MLB Rumors: 10 Jacoby Ellsbury Trades That Make Sense For the Boston Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury had an injury-shortened season for the Boston Red Sox after he collided with the freight train otherwise known as third basemen Adrian Beltre and fractured four ribs on April 11. He appeared in only 18 games, hitting .192 and stealing seven bases after leading the AL with 70 steals in 2009.
Ellsbury also came under fire from his coaches and teammates for rehabbing his injury in Arizona instead of traveling with the team. With rookie Ryan Kalish seemingly ready for the big show, could Ellsbury now be expendable?
He's still an electric player. He twice led the AL in stolen bases and, though his .344 career on-base percentage is not particularly good for a lead-off hitter, he did still manage to score 98 runs in 2008 and 94 runs in 2009. He's also an exceptionally good fielder and isn't due to become a free agent until 2014.
The Red Sox could use Ellsbury as a major trade chip to fill up other holes on the roster. Here are 10 trades that would help make Boston into a World Series contender in 2011.
Ellsbury to New York Mets For David Wright
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The Mets current outfield consists of Jason Bay (colossal disappointment), Carlos Beltran (can't stay on the field) and Angel Pagan (a career reserve outfielder until 2010). The Mets also have Jeff Francoeur (underachieving major leaguer) and Fernando Martinez (underachieving prospect) in the wings.
The Mets' offense as a whole ranked 24th in the majors in runs scored and 25th in on-base percentage. A large part of this has been because of the poor performance from Jose Reyes, whose .321 on-base percentage is atrocious for a supposed table-setter. Pagan, the Mets' lead-off hitter while Reyes was injured and even sometimes when Reyes was healthy, is slightly better with a .344 on-base percentage.
But Ellsbury beats them both with a .355 on-base percentage in 2009, and he's only getting better. The Mets could try to unload Beltran and his bloated contract and replace him in centerfield with the dynamic Ellsbury. Wright, meanwhile, would fit in perfectly at third base in Fenway Park, replacing free agent Adrian Beltre and giving the Red Sox another major bat in their lineup.
A trade of Ellsbury, Lowrie (Wright's replacement in New York) and a pitching prospect for Wright could work for both teams.
Ellsbury to Tampa Bay for Prospects
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Yes, the odds of Theo trading Ellsbury to a division rival are slim. But hear me out.
The Rays have zero shot at resigning current left fielder Carl Crawford, who will become a free agent in a few weeks. Lucky for them, Ellsbury is basically a poor man's Crawford.
- Career batting average (Ellsbury .291, Crawford .296).
- Career on-base percentage (Ellsbury .344, Crawford .337).
- Career OPS (Ellsbury .749, Crawford .781).
- Steals/season (Ellsbury 63, Crawford 54).
Oh, and Crawford is only two years older than Ellsbury.
The Rays have several players the Red Sox could be interested in, including DH Willy Aybar, SS Reid Brignac and C Kelly Shoppach. They also have a loaded farm system and no place to put their talent.
A trade of Ellsbury for Brignac (allows Lowrie to play third and Scutaro to become a utility man again), Shoppach (replaces Varitek as the backup catcher or becomes the one-year starter until Luis Exposito is ready) and a pitching prospect might be possible.
Ellsbury to Oakland for Prospects
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This falls under the same line of thinking as the Tampa Bay trade, but is far more likely to actually happen.
The Oakland Athletics hold a 2011 option on former Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp for $5.75 million. Assuming the cost-conscious A's don't want to pay that kind of money to a player who can't seem to stay on the field, then they could be in the market for a player like Ellsbury (who will make around $500,000 in 2011).
Oakland churns out quality pitchers like they're sausages, and the Red Sox know that you can never have enough pitchers. It might not make sense for the Sox to go after a starter (like Dallas Braden or Gio Gonzalez) unless they can find a home for Daisuke Matsuzaka. But they could go after relievers Justin Duchscherer (righty) and Jerry Blevins (lefty).
With Hideki Okajima not expected back in 2011, Blevins (3.70 ERA in 48.2 IP) may be the target. Ellsbury for Blevins and a couple of mid-level prospects would give the Red Sox another quality arm in their bullpen and beef up their farm system in case they want to go after a major bat.
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Ellsbury to Detroit In Package for Miguel Cabrera
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The Tigers are due to lose Johnny Damon and probably Magglio Ordonez to free agency. They're happy with Rookie of the Year candidates Brennan Boesch in right and Austin Jackson in center, but could they do better than 29-year-old Ryan Raburn in left?
Ellsbury would immediately give Detroit the best, young outfield in the game and a speed demon they haven't had since Curtis Granderson.
Who would the Red Sox want in return?
Miguel Cabrera.
One of the best hitters in the game, Cabrera would give the Boston lineup some immediate thump at either first base or DH. It would cost a mother load to entice the Tigers to let go of their superstar, but considering how much they're paying him ($86 million through 2015) they have to at least listen to offers.
An offer of Ellsbury, Lowrie (possible replacement for free agent Brandon Inge at third), Lars Anderson (Cabrera's future replacement at first) and prospects Michael Bowden (24) and Drake Britton (21) should be enough to get the Tigers to talk.
Ellsbury to Minnesota for Relief Help
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Look for the Twins not to pick up the $10.5 million club option on outfielder Michael Cuddyer, leaving only Delmon Young, Denard Spann and Jason Kubel in the outfield. Kubel should be the DH once Morneau is healthy, so that means Minnesota will need one more outfielder to field a competitive team.
Why not Ellsbury?
Elllsbury is exactly the type of player that Twins manager Ron Gardenhire loves, and will fit in perfectly with Minnesota's style of small ball.
The Twins, meanwhile, have exactly the type of player that the Red Sox love in reliever Matt Capps. Capps was thrust into the closer's role after Joe Nathan was shut down for the season and performed admirably after being acquired from the Washington Nationals.
Capps had a 2.00 ERA in 27 appearances for the Twins, recording 17 saves and striking out 21 batters in 27 innings. The 26-year-old righty isn't due to become a free agent until 2012 and will likely make around $4-5 million in 2011. With Nathan expected back in 2011, Capps becomes expendable.
Acquiring Capps would give the Red Sox another young, power arm in the bullpen and give them the option of trading current closer Jon Papelbon if the right deal surfaces. Ellsbury for Capps and a prospect or two should be enough (although the Red Sox probably wish they could have Wilson Ramos, the catcher who was traded for Capps, instead).
Ellsbury to Washington for Wilson Ramos
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Maybe the Red Sox can get Ramos after all.
Current Nationals left fielder Willie Harris will be a free agent in the offseason. The remainder of their outfield consists of oft-injured Josh Willingham, speedster and loudmouth Nyjer Morgan, and career reserve player Michael Morse. Washington also has promising prospect Blake Maxwell competing for a spot on the roster. But not a single standout player in the bunch.
Ellsbury could give the Nats some definite starpower to pair alongside Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg and eventually Bryce Harper.
Washington catcher Wilson Ramos would be a perfect fit in Boston. Even if Victor Martinez is resigned, the Red Sox could move Martinez to first and Kevin Youkilis to third to accommodate Ramos.
The Nationals already have Ivan Rodriguez under contract for 2011, in addition to two capable reserve catchers in Jesus Flores and Wil Nieves. The 23-year-old Ramos should be expendable for the right price.
A trade of Ellsbury for Ramos and a mid-level prospect or reliever would answer many of Boston's offseason questions in one swift swoop.
Ellsbury to Cincinnati for Pitching
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The Reds don't really need any more outfielders. The current starting trio consists of Jonny Gomes, Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce. Bruce is a star-in-the-making while Gomes and Stubbs are both solid offensive players. Gomes, however, really doesn't belong on the field and will have to return to the AL as a designated hitter sooner rather than later.
Cincinnati also has a surplus of young pitching, with Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Travis Wood, Mike Leake, Edinson Volquez and Aroldis Chapman all vying for a spot in the rotation in 2011. So how's this for an idea?
Ellsbury and Daisuke Matsuzaka for Gomes, Volquez and reliever Bill Bray.
Gomes could be Boston's DH if they decide to part ways with David Ortiz, or even the left fielder for a season if Red Sox management doesn't think future starter Ryan Kalish is ready yet. Volquez, if he can return to form, gives Boston five potential aces in their rotation. Bray gives the Red Sox bullpen a power lefty.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, upgrades their defense and gains a legitimate lead-off hitter at a minimal cost to their pitching staff. So crazy it might just work.
Ellsbury to Los Angeles Dodgers For 3
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Let's assume that any attempt to acquire outfielders Matt Kemp or Andre Eithier is purely a pipe dream. This potential deal, however, isn't.
The Dodgers aren't too enamored with catcher Russell Martin's decline in production over the last couple of years. Nor are they particularly pleased with reliever Jonathan Broxton after he lost his closer job to Hong-Chih Kuo. But after trading away their former left fielder Manny Ramirez for pretty much nothing, the Dodgers could now use a left fielder.
So let's get creative, shall we?
Ellsbury and Matsuzaka for Martin, Broxton and Scott Podsednik (whose $2 million team option for 2011 is likely to be picked up).
Martin becomes Boston's starting catcher, or at worst a very capable reserve who would allow Victor Martinez to play first on occasion. Broxton joins a suddenly fearsome Red Sox bullpen as the third most reliable arm. Podsednik, who is basically an older and slightly less productive version of Ellsbury, becomes either the center fielder, the left fielder, or the first outfielder off the bench.
Matsuzaka essentially replaces Ted Lilly in the Dodgers rotation and Ellsbury becomes a part of one of the best, young outfields in the game.
It's a win-win. And who doesn't love winning?
Ellsbury to San Diego In Mega-Deal for Adrian Gonzalez
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You knew it was only a matter of time before I got to A-Gon.
The presumptive No. 1 trade target this offseason has been in the hearts and minds of Red Sox fans everywhere. So let's take a look at what it would take to get the deal done.
The Padres entire middle infield (Miguel Tejada, David Eckstein, and reserve Jerry Hairston Jr.) will be gone in 2011, so let's give them Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie for starters.
They will also probably lose starter Chris Young, whose $8.5 million team option for 2011 seems too rich for the Padres' blood. So let's give them Michael Bowden.
Their outfielders couldn't hit a beach ball at times this season, with Will Venable (.732 OPS), Tony Gwynn Jr. (.591 OPS) and Ryan Ludwick (.631 OPS) all struggling mightily. San Diego could do itself a favor by denying arbitration for Ludwick and saving themselves about $5 million. So there's a spot for Ellsbury. Just in case they decide that they want more than one competent outfielder, let's give them Josh Reddick too.
Finally, the Padres will want a replacement for Adrian Gonzalez. They can choose from Lars Anderson and Anthony Rizzo. Even though Rizzo is probably the better prospect at this point, Lars is more major league ready.
As it stands that's Ellsbury, Lowrie, Bowden, Anderson and Reddick for Gonzalez. Boston could substitue a prospect like Che-Hsuan Lin or Reymond Fuentes for Reddick, or lefty Felix Doubront for Bowden. The Padres would be hard-pressed to find a better deal, and the Red Sox would be smart to make it.
Ellsbury to Milwaukee in Mega-Deal for Prince Fielder
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Different team, same story.
The Brewers have several holes on their roster that they'd be happy to have the Red Sox fill for them.
Red Sox first basemen Lars Anderson fills an obvious one if Fielder is traded.
The Brewers also need serious pitching help with Dave Bush a free agent and nobody on the roster with the possible exception of Yovani Gallardo resembling anything close to an ace. They will want long-term help with an eye towards contending in 2012 at the earliest. Red Sox top prospect and potential ace Casey Kelly is a an obvious choice here. The Brewers will probably want Bowden as well to stabilize the rotation until Kelley is ready.
There's not really a spot for Ellsbury in Milwaukee with Ryan Braun manning left field and a pair of 24-year-old's in Carlos Gomez and Lorenzo Cain competing for center field. But it would be foolish of the Brewers to reject one of the up-and-coming stars of baseball in Ellsbury. They could involve a third team here, or simply trade away either Gomez or Cain (to Boston maybe?) to make room for Ellsbury.
Fielder for Ellsbury, Kelly, Bowden, Anderson is a more than respectable haul. The Brewers would have one of the best collections of young talent in baseball. The Red Sox would have one of the best pure hitters in the game.
Theo, make it happen.
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