Most people, if they got completely fleeced by a team in a
trade would be reluctant to deal with that team for a while. Maybe try some
other teams. But, not Cashman. When he realized that he needed a washed-up
former all-star, he got right back on the phone to Seattle. I bet he didn’t
even wonder if the erosion of Ichiro’s skills was due to an injury of some
sort, as opposed to simple old age. That takes some guts. Kudos.
The Yankees move prompted a Yankees fan to ask me today when
the Red Sox would sell. I’m not really sure what he meant.
To me, the term “sell” or “seller” refers to the team that
parts with a star player for prospects. The idea being that the team isn’t
going anywhere with the star, so it’s better to cash him in and try again
another year. The “buyer” is the team that tosses prospects to another team for
its star to win now. When the Expos traded Pedro Martinez to the Sox for two
prospects, they were the seller.
Frankly, the Sox
don’t seem to fit either of those terms. Are they going to trade away any of
their stars for prospects? I can’t imagine who. Are they trading away prospects
to land a star? Maybe. Are they more likely to trade some middling guy for
another middling guy? Probably. Let’s look at this logically.
Barring some major
blockbuster, Salty, Gonzalez, Pedroia, and Middlebrooks are staying right where
they are. They’re too good. Gonzalez may be expensive, but he’s worth it. You
might see Ellsbury moving if the Sox wanted to get something before Boras asked
for $300 million. But, who would rent a player coming off a half-season injury?
He’s better than anything the Sox would get for him. Same goes for Crawford.
Even if you foolishly wanted to trade him, he’s better than anything you’d get.
That leaves you with Ross, Sweeney, and Aviles from the list of starters that
could move. Personally, I think they should move Ross, since they can get the
most for him. He may be the most valuable chip they have from the starting
line-up that might be available. Would moving Ross constitute a “sell?” Not to
me. But, if you want to, I guess that’s up to you.
What about the
pitchers? You’re not getting anything for Lester or Beckett that’s any better
than what you have. Unless you go for the old “change of scenery” idea and swap
Beckett for another guy who is his equal, and just hope they remember how to
pitch in Boston. Doesn’t seem like all that useful of an idea to me. Really,
there’s nothing there either. I guess this is a long way of saying I don’t
expect much to happen at the deadline.
I think I’m OK with
that.
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