Red Sox: A return look at four key deals. How is it working out?
By Rick McNair
The acquisition of Chris Sale was costly in prospects and monetarily as the Red Sox had paid a $31.5 million contract to Yoan Moncada and a matching penalty. When the transaction was consummated with the White Sox the Red Sox already were down monetarily to the GNP of a small country.
Sale is as advertised and quite possibly far better. The best pitcher in the majors and it is not even close. A left-handed Pedro Martinez is quite appropriate as Sale has been that dominant. Still just 28-years-old and under team control for 2018 and 2019. Sale – if he continues at his current pace – may finally corral a Cy Young Award, 20 wins, a possible MVP and the pitching version of the triple crown.
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When a Sale becomes available you do not hesitate, you pull the trade trigger and that means either MLB talent or the proverbial “Can’t miss” prospects. Moncada is now with the White Sox and despite a slow start will eventually succeed – just too good to fail.
The other important piece was hard throwing right-handed Michael Kopech. Kopech is the No. 12 ranked prospect on MLB Prospect Watch. Kopech is noted for two things: An ability to throw heat and to make questionable personal decisions. I will concentrate on the first.
Kopech is now in Double-A and honing his skills. With Kopech it is all about control as his 5.6 BB/9 suggests. Kopech is a rare talent and should in the next season or two fastball his way to the majors. Will he be as good as Sale? Sale also had a relatively high BB/9 that has shrunk through the years and maybe Kopech will follow the same direction?
A third prospect in the swap was switch-hitting outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe, who is in A+ ball and having – as they say – adjustment issues. Basabe has above average speed and excellent base stealing ability, but to steal one must get on base. Too many strikeouts and too few hits. Basabe is ranked 20th on the Chicago White Sox list of prospects.
This is a deal that shows profit immediate and profit delayed. In the short-term, the Red Sox may win a World Series or two keyed by Sale. The White Sox may have a five-tool future star in Moncada and an ace in Kopech. Expect this to be a solid “win-win” deal for both teams.
The last player is best classified as a throw in. Victor Diaz is a 23-year-old right-hander who is currently on the DL. Diaz has a fastball in the high 90s and projects as a possible reliever.
Would I have made the deal? Yes – Emphatically.