Red Sox trade targets: High priced starting pitchers

Stephen Strasburg

Oct 3, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) leaves the game in the sixth inning of game one of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

At 26 years old, Stephen Strasburg is the oldest name you will find in this slide show, which should say a lot about the type of players I am looking for. He is under control until 2017, which is just long enough to justify giving up Mookie Betts for. There is an odd man out in Washington’s rotation and with phenom Lucas Giolito waiting in the wings, the time to move a pitcher may be sooner rather than later for the Nationals. The speculation has been buzzing around long time rotation leader Jordan Zimmermann up to now, but Strasburg may be available.

There are very few pitchers with Strasburg’s potential, but Washington has to be thinking about extending another phenomenal talent in Bryce Harper. Both players will likely surpass $200+ million and it seems unlikely they could lock up that much money into two players. Harper has given them fits with his attitude and injuries but he is also the more talented of the two. Mookie Betts could solidify one of the weakest points of Washington’s lineup at 2B, and the Red Sox could also talk about a throw in player like Devin Marrero, who could potentially replace Ian Desmond in 2016.