Do the Red Sox Need To Make a Move?

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

We’re 24 days away from the trading deadline.

Somehow, the Red Sox went from in dire need of a shortstop and a DH/power hitter in the four slot to questionable needs.

Are there not bullpen needs?  No. David Ortiz is all washed up, right? Check that again. Well, Nick Green can’t field. Wrong. Still, we need to trade Brad Penny. Why?

Sure, Boston busted in Baltimore, blowing a nine-run lead in the second-worst collapse in team history. A slew of pitchers came to the mound and aided in coughing up the lead.

Yet, when your team owns the best bullpen ERA in the league, a 3.18 ERA, things like blowing a nine-run lead isn’t just cause for pushing the "Panic Button." The Red Sox have blown only eight saves. Their 74-percent save-conversion rate is fourth best in the league.

There is no need for bullpen help.

Wasn’t David Ortiz done a month ago? I called for Adrian Gonzalez and, to a lesser extent, Adam Dunn.

How could you not think so? As of May 31^st, he was hitting .185, and he had only one homer and 18 RBI. His OPS was hovering in the mid-.500.

During the month of June, Ortiz turned it around.  He hit .320 and seven homers, and he had 18 RBI and an OPS of 1.062. 

What a turnaround!

Nick Green has become more comfortable at shortstop, and with every bad throw and inability of turning a double play by Julio Lugo, Green becomes more valuable to the team.

Remember, Green only played a total of 34 games at shortstop and is now starting to adjust well at that position.

Based on Dice-K’s season, Brad Penny has become almost too valuable to this team. Since his disastrous start in April where he had an ERA of 8.66, Penny has gone 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

So, unless you’re getting a top-tier major league-ready player or a top-rated prospect, why would Theo Epstein trade Penny?

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