Friday, December 20, 2013
Are Sox Planning Giancarlo Stanton Mega-Deal?
Despite denials from both sides, rumors persist (and we stress they are still in the rumor stage) about a potential blockbuster trade between the Red Sox and Marlins. The current configuration being floated is for Boston to send third baseman Will Middlebrooks, center fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. and dynamic starting pitching prospect Henry Owens to Miami in exchange for Giancarlo Stanton. It's an interesting proposition. The Red Sox could move Xander Bogaerts (one of their few 'untouchable' prospects) to third and put Stephen Drew back at shortstop (of course, his re-signing via Scott Boras would actually have to happen). Stanton would go to right and Shane Victorino could move to center. The real sacrifice would be losing Owens, who could emerge as a dominant Number 1 or Number 2 starter in the not-too-distant future. Baseball America lists Owens as the organization's number two overall prospect—just behind Bogaerts. Of course, with Stanton, Boston would get a 24-year old budding superstar—a guy who actually slugged .608 in 2012, with 27 HRs. In 2013, he 'slumped' to .480 slugging and 24 HRs. He has been injury-prone in his young career, but a healthy right-handed hitting Stanton would be a 'monster' (no pun intended) in the middle of the Red Sox lineup for years to come.
