The Boston Red Sox are hot right now. They've won 3 straight and 9 of their last 10, battled through a 16 inning game Sunday only to launch bombs and flash their bats on Monday scoring 15 total runs; but the Sox can improve. When you go out in an offseason and acquire players like Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, you are making a statement that your team wants the championship; so what steps can be taken to make a great team even greater? The free agent market is pretty weak this 2010-2011 season, which means some bigger names will poke their heads out and sniff the trading winds. There have been talks of Ubaldo Jimenez, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon, Derek Lowe, Hiroki Kuroda, and Aramis Ramirez all being among some of the top rumors in the MLB. So what do the Red Sox need to further complete their team? Do they want to continue building for the future or should they go for it this season and think about next season during the offseason?
The Red Sox pitching has been plagued with injuries to Clay Buchholz, John Lester, Dice-K (who gives a crap), Bobby Jenks, and Rich Hill are all currently out and John Lackey and Josh Beckett have been off and on with injuries/illness. There is also this player on the Red Sox batting .222 and slugging an AMAZING *ahem* .309 this season, yet is making $14 million this year, which is the third most on the Red Sox fyi... any guess as to who he is? Yup, its the Boston fan favorite J.D. Drew. With his contract having an opt-out clause after 3 years he is already packing his bags.
So no team has bats as hot as the Red Sox right now. I mean this team leads the majors in team average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage; as well as total runs, hits, and runs batted in. Their defense isn't to shabby either; third best in errors and fourth best in fielding percentage. Their stats as a starting pitching squad though could use some help if they want a real run at the World Series, because if you look at the leading team in the National League (the Phillies), they're scary with Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Cole Hamels making 3 of their 5 starters. It's said that pitching wins games, but bats have been the key to wins for the Sox. The Red Sox currently sit sixteenth in team earned run average and are fifth in opposing batting average; which are acceptable stats when the team can hit like this.
So I think that the Sox have roughly $48 million to play with for this season and I expect them to spend some of it for one solid name to add to the lineup. I would absolutely love to see Jose Reyes in a Boston Red Sox uniform to finish out this season. One of the most exciting players to watch, ranked sixth in player rankings on ESPN even though he's on the disabled list, and batting .354 with an on base percentage of .398 in the 80 games that he has played with the Mets. However, he won't come cheap. He's the face of the Mets along with David Wright. Most likely it would have to be a four or five year deal around $80 million or something along those lines. Another factor that would have to be considered is where to bat Reyes. The chemistry of this lineup is really starting to get its act together after that unspeakable fumble to start this season. You could argue that with Jacoby's power surge this season (he batted DH last night?) that he moves to the six or seven slot but he certainly wouldn't like that. Worth it in the long run but I don't think it would be productive for this season. The other Met that is being talked about like crazy is veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran. The Mets are more interested in player talent than cash for him, as it is rumored that they are willing to pick up his remaining contract. But because his contract states that teams cannot offer Beltran any arbitration (teams cannot gain draft picks off of his worth at the end of the season), he is really just an expensive bat for hire. I would gladly love to see him replace J.D. Drew or at least in our outfield minus Drew, but again being just a bat for hire the move doesn't make sense.
The real focus come this deadline for the Red Sox is going to be a starting pitcher. Their current aces in the one and two slots are Backett and Lackey with a surprising Andrew Miller third. Then you have the aging Tim Wakefield still making batters look silly in the fourth slot. The fifth slot goes to whoever can still feel their arm and throw a ball over the plate. Jimenez and Lowe are among the top names that are out there testing the market. The Yankees are continuing their ways of trying to buy the World Series in scouting Jimenez, but that deal seems to be falling through quickly and the Red Sox just don't have the pitching prospects to make a good enough deal. With Lester and Buchholz on the road to recovery, the Red Sox front office should be looking for a solid three or four slot starter, such as Hiroki Kuroda, Ryan Dempster (maybe a stretch), or Brett Meyers. With the Dodgers in the financial crisis that they are, its time to sell sell sell. Kuroda currently has a no-trade clause in his contract but I'm sure a large chunk of cash for this quiet yet solid starter on a lack-luster team will help the Dodgers front office to convince him to waive that clause. With only a 6-10 record, Kuroda deals a 3.13 earned run average and holds batters to just a .249 batting average. That would absolutely help the Red Sox hold over until Lester and Buchholz make it back to the mound. Then you would have 6 starters total to jumble around in the lineup, assuming Miller stays hot. Another name that is common to Boston fans is Derek Lowe and he could fill that pitching need, but his contract is much too pricey for a fourth slot pitcher. The most realistic deal that could happen within a smaller budget is a pitch (no pun intended) for White Sox starting pitcher John Danks or for Chicago Cubs starter Matt Garza in the coming weeks.
What I would like to see: Jose Reyes, Hunter Pence or Michael Cuddyer, J.D. Drew no longer in a Red Sox uniform, and Hiroki Kuroda.
What I think will actually happen: Matt Garza or John Danks and Hunter Pence/Michael Cuddyer/Carlos Beltran (take your pick). Oh and J.D. Drew out of a Red Sox uniform.
Unrealistic trade deadline expectations; we fans will be lucky if all the players you mentioned the Red Sox acquiring were traded throughout Major League Baseball. The White Sox and Cubs have no incentive to trade Garza or Danks, not to mention the Red Sox would be required to give up the farm in exchange, a hit they cannot afford after the Adrian Gonzalez trade in the offseason. Acquiring Pence would require the Red Sox to also give up the farm. The most realistic name on the list would be Beltran, as there would be no draft pick compensation if he signed elsewhere in the offseason, not to mention he is owed $17.5 million for 2011; his asking price may drop.
ReplyDeleteYou omitted the problems in their bullpen, they need to get another solid RHP or LHP, as Wheeler and Jenks have been nothing short of a disaster. Bard and Papelbon have been solid, and Albers/Aceves have been surprising key contributors, but when will Bard’s workload catch up to him? Will Papelbon implode like he did in 2010? How much longer do Aceves and Albers continue to be successful? They either need someone else to step up in house, (i.e. Morales, Wheeler, or Jenks) or will have to seek help on the open market. Mike Adams of the San Diego and Koji Uehara of the Baltimore, two of the best relievers in baseball, would make for an interesting splash at a price.
Considered a strength at seasons’ start, the Red Sox need greater starting pitching depth; stopgaps Tim Wakefield (4.80 ERA), Andrew Miller (5.68 ERA, more BB than K’s), and Kyle Weiland (8.10 ERA) are not the answer. Perhaps the Red Sox could take a risk on Seattle's Erik Bedard, who if healthy would be a big contributor to this team. A potential security blanket would be Washington’s rubber arm Livan Hernandez. It's no secret that SP is the weakness here and if the Red Sox were to make a blockbuster deal they'll be best suited to pursue to the likes of Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez, Los Angeles’ Hiroki Kuroda or Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez (very unlikely).
You needed to discuss that the improvement could be entirely in house; Reddick is swinging a hot bat and essentially seized RF from J.D. Drew. Franklin Morales has been serviceable in short time as a southpaw out of the pen and the likes of Lester, Buchholz, Jenks, and Lowrie are coming off the DL. The Red Sox have the best record in the American League and may feel comfortable with the guys they have.