Boston Red Sox Trade Rumors: Latest Updates and Reaction

The 2012 MLB season hasn't been an easy one for the Boston Red Sox to this point, but they're hanging in there. With an extra Wild Card berth in play this season, the team knows it can qualify for the postseason with a strong second-half push.

They need help, though. The Red Sox have been decimated by injuries and they've also had to deal with under-performing players for much of the season. They need reinforcements.

This is exactly why they'll be looking to bring in more talent ahead of MLB's July 31 trade deadline.

The rumor mill always has plenty to say about the Red Sox whenever deadline season rolls around, and this year will be no different. To stay up to date on all the latest rumors and reaction, just check back here periodically for updates. The latest buzz will be right up front.

Red Sox Acquire Craig Breslow

Posted: Tuesday, July 31 at 3:05 p.m. ET

The Red Sox have been rumored to be looking for a left-handed reliever. On Tuesday, they went out and got one.

According to Jack Magruder of FoxSportsArizona.com, the Red Sox have acquired Craig Breslow from the Arizona Diamondbacks:

"

#Dbacks source confirms Breslow to Boston. Angels also were looking at Breslow, need lefty.

— Jack Magruder (@JackMagruder) July 31, 2012"

Magruder subsequently noted that the D-Backs are getting Matt Albers and Scott Podsednik:

"

#Dbacks get Albers and Podsednik.

— Jack Magruder (@JackMagruder) July 31, 2012"

Breslow pitched for the Red Sox back in 2006, going 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 13 appearances. He has a 2.70 ERA in 40 appearances this season.

With Breslow in the mix, the Red Sox are now free to move Franklin Morales back into their rotation. They may need to do that in the event that Aaron Cook struggles, or if any of their starters need to be DL'd.

Or this could be a precursor to another trade. If so, the Red Sox have less than an hour to hammer one out.

Latest Sox Chatter on Deadline Day

Posted: Tuesday, July 31 at 12:15 p.m. ET

It's deadline day in Major League Baseball, and all signs point towards the Red Sox being one of the most flexible clubs in the league. They could buy or they could sell.

Regardless of what they do, it doesn't sound like the Red Sox will be doing anything major. For example, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe says the Sox are not in on Matt Garza:

"

Source: At this hour the Red Sox are not one of the teams involved with trade talks on Matt Garza.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 31, 2012"

Garza is injured, yet his price tag is still high due to the fact that he's under control through 2013. The Red Sox apparently don't want to move prospects, so it's no surprise that they're not trying to land Garza.

It's more likely that the Red Sox will make minor moves today, and that could include dealing away some of their depth. For example, Cafardo says that there are parties interested in Kelly Shoppach:

"

Nationals and Brewers have interest in Shoppach.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 31, 2012"

Trading Shoppach would open the door for Ryan Lavarnway, so it's not hard to imagine Shoppach packing his bags by the time the 4:00 p.m. deadline comes around.

Things are pretty fluid in Boston. Stay tuned.

Update: Tuesday, July 31 at 2:15 p.m. ET

Nick Cafardo says that the Red Sox are looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder:

"

The Red Sox also on lookout for a RH hitting outfielder.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 31, 2012"

One thing that's for sure is that they need outfield depth with Ryan Sweeney possibly out for the rest of the season.

In a perfect world, they'll get an outfielder who is also an ace starting pitcher.

Additional Update: Tuesday, July 31 at 2:35 p.m. ET

If it wasn't already clear enough, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com says that the Rangers are "definitely" out of the running for Josh Beckett. It's highly unlikely that he will be traded in the next 85 minutes.

According to Peter Gammons of MLB Network, via CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam, is that the Red Sox are looking for a lefty reliever. They're going to need one if they have plans to move Franklin Morales back into their rotation.

Josh Beckett Not Likely to Be Moved

Posted: Monday, July 30 at 11:55 a.m. ET

Late on Sunday night, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports posted a series of tweets claiming that the Red Sox have actively shopped Josh Beckett around. He named the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves as two specific teams that the Red Sox have tried to market Beckett to.

In a column posted early Monday morning, Passan noted that no deal is imminent. A deal is unlikely given Beckett's struggles this season, his poor reputation and because of the fact that he has 10-5 rights, but the Red Sox have made it known that they're willing to eat some of what's left on Beckett's contract. That can only help.

The Red Sox also shopped Beckett this offseason, according to Passan. He apparently hasn't done anything this season to convince the Red Sox to change their minds about holding on to him, and shopping him now is a smart idea given the waning number of starting pitching options out on the trade market.

Even still, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com and ESPN's Buster Olney have tweeted that it is unlikely that the Red Sox will trade Beckett.

In addition, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has tweeted that people in the Rangers organization aren't thrilled with the Beckett speculation, and Mark Bowman of MLB.com thinks the Braves are a better fit for Jon Lester than Beckett.

In all, it sounds like the odds are very, very good that Beckett will stay in Boston. As I've said before, the Red Sox are stuck with him whether they like it or not (and they clearly don't).

At least for the rest of this season, anyway.

Additional Update: Monday, July 30 at 1:55 p.m. ET

Nick Cafardo has spoken to Ben Cherington about the Beckett rumors:

"

Just asked Ben Cherington whether reports of him trying to move Josh Beckett were accurate and he said no.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 30, 2012"

Take this for what it's worth.

Additional Update No. 2: Monday, July 30 at 4:35 p.m. ET

Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com has a report that sheds some light on why the rumors surrounding Beckett may be inaccurate.

According to McAdam, the Red Sox aren't "aggressively shopping" Beckett. They're merely listening in case they happen to come across a team that is willing to make it worth Boston's while to trade Beckett.

The odds of that happening are less than 50-50, according to a source, and it doesn't help that there's precious little time to put a deal together. The Red Sox also have to worry about informing Beckett of their movements, as he would need to consider whether to agree to a trade. Since he has 10-5 rights, he can veto any deal.

In all, a trade still sounds unlikely.

Additional Update No. 3: Monday, July 30 at 9:40 p.m. ET

Earlier on Monday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweeted that a deal sending Beckett to the Rangers was not going to happen.

Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, however, has reported that the Rangers haven't yet closed the door on a possible deal for Beckett.

But that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. The Rangers shouldn't be closing any doors right now. 

This is not to say that a deal will get done. A rival executive told Edes that there's "2 percent chance" of something getting done.

And that sounds about right to me.

Additional Update No. 4: Monday, July 30 at 11:30 p.m. ET

This tweet from Gordon Edes should put an end to the nonsense:

"

Team source: Sox will not trade Josh Beckett before trading deadline.

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) July 31, 2012"

Oh, don't look so surprised.

This and That from Nick Cafardo

Posted: Monday, July 30 at 6:40 p.m. ET

The Red Sox have long been rumored to be on the lookout for starting pitching help, and they apparently have their eye on an old friend of the organization.

According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox are interested in former farmhand/reliever Justin Masterson:

"

Even though the Red Sox saw Justin Masterson at his worst recently they remain interested.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 30, 2012"

Masterson is 7-9 with a 4.47 ERA this season. However, his FIP is just 3.91, according to FanGraphs. He hasn't pitched as poorly as his ERA indicates.

Elsewhere, Cafardo says that the Rangers have done a lot of scouting on several Red Sox players, namely Aaron Cook and Kelly Shoppach:

"

Rangers have backed off Cook, butShoppach alive. Some of their scouts don't want Beckett but its up to Jon Daniels/Nolan Ryan.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 30, 2012"

It's interesting that he suggests that the club's management could overrule the scouts in regards to Beckett. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reported earlier today that Beckett would not be dealt to the Rangers.

In all, it still sounds like the Red Sox are keeping their options wide open. They're probably more inclined to buy than they are to sell after what happened in New York this weekend, but that doesn't mean they can't ship players out in the next 24 hours.

Additional Update: Monday, July 30 at 11:00 p.m. ET

Alex Speier of WEEI.com has heard that Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Aviles have also gotten attention from other clubs out on the trade market. However, nothing appears close.

Various Notes on Boston's Pitching Staff

Posted: Monday, July 30 at 12:35 a.m. ET

The Red Sox want to upgrade their starting rotation. By now, this should be no secret.

But it doesn't sound like they're interested in trading prospects for starting pitching. According to Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com, the Red Sox would rather deal spare parts for a starting pitcher:

"

#RedSox willing to deal from their bullpen and outfield surplus to upgrade the starting rotation, sources say. @MLBONFOX

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2012"

If so, this would limit Boston's options to back-end starters and middle-of-the-rotation types. No Josh Johnsons.

For what it's worth, the Red Sox aren't just looking to upgrade their starting rotation. They're looking at relievers too, and Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports has reported that the Red Sox have inquired about Colorado Rockies righty Rafael Betancourt.

As for pitchers the Red Sox currently control, it's been reported that they're not about to trade Jon Lester. Josh Beckett, however, could move if the price is right, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Heyman says that the Red Sox have at least thought about dealing Beckett, but dealing him is as tricky as it gets due to his poor performance this season and his reputation as a problem child. In addition, he has 10-5 rights.

For what it's worth, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com has reported that one MLB executive says the Red Sox are trying to dump Beckett. But in order for them to get rid of him, they'll have to settle for less than what they perceive to be fair value.

In other words, they're stuck with him. No shocker there.

Additional Update: Monday, July 30 at 1:15 a.m. ET

Or maybe not. Jeff Passan says the Red Sox are actively trying to dump Beckett:

"

Sources: Boston called Texas and Atlanta within last 48 hours trying to dump Josh Beckett. No deal is imminent. Red Sox gauging interest.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2012"

Not a bad idea. Both the Rangers and Braves need starting pitching help, and both of them could turn to Beckett as a late option with the prices for Josh Johnson and James Shields being so high.

Interesting play by Ben Cherington. We'll see if it leads anywhere, which is to say we'll see just how desperate Texas and Atlanta are.

Additional Update No. 2: Monday, July 30 at 1:17 a.m. ET

Passan says the Dodgers could be interested in Beckett. 

Sox Have Some Interest in Jason Vargas

Posted: Monday, July 30 at 12:15 a.m. ET

The Red Sox are still looking for starting pitching help, and there's a good chance they'll make a move to address this need after taking two of three from the Yankees over the weekend.

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe says that the Red Sox have some interest in Seattle Mariners lefty Jason Vargas:

"

The Red Sox have mild interest in Seattle's Jason Vargas. The results of the the next two games will determine what they do.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 29, 2012"

To be perfectly blunt, this is a bad idea.

Vargas is a convenient option because he's an innings-eater who could be had on the cheap, but he doesn't tend to pitch well away from Safeco Field.

In nine home starts, Vargas has a 2.63 ERA and has allowed just six home runs in 65 innings. In 13 road starts, he has a 4.67 ERA and has allowed 19 home runs in 81 innings pitched.

Vargas has pitched very well over his last six starts, but he's a better fit for Seattle than he is for any other club in Major League Baseball. 

Throwing Water on Idea of Red Sox Fire Sale

Posted: Monday, July 30 at 12:10 a.m. ET

When the Red Sox got spanked by the Yankees on Friday night, their season looked over. That led many to start speculating about whether or not it was time to blow the team up.

Not so fast. Josh Beckett told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that Ben Cherington has not approached him about possibly being traded. For anyone who has doubts, Beckett insists he wants to stay in Boston long-term.

Also not going anywhere is Cody Ross. Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com says that the Texas Rangers are interested in Ross, but Bradford has reported that the Red Sox have no intention of trading Ross.

As for Carl Crawford, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has reported that the Miami Marlins are the only team that has "officially" made an inquiry.

Lastly, Cherington has told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that Jacoby Ellsbury isn't going anywhere. The idea is to contend with him in the lineup in 2013, even if they stand to lose him as a free agent.

In short, the Red Sox aren't about to give up. 

Though, one wonders how the club's tune would have changed if the Red Sox hadn't come back to win two of three in The Bronx.

Additional Update: Monday, July 30 at 6:35 p.m. ET

Nick Cafardo says that the Red Sox will probably wait until the offseason to shop Ellsbury, despite inquiries from all over:

"

Despite a few inquiries on Jacoby Ellsbury the Sox will likely wait until the offseason to seriously consider deals for him.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 30, 2012"

Kinda confirms what everyone is thinking.

Josh Johnson Too Pricey for Red Sox

Posted: Friday, July 27 at 9:30 p.m. ET

The Red Sox desperately need starting pitching help, but they're not desperate enough to sell off half their farm system to solve the problem.

In other words, they're not going to go after Josh Johnson.

Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe has the latest buzz:

"

In talking to #RedSox people, price of Josh Johnson way more than they would be willing to meet

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 27, 2012"

It doesn't help that it's becoming increasingly apparent that this Red Sox team just isn't worth it.

If Ben Cherington is going to strike a deal for Johnson, he'll probably wait until this offseason when Johnson's value will be a lot lower than it is right now. Even then, I'd say it's unlikely.

Who knows? He may not be looking to retool this winter. He may be looking to rebuild.

Additional Update: Monday, July 30 at 12:20 a.m. ET

Peter Gammons of MLB Network says the Red Sox aren't trying hard at all to land Johnson:

"

With the Rangers not interested and the Red Sox "not engaged," the Josh Johnson market isn't likely to bring a big package to pry him away

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) July 29, 2012"

No surprise here. Johnson's price tag is big, and spending big to get him would be risky given the mediocrity of this Red Sox team. They don't want to do what the Indians did last year when they got Ubaldo Jimenez.

Joel Sherman on the Red Sox

Posted: Friday, July 27 at 1:15 p.m. ET

The Red Sox will begin a crucial three-game series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. How they fare in this series could determine the course they follow not just for the rest of the 2012 season, but beyond as well.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post chimed in on Friday with a few notes about the Red Sox, writing that the Red Sox are looking for a high-end starting pitcher or a shortstop out on the trade market. Nothing new there.

The perception of the Red Sox, however, is that they have more than enough talent to make a run at a playoff spot even if they don't make a move at the trade deadline. That's a matter of their talented players actually playing like talented players. 

That means you, Carl Crawford, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett.

Speaking of Crawford, Sherman notes that the Red Sox tried to flip him to Miami for Jose Reyes earlier this month in an attempt to upgrade their shortstop situation. That idea died pretty much immediately.

The other incentive of making that deal was that it would have allowed the Red Sox to jettison Crawford. One AL executive told Sherman that Boston “wants him out in the worst way.” The general consensus around the league is that Crawford is a lost cause for the Red Sox.

Crawford, meanwhile, is 0-for-14 in Boston's last four games with seven strikeouts.

Moving Crawford is about as difficult as it gets at this point given his huge contract, his struggles and his wounded elbow. But even if the Red Sox somehow emerge from The Bronx with a sweep, don't be surprised if they're still trying to find a taker for Crawford at the deadline.

If the Red Sox lose the series or get swept, don't be surprised if they wave a white flag and sell at the deadline.

Sean McAdam on All Things Red Sox

Posted: Thursday, July 26 at 1:45 a.m. ET

The Red Sox lost for the fifth time in six games on Wednesday night in Texas. If they drop this weekend's series against the Yankees in The Bronx, the Red Sox could pack it in and aim for next season.

But Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com has a series of updates that all suggest that the Red Sox are keeping their options wide open for the time being.

For starters, he says that the Red Sox are still looking to add an impact starting pitcher, preferably one they can control beyond this season. They have some interest in Zack Greinke, but seem to be more interested in Josh Johnson. Greinke is in his walk year, whereas Johnson is under contract through 2013.

While the Red Sox look for pitching, McAdam says they are also fielding interest from other teams on Jon Lester and Josh Beckett. Beckett is apparently more available than Lester, but Beckett doesn't have a ton of value for reasons that should be obvious.

Teams have also called about Jacoby Ellsbury. They've been left with the sense that he's not available now, but that he might be during the offseason.

Meanwhile, there's a lot of interest in Kelly Shoppach and Ryan Sweeney, as well as Matt Albers. That's nothing new, but McAdam says that the Red Sox will probably wait until the last minute before trading either one of them.

Lastly, the five most sought-after Red Sox prospects are Matt Barnes, Jose Iglesias, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Ryan Lavarnway.

A lot to digest here, but the overarching message is this: The Red Sox are keeping a lot of doors open at the moment. All of this makes it sound like the Red Sox fully realize that they're a team at a crossroads.

Additional Update: Thursday, July 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com can also confirm that the Red Sox have fielded calls about Beckett, but there is "nothing close" to a potential deal on the table.

For what it's worth, the Rangers don't see Beckett as a fit. They would know seeing as how they just faced him on Wednesday.

Sox Looking for a Right-Handed Bat

Posted: Wednesday, July 25 at 6:40 p.m. ET

The Red Sox need to find pitching more than anything else at the trade deadline, but the latest rumor says that they haven't disregarded the idea of adding a bat. 

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has the latest:

"

The Red Sox, like many other teams, would love to get another righthanded bat. RH hitters have a .726 OPS compared to .805 by their LH.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 25, 2012"

OK, a right-handed bat. That's nice.

But for which position?

The Red Sox have a good enough starting nine, so this coveted right-handed bat would have to be for their bench. One supposes a righty-hitting corner infielder would be good, and the Red Sox could also use a right-handed bat for their outfield.

Either way, Ben Cherington should hold off on adding a bat until after he's acquired an arm. First things first.

Gordon Edes on Jon Lester, Pitching Targets, Sox Outfielders

Posted: Wednesday, July 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET

With Jon Lester struggling mightily in his last three starts and the Red Sox struggling to tread water in the last week or so, there's a growing sense that the organization could go into fire sale mode ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

That remains to be seen. If the latest batch of updates from Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com is any indication, the Red Sox are still weighing all their options.

For starters, the Red Sox are not about to deal Lester. It's been suggested that they should, but the Red Sox have made up their minds that the best idea is to hold on to him.

Not the worst idea in the world seeing as how Lester's value couldn't be lower at the moment. He still has good stuff too. What he needs is his confidence back.

If anything, it's a better bet that the Red Sox will make a move to bring a starting pitcher in rather than sending one out. Edes says they are still very much interested in Matt Garza and Josh Johnson, both of whom are locked up through the 2013 season.

The Red Sox could, however, end up trading one of their outfielders. They've gotten calls about Ryan Kalish, Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ross, and the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates have both scouted the Red Sox "extensively."

It's unlikely that Ross will be dealt, as he's turned out to be a major bargain acquisition and is the team's top choice for everyday duty in right field. Kalish figures into the team's plans for the future. Sweeney has the best chances of anybody of being moved.

As for the starting pitching pursuit, it's hard to imagine the Red Sox making a move before this weekend's series at the Yankees. If they play well and win a couple games or sweep, they could go into full-on buy mode. If they get swept or lose two out of three, they could conclude that this just isn't their year.

It's crunch time for the Red Sox. Their plans could shift either way at a moment's notice.

Red Sox Do Their Due Diligence on Zack Greinke

Posted: Wednesday, July 25 at 1:20 p.m. ET

It's obvious at this point that the Red Sox need starting pitching help. The only guy they can rely on is Clay Buchholz, who was superb once again on Tuesday night in Texas.

The Red Sox have been linked to numerous targets, including Josh Johnson, Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster.

They've now been linked to Zack Greinke. Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports that the Red Sox scouted Greinke during his start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night, in which he allowed one run on three hits in seven innings.

Knobler says the Red Sox scout in attendance is Allard Baird, who used to be the general manager of the Kansas City Royals. Interesting connection there.

But don't make the mistake of thinking the Red Sox are about to go hard after Greinke. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has been told that it's not going to happen:

"

Been pretty much told Greinke will not be a Red Sox target.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 25, 2012"

So there's that. Sounds like the Red Sox were just doing their due diligence.

They could have been scouting Greinke because they want to get a good read on him in case he gets traded to an AL rival. It's also possible they're trying to put together a file on him in case they feel the urge to go after him as a free agent.

But a trade? That's unlikely. Especially with the Red Sox struggling to stay relevant in the AL postseason picture.

Nick Cafardo on Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson

Posted: Tuesday, July 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET

With a week to go until the trade deadline, it's clear that the Red Sox are going to have to do something drastic. Whether this involves selling or buying is the only mystery.

For the time being, the Red Sox are acting like buyers. On their radar, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, are two Miami Marlins stars: third baseman Hanley Ramirez and right-handed starter Josh Johnson.

The Marlins made it clear that they're going to be sellers in the next week when they traded Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to the Detroit Tigers. All signs point to them wanting to part ways with Ramirez next, and Cafardo says the Red Sox are "still listening" to the Marlins concerning Ramirez.

The Marlins famously made the Red Sox an offer of Ramirez and Heath Bell for Carl Crawford last week, but that concept apparently died as soon as it was proposed. 

At this point, Cafardo says that the Red Sox are more interested in Johnson, which makes sense given the recent (and indeed, season-long) struggles of their starting rotation. He'd be a risky acquisition because of his tendency to get hurt, not to mention his tendency to be inconsistent, but he's a talented pitcher who's under contract through 2013.

It's probable that there's nothing imminent, as Ben Cherington could decide to give up on buying and instead look to sell if the Red Sox continue to struggle out on the field. They've lost four in a row, and things aren't going to get any easier as the week progresses. The Red Sox have two games left against the Rangers in Arlington before they head to New York for a weekend series against the Yankees.

If they don't string some wins together, the "For Sale" sign may go up.

Braves Inquired About Jon Lester

Posted: Monday, July 23 at 2:35 p.m. ET

Jon Lester hit rock bottom on Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing a career-high 11 earned runs and a career-high four home runs in just four innings of work. His ERA is up to 5.46, and nobody has any real clue as to what's wrong with Lester.

Lester's struggles have given rise to more and more trade rumors. At first, it was all speculation. Now, not so much.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Atlanta Braves have called the Red Sox about Lester. They were apparently told that the Red Sox aren't ready to sell yet, but you can rest assured that the Braves aren't the only team interested in Lester as a buy-low option right now.

The question for the Red Sox is whether selling low on Lester is a smart idea. It's either that, or hold on to him and hope that he can get himself squared away in the last two months of the regular season.

It's a tough situation, one that the Red Sox probably never figured they would have to deal with. After all, Lester was one of the top lefties in baseball just a short time ago. Nobody could have predicted that he would fall so far so fast.

It's been suggested that Lester would probably benefit from a change of scenery. At this point, it's kind of hard to argue that point. Struggling is hard enough for any pitcher. For a Boston pitcher, it's even tougher.

One thing's for sure: If the Red Sox decide to trade Lester, they'll basically be waving a white flag. After what happened against the Blue Jays this past weekend, that almost seems inevitable.

Sox Scout Anibal Sanchez, Have Interest in Josh Johnson

Posted: Monday, July 23 at 12:10 p.m. ET

We found out on Friday that the Sox scouted Tampa Bay Rays righty James Shields during his most recent start. He's not the only righty they have their eyes on.

Here's the latest from Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com:

"

#Tigers and #RedSox have interest in Anibal Sanchez and are scouting him in Pittsburgh today. He is pitching well, too. @MLBONFOX #Marlins

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 22, 2012"

Through 19 starts, Sanchez has a record of 5-7 and an ERA of 3.94. He has a 2.70 ERA in his last three starts.

Sanchez, of course, was once a part of Boston's farm system. They signed him as an amateur free agent in 2001, and then sent him to Miami in the Hanley Ramirez-Josh Beckett trade in 2005.

It would be a stretch to call him an ace, but Sanchez has developed into a solid starting pitcher for the Marlins. Since the start of the 2010 season, he's logged over 510 innings with an ERA of 3.69. His ERA+ since the start of the 2010 season is 110.

The Red Sox could use Sanchez's consistency. They should know that as well as anyone after watching Josh Beckett and Jon Lester get knocked around once again this past weekend against Toronto.

Additional Update: Monday, July 23 at 3:40 p.m. ET

Joe McDonald of ESPNBoston.com has also heard that the Red Sox are interested in Sanchez, and he adds that the Red Sox are interested in Josh Johnson as well.

Sox Scout James Shields

Posted: Friday, July 20 at 10:05 p.m. ET

The Red Sox have been linked to numerous starting pitchers over the last few weeks, and we can add one more to the pile.

The word from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com is that the Red Sox were among several teams that scouted James Shields on Friday night. 

For the first time in a while, Shields pitched well. He went 7.2 innings, allowing three earned on four hits while striking out 10 against the Seattle Mariners. He had given up at least 10 hits in four straight starts,.

Shields is a pitcher the Red Sox could control beyond this season, as he has club options for 2013 and 2014. He is also appealing because he has plenty of experience pitching in the AL East.

The hangup, obviously, is that trading for Shields would require the Red Sox to trade prospects within the division, which is always a risky idea. In addition, they'd be banking on Shields pitching better with them than he has for the Rays this season.

It's worth noting that Shields has an ERA near 6.00 in his career at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox are doing their due diligence, but there are safer trades for them to make than this one.

Red Sox Have Made an Offer for Ryan Dempster

Posted: Friday, July 20 at 8:35 p.m. ET

On Thursday, ESPN's Jayson Stark reported that the Red Sox were officially out of the running for Ryan Dempster.

Maybe he spoke too soon.

Or maybe not. It's hard to tell.

I bring it up because Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com has reported that the Red Sox have actually made the Cubs an offer for Dempster.

What's unclear is when the Red Sox made this offer. It's possible that they made it a while ago and that it was rejected. That could have been when the Red Sox washed their hands of Dempster.

Or it could be that this offer was made more recently, which could contradict Stark's report.

Either way, the Dodgers are still viewed as the favorite to land Dempster. It bodes well for them that people are skeptical about Dempster's willingness to change leagues.

It's still a better bet that the Red Sox will make a deal for Matt Garza before they make a deal for Dempster, but even that probably isn't likely. The Red Sox are said to be lagging in their pursuit of him.

Stay tuned.

Sox Not About to Trade Cody Ross

Posted: Friday, July 20 at 4:45 p.m. ET

Cody Ross is only making $3 million this season. For that, he's given the Red Sox 16 home runs and 50 RBI in just 63 games. In the last two days, he's hit three home runs and driven in nine runs.

Yeah, it's safe to say he's not for sale.

But according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, teams are asking the Red Sox about Ross:

"

Major League source: A lot of interest in Cody Ross but Red Sox not interested in moving him unleSs there was a ton coming back.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 20, 2012"

No further discussion is needed here. The Red Sox have gotten way too much bang for their buck to this point to even consider trading Ross.

If anything, what they should be considering right now is how to lock him up beyond this season.

Red Sox Lagging on Matt Garza

Posted: Friday, July 20 at 4:40 p.m. ET

The Red Sox have been linked to Chicago Cubs righty Matt Garza for weeks, and it's been reported that they prefer him to veteran righty Ryan Dempster.

But apparently, not by much. Here's the latest from Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:

"

Source: Red Sox lagging behind a few teams in matt garza hunt. Not all sox personnel feel garza would be an upgrade over what they have.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 20, 2012"

One can see where they're coming from. Garza has been inconsistent this season, which makes trading a significant package of prospects for him somewhat risky. The price will be even higher due to the fact that Garza is under club control through next season.

The Red Sox currently have six starting pitchers to turn to if you count Franklin Morales, who has been moved to the bullpen after a stint in the starting rotation. They'll have seven starters to turn to once Daisuke Matsuzaka gets healthy.

To boot, the Red Sox have won five of seven since the All-Star break to this point. They don't necessarily have to make a trade in order to compete down the stretch. Especially if Jon Lester and Josh Beckett pitch consistently down the stretch. 

If the Red Sox come to the conclusion that they can't rely on either of them, that's probably when they'll ramp up their pursuit of Garza.

Red Sox Interested in Stephen Drew

Posted: Thursday, July 19 at 4:50 p.m. ET

A lot of Red Sox fans were in a panic about the team's shortstop situation before the start of the season, but Mike Aviles has held his own as Boston's starting shortstop to this point. His on-base percentage is an absurdly low .286, but he actually ranks third among AL shortstops in WAR, according to FanGraphs.

Nonetheless, the Red Sox are eyeing a shortstop on the trade market.

This is according to the latest from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com, who report that the Red Sox are interested in Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew.

Drew missed nearly all of the first three months of the regular season recovering from ankle surgery that he underwent after suffering a nasty broken ankle last season. Thus far in 15 games, he's hitting .192 with a .496 OPS.

I have to admit, this is puzzling. Of all the things the Red Sox need, a new shortstop isn't near the top of the list. Aviles is by no means a star, but he's handled the position well both at the plate and in the field.

The report notes that the Red Sox would likely use Drew as a backup infielder if they do acquire him, and that doesn't make a ton of sense either. Pedro Ciriaco can handle that role once Dustin Pedroia is activated off the DL, and Drew isn't much of an upgrade over Nick Punto.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Red Sox Done with Ryan Dempster, Still Pursuing Matt Garza

Posted: Thursday, July 19 at 4:30 p.m. ET

The Red Sox have been rumored to be in on both Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza, but they have apparently dropped their pursuit of Dempster.

Here's the latest from ESPN's Jayson Stark:

"

#Cubs still working to trade Ryan Dempster ASAP. One source says Red Sox are officially out on Dempster, still in on Matt Garza

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 19, 2012"

The price for Garza will be higher because he's a lot younger than Dempster and because he's under club control through next season, but the Red Sox would apparently rather pay that price than the price it would take for them to land Dempster as a rental.

And that makes sense. The Red Sox need an upgrade for their rotation this year, and acquiring Garza now can save them from worrying about how to round out their rotation this offseason. Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz will (presumably) still be around, and John Lackey will be healthy after missing this season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

A rotation consisting of Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Garza and Lackey next season would be pretty good.

In the more near future, Garza could end up being the ace that the Red Sox have been missing all season. Lester, Beckett and Buchholz are good pitchers, but all three of them have gone through their own struggles in 2012. Garza could be the guy who restores some order at the top of Boston's rotation.

Buster Olney on Jon Lester

Posted: Thursday, July 19 at 1:10 p.m. ET

A year ago this time, the idea of the Red Sox trading Jon Lester would have been unthinkable.

But now...

It's been a rough year for Lester, as he's struggled with his command for much of the season and has struggled to put hitters away when he's gotten ahead of them. He's currently 5-7 with a 4.80 ERA, and he's pitched fewer than five innings in each of his last two starts.

The idea has been floated that Lester needs a change of scenery. ESPN's Buster Olney hopped on that bandwagon in his latest column about marketable pitchers, writing that "even the Red Sox have to wonder if [Lester] might benefit from a change of scenery."

Olney suggests that the Red Sox could flip Lester for a starting pitcher and some depth. He's signed through 2013 with an option through 2014, so they can demand the moon for Lester even despite his poor showing this season.

Or they could just stick with him, which isn't the worst idea in the world. Lester has definitely struggled in 2012, but it's not as bad as it seems. Per FanGraphs, he has a 3.68 FIP, which is over a full run lower than his ERA. 

He also has a 2.5 WAR, which, believe it or not, ranks him ahead of star pitchers like Jered Weaver and David Price in the American League.

Just sayin'.

Carl Crawford on His Way out of Boston?

Posted: Wednesday, July 18 at 2:10 p.m. ET

Suddenly, the internet is abuzz with rumors that Carl Crawford may be on the move soon.

It started with a report from Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com that the Red Sox are actively "contacting teams to gauge their trade interest" in Crawford, who was just activated off the disabled list on Monday. He claimed that the Sox have already reached out to the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers, and that the Marlins would "at least consider the concept."

It gets better. Shortly after Rosenthal's report hit the internet, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Marlins have actually approached the Red Sox with a blockbuster proposal that would send Hanley Ramirez and Heath Bell to Boston in exchange for Crawford and a prospect.

For his part, Sox general manager Ben Cherington is trying to keep everyone calm.

"We have not offered Carl to a single team," he told USA Today. "We have not pursued anything on Carl Crawford. Carl is our left fielder."

The pieces in the proposed trade with the Marlins make sense, though. The Red Sox have apparently never gotten over trading Ramirez to the Marlins in the first place way back in 2005, and the Marlins feel that Crawford would go back to being a star player if he was taken out of Boston and put back in Florida.

There are complications, of course. Ramirez is a shell of the player he was a few years ago, when he was one of the best all-around players in the game. Bell has struggled for much of the 2012 season after signing a big contract during the offseason. Crawford has looked good since his return from the DL, but the big unknown with him is the health of his elbow. He may need to have Tommy John surgery in the near future.

The last thing a proposed deal as big as this one needs is extra complications. Thus, don't be afraid if all of this talk leads to nothing.

Additional Update: Wednesday, July 18 at 2:15 p.m. ET

Here comes ESPN's Buster Olney to the rescue:

"

Sources:There is no current discussion involving Crawford and Hanley Ramirez/Heath Bell. Was brought up briefly as concept,immediately died.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 18, 2012"

This is my surprised face.

Sox Not Interested in Justin Upton

Posted: Wednesday, July 18 at 1:10 p.m. ET

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Arizona Diamondbacks will trade Justin Upton at some point. It's just a question of whether that trade will come in the next couple of weeks or during the offseason.

The Red Sox, however, aren't interested. So says Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:

"

Even though the red sox love Justin Upton's talent they are not one of the many teams who have called AZ Gm Kevin Towers.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 18, 2012"

Granted, this is the kind of thing that could change at a moment's notice. The Red Sox have talented players in left field and center field, but not so much in right field. A player like Upton would fit well in right field for the Red Sox, and his left field power stroke makes him a perfect fit for Fenway Park.

The problem, obviously, is that it would cost an arm and a leg to acquire Upton in a trade. The Red Sox do have enough talent in their farm system to swing a deal, but trading for Upton would all but empty their system. That would be a big risk to take for a player who, for all his talent, is not as good as he should be.

Besides, Boston's biggest need is pitching. Not offense. Adding Upton wouldn't boost their chances of making the postseason this year or next year.

Sox in No Rush to Deal for a Starting Pitcher?

Posted: Tuesday, July 17 at 6:15 p.m. ET

'Tis the season for trade rumors. Sometimes, the rumors don't all agree with one another.

If you scroll through this slideshow, you'll find a bunch of updates about Boston's search for starting pitching. Ben Cherington has kicked the tires on several different starters, most notably Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster.

But he may be in no hurry to make any kind of deal. Here's Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com with the latest:

"

#redsox are monitoring starters' market. but they have 6 viable starters at moment, so doubt they'll rush into anything.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 17, 2012"

Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz make up the core of Boston's rotation. Felix Doubront has been decent enough for a back-end starter. Aaron Cook has been very good in his last four outings. Franklin Morales has performed well in his starts.

So yeah, I count six "viable" starters too.

Still, a six-man rotation isn't ideal, and the Doubront-Cook-Morales trio doesn't inspire that much confidence. A back-end upgrade would be nice, and asking for a back-end upgrade isn't asking for a lot.

We shall see. The deadline is two weeks from today.

Updates on Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza

Posted: Tuesday, July 17 at 1:15 p.m. ET

The Red Sox are apparently quite serious about giving their starting rotation a boost.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the Chicago Cubs are starting to exchange names with teams interested in veteran righty Ryan Dempster. The Red Sox are one of them. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers are also in the mix.

That the Red Sox have heavy interest in Dempster is not news. In fact, the next slide after this one contains a report from ESPN's Buster Olney that claimed that the Red Sox were getting "aggressive" in their pursuit of Dempster.

But Dempster isn't the only Cubs hurler the Red Sox are serious about acquiring. Rosenthal says they have "equal or greater interest" in Matt Garza, who is younger and under club control through next season.

The most pressing difference between the two as far as the Red Sox are concerned is that Garza would come at a higher price in terms of prospects, exactly because he's younger and under club control through next season.

Dempster does have 10-5 rights that allow him to block any trade, but a source told Rosenthal he would "likely" approve a trade to the Red Sox.

The one issue with Dempster is that he's prone to injuries, and that should concern the Red Sox. After all they've gone through this season, the last thing they need is another injury-prone player.

But that doesn't make Garza a better option by default. The Red Sox do have talent in their system they can part with, but Garza could end up costing just as much as a Cole Hamels or a Zack Greinke because of the extra year he'll be able to serve. That's a big price to pay for a pitcher who doesn't qualify as an ace.

Ben Cherington will be making a bold move either way. But as I've noted before, this Red Sox team could use a bold move.

Sox Going Hard After Ryan Dempster

Posted: Monday, July 16 at 6:25 p.m. ET

Well, this is interesting.

Earlier on Monday, Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com reported that the Chicago Cubs could deal veteran righty hurler Ryan Dempster some time in the next week. There are two weeks to go until the trade deadline, but the thinking is that the Cubs will move him sooner rather than later because Dempster's value is at its highest right now.

A few hours later, ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the Red Sox are going hard after Dempster:

"

Source: The Red Sox are aggressive in the pursuit of Ryan Dempster. Cubs going through their process on the right-hander.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 16, 2012"

What makes this interesting is that the Red Sox and Cubs have always appeared to be natural trade partners. Dempster is just one of several veteran players the Red Sox could use, and Cubs boss Theo Epstein knows Boston's farm system better than any other farm system in baseball. He did build it, after all.

Epstein's familiarity with the farm system is a big reason why there's a deal to be made here, and the Red Sox could certainly use Dempster in their rotation. The core trio of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz is fine, but the back end of Boston's rotation could very much use an upgrade. Dempster boasts the best ERA in the majors, so it goes without saying that he would indeed be an upgrade.

There are two primary concerns about Dempster, though. The first is that he's never pitched in the American League, and the second is that he's a free agent at the end of the year. The price for him is going to be high in terms of prospects, and that makes him a potential bust waiting to happen.

Still, nothing should be ruled out. The Red Sox could use a drastic shakeup.

Red Sox on Justin Upton's No-Trade List

Posted: Monday, July 16 at 4:10 p.m. ET

The Red Sox were viewed as a potential landing spot for Justin Upton once upon a time, but they'd have a hard time trading for him now if they decide to engage the Arizona Diamondbacks in trade talks.

According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the Red Sox are one of four teams Upton can block a trade to, with the others being the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs.

Upton probably doesn't have anything personal against these four clubs. The report notes that players tend to include high-revenue clubs such as the Red Sox, Yankees and Cubs on no-trade lists because "those organizations are better positioned to offer financial inducements in an effort to convince the player to waive the clause."

Arizona GM Kevin Towers has publicly admitted that he's willing to listen to offers for Upton, but the Red Sox are an unlikely suitor. They have plenty of outfielders already, and the club's most pressing need at the moment is its need for pitching help. Since the Red Sox are already second in the majors in runs scored, they have little incentive to deal for an offensive standout such as Upton, especially seeing as how he would cost and arm and a leg.

So if you're a Red Sox fan, you should probably file this latest report under "whatever."

Latest Rumors from Nick Cafardo

Posted: Sunday, July 15 at 5:00 p.m. ET

It's Sunday, and you know what that means. It's time to take a look at what Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has to report about what's going on around the league.

Cafardo has heard that the Red Sox have scouted Colorado Rockies right-hander Rafael Betancourt (pictured), who has 15 saves and a 2.84 ERA in 32 appearances this season. They wouldn't give the Rockies prospects in exchange for Betancourt, but they could send one of their spare outfielders to Colorado.

Cafardo has also heard that the Pittsburgh Pirates are interested in Jon Lester, but that a deal is highly unlikely. The Red Sox are only trading him if they decide to give up on winning this season, and they'd apparently only give him up if they got 2011 No. 1 overall pick Gerrit Cole in return.

And that ain't happening. The Pirates probably won't even give Cole up for Justin Upton.

It sounds like the Lester rumor isn't going to lead to anything, but the Betancourt rumor might. If the Sox can get him to strengthen their bullpen by simply parting with an outfielder, that's a trade they'll probably make.

What's interesting is that the Red Sox don't really need bullpen help. Their pen has been one of the best in the business over the last couple months, and both Daniel Bard and Andrew Bailey could find their way into the pen in the final weeks of the season.

Still, you can never have too many quality relievers, and it stands to reason that the Red Sox will look to stock up on relievers if they're finding the asking prices for starting pitchers to be too high.

Mets Interested in Kelly Shoppach

Posted: Saturday, July 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET

There have been rumblings about the Red Sox possibly trading Kelly Shoppach to make way for Ryan Lavarnway. If they decide to put Shoppach on the block, there will be at least a couple interested parties.

According to MLB Network's Peter Gammons, one interested party would be the New York Mets:

"

Mets have considered Kelly Shoppach if price on Ramon Hernandez is too high, which would get Ryan Lavarnway to Boston.

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) July 14, 2012"

Makes sense. Per FanGraphs, Mets catchers have hit just .241/.301/.293 this season. Their collective .594 OPS ranks 25th in the league. They could use an offensive upgrade at the catcher position.

Lavarnway, meanwhile, is hitting .306/.395/.455 with seven home runs for Triple-A Pawtucket. He made his major league debut in August of 2011, and he was with the Red Sox during the month of September. He hit two home runs in the team's penultimate game.

Shoppach has proven to be a good pick-up for the Red Sox, but he's not much of an upgrade over Lavarnway, who is one of Boston's top minor league hitters. The time is now for the Red Sox to give Lavarnway everyday action in the major leagues, but they need to trade Shoppach before they can do that.

Still, it's certainly not outside the realm of possibility that Ben Cherington will decide to hold on to Shoppach. Catching depth is not something that should be sacrificed lightly.

Sox Not About to Go into Fire Sale Mode

Posted: Friday, July 13 at 1:05 p.m. ET

Some have suggested that the Red Sox should realize that there's no hope of contending this year, and that they should sell off all their key parts. The time to start rebuilding is now.

Sox GM Ben Cherington doesn't think so. Here's what he told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com:

"

I don't envision a scenario where we're sellers, in the traditional sense of the word. We have some potential surplus in areas we've talked to teams about, and maybe there was ways that could help us now and in the future. But every year in Boston is too important. We're focused on winning this year, and still believe we can.

I don't think blowing it up makes sense for where we are. There's a lot of talent on the team. We're right in the thick of the wild card chase. We've played very well since the beginning of May aside from the last week. I just think it would be foolish to start doing things that got in the way of giving us a chance this year. We'll see how it goes. Like I said, we have to play well. We have to start winning games.

"

The Red Sox are about to get Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford and Clay Buchholz back off the disabled list to start the second half. Their returns will make the team healthier and more talented than it was at any point during the first half of the season. Wins should soon follow. 

Granted, Cherington did seem to hint that there's at least a possibility of the team going into sell mode when he said that Red Sox have to start winning games. There are roughly two and a half weeks to go until MLB's trade deadline. If the Red Sox stumble in that time, Cherington could change his mind. 

But even that's unlikely. Their deficit in the wild-card race is not large, and there's a lot of baseball to be played in August and September. This is what separates the Red Sox from a team like the Philadelphia Phillies, who have a very large deficit to overcome and relatively little talent to work with.

The Jon Lester Fiasco

Posted: Thursday, July 12 at 6:10 p.m. ET

Peter Gammons is renowned for reporting trade rumors, but he basically made one up this week when he suggested on 98.5 The Sports Hub (via the Boston Herald) that Sox lefty starter Jon Lester would benefit from a change of scenery.

Said Gammons:

"

I just sense that Jon is so unhappy here that I’m sure it would be good for him. The question is how would the team survive without hope of having Jon Lester go out and win 10 games in the second half of the season.

"

This caused a minor uproar, but Lester spoke for himself by taking to Twitter:

"

Guys, I love Boston, very happy here. Nothing better than playing for the @RedSox, hope to be here for my entire career! #dontbelievethehype

— Jon Lester (@JLester31) July 12, 2012"

So there's that. You can believe Gammons or you can believer Lester, and Lester says not to believe Gammons.

Granted, it's easy to see where Gammons was coming from. Lester hasn't looked happy this season, as he's been moody on the mound and has tended to fall to pieces when things don't go his way.

But his unhappiness is apparently more of a performance issue than a personal issue, if he is indeed unhappy in the first place.

So, like Lester said, don't believe the hype.

Which Outfielder Will Be Traded?

Posted: Thursday, July 12 at 1:05 p.m. ET

The Red Sox have played almost the entire 2012 season without two-thirds of their projected starting outfield, as Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford have both spent months on the disabled list.

Those two are nearing their respective returns, and it's no secret to clubs around Major League Baseball that this means that the Red Sox are about to be blessed with an abundance of outfielders.

The word from Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald is that “teams have called on several" of the team's outfielders. The Red Sox are "open-minded" about dealing an outfielder.

But which one? Ryan Sweeney's name has been mentioned quite a bit in recent days and weeks, but Silverman notes that the Sox aren't looking to move him. Scott Podsednik is on the disabled list and Ryan Kalish fits into the team's plans for the future, so moving them would be tricky as well. Cody Ross' bat is too perfect a fit for Fenway Park, so the Red Sox won't be trading him.

Daniel Nava, however, could be dealt. There's no indication that the Red Sox would prefer to trade him, but his trade stock is higher right now than it's ever been. He's shown that he can produce at the plate and that he can play above-average defense in the outfield.

There was some buzz (read ahead) about the Chicago Cubs being interested in swinging a deal for Sweeney, but Silverman now says they have no interest. For their part, though, the Red Sox have already kicked the tires on Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza.

This is not to say that something is imminent. Silverman has it from a source that the Red Sox are "not fully engaged yet" with the Cubs about either Dempster or Garza.

Regardless of who they get in return, it's fair to expect the Red Sox to make some sort of deal involving one of their outfielders in the next couple of weeks. Trading away depth is tricky, but the Red Sox have enough of it where their outfield is concerned to follow through with a deal.

Ryan Sweeney to the Cubs?

Posted: Tuesday, July 10 at 3:45 p.m. ET

Teams that are in need of an extra outfielder should be calling the Red Sox. Once Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford come back healthy after the All-Star break, they're going to have more outfielders than they need.

The one player who has been characterized as being the "most" available of the bunch is Ryan Sweeney, and Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald is hearing that the Red Sox may already be discussing a deal that would send him out of town.

One team that could make a move on Sweeney is the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have two starting pitchers in Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster who the Red Sox could very much use, but Silverman notes that Sweeney would have to be merely one part of a "much larger package" to get either one of those two hurlers.

Still, Sweeney is a guy who is about to have more value on the trade market than he does on the Red Sox roster. If Cherington is feeling bold enough, it's not entirely out of the question that he'll consider using Sweeney as a piece in a package meant to land a big fish.

If not, Sweeney could probably be exchanged for a major league reliever or a major league-ready reliever.

More on Josh Beckett

Posted: Sunday, July 8 at 6:25 p.m. ET

The slide after this one mentions a report from Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com that claimed Josh Beckett is not on the trading block. The Red Sox know that they stand to become a much better team after the All-Star break, so they're not about to ship one of their best starting pitchers out of town.

However, this doesn't mean that the Red Sox won't consider dealing Beckett at some point down the road.

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe touched on the Beckett situation in a Sunday column. It wouldn't be easy for the Sox to deal him because of his contract and because of Beckett's 10-5 rights, but people around the league are thinking that the Red Sox could eventually pursue a deal.

Here's what one NL general manager told Cafardo:

"

He would get some interest if some of the money was absorbed. He’s not what he was, but he can still pitch. He’s got the postseason resume and still seems to have some competitiveness on the mound, which are all things you look for. The things you have to evaluate would be the issues in the clubhouse, to some extent, and breaking down a little more than he used to.

"

Beckett has had an up and down season to this point, and one does not need to be a rocket scientist to notice that his stuff is a far cry from what it used to be. The concern, obviously, is that things are only to get worse as time passes.

So if the Red Sox are to deal Beckett, it would be better for them to do it sooner rather than later while he still has some value.

Still, it's highly unlikely that he'll be dealt any time in the next couple weeks. If he is going to be dealt, it probably won't be until the offseason or next year's trade deadline. 

Beckett is set to earn $15.75 million in 2013 and 2014. 

Josh Beckett Not on the Block

Posted: Friday, July 6 at 6:25 p.m. ET

Josh Beckett's season got off to a brutal start, as he allowed 23 earned runs in his first 34.2 innings pitched, good for an ERA of 5.97.

He settled down in his next six starts, posting an ERA of 2.68 over 43.2 innings. He had to spend some time on the disabled list, but he looked very sharp in his return against the Seattle Mariners this past Saturday.

So you probably won't be surprised to hear that the Red Sox are not interested in trading Beckett ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. That's the word from Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, who has it on good authority that the Red Sox view him as part of the solution to their starting pitching issues, not part of the problem.

Just in case that wasn't already obvious.

Beckett's not the most likable dude under the sun, but he's a good pitcher more often than not. Dealing him at this point wouldn't make much sense, so it's nice to know that Ben Cherington and his staff haven't completely lost their marbles.

Red Sox Scouted Matt Garza's Most Recent Start

Posted: Friday, July 6 at 6:25 p.m. ET

If you read ahead in this slideshow, you'll come across a slide detailing Boston's interest in Chicago Cubs righty starter Matt Garza.

There's something new to report on that front. Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com came through with the latest on Twitter:

"

Teams that scouted Matt Garza last night, sources say: #BlueJays, #Indians, #Reds, #RedSox, #DBacks, #STLCards.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 6, 2012"

They probably didn't like what they saw. Garza was lit up for five earned runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. Three of the five hits he gave up left the ballpark.

Nonetheless, Garza remains an intriguing target for the Red Sox because of his experience pitching in the AL East. And whenever he struggles, it's not for lack of stuff.

The Red Sox know that firsthand after the horrors they suffered at Garza's hand back in the 2008 ALCS.

Sox Looking for Starting Pitching

Posted: Friday, July 6 at 12:45 a.m. ET

The Red Sox have gotten decent work out of their starting rotation in recent weeks, but there's no denying that things haven't gone according to plan where the rotation is concerned. Injuries and desperate circumstances (see: Bard, Daniel) have forced the Red Sox to dig deep to find capable starting pitchers.

The word from ESPN's Buster Olney is that general manager Ben Cherington has turned his attention to finding starting pitching on the trade market. As good as Aaron Cook and Franklin Morales have been lately, Cherington apparently wants more security.

Olney doesn't offer any of the names of any players whom the Red Sox might be interested in, but there's no shortage of starting pitching available. It's doubtful that Cherington will get involved in the bidding for Cole Hamels or Zack Greinke, but Matt Garza is a legit possibility (more on that ahead). Back-end starters such as Jason Vargas or Paul Maholm could also suit Cherington.

It may seem like the Red Sox have enough starting pitching even with Clay Buchholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka on the disabled list, but the old saying about how you can never have enough pitching always finds a way to ring true.

Keep in mind that Felix Doubront may not be long for the starting rotation. He pitched well earlier in the season, but he's posted an ERA over 5.00 in his last three starts with 23 hits (three homers) allowed in 16.1 innings.

The Red Sox know they can trust Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz (when healthy) to get the job done more often than not. Beyond them, there are no guarantees. That's what needs to change.

Which Players Could Be on Their Way out of Boston?

Posted: Friday, July 6 at 12:45 a.m. ET

The Red Sox are poised to be buyers at the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean they can't also be sellers in a way.

Boston is poised to get a lot healthier in the second half once injured stars like Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford come off the DL. This will leave them with an excess of depth, and they can take advantage of that on the trade market.

Sean McAdam and Maureen Mullen of CSNNE.com speculated recently that Cherington could dangle catcher Kelly Shoppach and outfielder Ryan Sweeney, as well as veteran relievers like Scott Atchison and Matt Albers.

ESPN's Jayson Stark has also floated Shoppach's name as a possible trade target. He spoke to one executive who thinks Shoppach could be dealt to free up a spot for Ryan Lavarnway.

Shoppach has proven to be a good offseason pick-up. Per FanGraphs, he's posted a WAR of 1.1 this season despite playing in only 32 games. Since his value may never be higher, trading him is a prudent idea.

Once Ellsbury and Crawford are healthy, Boston will have a few too many outfielders. It's unlikely they'll deal Daniel Nava because of his versatility or Cody Ross because of his power swing, so Sweeney is the natural odd man out.

Red Sox Interested in Matt Garza?

Posted: Friday, July 6 at 12:45 a.m. ET

It sounds like there's a possibility of Cherington doing business with his former boss.

Back on June 24, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reported that the Red Sox are one of several teams that have been in contact with Chicago Cubs boss Theo Epstein about righty starter Matt Garza.

Garza is having a decent season for the Cubs. He's 4-7 through 16 starts with a 4.32 ERA, and he has 86 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched.

The Red Sox and Cubs make for intriguing trade partners. Epstein, of course, knows Boston's farm system well. He built it, after all. If he were to do business with Cherington, he could have his pick of prospects that he picked up in the first place.

What makes Garza an attractive option for Cherington is the fact that he has experience pitching in the AL East from his time with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He's not a Yankee killer, though. Garza has made 11 starts against the Yankees during his career, and he's only beaten them once, according to Baseball-Reference.com.