Red Sox Predictions: Catcher Blake Swihart Will Be Traded For A No. 2 Starter
Boston Red Sox need a reliable No. 2 pitcher to start behind David Price
Even though the Boston Red Sox are tied atop the American League East leaderboard with the Baltimore Orioles, there are still some major changes that need to take place if this team wants to make a push for the postseason. The Sox bats have been on fire as of late, but their starting pitching has left much to be desired. While the back of the rotation has shined, David Price and Clay Buchholz have floundered. Additionally, the fifth spot in the starting rotation has already seen many different faces as players have gone down with injuries and others have been called up from Triple-A.
In order to fix the BoSox starting five, they are going to need to acquire a quality No. 2 starter. To acquire a starter of that caliber, the Red Sox will need to trade Blake Swihart. On May 8, MLBTradeRumors.com reported that the Sox would be ok with trading Swihart in order to acquire a quality arm for the rotation. Additionally, Swihart’s trade value is high enough that it would likely spare the Sox from trading any of the prized top prospects.
It also makes sense for Boston to try and snag a No. 2 starter prior to the trade deadline because the free agent market for top-notch starting pitchers is going to be extremely thin this upcoming offseason. So, who could the Red Sox look to acquire prior to the July 30 trade deadline?
Next: The Veteran
RHP James Shields – San Diego Padres
James Shields has been predicted to be a 2016 trade candidate as the July deadline approaches and it would be silly if the Boston Red Sox did not take a look at this veteran starting pitcher. Even though he gave up a home run to Bartolo Colon the other night, Shields has been an extremely consistent pitcher throughout his career – especially over the last five years. He has also been the picture of health throughout his 10 years in the majors, pitching over 200 innings and making more than 30 starts each season except for his rookie year back in 2006.
Additionally, Shields is signed beyond the 2016 season. He does have an opt-out clause in his contract that he can utilize at the end of the year, but that would just relieve the Red Sox of his hefty contract should he choose to leave. If he chooses not to opt-out, Boston could potentially have him in the starting rotation until 2019. Perhaps reuniting Shields with former Tampa Bay Ray teammate David Price, who pitched in the Rays’ rotation with Shields for five seasons, will encourage Shields to stay in Boston should he come to the East Coast via a trade. Maybe a familiar face in the rotation would even help Price succeed in Boston.
So far this season, Shields has 3.60 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP. Despite his 1-5 record, he has still been extremely consistent on the mound. Shields’ velocity and strikeouts may be down, but the Red Sox would likely still need to present the Padres with a pretty good deal in order to claim Shields. Thankfully, the Padres should be enticed by Blake Swihart.
Besides San Diego’s starting catcher Austin Hedges, who is currently on the DL, the Padres’ backup catchers have struggled offensively so far this season. Swihart is most valued for his bat and hit .319 over 84 games in the big leagues in 2015. So, a deal could be could be reached between these two teams before the July 30 trade deadline.
Next: The Comeback Kid
LHP Rich Hill – Oakland Athletics
Could there be a reunion between Rich Hill and the Boston Red Sox? Hill had four amazing starts for the Sox late in the 2015 season, but then signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics during the offseason. Besides a shaky Opening Day start this year, Hill has been lights out for the A’s. He currently has a 2.39 ERA with a 4-3 record and is best starter in the Athletics’ rotation.
Oakland once again went through rebuild this past offseason, but their team still seems to be struggling and they are currently on a four game losing streak. If the A’s cannot find their footing come July, they may have a fire sale. This would allow the Red Sox to trade for Hill.
Besides Stephen Vogt and Josh Phegley, the Athletics do not have that much catching depth in their farm system. They may want that extra catcher in Triple-A just in case either of the big league catchers goes down with an injury. However, the Sox would likely have to make this deal pretty sweet for Oakland because the A’s starting rotation is also struggling, thus making it unlikely that they would be willing to give up one of their better starters.
Hill will be a free agent at the end of the 2016 season, but the BoSox have offered him a contract in the past and could do it again should he end up in Boston in July. So, Hill could be either be a quick fix for the second half of 2016 or potentially a long term solution for the rotation. Even though Boston would prefer to acquire Oakland’s ace Sonny Gray, Hill could be a good pickup for the Sox should he continue to pitch well.
Next: The Cheaper Deal
RHP Andrew Cashner – San Diego Padres
Andrew Cashner is the San Diego Padres’ No. 2 starter and seems to be a potential trade target for most teams looking for additional starting pitching this summer. Cashner would be cheaper than Shields because Cashner has not been as consistent over his career as a starter. Additionally, Cashner has an underwhelming 4.93 ERA so far this season. Yet, he does bring some quality skills to the table and is accustomed to being No. 2 in a starting rotation.
Typically an underachiever, Cashner brings some solid pitching to the table. He is a power pitcher, usually hitting the mid-90s consistently. His strikeout rate has remained fairly consistent over the past four seasons and he also gets a lot of ground ball outs. Despite having a 2-3 losing record this year, there is the possibility he could find success in Boston.
Additionally, as mentioned previously, San Diego would benefit from having another quality catcher who has a big bat. Swihart could be the solution for them. As of right now, the Padres seem like a good trading partner for the Red Sox.
Next: The Bounce Back Candidate
RHP Ricky Nolasco – Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins were shopping Ricky Nolasco during the offseason, so it would not be a surprise to see them doing the same thing this upcoming July. However, in order to move him, the Twins will need to convince other teams that he has completely bounced back from a disappointing 2015 season. The upside is that Nolasco has been showing some promise this year.
Interestingly enough, the Twins announced during spring training that Nolasco would start the season in the bullpen. But, after some quality outings in spring training, Nolasco won a spot in the Twins’ rotation. For April, Nolasco had a 3.25 ERA and pitched seven or more innings in three out of his four starts. He also only walked three batters and struck out 24 in 27.2 innings pitched. Unfortunately, May has not been a great month for Nolasco. He has only pitched 10.2 innings over two starts, resulting in a 8.44 ERA.
If Nolasco can right whatever is ailing his pitching at the moment, he could be a good option for the Red Sox. He is signed through 2017 with a club option in 2018, so Boston could have him in the rotation for a few more years should he bounce back. If Nolasco can stay healthy, he could be a quality pitcher for the BoSox.
The Twins are currently in dire need of a catcher. They would probably be very interested in Blake Swihart and are looking to offload Nolasco because of his expensive contract. The Red Sox would likely not have to give up that much besides Swihart in order to acquire Nolasco. Boston should keep an eye on Nolasco to evaluate as to whether or not he would make a good No. 2 starter in the rotation.
Next: Additional Options
Additional Starting Pitcher Options
RHP Julio Teheran – Atlanta Braves
This Bleacher Report prediction includes the potential trade between the Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves that would send Julio Teheran to Boston and Swihart down south. Teheran’s name is already connected with numerous trade rumors as the the Atlanta Braves are still going through a rebuild this year. However, Teheran is currently the most reliable starter in the Braves’ rotation, so getting Atlanta to make a deal that would send Teheran north could prove difficult.
Teheran is a consistent pitcher who has started 30 or more games over the past three seasons with the Braves. For 2016, Teheran currently has a 3.48 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP. He also has 39 strikeouts over 41.1 innings pitched. Even though he has a 0-3 losing record, he would be a good addition to the Red Sox rotation.
Next: Red Sox 'Catching On' Despite Pitching
RHP Tyson Ross – San Diego Padres
Another Bleacher Report prediction has Tyson Ross as a potential fix for the Red Sox rotation. Ross is a true No. 2 starter and would slot in nicely behind Price in the rotation. However, he is currently on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. With no timetable for his return, the Red Sox may pass on this starter due to the uncertainty of how well he will pitch once he returns.