Boston Red Sox: Wandy Rodriguez and 5 Targets You Need to Know

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The Boston Red Sox need some help in the back end of their rotation in 2012, and they can't afford to sign someone such as Roy Oswalt or Edwin Jackson. What the Sox need to do is stir the trade talk around five players that can help out the bottom fifth of the rotation or even help out at the third base position.

Wandy Rodriguez is one of those options. Also, Aramis Ramirez would be a great addition to this lineup. Other starting pitchers such as Matt Cain and Gavin Floyd should be looked at as well.

Wandy Rodriguez, Houston Astros

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The 33-year-old left-handed starter is one of the best in the National League and is the ace of the Houston Astros. It might cost the Boston Red Sox multiple prospects, but the Astros may be willing to eat most of his contract.

Rodriguez has a career ERA of 4.07, but he has posted four straight years of a 3.60 ERA or lower and has won more than 30 games over the last three seasons.

The Sox need one more starter who can be counted on down the stretch, and Rodriguez should be added to deepen the Sox's rotation in 2012.

Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox

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Another young starter who would be a great addition to the Boston Red Sox rotation in 2012.

Gavin Floyd may not be a brilliant starter, with a career 4.50 ERA, but he has averaged more than 190 innings over the past three seasons and is only 29 years old. Maybe he could become a great asset for years to come for the Red Sox, and maybe, since he has not been the most effective starter out there, he would be relatively cheap to trade for.

The Red Sox need to bolster up their rotation, and Floyd would be a perfect replacement for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers

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The Boston Red Sox missed out on signing Aramis Ramirez this offseason, and now, who knows if they can trade for the third baseman.

Ramirez is one of the best hitting third baseman, but he is getting old and can't play the position all the time now. That would have been perfect for the Red Sox since Kevin Youkilis plays too hard to be an everyday third baseman himself. They could split time and would average about 30, maybe even 40, home runs and 90 RBI at the position, and it would be an even better offense than in 2011.

Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

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Matt Cain is only 27 years old and has a career ERA of 3.35. He has been a model of consistency for the San Francisco Giants. The Boston Red Sox could definitely use someone like him.

Cain has only one year with an ERA above 4.00, and two of his last three seasons have been below a 3.00 ERA. That is someone the Sox could rely on down the stretch and who would not collapse in September. He gives it his best shot whenever he goes out on the mound.

Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta Braves

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Another young starter at age 26, Jair Jurrgens is one that would cost the Boston Red Sox an arm and leg to acquire from the Atlanta Braves in a trade. But he is well worth it.

Jurrgens may have had health issues over the past two seasons, but his career ERA is still below 4.00 at 3.40.

His best year came in 2009 when he posted a 2.60 ERA in 34 starts and 215 innings pitched. He only had a 14-10 record, but he pitched very well throughout the season.

In 2011, he had another great year with an ERA of 2.96 in 23 starts for the Braves.

A pitcher who can do this would be expensive, but Jurrjens is worth it in the long run if he can remain healthy.