The Boston Red Sox historically had three deals that had to be made. Now they have one possibly pending that must be made.
Baseball has a litany of axioms that are firmly anchored in the methodology of the sport such as “The best trades are the ones that help both teams.” Trading a player is a delicate manner since it has an essential base in that the player is no longer wanted or needed. A rejection of a suitor mentality. Pack your bags and leave.
The crux of the trade has changed since the advent of free agency and its evil financial twin arbitration – at least from the view of a team’s accounting department. Consummating transactions have eventually had leaks that would render a Congressional committee as secret as the Illuminati. The media is quite adept at pursuing information from “unnamed sources” and giving the backstory on just why a valued contributor was cut from the herd.
The Red Sox have a history of players whose shelf life in Boston was nearing an expiration date and simply had to go. Invariably, the issue of money became a concern, as did the perceived and often real dysfunctional behaviors.
The Red Sox are now in a situation where financial considerations have presumably forced their decision-making. Trade winds are blowing and if a flag system was in use within baseball a dual red would be flapping above Fenway Park.
Now a look back at three trades that had to be made and one that simply must be made.