Occasionally a transaction becomes so one-sided it is just laughable and that is the deal that brought Tyler Thornburg to Boston from the Brewers. Thornburg has done nothing but test the diagnostic medical ability coast to coast.
Thornburg’s a pitcher who could give multiple innings and segue to Kimbrel. The reality is the ominous possibility Thornburg may never pitch. A healthy Thornburg and Smith would mean no need for Addison Reed.
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Travis Shaw was expendable as his poor second half and the possible revitalization of Pablo Sandoval made him trade bait. The Red Sox have a dearth of power that Shaw would or could have made inconsequential. The issue at third or first? Shaw can play either. Shaw has more home runs and RBI than any Red Sox player while hitting near .300.
The Red Sox generosity did not end at Shaw. Right-handed hitting infielder Mauricio Dubon, 18-year-old infielder Yeison Coca, and right-handed pitcher Josh Pennington also left the Red Sox system and is No. 22 on the Brewers list of prospects. At this point, Dubon, ninth on the Brewers prospect list, has advanced to Triple-A while the others remain in the low minors.
Anything that can go wrong for a team did so with this deal. Injury to Thornburg and the great season by Shaw start it off. Dubon will eventually make it to the majors either this season or next. The other two prospects and just that – prospects.
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This is a steal for the Brewers. The only way Boston and Dave Dombrowski can save some face is Thornburg returns to 2016 form.
Would I have made the deal? Yes.