The Boston Red Sox are in a strange place this season. They find themselves in last place
in a competitive American League East division. The Orioles, Rays and Yankees all look
strong and are on top of them. But despite their erratic play, the Red Sox remain only four
games behind the wild card leading Orioles and there are two wild cards spots available
this season. The Red Sox have to quickly assess if they are contenders or if this is a
transition season and look to long-term goals.
That assessment could decide if the Red Sox go after players at the trade deadline or
divest themselves of some of their own high profile players. In a season where rampant
speculation on the trade of Kevin Youkilis exists side by side with speculation about
possibly going after Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster. Even if the Red Sox decide they are
contenders, both moves could happen. The Cubs, of course, will not want Youkilis. It seems
his best days are behind him, though he could benefit a lot of contenders around baseball
who are weak at third base.
If the Red Sox do decide they can still compete this season, they have little pitching help in
the minors to draw on. The Pawtucket Red Sox, the team's Triple-A affiliate, are chock full of
outcasts signed as fillers and fliers. Among all of the starters at Pawtucket, only one is a
semi-prospect and that is Alex Wilson. The rest are of the likes of Billy Buckner, Brandon
Duckworth, Justin Germano, Doug Mathis and Tony Pena. Hardly an inspiring bunch.
The Red Sox have three spots in the rotation that can be considered solid, Felix Doubront,
Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. Daisuke Matsuzaka has made two outings coming back
from elbow reconstruction surgery and has shown that he could possibly work out. Josh
Beckett has shoulder problems that have landed him on the disabled list. It is unknown at
this point how effective Beckett will be the rest of the season or how often he can be
counted on to pitch. Daniel Bard seems like a failed experiment and is currently residing in
Pawtucket.
And thus, another starter would possibly be helpful to this team. But what if Beckett does
come back strong in a couple of weeks and Dice-K pitches well, what would you then do
with Garza or Dempster? The more this team is studied, the more it seems that it is much
better than it has performed thus far. Adrian Gonzalez is not having a good season. Put him
back at first base and leave him there. Trade Youkilis. Get some help back with Jacoby
Ellsbury and this team seems very competitive.
The bullpen has actually worked out quite well for the Red Sox. They are perhaps overused
and overexposed at times. But Alfredo Aceves is solid. Vincente Padilla is better than
expected. Scott Atchison and Matt Albers have been effective. So what does this team
need then? It appears to need little.
The overwhelming thought here is that besides trading Youkilis, the Red Sox should stand
pat and if they do need another pitcher, Justin Germano seems like the safest bet from
Pawtucket. He has good control and is pitching well in Triple-A. Theo Epstein knows the
Red Sox system better than anyone and there isn't a whole lot there to get back for Garza or
Dempster. And of what there is, the Red Sox will not want to part easily with it.
The Red Sox have to be considered as outside the odds on competing this season. But
they are better than they have played and as the Yankees have shown, a hot couple of
weeks can change things in a hurry. Either the Red Sox will continue to spin along with
mediocrity or they will put it all together and compete. Either way, it doesn't seem that they
would need anything to accomplish both possible outcomes.
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