Deal For Ellsbury in The Works With Rangers?

September 17, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder

(2) hits a 2-run home run in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that a deal between the Red Sox and Rangers involving Jacoby Ellsbury for Rangers pitcher Derek Holland may be in the works. The rumor appeared on fannation.com. From the Rangers perspective the acquisition of Ellsbury would offset the near certain departure of Josh Hamilton.

While Holland may not be the top of the rotation stud that Boston needs he would provide some stability to a decimated pitching staff and would be the first step toward rebuilding the staff. In 2012 Holland was 12-7 with a 4.67 ERA and 145 strikeouts.

If a deal can’t be struck for Ellsbury over the winter Boston’s best move would be to have him play through his contract year, which likely would be strong since it’s his walk year, and let him go to the highest bidder since it’s highly unlikely that Boston would pay the reported $160 million, eight-year Matt Kemp style deal being floated by Ellsbury’s agent Scott Boras.

If Ellsbury is traded this winter the Sox could try to sign Torii Hunter to a one-year deal. Hunter found the fountain of youth in 2012 by hitting .313 with an .817 on-base plus slugging percentage for the Angels. Hunter could be used as the bridge to Sox minor league prospect Jackie Bradley, Jr., who may be ready for prime time in 2014. A rundown of Bradley’s vital stats, along with other Boston outfield prospects, can be found here.

A recently published BSI article on the possibility of Ellsbury and the Sox finding happiness with one another can be found here.