Three Red Sox deals that had to be made and one that must

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.