The Red Sox trade of Pomeranz for Espinoza was a good one to win in Ortiz’ last year and while this young core is still together
When the news broke today that the Red Sox were getting left-hander Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres to shore up their battered starting rotation, Red Sox Nation felt like Dave Dombrowski was doing whatever he could to win this season. When the news broke from multiple sources (though not officially since medical records must be reviewed first) on Twitter that the Red Sox were parting with their top pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza, some were not as happy with the trade. If we were going to get a top-flight starter, did we have to give up our top prospect to do it? The answer is yes.
Perhaps, people just reacted without looking more deeply into it, but Pomeranz is certainly far from a slouch or a one year wonder. While some might only see the 2.47 ERA he has put up in San Diego this season, Pomeranz has allowed a 2.84 ERA since the beginning of 2014. He was a fifth overall pick in 2010. This guy is not Julio Teheran and his favorable deal (four more years of team control), but he is a good acquisition when you are getting him straight up for a pitcher who has not pitched above Low-A ball. Pomeranz is under control for two more seasons. Against the other American League East teams he has allowed seven runs in 33.2 innings over his career (1.87 ERA), more recently allowing one run on five hits over seven innings to the Yankees on July 2.
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The accolades have been showered on Anderson Espinoza, deservedly so. He can touch 100 miles per hour on the radar gun and has the potential to be a top of the rotation starter. The reason for the excitement over him is that he is just 18 years old doing all this. He has a potentially great curveball and a change up which might also be fantastic in time. These are all big ifs of course. The fact is, Espinoza is at a minimum three years away from the majors. To promote a guy up the minor league ladder, he should be dominating at his current level. Espinoza had a 4.38 ERA over 17 starts, striking out 72 batters in 76 innings, but also walking 27 of them. This writer has not seen him pitch, but clearly number like these show, he isn’t really dominating anyone yet.
Clearly, the Red Sox want David Ortiz to go out this year a World Champion. Beyond this year though, you have to think about the young core the team has assembled. Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts started the All-Star game this week. Travis Shaw has been a solid everyday player (.788 OPS this season). This core group of players is under control for the next three seasons. Betts will get to free agency a year beyond that and Shaw will reach it the following year. Assuming these players follow the path toward excellence they all seem to be on, the urgency over the next few years is to win championships while they are all together.
This deal is not just for sending David Ortiz out a winner. It is also to take advantage of the young core the team has and blue chip prospects following them. You have to give up value to get value in return. They gave up someone with great potential three years from now to someone who can help them win this year.
This was the right move.