Would love to see the Sox get a guy like Scooter Gennett who likely wouldn’t require a king’s ransom. Other targets? Brad Hand? Know we don’t have the prospects for a major deal.
Potential Trade Deadline Targets
- Thread starter thepriceisright
- Start date
Yeah I don't see Gennett in the cards for the Sox, though I would love to be wrong. There are many contending teams that could make better offers than anything the Sox could put together, and even if no one else is interested the Reds can just keep him for another year to either discuss an extension or just wait for a better offer in the offseason or during the season next year.
Same thing goes for Brad Hand except I think he might be even less likely because, while obviously every contender wants to revamp their bullpen, the pen is a relative strength for the Sox compared to other teams like Houston so there is less of a need there and a greater likelihood another team will make a better offer.
Same thing goes for Brad Hand except I think he might be even less likely because, while obviously every contender wants to revamp their bullpen, the pen is a relative strength for the Sox compared to other teams like Houston so there is less of a need there and a greater likelihood another team will make a better offer.
I’m not saying he wouldn’t require a huge package, I guess I was just thinking that he’d be cheaper than, say, Machado.
Depends on injuries/performance. If we have the same problems we have now, C, 3B, 2B.
Holt being Brockholt! will help the infield, but we probably want something like the 2017 version of Nunez.
Holt being Brockholt! will help the infield, but we probably want something like the 2017 version of Nunez.
According to Cots, the Red Sox have less than $2M in AAV to spend before they're exceeding the theshold where the tax penalties are most severe. Even pro-rated for 2-3 months, that still doesn't give them much breathing room to add anyone other than pre-arb type players. And there's little chance they're going to get a pre-arb player (someone with a sub-$2M salary) of consequence with their farm system. That's before taking into account that other teams may have similar needs and a significant capacity to out-spend the Sox.
Be prepared for the Sox to do little to nothing trade-wise the rest of the way. Scrap-heap reclamations are about all they can afford.
Be prepared for the Sox to do little to nothing trade-wise the rest of the way. Scrap-heap reclamations are about all they can afford.
Gennett's making $5.7M this year. Unless Cincinnati is subsidizing (and why in the world would they?), the Red Sox can't afford him even if they could pay the "king's ransom".
Well, that would depend on exactly how much "less than $2M" is, right? If they traded for Gennett at the deadline, they'd be paying a third of $5.7M or $1.9M.
This is academic, as the only way it would remotely make sense to trade for Gennett is if Pedroia's retirement looks inevitable by the deadline, and even then, probably not.
Cot's says $1,674,400. So if we're talking a trade (or two) on deadline day, the total annual salary due the player or players acquired can't really exceed $5M or they might as well take on more than that since they'll be blowing by the threshold and paying the max (and dropping draft positions) anyway.
Yeah this plus the fact that the cupboard is pretty bare in the minors means we're not in position to do much impactful unless we get very creative.
For scrap heap guys, Danny Valencia would seem to be a fit. Hits lefties well and can spell first and third (and maybe second?). IIRC, isn’t the rub that he’s kind of a jerk?
Brad Hand isn’t happening, but Ryan Buchter or Jake Diekman could be fits if they’re healthy. Maybe Luis Avilan from Chicago.
Brad Hand isn’t happening, but Ryan Buchter or Jake Diekman could be fits if they’re healthy. Maybe Luis Avilan from Chicago.
The bad news is that the primary deadline targets aren't likely to come to the Red Sox (Machado and Britton on the O's and Herrera on the Royals would all be great fits, though!).
The good news is that lots of teams are playing so poorly that they’re already sellers, so the pool of available talent is large: Orioles, White Sox, Royals, Marlins, and Reds are all playing .350 ball or worse, which is remarkable. The Rangers and Padres aren't too far behind, and the Rays are already selling despite having played decently.
In terms of targets, I think chawson has the range of player just right -- a bench bat or a veteran left-hander out of the bullpen. I foresee a quiet July 31st much like last season's, leading to many a "Who?":
The good news is that lots of teams are playing so poorly that they’re already sellers, so the pool of available talent is large: Orioles, White Sox, Royals, Marlins, and Reds are all playing .350 ball or worse, which is remarkable. The Rangers and Padres aren't too far behind, and the Rays are already selling despite having played decently.
In terms of targets, I think chawson has the range of player just right -- a bench bat or a veteran left-hander out of the bullpen. I foresee a quiet July 31st much like last season's, leading to many a "Who?":
Yeah, Valencia was a guy I thought of before I clicked. A RHH corner IF type with a bit of pop to spell Moreland and/or Devers. Hard to see them doing much more than that.
I've been trying to remember Danny Valencia's name for three weeks now.
With $1.6 million to spend, we're not bringing back much of anything at all unless we send salary elsewhere.
We don't have the prospects to make it worthwhile for a rebuilding team to take on salary so we're looking at a three way.
We send someone who has value as a player, gets paid a bit, but is redundant here to a contending team, presumably in the NL who sends a prospect to whomever for someone who has value as a player, gets paid a bit, and plays a position we're weak at.
If we assume Swihart convinces the Sox he can catch and that Pedroia convinces the Sox he's healthy, that means the candidates are Eduardo Nunez, Brock Holt, and Sandy Leon.
Honestly, that's kind of depressing.
With $1.6 million to spend, we're not bringing back much of anything at all unless we send salary elsewhere.
We don't have the prospects to make it worthwhile for a rebuilding team to take on salary so we're looking at a three way.
We send someone who has value as a player, gets paid a bit, but is redundant here to a contending team, presumably in the NL who sends a prospect to whomever for someone who has value as a player, gets paid a bit, and plays a position we're weak at.
If we assume Swihart convinces the Sox he can catch and that Pedroia convinces the Sox he's healthy, that means the candidates are Eduardo Nunez, Brock Holt, and Sandy Leon.
Honestly, that's kind of depressing.
Valencia is strongly rumored to be a massive dink - no thanks. http://bluejayhunter.com/2016/08/danny-valencia-drama-reaffims-blue-jays-decision-to-dfa-him.html
If Marco Hernandez could ever get healthy, he could help out in the infield as well. The last update I heard was over a month ago and he was taking grounders but that was it.
Nunez basically needs to outhit his defense and that solves that - which he did last year, but hasn't done this year.
I have full confidence that DD will do what he needs to do as usual, if he feels there is a weakness.
It's not impossible that he can find a shrewd way to move salary either, if they find a really useful piece for reasonable chips and need to trim around the edges. Would they really need Nunez - for instance if they acquired someone like Lowrie? They could just call up Lin to take his spot. Not that Nunez would be in high demand, but I think there are ways they can free up money.
All of this presupposes that Pedroia can't contribute much, and that remains to be seen.
It's one of the best teams they've ever had even with half the lineup struggling and no Pedroia for virtually the whole season. This is one of the few Sox teams I can recall that doesn't really need to do anything.
If Marco Hernandez could ever get healthy, he could help out in the infield as well. The last update I heard was over a month ago and he was taking grounders but that was it.
Nunez basically needs to outhit his defense and that solves that - which he did last year, but hasn't done this year.
I have full confidence that DD will do what he needs to do as usual, if he feels there is a weakness.
It's not impossible that he can find a shrewd way to move salary either, if they find a really useful piece for reasonable chips and need to trim around the edges. Would they really need Nunez - for instance if they acquired someone like Lowrie? They could just call up Lin to take his spot. Not that Nunez would be in high demand, but I think there are ways they can free up money.
All of this presupposes that Pedroia can't contribute much, and that remains to be seen.
It's one of the best teams they've ever had even with half the lineup struggling and no Pedroia for virtually the whole season. This is one of the few Sox teams I can recall that doesn't really need to do anything.
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I'd personally need to see this bullpen behind Kimbrel hold up for at least another month before writing off the possibility of upgrading it for a primed window stretch run.
Lineup might be tricky one to evaluate this early as well. Our top heavy production is probably due for some fairly heavy regression, and I'm not to sold the bottom would improve/rebound nearly enough to balance that out. I mean the outlook a month+ from now could really range anywhere from being perfectly gtg to another deadline with people clamoring for this year's Lucas Duda.
Then of course there is always the possibility of an injury. So yeah...too early.
Lineup might be tricky one to evaluate this early as well. Our top heavy production is probably due for some fairly heavy regression, and I'm not to sold the bottom would improve/rebound nearly enough to balance that out. I mean the outlook a month+ from now could really range anywhere from being perfectly gtg to another deadline with people clamoring for this year's Lucas Duda.
Then of course there is always the possibility of an injury. So yeah...too early.
Ya, I'm realistic on the fact Moreland and Betts will regress. Beni is an unknown on the positive side and Devers on the negative. The former could be this good and Devers could continue to struggle.
Nunez and Vazquez will almost certainly rebound though. Nunez has a long enough track record, and it is unlikely that Vazquez and Swihart will be historically bad - as in worst Red Sox hitting seasons of all time bad. If Blake does for an extended period, he'll be unrosterable and they'll bring someone up who could hit better in their sleep.
Who even knows with JBJ.
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The Sox are 27th in MLB against LHP, and that’s counting Hanley’s 132 wRC+ this year. I would kind of expect them to address this (Pedroia doesn’t seem like he’d be ready to help), but you’re right that Valencia has a knock on him.
They have less defensive value, but maybe the Padres are done with Hunter Renfroe or Jose Pirela? Would Matt Holliday or Brandon Phillips accept half a mil?
Swihart really needs to have a solid June.
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To be fair, 29 plate appearances for a last place team managed by Bobby Valentine doesn’t sound fun to me either.
Holliday and Phillips aren't upgrades unless they are working out at the TB12 facility and have regained sufficient pliability. There are a few inexpensive though only potentially slight upgrades like maybe Wilmer Flores who is basically Eduardo Nunez or maybe Adam Duvall who isn't really thought of as a lefty masher.
There's also Brian Dozier but he makes too much and may not even be available. And even then you only grab him if Pedey is done for the year and nothing indicates that is the case.
Really, the only guy I'd be tempted on would be Castellanos, but that division is still up for grabs, he has another year of control and is young enough where the Tigers can build around him. Plus he is hitting well enough where he deserves to play everyday, and they don't have an obvious place to slot him without demoting Devers or moving JBJ in a trade and Beni to CF.
Other than that, I'm not seeing much from non-contenders that would warrant giving up assets.
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I think the sweet spot is someone eligible for FA at the end of the year who makes somewhere between $1m and $2m -- high enough salary so that a non-contending team would be willing to save a few bucks trading him for a mediocre prospect, but low enough to fit under the luxury tax threshold.
That is indeed the sweet spot, but very few players fit that description almost as a rule (besides relievers).
A position player would have to be pretty middling in order to make that little in their third/fourth year of arb while not being non-tendered.
Besides Valencia, we’re looking at Jurickson Profar, Gregor Blanco, Pedro Alvarez, Craig Gentry, Gordon Beckham, Jose Reyes, Daniel Descalso, and Alcides Escobar. Profar hits lefties well (146 wRC+) and can play anywhere. He’d be a good fit, but I’m sure he’d fetch more than what we can offer. Valencia aside, I’m not sure there’s any reason to play anyone else over Swihart.
He doesn’t fit a need as well, but we probably already signed the best hitter of the bunch in Adam Lind.
I was banging the drum on Canha when it looked like he was a swing change breakout last month, but holy shit did he fall back to earth.
I want to trade our thin cupboard of non-prospects and our most ineffective and/or expensive ML players for young, cost-controlled stars. It should be easy. Other teams really want to help us because I am a fan of the Red Sox. The luxury payroll has no bearing on us because we're the Red Sox and we always should make splashy trade deadline acquisitions. I was promised that Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg would lock down the 7th and 8th innings and I want my money back and get me somebody else's closer now in exchange for a non-prospect. Also, I saw Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes blow holds before with my own eyes. Despite being in first place all year with the best record in baseball at a .683 clip, I predict that we will suck in August because of things that happened to other player and managers in other years. /Main Board 2018
I think we need to live with what we got, which should be enough.
I think we need to live with what we got, which should be enough.
If Swihart starts hitting, isn't he exactly what we need? A versatile guy (including C) who costs minimal $? I'm not giving up, if only because we haven't seen him get a full opportunity to sink or swim.
DD is just so aggressive, very unlikely of course but it wouldn’t shock me if Devers was in play if he thought it would get the right piece to put the team over the top.
Would Asdrubal Cabrera be a fit? Last year of a salary that is about 8 million and change. They'd have to deal some salary (or have the Mets eat some) along with whatever prospect(s) they need to give up, but he's still a good offensive contributor who can play anyhere in the infield (except for 1B).
Aggressive or not I can't see him selling off our only in-house answer with any real short and long term potential at 3B.
Other then possibility we see DD get cute with JBJ (selling high after his annual hot stretch), which offers the added benefit of freeing up a little bit of money/LT room, I'm not sure there is anybody else on the current roster who is at risk to be dangled. At least in relationship to any expectation of getting something notable back.
Even Pom is still a nice potential bullpen fit and stretch run gamble if Wright ends up being pushed into his rotation spot.
Am I correct that any players drafted in the 2018 draft are not eligible to be traded at the trade deadline???
I doubt that other teams rely on his current stats. I imagine they look at him the same way a team like the Red Sox did - high upside.
Yeah, I think the Sox are going to get their major additions from the DL.
Between Pedroia and Pomeranz, there is not much the Red Sox could realistically trade for, who would be more valuable.
I see this team trading for a starter. They may just be going through a tough stretch with the schedule, but this team can't afford to have too many starts from Wright or Velasquez over the next 102 games. Even if Wright inexplicably can recreate the magic he's done exactly once, another starter will* have another DL stretch, or two, or worse.
If they suddenly have a surplus of quality starting, 1) they're still just-shy of two months til the deadline - make a deal soon, and they may suddenly be in a position of strength 2.) a starter gets bumped. Pomeranz tries to be Brian Johnson+, or Price's tingles flair up again - I'd be very happy to have Price pitching meaningful innings out of the pen if we're getting quality starts from the rotation. Who knows what it is - it's a problem the Sox would, I think, like to have over Brian Johnson/Wright/Velasquez, etc.
Further, DD did exactly this 2 years ago when he got Pomeranz. That season, a similar number of spot-starts had already occurred 60 games in. I don't know how often they truly wanted to trot out Henry Owens but thank goodness that didn't last too long.
There's plenty of pitchers I'd love to go out and get, but I won't pretend I know who DD wants or feels is affordable. Tyson Ross feels like that type of pitcher?
Is Kevin Appier's name still linked to the Sox? Would love to finally land him.
If they suddenly have a surplus of quality starting, 1) they're still just-shy of two months til the deadline - make a deal soon, and they may suddenly be in a position of strength 2.) a starter gets bumped. Pomeranz tries to be Brian Johnson+, or Price's tingles flair up again - I'd be very happy to have Price pitching meaningful innings out of the pen if we're getting quality starts from the rotation. Who knows what it is - it's a problem the Sox would, I think, like to have over Brian Johnson/Wright/Velasquez, etc.
Further, DD did exactly this 2 years ago when he got Pomeranz. That season, a similar number of spot-starts had already occurred 60 games in. I don't know how often they truly wanted to trot out Henry Owens but thank goodness that didn't last too long.
There's plenty of pitchers I'd love to go out and get, but I won't pretend I know who DD wants or feels is affordable. Tyson Ross feels like that type of pitcher?
Is Kevin Appier's name still linked to the Sox? Would love to finally land him.
Yes. They changed it - it used to be until a year after draft date - but after the Trea Turner farce, they moved it up to after the World Series. Can still do it as a PTBNL tho.
If Tyson Ross is healthy by July 31, he’ll be traded for much more than what we can offer. He’s making pennies. Same goes for Trevor Cahill.
The starters we can afford without going over are Anibal Sanchez, Miguel Gonzalez, Brett Anderson, Francisco Liriano, Chris Tillman, Hisashi Iwakuma, Wade Miley, Yovani Gallardo, Bartolo Colon, Derek Holland, Clay Buchholz, and Nick Tepesch. I’ll take my chances with Brian Johnson.
Sir,
This is funny stuff. I have been hearing echoes of this argument since Eddie Andelman / Late 1980's / Bob Stanley .
Thanks for summarizing decades of call in radio in one post.
Respectfully,
Hawk
I think we should expect very little this trade deadline.
The Red Sox have already dealt with significant injuries and their veteran depth has been enough to carry them through. That's pretty much what you'd like to see from a well-built roster. There is hardly anything good on the market at a position that the Red Sox need, and they don't have much in the way of assets, either prospects or financial, to make a move happen.
The Red Sox have already dealt with significant injuries and their veteran depth has been enough to carry them through. That's pretty much what you'd like to see from a well-built roster. There is hardly anything good on the market at a position that the Red Sox need, and they don't have much in the way of assets, either prospects or financial, to make a move happen.
Curious what the Brewers are going to do once Thames is back to an already crowded lineup. Jesus Aguilar was a lefty masher last year, but is now an everything masher .309/.374/.564.
One of Ryan Braun, Thames, Aguilar or Domingo Santana is going to have get moved at some point. Braun is being paid (too much) through 2020 and doesn't strike me as self aware of his declining skills. Thames is locked in for reasonable money and started well this year.
I'm mostly interested in Aguilar, but I wonder what Santana's asking price would be since he has struggled and been benched this year.
One of Ryan Braun, Thames, Aguilar or Domingo Santana is going to have get moved at some point. Braun is being paid (too much) through 2020 and doesn't strike me as self aware of his declining skills. Thames is locked in for reasonable money and started well this year.
I'm mostly interested in Aguilar, but I wonder what Santana's asking price would be since he has struggled and been benched this year.
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I think you vastly overestimate what Major League Baseball teams 'can afford to' run out as 5th (heck even 4th) starter over a season. 20 games with Wright or Velazquez doesn't feel like any kind of serious concern to me.
Wright, Velazquez, and Workman just pitched a shutout against an offense that's been much closer to MLB average so far than a lot of people expected.
I think the opposite. In the Sox championship years, if you look at it in terms of generality, they would have just one lousy hitter that played quite a bit down the stretch. Other than that they had quality hitters throughout the lineup. And you look at their number 5 pitchers; they had one that was "Wright/Velazquez." That was Dempster in 2013, Julain Tavrez/Wakefield in 2007 and in 2004 Lowe was awful and Wakefield not very good either.
You don't need your number 5 starter to be that good. While you are doing "what ifs" with the starters I'm doing the same with our hitting. What if JBJand the catching as hitters stink? What if Devers doesn't do much? WHat if Pedey doesn't bounce back? Can Betts, Moreland, Beni and Holt keep up what they're doing?
Right now I wouldn't make a trade unless one is proposed to us that is a big benefit. But if you are going to do anything, you are going to look to trade Pomeranz (when he comes back to form. I doubt a team will reach for him and the Sox may very well need him) if later in the year the top 4 are performing. and the number 5 is at least ok. IMO that's not an outrageous view.
Suppose the top 4 are pitching well enough and the number 5 is just okay. How much would a Pomeranz help the Sox if he pitches "well enough" vs for example we have 2 or 3 or maybe more big holes in the lineup such as the catchers? Wouldn't getting a guy like Ramos in a 3 team deal be overall better for the Sox in this scenario?
I think Wright will be fine as a 5 or better.
Edit-Just to clarify, I don't mean the last 3 post which share my sentiment.
It is getting difficult to read these panicked posts.
The team has the best record in baseball despite significant injuries.
There is neither room salary-wise (the highest payroll in MLB) nor blue chip prospects available to make a significant move. Yet over the past month we have had multiple posts wishcasting for moves that just "have" to be made.
We need:
Relievers despite what arguably is the best bullpen in the majors and certainly top 3
Starting pitching despite a staff performing extremely well composed of 4 Cy Young pedigree starters and a staff in which there are 7 capable starters.
Catcher when the RS have 2 excellent defensive catchers, who have struggled offensively. Yet the offense has been at the top of the year all year.
3B replacement when the RS have a very young player who has a good chance to play at an all-star level in the upcoming years and is currently still better than replacement level.
A starting outfielder to replace one of the best defensive outfielders in the league, due to his offensive struggles. Yet the RS have a capable bench to work through his struggles.
A 2B since Pedey is out even though at least for now his replacement is crushing the ball.
A 1B since Mitch is streaky and can't be this good even if he is hitting at an elite level currently.
Never mind that there was angst about Ben10's start and X at various times.
So I guess the only ones that people are comfortable with are players who are in the top 10 in the league - Betts, JDM and Sale.
Now if the RS can find a way to fill their 26 man roster with only top 50 players then they would really be able to turn the corner.
This is certainly one of the top 5 RS teams off all-time. Please enjoy the season, it really doesn't get much better than this.
It is getting difficult to read these panicked posts.
The team has the best record in baseball despite significant injuries.
There is neither room salary-wise (the highest payroll in MLB) nor blue chip prospects available to make a significant move. Yet over the past month we have had multiple posts wishcasting for moves that just "have" to be made.
We need:
Relievers despite what arguably is the best bullpen in the majors and certainly top 3
Starting pitching despite a staff performing extremely well composed of 4 Cy Young pedigree starters and a staff in which there are 7 capable starters.
Catcher when the RS have 2 excellent defensive catchers, who have struggled offensively. Yet the offense has been at the top of the year all year.
3B replacement when the RS have a very young player who has a good chance to play at an all-star level in the upcoming years and is currently still better than replacement level.
A starting outfielder to replace one of the best defensive outfielders in the league, due to his offensive struggles. Yet the RS have a capable bench to work through his struggles.
A 2B since Pedey is out even though at least for now his replacement is crushing the ball.
A 1B since Mitch is streaky and can't be this good even if he is hitting at an elite level currently.
Never mind that there was angst about Ben10's start and X at various times.
So I guess the only ones that people are comfortable with are players who are in the top 10 in the league - Betts, JDM and Sale.
Now if the RS can find a way to fill their 26 man roster with only top 50 players then they would really be able to turn the corner.
This is certainly one of the top 5 RS teams off all-time. Please enjoy the season, it really doesn't get much better than this.