Boston Red Sox Trade Rumors: Names Sox Might Be Targeting

The Boston Red Sox have been relatively quiet so far this trade season. While other teams like the New York Mets and Colorado Rockies are actively shopping players, the Sox seem content to wait things out. Perhaps by doing this, they'll be able to land a target at the end of the deadline for less than he's worth.

Boston's needs are no secret. J.D. Drew is a noted failure in right field, and Josh Reddick is streaky and doesn't hit lefties well. The starting rotation can't seem to stay healthy, and the bullpen can always use help.

Though it often seems like ESPN creates stories just to keep a fresh cycle of content, their insiders surely have reliable sources who have heard at least murmurings of trades.

Five days away from the MLB trade deadline, the same names keep popping up as targets for the Boston Red Sox.

New York Mets OF Carlos Beltran

Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post:

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Last night a person involved in discussions described the Rangers as aggressively pursuing Beltran, with the Braves and Red Sox as the two other most interested teams.

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The Boston Red Sox could use another right-handed bat in the lineup as Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia remain the only serious threats from that side of the plate.

Switch-hitter Carlos Beltran would add that to the Sox against lefties. He'd also be able to apply even more pressure to righties in a lineup full of powerful left-handed hitters (Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz and Carl Crawford).

Beltran's having an all-star season, hitting .289 with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs.

Colorado Rockiers P Ubaldo Jimenez

Since he blew up with his no-hitter last year, Ubaldo Jimenez has pitched well but not up to expectations. The Colorado Rockies don't seem to care. Per ESPN's Jayson Stark:

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The Rockies are still listening on Ubaldo Jimenez, with teams like the Reds, Red Sox and Rangers still poking around. But the price hasn't dropped one iota (three sure-thing young players, including one pitcher who goes into their rotation immediately).

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The Boston Red Sox would probably have to give up Jose Iglesias and Andrew Miller plus other prospects. That price is a little high considering the Boston rotation, when healthy, is a perfectly suitable playoff rotation.

The Sox should also we wary of bringing a National League pitcher to the American League. The extra hitter in the American League is a huge disadvantage to American League pitchers.

Houston Astros OF Hunter Pence

I wish. But it's not gonna happen.

Hunter Pence is a beast and would fit the Boston Red Sox perfectly (right-handed bat, strong fielder and baserunner, hardworking, lazer shows, etc.). But the Sox probably don't have the assets to lure Pence away from Houston.

Unless they want to take J.D. Drew. Yes, take J.D. Drew! Only $14 million! Get him while he's hot!

Los Angeles Dodgers P Hiroki Kuroda

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda has a no-trade clause, but he would consider waiving it in order to play for the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees.

The Sox could certainly use Kuroda in the rotation, whether as a fifth started or the token funny-pitching-motion guy, what with Daisuke Matsuzaka injured and all.

Sidenote: why do most Japanese-born MLB pitchers have strange pitching motions? Are mechanics taught in a fundamentally different way in Japan?