Rasputin, on 02 Dec 2014 - 11:29 AM, said:
Rasputin said:
I pretty much don't want to trade Betts, Bogaerts, or Swihart for anything and I really don't care what that makes me.
I just have this image in my mind of the three of them breaking Papi's record of four rings with the Sox.
1. Sign Lester. It is only money. He has proven he can pitch here, he can be happy here, he can carry a team in the postseason, and he can stay healthy. Not a guarantee for future health, but what is?
2. There are plenty of other trade opportunities that SHOULDN'T require Betts, Bogaerts, or Swihart. Sale is great, but I think we can deal from positions of strength to get pitching, rather than trade key pieces of our future.
ex. See what it would take to get Latos from Cinci (I think Cueto is unrealistic, but if he is available, him first). Would Cespedes and one of our young, ML-ready arms (Ranaudo, Workman, Webster) get it done?
What about Ross or Cashner from SD? That shouldn't require 1 of our top 3. Again, they need offense, so would Cespedes and a couple B prospects be enough?
Obviously there are rumors of Cespedes to Detroit. Not loving Porcello, but it is another possibility that Ben can consider.
Cespedes for Iwakuma?
Marrero, Coyle, and one of the ML-ready arms for Shark? Brentz also seems like an Oakland type player that Beane may be interested in.
I would even give up Owens, Marrero (to eventually replace Rollins), another non-top 10 prospect + a lottery ticket for Hamels
If we make 1 trade, we have
1. Lester
2. Trade Candidate
3. Buchholz
4. Kelly
5. Young arm (de la Rosa?)
We could even make 2 of those trades, using our 2 best trade commodities (Cespedes and prospect depth), and it wouldn't diminish our farm system.
1. Lester
2. Prospect trade candidate - Hamels if RAJ ever realizes he isn't getting Betts, Swihart and Owens in the same deal.
3. Cespedes trade candidate
4. Buchholz
5. Kelly
De La Rosa goes to the bullpen where his power arm might play up better than the rotation. I think these trade proposals are all realistic. Obviously none of us are ML GMs, but they are at least in the ballpark. May need to add a piece or tweak something. Bottom line, there should be plenty of opportunities to improve the rotation to championship caliber without trading away Betts, Bogaerts or Swihart (and maybe not even Owens).