Relief Help On The Way?

I know, if you’ve watched the Red Sox since the All-Star Break, it’s hard to believe this team is still leading the Wild Card race and stands just two games back of the Rays for first place. Check the standings, I’m not lying. The Sox still have an excellent shot at making the playoffs. While moves for Mark Teixeira, Miguel Tejada and others have been discussed, the true need for this team is addressing the bullpen. Whether Theo is set on making a move or standing pat, hoping that Okajima continues to return back to 2007 form and Justin Masterson is able to be a RHH specialist in the late innings, is still unknown, and we won’t know for sure until Thursday afternoon. The names most bandied about on the trade circuit for the Red Sox are Brian Fuentes, Will Ohman, Doug Brocail, Ron Mahay and George Sherrill. Let’s go more in depth on the candidates:

Brian Fuentes- He’s the star of the group and the name most thrown around trade circles since June. Complicating the scenario is the Rockies vault back into contention only six games back of Arizona, and if any team knows about second half miracle runs, it’s Colorado. Many feel they’ll take a buy and sell strategy at the deadline- keep Matt Holliday, trade for a starter and deal Fuentes, their current closer, while either giving Manny Corpas another chance or even Taylor Buchholz. Fuentes is having a solid season like always- 3.07 ERA, 17/21 SV, 1.12 WHIP, 45 K in 41 IP, and hasn’t surrendered an earned run since June 30, a fact the Rockies are salivating over. Fuentes is killer on LHH, holding them to a .398 OPS against, and efficient vs. RHH, holding them to a .236 BAA. Fuentes is a rental as a free agent after the season and would likely cost Theo the most of the group, possibly Dan Bard or Brandon Moss…someone that could help the Rockies right away. Probability: 3/10

Will Ohman- After two mediocre seasons in Chicago, Ohman has found a niche in Atlanta where he’s thriving and having a career year. Ohman sports a 2.84 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 41 K in 44 IP and has always been nearly automatic vs. LHH: .189/.278/.306 career line. With Mark Teixeira being dealt to the Angels today from Atlanta, the Braves are in clear selling mode, and it makes no sense for them to hold on to Ohman for the rest of the season. Ohman wouldn’t likely cost the Red Sox more than a B/C-level prospect but won’t make the same type of impact as a Fuentes would. Ohman is making $1.6 million this season and is a free agent at year’s end. He could definitely be a possibility for either Boston or the Rays. Probability: 5/10

Doug Brocail- The Astros wily veteran right-hander is 41 years old and having an excellent season for the Ed Wade Reliever Parade. Brocail experienced a comeback season in pitcher-friendly San Diego in 2007 before moving on to Houston and continuing success, but he comes with red flags: he was out of baseball from 2001 to 2003 and hadn’t pitched a season with an ERA under 3 since 1999 before last year. In 2008, he sports a 3.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 41 K in 49 innings. He has a 9.00 ERA in July and cannot get lefties out, but is retiring RHH at a .189 clip. The Red Sox sent a scout to Houston yesterday to look at Brocail, so the interest is evident. The problem: the delusional Astros, by some reports, are looking to add a reliever rather than trade one, meaning Brocail could be staying put. Probability: 2/10

Ron Mahay- The Phillies may have the inside track to acquiring Mahay, but the Red Sox will surely be in contact and on the phone with Royals GM Dayton Moore from now till Thursday. The former Red Sox draftee is having a career season at age 37, posting a 1.81 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and surrendering just 44 hits in 54 innings for the struggling Royals. If the team feels they can win in 2009, they may hang on to Mahay and pay him the $4 million owed for next season; more realistically, Mahay will be dealt to the Phillies, Rays or Red Sox before the deadline. Mahay has been able to retire LHH and RHH very well over his career: .685 OPS vs. LHH and .730 vs. RHH, but this season Mahay has actually retired RHH more effectively, and doesn’t have a lucky BABIP either. Probability: 4/10

George Sherrill- The idea of the Orioles trading Sherrill to a division foe is highly unlikely, but Sherrill’s name has been associated with the Red Sox and he could be an option. A deal could be consummated if the Red Sox agree to give up Jed Lowrie as the O’s are shopping desperately for a shortstop, asking the Angels for Erick Aybar and the Rays for Reid Brignac. With Lugo shelved, the idea of dealing Lowrie is highly, highly unlikely because the front office is already sour on Alex Cora, nearly trading him for Juan Freaking Uribe. Sherrill may be a bit fluky, too: 1.40 WHIP and more struggles away from Camden are potential problems, but Sherrill is an impact LHP with 30 saves and a very manageable contract. Probability: .5/10

In the end, my prediction has the Red Sox not making any moves. They’ll stick with the current bullpen, hope Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen figure things out, keep plugging in Masterson in the late innings as their addition, pray Okajima keeps the turnaround train rolling, and hopefully incorporate David Aardsma back into the mix as a valuable right-handed arm. Right now, the Angels are the clear cut favorites in the league, and Theo must ask himself whether surrendering a prospect like Lowrie or Bard is worth a slight upgrade in the bullpen, which is often a crapshoot, anyway.