Fielder to Red Sox?

[dhoffman19]

I doubt there's anything to this, but a co-worker just told me he was listening to WEEI (Boston) this morning and the hosts were discussing the merits of the follwing trade: Fielder to the Sox for Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard. My co-worker tuned in in the middle of it, so he wasn't sure if there was any basis to it, or if they were just discussing a hypothetical. That sounds insane to me - for the Sox. Anyone heard any similar rumors?

[Crew2323]

That is a very tempting offer, one I would probably pull the trigger on without a doubt. I would imagine the Brewers would have to add something to it to make it work. I do wonder though, if the Sawks weren't willing to include Ellsbury in a deal for J. Santana (was Bucholz' name tossed about in that proposed deal as well?), what would make them interested in including one if not both of him in a deal for Fielder? I suppose it's not an apples to apples deal, so it may be different. But I think I would seriously consider that offer, and potentially take it.

[dhoffman19]

I would take it in a heartbeat. At best, it's probably only a partial description of a possible deal. I'm sure the Brewers would need to give up a little more. There could be nothing at all to this. Just wondering if anyone had heard something similar.

 

Ellsbury fell out of favor a bit as the season went on, and Crisp was playing most of the time in CF. The shine came off Buchholz this year as well. I could see the Sox trading either of them in the right deal.

[yoshii8]

Now thats an interesting trade idea. Ellsbury, although his star has fallen a bit, would solve our leadoff and lefty hitter problem, while providing good defense in center. I think Buchholz will be a good #2 or 3 starter pretty soon, even though he struggled in the majors this season. Bard could be a setup guy or closer, his numbers this year were very good.

 

On a different note, I would like to somehow get Mike Lowell from the Sox if they made this deal, we would have Mike Cameron available if we got Ellsbury.

[dadofandrew]

That sounds like a fair package, but BOS has Lowell and Youkilis at the corners, and Ortiz as DH. Lowell was overpaid last year, so he has little value.

 

I'd also prefer a bit more of a proven SP than Clay. Not expecting them to give us a Yo type, but a Parra type would be more like it.

[dhoffman19]

Good point about Lowell. There has been some conjecture that the Sox might see if they can move him. This trade prob. would not work unless the Sox did that. Could be tough with the contract and the injury. Can't see the Brewers wanting him at that price, although they do need a 3B.

[fleehaw]

I'm assuming that in acquiring Ellsbury, you'd be declining Cameron's option. Cameron wasn't a problem in '08. By trading Fielder, you would now have holes at 1b & 3b that need to be filled instead of just 3B.

 

It may be of interest to both clubs if Lowell and Suppan were added to the deal. Salaries are essentially a wash with the Brewers coming out about a million ahead. Suppan could be their #5 starter taking over Wakefield's spot. Lowell, even at his age, would be an improvement at 3B, if his defense hasn't slipped much. He posted an 800 OPS in roughly 2/3 of an injury-filled year in '08, career OPS is about 810. He has a limited no-trade clause.

 

Then, you'd just need to find a decent 1B.

[dadofandrew]

Wakefield is a bargain at $4M...they've announced he'll be back.

[dhoffman19]

Yeah, with the talk about listening to offers on Fielder, I wonder who they have in mind to take over at 1B if they are able to move him. Hart? Gamel? Nelson?

[nate82]

Then, you'd just need to find a decent 1B.

Which is a big problem with trading Fielder. I don't see many options out there that you could only have for one or two years. A platoon of Sexson and Nelson would be OK but the production wouldn't be anywhere close to what Fielder would give you. Giambi could be a possibility but he would cost more than what the Brewers should be adding to payroll.

 

Finding a decent 1B will not be easy at all and there just isn't any good 1B available for the Brewers to go out and get.

[endaround]

Giambi is at least as bad as Fielder in the field and will cost at least twice as much. Even Ibanez likely will get a 3 year deal.

[truecrew]

I would do Fielder and Gwynn Jr. for Youkilis and Lester

[DHonks]

Fielder is a fit for Fenway, as the BoSox always seem to get the most out of the VERY overweight, poor defensive, lefty hitting 1b.

[BrewCrewForever]

Change Bucholz to Lester and were talking. Straight up, player for player.

[RyDogg66]

I wonder if we can give them Suppan and take back some salary like Lowell, that would actually help us by filling 3b and leaving just a hole at 1b.

[jjfanec]

A Soup for Lowell throw in would make the deal look like this.

Prince and Soup for Ellsbury, Lowell, Buchholz, and Bard.

We get a LF handed-bat that can hit lead-off and play CF so that fills needs. We get a solid 3B but he is injury prone. Buchholz could be a young pitcher to build around with Gallardo and Parra, however he got rocked last year with Boston. Bard could be a potential closer. We still have a big hole at 1B so I dont know what we would do there. I used to be a big trade Prince fan, but after trading LaPorta and then Gamel struggling the second half, I am not sure if I am a big fan of it now. It just seems to leave us with a big hole in the lineup.

[MessiahRp]

Change Bucholz to Lester and were talking. Straight up, player for player.

Not happening. A lot of Boston fans, myself included, think Lester's probably the ace of that staff now. No way does he go anywhere.

 

I don't see this trade having any teeth. As mentioned above Boston has Lowell, Youk and Ortiz and I think the consensus is that once Ortiz's wrist heals up and Lowell's hip labrum heals up... both of which should be by Spring Training, that both will be very productive in 2009. Also I'm not sure management has at all given up on Buchholz being in that rotation sometime early next year.

 

Rp

[dhoffman19]

Not happening. A lot of Boston fans, myself included, think Lester's probably the ace of that staff now. No way does he go anywhere.

Agreed. There's no way Boston is moving Lester.

 

You're probably right that this one has no teeth. If it did, it would have been reported on (or blogged about) elsewhere by now.

[wallus]

What about doing that trade (which I really like btw), moving Hart to first and put Ellsbury in right? This would assume that we would keep Cam. I think it would be nice to have a potential Derek Lee defensively first baseman as he could save a lot of errors. Our offense would be hit yes but our defense would be greatly improved. Also use the savings to sign Sheets and I would like our rotation.

[Ennder]

I don't know what to think about Lester. His stats this year are so far from his stats in previous years or in the minors that it is just hard to judge. Was it just a prolonged hot streak like say Capuano had the one year or was it him changing his approach successfully. I could totally see him going Carmona on the league and being a 4.50+ ERA guy next year.

[colbyjack]

I don't mean to dispute the original report, but if a Boston radio station discussed this trade, you would think we would have heard about it from somewhere else. We're in a day and age that even local speculation doesn't go very far without being reported on the internet, especially from a major baseball market like Boston.

 

Does anyone know if this is being discussed on the Sons of Sam Horn site? I only ask because personally I don't see Fielder as a very good fit for Boston. They already have a similar play in Ortiz, and the package that was proposed was closer to what was offered for Johan Santana last offseason.

 

Now if JJ Hardy were to become available I could see the Red Sox being one of the bigger suitors for his services.

[dhoffman19]

I don't mean to dispute the original report, but if a Boston radio station discussed this trade, you would think we would have heard about it from somewhere else. We're in a day and age that even local speculation doesn't go very far without being reported on the internet, especially from a major baseball market like Boston.

Yeah, I agree with you - which is why I was a little skeptical from the beginning. I just mentioned it here to see if there were any other sources on it.

[dhoffman19]

I don't know what to think about Lester. His stats this year are so far from his stats in previous years or in the minors that it is just hard to judge. Was it just a prolonged hot streak like say Capuano had the one year or was it him changing his approach successfully. I could totally see him going Carmona on the league and being a 4.50+ ERA guy next year.

I think Lester is for real. His health issues in the past were probably part of it. He was throwing harder this year, his control improved, and his K's were up. I don't think its a matter of being lucky. Carmona didn't strike many guys out last year, which is part of the reason people thought he might not be the real thing.

[Ennder]

I think Lester is for real. His health issues in the past were probably part of it. He was throwing harder this year, his control improved, and his K's were up. I don't think its a matter of being lucky. Carmona didn't strike many guys out last year, which is part of the reason people thought he might not be the real thing.

The same can be said about Dempster this yaer though, do you really believe he'll be an ace next year? A pitcher can change his approach, grow up etc but the turnaround that Lester had this year is just too big. I'm not a believer he can repeat it next year. I think his career stats right now are more likely than a repeat of last year.

[dhoffman19]

The same can be said about Dempster this yaer though, do you really believe he'll be an ace next year? A pitcher can change his approach, grow up etc but the turnaround that Lester had this year is just too big. I'm not a believer he can repeat it next year. I think his career stats right now are more likely than a repeat of last year.

Who knows? Performance always varies. I guess I'm thinking future Lester will be closer to this year than previous years - esp. the year he had lymphoma. He's noticeably bigger and stronger than he used to be - probably a result of just being healthy. Sure, he could fall back somewhat next year but I guess we'll see.