Red Sox Trade Rumor Update: Cherington, Garza & Johnson
On Friday, Ben Cherington was a guest on WEEI.com and he stated that the belief within the Red Sox organization is that the ball club is still in the running for the postseason and will attempt to improve the club at this year’s trade deadline. Buyers yes, but a modest approach is more likely than a “bold” or blockbuster type deal.
"“We’ve got to be smart about giving up too many long-term assets to try to get a little better the next two months,” he said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to improve the team, and do it in a wise manner and a prudent manner. Well definitely work to do that.”"
The way Peter Abraham reads into Cherington’s words is that the club will likely go after a number 3 or 4 type starter, similar to what Theo Epstein did last year when he acquired Erik Bedard. While that move didn’t pan out, let’s hope that this year, should a move be made, the acquired pitcher is healthy enough to contribute to the seventh worst starting rotation in the majors.
Cherington went on to add he believes this version of the Red Sox can go on a run at any given time and climb the wild card standings between now and the first few days in October. This upcoming series in New York against those stinkin’ Yankees will go a long way in determining if the Red Sox should in fact buy at the deadline. It could also signify the need to sell if the Red Sox fail to gain ground on the other AL East foes.
Let’s take a look at some of the names the Sox have been tied to lately and provide an update on those rumors.
Matt Garza – according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com, Garza is likely to stay in Chicago through the remainder of this year. Levine reports that Garza won’t make another start before the deadline, bringing in too much speculation surrounding his health to make teams want to unload a prospect filled package. Theo is unlikely to lower his asking price for Garza and the injury could mean an offseason deal is more likely at this point. Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com states that Garza has slight fluid buildup in his tricep that was discovered by a MRI.
Josh Johnson – while he may be the most logical trade for the Red Sox to make given his age, team control and raw talent, Johnson’s value is sky high and the Marlins are asking for a Mark Texeira type deal in order to pry Johnson away. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports that the Marlins are asking for two or three of the club’s top prospects. The Sox would be foolish to unload the likes of Barnes, Iglesias, Bogaerts or Bradley, meaning Johnson is another name that will stay with his current team.
Zack Greinke – we’ve heard that Greinke will be traded and it’s just a matter of to whom and when. But the Red Sox are set at 100-1 odds to land the former Cy Young winner reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The Sox interest has been lukewarm at best given Greinke will be a rental with free agency looming. Given his past emotional issues, he likely would never become comfortable in a fishbowl setting like Boston. We already have Carl Crawford who isn’t comfortable, so we don’t need another.
Cliff Lee – a long shot at best but there has been talks on radio shows as to whether the Red Sox should or could trade for Lee from the Phillies. Aside from his monstrous contract that will saddle the Phillies for the next three seasons, Lee is not on the market and won’t be in August when the waiver deadline approaches.
Those are the big names floating around the trade market rumor mill and it’s starting to take shape that the Sox will not acquire a designated “ace” this summer. A wise decision given the team’s current state and the need to hang on to their prospects, at least for now. Perhaps a deal can be made in the winter when the asking price should be lower when there are less teams so desperate to upgrade their rotations for the stretch run.