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MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Shopping List Is Long, Topped By Jayson Werth

Following another disappointing loss to a subpar Oakland Athletics team, the Boston Red Sox are seriously shopping for big league help behind the dish, before the Monster, and in the bullpen, according to Joe McDonald of ESPNBoston.com.

Much as it did in 2006, the injury bug has curtailed a previously promising season in Beantown. Catchers Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek, outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron and Jeremy Hermida, and reliever Manny Delcarmen have all spent time on the disabled list, not to mention Dustin Pedroia and Josh Beckett.

The Red Sox’ needs at catcher, outfielder and reliever are abundantly clear, and the front office is working quickly to fortify the team for the stretch run.

Although Hermida and Delcarmen have just recently rejoined the team, both players represent only marginal improvements, if that. Hermida replaces Daniel Nava, whose .832 OPS is well beyond Hermida’s .653 mark. Delcarmen put up a 12.96 ERA in June before hitting the disabled list, and his career numbers indicate that he only becomes less effective as the season progresses.

Sources indicate that the Red Sox have “strong interest” in Philadelphia Phillie right fielder Jayson Werth and are continuing to discuss David DeJesus with the Kansas City Royals. But while Werth may be the apple of the Sox eyes, the Sox might not be the front runners for Werth.

A three-team deal involving Tampa Bay, Houston, and Philadelphia may be in the works. If Werth finds himself a Ray, the Red Sox may have to pay more for DeJesus or Florida’s Cody Ross.

On the catching front, the Red Sox have been scouting Toronto’s All-Star backstop John Buck, but they’ve more recently been linked with Arizona’s Chris Snyder and Colorado’s Chris Iannetta, both of whom are under team control longer than the soon-to-be free agent Buck.

Currently ranking 24th among all Major League bullpens, the Boston relief corps owns a 4.42 ERA and has served up a Major League-worst 41 home runs. Beyond Jonathan Papelbon Daniel Bard, and the sporadic effectiveness of the just-returned Manny Delcarmen, the Sox’ pen is a mess. They need help.

While they have called up prospect Michael Bowden to shore up the staff internally, the Red Sox are hunting externally as well. Most recently, Toronto’s Scott Downs and Florida’s Leo Nunez have been suggested targets of the Boston front office. Both players are having excellent years and both are apparently on the block.

Whomever the Sox acquire, and however much they’re forced to give up, look for the Sox to engage in a flurry of activity leading up to the trade deadline.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Power Hitters Who Could Be on the Move

With only 10 days remaining to the 2010 MLB trade deadline, teams pursuing big bats are starting to scramble.

The Chicago White Sox are reportedly pressuring the Milwaukee Brewers to accelerate a deal for slugging first baseman Prince Fielder.

The San Francisco Giants, hotly pursuing the surprising San Diego Padres, are also seeking an impact bat, and they’re casting a wide net stretching from Wisconsin to Texas to Kansas to Florida.

All across the majors teams and their fans are starting to feel the tension.

Can our team acquire the bat we need without selling the farm? Can we win the division or the wild card without it? What if our rivals get the one we’re after?

As we count down to another trade deadline, clicking refresh repeatedly and watching that scroll bar relentlessly, let’s take a look at the Top 10 Power Hitters That Could Be Traded.

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MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Pursuing Blue Jay Reliever Scott Downs

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are currently competing for the services of Toronto Blue Jay Reliever Scott Downs. According to AOL FanHouses’ Ed Price, both teams have demonstrated “big-time” interest in the soon-to-be free agent Southpaw from their division rival.

Downs has actually been on the block for some time as Toronto continues a virtual fire sale they began when Roy Halladay was dealt last year. Last week SS Alex Gonzalez was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Catcher John Buck is reportedly on the block as well, and Boston has been suggested as a possible destination.

Downs joins fellow Toronto Relievers Kevin Gregg and Jason Frasor as possible targets for contenders needing a boost out of the bullpen, but as the most effective of the three, Downs is obviously garnering the most interest.

Aside from shuffling around the walking wounded, Boston Manager Terry Francona’s greatest dilemma this year has been bridging the gap between his excellent starting rotation and his All-Star closer.

Outside Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard, the Red Sox bullpen has been as great a weakness as it was once a great strength. The lefty setup man Hideki Okajima, the resurgent Rule-Five pick Ramon Ramirez, and the local flamethrower Manny Delcarmen haven’t lived up to their former selves.

While the Red Sox called up Michael Bowden and added him to the pen this week, they will need to find relievers via trade if they are to assemble the arms necessary for a postseason run.

Downs is one of the best available options. This year, Downs has put up a 2.56 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP over 38.2 innings of relief work. He’s achieved ratios of 6.98 K/9 and 1.86 BB/9.

Downs is concluding a three-year, $10 million deal and has a $4 million 2010 salary.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox, Marlins Talk Deal For Cody Ross, Leo Nunez

According to multiple reports channeled through MLBTradeRumors.com, the Boston Red Sox have joined the New York Yankees in trade discussions for Florida Marlin OF Cody Ross and RP Leo Nunez.

Both players represent affordable fixes for the Red Sox’ myriad bullpen and outfield woes. As is well known, beyond closer Jonathan Papelbon and setup man Daniel Bard, the piecemeal Red Sox bullpen has been horrible, and the outfield has been riddled with injury.

Keeping in mind that the Red Sox have breached the luxury tax threshold, cost may be as important to the team as is productivity. Ross earned a 2010 salary of $4.45 million through arbitration, and Nunez avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $2 million contract.

Ross has approximately $1.97 million remaining on his contract, and Nunez is still owed approximately $887,000. Paying a 22.5 percent tax on every dollar over $170 million, the Red Sox would have to shell out about $3.5 million to acquire both Marlins.

Acknowledging that financial factor, both Ross and Nunez could contribute significantly to the Red Sox as they try to stay within reach of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the fiercely competitive American League East.

Ross is hitting .279 and slugging at a depressed .409 clip. Defensively, Ross has proved himself well above average at both corner outfield positions this year, according to UZR/150.

Enjoying a career year, Nunez is fanning more than a batter an inning and owns a 2.79 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB Trade Rumors: Mike Lowell Back on Texas Rangers’ Radar

After dealing Justin Smoak and his right-handed bat for Cliff Lee, the Texas Rangers may have increased interest in reviving an offseason trade for Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, according to WEEI Sportsradio Network’s Rob Bradford.

Both Smoak’s departure and corner-infielder Chris Davis’ offensive struggles may force the American League West leaders to acquire a player of Lowell’s caliber to at least platoon with the likes of Davis.

While Lowell is currently on the disabled list rehabilitating a strained hip, the Rangers are “monitoring” his progress closely in the event they cannot acquire a better replacement for Smoak.

Interestingly, moving Lowell could be an important factor for the Red Sox in freeing up roster space for another catcher or outfielder.

Anyone the Red Sox pick up before the trade deadline certainly cannot be sent down once Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Varitek, Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, and Jeremy Hermida return from the disabled list.

Lowell has put up a .213/.350/.308 batting line in just 91 plate appearances this season.

 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB Trade Rumors: Blue Jays All-Star Catcher John Buck to Red Sox?

Busy as Blue Jays Catcher John Buck was collecting his first hit as an All-Star, he still found time to discuss his former teammate, David DeJesus, with WEEI’s Alex Speier yesterday in Anaheim. Put bluntly, Buck thinks DeJesus would perform tremendously with the Red Sox or another playoff contender.

Little does Buck realize that he may be playing in Beantown just as quickly as Kansas City’s much-discussed outfielder. Perhaps they’ll reunite at Fenway.

According to MLB Trade Rumors’ founder Tim Dierkes, Buck could quickly follow SS Alex Gonzalez out of Toronto. Dierkes suggests that the first-time All Star and soon-to-be free agent catcher might land in Boston.

With both Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek on the disabled list, Boston probably couldn’t find a better option than Buck before the trade deadline, and Toronto probably couldn’t find a more desperate buyer.

Even beyond this 2010 playoff run, the Red Sox would probably have significant interest in Buck, who has thrown out roughly 25 percent of would-be base stealers both this season and throughout his career. Varitek and Martinez have combined to throw out only 19 percent this season.

That six percent may not seem like much, but it could be critical down the stretch in at least hindering a running game, and realistically, the Red Sox don’t have many other options. They need a Major League catcher now if they’re to remain in the race for the hotly contested American League East division title.

Through the All-Star break, Buck is hitting a career-best .272/.502/.306 with 13 homers.

 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox, Royals Discuss David DeJesus Deal

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, about ten days ago the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals began discussing a trade that would send versatile outfielder David DeJesus to Beantown.

After agreeing to keep in touch over the few remaining weeks leading up to the MLB trade deadline, the Royals have started scouting the Red Sox farm system.

One baseball executive has reportedly commented that the Royals would like to “hit a homerun” in any potential DeJesus deal. While multiple suitors could make that possible, it’s unlikely the Red Sox would be induced to overpay for DeJesus.

However, the combination of a virtually hospitalized outfield, a three-team playoff hunt, and recent verbal sparring between the Red Sox and Jacoby Ellsbury—a Scott Boras client—could force the Red Sox into making such a deal.

The 30-year-old DeJesus owns a .326/.460/.395 batting line for the 2010 season and a career 18.8 UZR/150 in left field. DeJesus is owed about $2.1 million over the remainder of this season, and his contract includes a very affordable $6 million club option for 2011.

 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB Trade Deadline: 10 Most Expendable Players Nobody’s Discussing

Cliff Lee was the first big name to get traded, and certainly no player on the block has been more discussed this season. Roy Oswalt, Dan Haren, Corey Hart, and Prince Fielder are the most recognizable of the remaining names that are being bandied about by sports commentators and trade “experts.”

Still, others seem to be of interest to every team. David DeJesus and Ty Wigginton get more ink than a pen factory.

However, there are a good number of highly tradeable, highly expendable players out there that haven’t yet been ground up by the rumor mill.

These are the top 10 most expendable, and simultaneously, tradeable players you haven’t heard talked about.

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MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Target Phillies’ Jayson Werth

As Red Sox Nation sighs in relief to see Cliff Lee bypass New York for the Lone Star State, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reports that Theo Epstein and the Boston front office have started showing some interest in acquiring Philadelphia OF Jayson Werth.

While “no deal is imminent,” trading for the soon-to-be type-A free agent Werth could go a long way toward shoring up a Red Sox lineup crippled by injury.

During the past few months, the Red Sox’ lineup has hemmoraged players, particularly outfielders.

Currently the Sox are without All-Star 2B Dustin Pedroia, All-Star C Victor Martinez, veteran backstop Jason Varitek, speedy OF Jacoby Ellsbury, reserve OF Jeremy Hermida, 3B Mike Lowell, and reserve infielder Jed Lowrie.

OF Mike Cameron is playing through serious abdominal pain, and All-Star 1B Kevin Youkilis is nursing a troubled ankle.

Although the Phillies haven’t even officially put Werth on the block, they’ve been rumored to test the waters regarding the potential trade value of their entire All-Star outfield.

According to the New York Post’s George A. King III—whose ironic name seems almost laughably so—the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have also conveyed their interest in Werth to the Philadelphia front office.

The tough stumbling block for the Sox seems to be that the Phillies are seeking a “proven starter.” The only starter the Sox might be willing to move would probably be the rather inconsistent and succinctly unproven Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Purely speculating, Matsuzaka might actually do quite well in a short-term shift to the National League and Citizen’s Bank Park, but then again, why on earth would the Phillies want him when New York’s Javier Vazquez or Tampa Bay’s James Shields might be made available?

The 31-year-old Werth is experiencing another excellent season. Batting .278/.514/.365 with 13 homers and fielding well above average according to UZR/150.

Werth could demand top dollar as a free agent this winter, so whoever trades for him might have to settle for a rental and compensation picks.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


MLB Trade Deadline: The 5 Biggest Blockbuster Trade Busts of the Decade

Cliff Lee to the Yankees! Prince Fielder to the Giants! Dan Haren to the Cardinals! Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox!

As the 2010 Trade Deadline approaches—and speculation runs rampant regarding this year’s potential blockbuster deals—we should temper the frenzy by revisiting the decade’s biggest blockbuster busts.

Every fan hopes his team’s general manager will venture into the trade market and go all-in on a mammoth bat or a top-of-the-rotation ace—a difference maker who will carry his team to the playoff promised land.

Yet, as many of these monster trades successfully shift the balance of power and launch the buyers on a powerful postseason run, just as many prove impotent and meaningless.

An aging star fails to produce. A rising star has already reached his zenith. Prospects hastily dealt today mature into the All Stars of tomorrow.

Woe to the team that deals away a future MVP for an early exit in the division series. Woe to the general manager that mortgages his franchise’s future for a late-season rental who just can’t deliver.

These are the 5 Biggest Blockbuster Busts of the Decade.

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