I thought the same thing, yet Steve Phillips was talking about how Boston would be the perfect fit for Brad Lidge last night on Baseball Tonight. I was like why would we need him when we have Okajima and Papelbon? To get him to just pitch the 7th inning and give up a prospect like Ellsbury is foolish, IMO. It would be close to repeating the horrid Bagwell-Larry Andersen trade so many years ago. The only Astro I would be interested in, as a Red Sox fan, is Oswalt. I would deal Buchholz, Bryce Cox, and Ellsbury for him. That's how much I would want Oswalt.
is it maybe so they could explore moving papelbon back to the rotation? only thing i could think of... i want 'em to dangle lidge in cleveland - that's the team i want to deal with. they are frickin' loaded.
Are you high? Lidge isn't even worth Beckett straight up and it is debateable whether he is worth Dice-K straight up as well. Drugs are bad for you, mmkay??
I think that would be the wrong move to make. Papelbon has all the tools and makeup to be a dominant closer for years. Trying to convert him into a starter would be horribly stupid on the Red Sox part. I don't disagree with you on this, Ric, but I would hate giving up a great prospect in Ellsbury for a guy who would only pitch the 7th inning for me. Besides, hasn't Lidge had some injury issues?
there's no conversion - he was, by trade, a starter moving up through their system and the team toyed with the idea of moving him back there this spring. by all accounts, he's their best pitching prospect since clemens; he's merely filling a giant void on the team right now. the prefeence is for him to start. just off the DL, his first stint as a ML (iirc); i don't know a heck of a lot about okajima (impressive ERA), but lidge was a dominant closer as recently as two years ago and playoff-tested. frankly, i don't think he's a fit with boston, either (unless they want to displace papelbon now) - sounds more like the pundits once again assuming boston and/or new york is the only logical destiantion for a top available prospect.
Well, you do know that Papelbon was a closer at Mississippi State, don't you? And I would guess that Buchholz and maybe even Jon Lester are more highly regarded starting pitching prospects than Papelbon is. And you might look at it as "filling a void" but I think the guy himself (Papelbon) would prefer to close and he is doing a damn good job of it. The Red Sox FO would be nuts to move him back to starting, but then again I read that Lucchino is still in love with A-Hole Rodriguez. So, if that happens (Paps going back to the rotation), it wouldn't surprise me. Yet, it would be the wrong move to make, IMHO. Well, in reading the Boston Globe today, someone whether it is Theo or Lucchino or both or someone else, maybe even John Henry, has been jonesing for a long time to get Lidge. I think giving up a prospect like Ellsbury for a guy that will only pitch the 7th inning, the majority of the time, could be a deal that would come back to haunt the Sox. I would rather get Oswalt as a Red Sox fan.
A trade I would like to see is Jennings to Colorado (they are only a few games out!) for MLB-ready prospects Willy Taveras and Jason Hirsh. Maybe throw in Taylor Buchholz. This would fill our need for a leadoff hitter and outfielder, while also filling one of our many holes in the rotation and bullpen. Then, next year, you've got: Taveras - CF Burke - 2B Berkman - 1B Lee - LF Pence - RF Need a 3B Towles - C (if he's ready) Everett - SS Rotation: Oswalt Need a #2 Backe Hirsh Sampson Bullpen: Need 2 guys? Buchholz Qualls Wheeler Lidge That leaves 4 holes to fill - 3B, #2 SP, #5 RP, #6 RP. Bring up whoever your best two minor league pitching prospects that are not projected as long-term possibilities as starters and plug 'em into the RP slots. Lamb is a worst case 3B option. Target a top SP in free agency. If Burke works out, your offense has balance between power (Lee, Berkman, Pence) and speed (Burke, Willy T, Everett, Pence). You have power off the bench in Scott & Lamb. Re-sign Loretta and you've got versatility in the infield.
i would be shocked if purpura wasn't fired/reassigned, and that's not internet, "fire timmy p - he's fat!" blather. he's in a virtual lose-lose situation from here on out - it'll be fascinating to watch it play out.
the problem is we pretty much need everything. C, 3B, SP, RP, CF, SS...and if Lidge is going to land us Ellsbury, then how do we get a major league ready starting pitcher? and who's gonna close for us next year? Redsox Lidge for Ellsbury Dodgers Jennings+Midlevel Prospect (Reineke, Douglass) for Meloan and Laroche Angels Lamb for Ervin Santana Mets Loretta+Wandy for Philip Humber (Wishful thinking. It'd probably take Bogusevic) Not sure where Lamb and Loretta would fit, but we need to get some pitching. I think the Braves would be willing to deal Escobar for Lamb+Prospect. They have no 1B. The Angels may be willing to let go of Ervin Santana since he's been terrible this year, but he's just 24 and has had 2 good years before. They need offense, and we could offer Lamb. Mets could use Loretta. They don't have many prospects though. Maybe Phil Humber, the former Rice kid. I think Loretta and a midlevel prospect would be good since Humber has had Tommy John and isnt nearly the prospect he once was. Maybe they'd want Wandy after what he did to them.
i forgot that we do have some young pitchers like Albers and Juan Gutierrez. Gutierrez has been struggling a little as of late, but he does have very good stuff. everyone knows about Patton, and he really struggled yesterday. Felipe Paulino and Jimmy Barthmaier are our highest upside guys, but theyre a year and a half away probably.
