| 27 May 2009
Gordon Edes of Yahoo! (and many others) have started talking about the Brad Penny/ Clay Buchholz/John Smoltz log jam here in Boston. Here's what Edes had to say:
In the non-Peavy category, Boston's Brad Penny looms as the most logical starting pitcher to be moved, with teams that can't afford another No. 1 such as Peavy lining up to take a crack. The Phillies, Brewers, Royals and possibly the Twins look like teams that could be in play for Penny, who is 5-1 with a 5.96 ERA in Boston but is dispensable because John Smoltz is on the rehab trail and Clay Buchholz threw eight perfect innings Monday at Triple-A Pawtucket.
With that tought in mind, here are a few catchers the Red Sox might be willing to trade Penny or Buchholz for...
Lou Marson, Phillies
With Carlos Ruiz holding down the fort in Philly, Marson is pretty much untouchable... he hit .314 in 322 Double at-bats in 2008 and has already seen a 17 major league at this season - despite hitting .207 in AAA so far this season.
Edes says the Phillies are looking for a starting pitcher to fill the hole that will be left by Brett Myers this offseason. A one-for-one deal with Penny and Marson is unlikely, but a Buchholz for Marson deal might work and wouold give both organizations a long-term solution to their needs.
Jose Morales, Twins
Morales is stuck behind Joe Mauer and back-up Mike Redmond despite tearing up Triple A in 2007 (.311 in 376 AB) and 2008 (.357 in 197 AB). He also hit .358 in 53major league at-bats this year while Mauer was on the DL... It is universally beilieved that Mauer would prefer to stay in Minnesota, but he'll likely test the Free Agent market anyway in 2010. If the Twins plan to re-sign him... Morales could replace 38-year old Redmond as the back-up... or the Twins could use him as trade bait with Wilson Ramos playing well in Double A.
Wilson Ramos, Twins
If the Twins can't re-sign Mauer, Morales would likely become the new full-time catcher. Ramos (.288, 13 HR in 452 Single A+ at-bats in '08) in could step in as the back-up, but he's still very young and keeping a veteran like Redmond on the roster would make mores sense. That might make Ramos expendable, but the Sox will be looking to make a deal in July 2009... not 2010. If the Twins are looking for another SP to help them make a playoff push, they may be willing offer the young catcher in trade for Penny or Buchholz, knowing that they have Mauer and Morales ahead of him.
Carlos Santana, Indians
With Victor Martinez hitting around .400 this season and Kelly Shoppach backing him up, the Indians might be willing to discuss a trade for the highly-toted Carlos Santana. The Tribe remain buried in a tough AL Central, so they won't be interested in Penny, adding Clay Buchholz to the starting staff might put the road to future success. Santana tore up A+ ball while in the Dodgers farm system (.323, 14 HR, 96 RBI in 350 AB) and continued his dominance in the Indians system (.352, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 105 AB). He's curently hitting .306 with 7 donmg dongs and 28 RBI in Double A.
Tyler Flowers, White Sox
Flowers is behind Donny Lucy in the White Sox farm system, but he's got more pop than Lucy and could pass him in the ranks before the end of 2009. Flowers hit .298 with 12 HR and 70 RBI ins Single A in 2007, followed that up with a .288, 17 HR, 88 RBI season in High A ball and is currently hitting .274 with 6 HR and 20 RBI in Double A.
AJ Pierzynski will be 33 in December, so the Chi-Sox would probably prefer to hold onto Flowers. But if that offense gets going like it did in 2008, adding a starter migh thelp them make a run at a playoff spot in the AL Central.
Side Note: The White Sox also have 3B/OF Dayan Viciedo and SS Gordon Beckham in their system... both players could help the Red Sox in near future.
Angel Salome, Rangers
Fire Brand of the AL recently suggested Salome as a trade possibility and his 2008 Double A stats are promising - .360, 13 HR, 83 RBI in 367 at-bats. He's hit above .300 at every level so far, but he's still adjusting to Triple Apitching right now - .254, 22 SO in 102 at-bats.
The Brewers currently lead the NL Central, but the Cardinals, Cubs and Reds will be nipping at their heels all season... Brad Penny could be the mid-seaons addition that keeps them ahead of the pack...
Taylor Teagarden/Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Rangers
Both of these guys were discussed at length this offseason and could still be on the table with Max Ramirez behind them in AAA. Salty and Teagarden are splitting time in Teas right now, but niether ctahcer has earned the right to a 70/30 split thanks to equally poor offensive numbers.
But the Rangers have seen exceptional play from their young starters and find themselves in first place in the AL West... and that's with Josh Hamilton struggling and Ian Kinsler hitting .167 on the road. If they can stay in contention... adding Penny or Buchholz to he rotation would be a huge help.
Bottom Line: A log jam of talent in your starting rotation is a great problem to have, but don't be surprised to see Buchholz wait his turn in Pawtucket... If the rest of the stafff remains healthy the Red Sox would be wise to make a move, but I trust Theo not to make a move just becuase he can.
This situation could give us the short stop or catcher of the future here in Boston... so I expect Theo and the Sox to wieght all the possible options over the next two months.
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