feed. Patterson had been designated for assignment earlier this week.
The Red Sox just lost Dustin Pedroia for as much as six weeks with a fracture in his foot, and the 27-year-old Patterson has considerable experience playing second base. He's a career .224/.301/.340 hitter in 378 big league plate appearances, and is capable of playing all three outfield positions in addition to the keystone spot.
Boston originally acquired Williamson from the Mariners for David Aardsma last January. The 21-year-old has a 3.72 ERA with a 5.5 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9 this season, playing for the team's High-A affiliate.
Red Sox Have Inquired About Available Outfielders
6:46pm: Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com tweets that even though DeJesus would be a good fit for the Sox, word is that Kansas City is asking for "way too much."
10:48am: With injuries decimating their outfield corps, the Red Sox have contacted multiple teams around the league to gauge the availability of outfielders in advance of the trade deadline, writes Scott Lauber of The Boston Herald. He adds that one such conversation centered around David DeJesus.
Outfield depth was one area that MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith highlighted when he reviewed the team's needs, which is obvious given the injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury, Jeremy Hermida, J.D. Drew, and Mike Cameron. The Royals are said to "love" currently injured shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias, though there has been no indication that Boston would part with him in a deal for DeJesus.
The 30-year-old DeJesus is enjoying a career year at .320/.389/.475, and he's owed approximately $2.6MM the rest of the season. There is also a $6MM club option for 2011 in his contract with a $500K buyout. Some other outfielders that could end up on the trading block include Austin Kearns, Coco Crisp, Scott Podsednik, Gabe Gross, Brad Hawpe, and Xavier Nady, all of whom can become free agents after the season.