Boston Red Sox Trade Chatter
So the Sox are coming up on the trade deadline with some apparent issues in bullpen and some concern regarding the health of David Ortiz. Our pen has looked shaky lately. Okajima, Delcarmen and Hansen are our most reliable relievers before Papelbon, and none of the three has upped their game to the point where we can count on them to get crucial high-leverage outs late in games. This could be a problem we may solve via trade.
But in the name of senselessly beating the deadline drums, let me throw out a scenario. The cure to our ‘pen problems is Justin Masterson. Clay Buchholz has been masterful of late in AAA, and I don’t see him staying there for very long. If he were to take the five spot, we could afford to move Masterson into our pen. Masterson could catch lightning in a bottle out of the bullpen and stabilize what is at this point the teams most glaring weakness.
So, that really doesn’t count as a trade scenario, right? Well, there is the issue of David Ortiz and his wrist. I would say that right now, his status is uncertain at best. J.D. Drew has been great in his absence, but I think we need another bat in the line-up. If ATL is going to shop Mark Teixiera this deadline, I think at the very least the Sox will give a phone call. I think if we are approaching the end of July and Ortiz isn’t very close to playing, I think we should part with the necessary talent to bring in an impact bat. Too much talent is a problem we can deal with if Ortiz returns at full strength. We have a rare opportunity to repeat as WS Champs, but if we are relying on Ortiz being there down the stretch and his injury continues to keep him off the diamond I don’t think that is a problem we can easily overcome.
