Thanks but no Thanks, Carlos Beltran.

There has been much ado on the local airwaves made about the Red Sox "making a move" at the trading deadline. Some of the hosts clearly need something to talk about. Fortunately, the return of the NFL will relegate the Sox talk to the back burner, as they continue to crush teams and get healthy, at least until the post-season. Yet, I've heard many voices and articles from the prominent beat writers making their best shot at Trades. I love trade talk, but guys, you need to be looking about 150 miles South. The Yankees will be the ones making deals, if they can. In short:

 

Beltran Gives the Sox very Little

Didn't we all just live through the "talented but aging center-fielder" experiment with Mike Cameron? It would be one thing if he was cheap (he's not) or wouldn't require prospects (he will) or at the very least would provide draft picks if he leaves (he won't). It's even worse that he'd half to play right field for the Sox, the most challenging right field in MLB, and he's coming from the NL. I'm sorry, what is the upside here? I flat out don't even want him, if he cost me nothing. I see a big risk, and no long term solution in Right Field. If you trade for him, you'll have to play him, and we don't need another Eric Gagne trade.

 

Now, I'm no fool. I know Josh Reddick is probably not going to end his career as a .375 hitter. But I also think he'll end up better than Drew (who apparently is going on the DL today), and with this lineup, you could settle for average in Right, all the while finding out if he can play everyday next year. He could be a multi-year solution at basically low cost for many years, and I think you seriously need to get a good look at guys like that. Again, with this line-up, you don't need him to be an All-star. Somewhere in the middle is just fine. If the defense is there, look for the Sox to let Reddick play, make adjustments, and evaluate him as next year's starting right fielder. I'm good with that.

Jose Reyes: Don't make me Laugh

Mr. Carfado, I generally like your columns, and read them regularly, but this one was out of left field.  OK, out of the infield, but you get my point. Jose Reyes is having a great SEASON, but isn't a great player. So, first off, Epstein doesn't like to do deal where a player is over valued by the marketplace, which Reyes most certainly will be. He certainly isn't going to load up the prospect truck to get Reyes whose a .782 career OPS guy in the National League. I think Jason Stark did a column that showed that a lot of players that have a great half (first or second) usually crash back to earth in the next half. I'm also sure that whoever wrote it, Epstein read it, and knows that too. Bottom line, this guy isn't the offensive threat he might seem, and might be MARGINAL at best an improvement over Scutaro and a healthy Jed Lowrie. Not the "bet the farm" type deal you need to do here, so it'll never happen.

Prepared to be Unimpressed when the Trade Deadline Ends

As noted in my last column, I expected the deadline to be quiet for the Sox. Based on the last two weeks, it's a lock. Theo knows he has a team good enough to win the whole thing. Look for the players to get challenged to do so.

 

 

 

Do Good Things Today!

Matt Heisler