Pedroia, Ellsbury should be Sox’ untouchables [Boston Herald]
In today’s Boston Herald, Steve Buckley writes about who he thinks Theo Epstein should hold onto if trading for Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins. He would like the Boston Red Sox to keep Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury.
To make this trade happen, I would sadly part with Lester, who will always be an inspiration to us all. I would part with Buchholz, who very likely will emerge as a top pitcher down the road. As for some other very talented kids in the system – Brandon Moss and Justin Masterson, to name a couple – they, too, could be used in a deal for Santana.
Honestly, I think the Red Sox would be crazy to include Buchholz as well. Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield are nearing the end of their careers and the Sox will need to replace them in the rotation. That is if Buchholz makes the rotation this year.
Right now the Red Sox have 6 pitchers for a 5-man rotation. If you picked up Santana for either Lester or Buchholz, you have your 5-man rotation for this year but not years to come. Both Lester and Buchholz have proved that they can pitch in the big leagues so you need to hold on to one of the two.
Remember one thing folks. The Red Sox can also dangle Coco Crisp out there.
what everyone misses when they say dont trade Lester and Buchholz is that you’re getting Johan freakin’ Santana a TWO TIME Cy Young Award Winner who is 28 years old. This is like getting Pedro Martinez all over again. Does anyone even recall who was traded for Pedro without looking it up*? You also have Masterson, Bowden, Bard and others coming up the backside over the next few years. What Theo doesn’t know is what Lester and Buchholz will become. No one does. They could turn into Bruce Hurst and Roger Clemens. Or they could be Kevin Morton and Brian Rose.
Always remember a prospect is a prospect for one reason. They haven’t sone shit yet. And while everyone is willing to say but the no-hitter. Do I need to remind people of guys like David Clyde, Brien Taylor and others who were can’t miss. You also have to look no farther than the Red Sox own bullpen for a cant miss kid, Kyle Snyder. While he is a servicable major league pitcher he is no Johan Santana.
I seem to recall reading that less 10% of minor leaguers make it to the majors. I’ll take a proven major leaguer any day.
Food for thought:
Martinez in his first 8 seasons 107-50 2.80 ERA , 2 CY’s
Santana in his first 8 seasons 93-44 3.22 ERA, 2 CY’s
* Carl Pavano (9 yrs 62-64 4.27) and Tony Armas Jr.(9yrs 53-65 4.62)
I know one of the players traded was everybody’s favorite NY Yankee, Carl Pavano and I think the other was Tony Armas, Jr. who I believe pitches for the Pirates now. And yes that was without looking it up.
ding ding ding you win the prize.
and how many times over do you think the Sox would do that trade? A million times? 10 million?
and if you can get Santana and dump Hansen in the deal all the better that dude looks more and more like a bust. The other day I heard his AFL ERA was almost 5.50 in just 5 innings. Not good.
Yeah they traded Carl Pavano and Tony Armas Jr for Pedro.That was it.They not only want those two guys but they want other players as well.
Sorry I didn’t see that it was already answered.I think the question with Clay Buchholz is the same as Pedro had when he first came up.How durable is he going to be?Clay is listed as 6′3″ and 190 lbs.As far as Lester goes,I don’t think we will ever know how much of an affect that his cancer had on his velocity which Lester himself stated got better with each time out this year.I think the experience in the World Series can only help him.Besides if Theo was going to trade these two guys,why would he have them go down to Texas to work with Josh Beckett on their workouts for their shoulder strenghthening/maintenance program?
Well I don’t think people were expecting Johan to hit the market so soon. I’d have thought it might have happened at the All-Star break if the Twins were out but not even before the Winter Meetings next week.
i still say santana stays in minnesota till next year…i think thats why the sox resigned schilling…like i said kick the tires…if a deal can be done where we don’t give up to much of the farm do it… but i still say wait till next year and all it is a the cash and contract.
The Yankees are definitely getting in on the bidding.
Rotoworld.com
I think you’d be foolish to say the Yankees wont try but as I said in a comment on a different post they don’t seem to be willing to deal what needs to be dealt. Therefore they’d be out.
My point on the Pedro trade comparing it to a Johan trade is that they want young unproven players for a young 2x Cy Young award winner who pitches 200+ innings ever year, averages 58 BB and 220 K, has a WHIP near 1.00 ever year and an ERA near 3.00 every year pitching half of his games in a place they call the homer dome. Hell I’d give them Buchholz, Lester,Crisp and a low-mid level prospect (A or AA player) for him. He’s well worth it. We already know what Coco is or isn’t.
Both Lester and Buchholz have proved that they can pitch in the big leagues so you need to hold on to one of the two.
Do you really think 144 IP for Lester (Only 5.1 IP/start) and 22.2 IP for Buchholz has proved that? Buchholz sample is way too small to say and Lester has 74BB to 110 K, 152 hits an ERA over 4.50 and a WHIP over 1.50. To me the only that’s proved is he walks too many guys, gives up too many hits and pitches too few innings. He really needs to show major improvement in those area’s this coming spring and next season.
Don’t get me wrong I think they have tons of potential but we’re talking Johan Santana.
This excerpt comes from an article by national baseball writer Sean McAdam:
Is anyone seriously talking about Pedroia being traded? They’re not, right? Please reassure me!
No no. I don’t think I’ve heard Pedroia’s name mentioned anywhere. In the article, Steve Buckley mentions that Pedroia and Ellsbury should be kept and for a long, long time.
My picture above was in response to his article. I highly doubt we will hear Pedroia’s name come up in trade talks at all.
Couldn’t we just give the Twins $20 million or so for Santana? Then we don’t have to listen to all this speculation.
Peter Gammons is reporting that the Twins will want Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and Austin Jackson in a package for Johan Santana from the Yankees.