MLB Trade Rumors: Can the Boston Red Sox Get Andrew Bailey for Josh Reddick?

When former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon was offered four years and $50 million by the Philadelphia Phillies nearly a month ago, he knew a few things.

1. He hadn't gotten an offer from the Red Sox yet. 
2. He wouldn't get anything close to that type of offer from them regardless. 

Papelbon was right. The Red Sox were never going to give him anywhere near that type of money.

So, Jonathan Papelbon had his agents—the Levinson brothers of ACES Inc.—make the move everyone thought they'd make and accept the Phillies' generous offer. 

The Red Sox, of course, were now a team without an official "closer." There were quite a few on the free-agent market, but not anymore. Heath Bell is a Marlin, Frank Francisco is a Met, Joe Nathan is in Texas with the Rangers. 

There are still some options on the market, but for a team like the Red Sox that is trying to thread the needle financially to avoid paying too much luxury tax, spending big money on a closer is a somewhat unpalatable option. 

That's why entering the trade market seems logical.

Especially when the target is a solid closer under an affordable contract who's not a free agent until 2015.

Andrew Bailey is just such a player.  

The Oakland A's closer, who emerged from the minors in 2009 to save 26 games, is being actively shopped by Oakland. 

It's not that Oakland can't afford Bailey—who's arbitration eligible, but coming off an injury-plagued season in which his production took a dip—it's that Oakland is a team that is on the verge of losing its entire starting outfield to free agency. 

David DeJesus has already signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs. Coco Crisp is on the market and as of now looks headed out of Oakland, as does Josh Willingham. 

That leaves Oakland with an empty outfield and the Boston Red Sox happen to have two young outfield prospects in Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick and only one open outfield spot in right field where veteran JD Drew is departing. 

The prospect of dealing one or both of those young outfielders has been an ongoing storyline in Boston since both of them emerged as potential starting outfielders.

Kalish had his audition in the midst of 2010s injury-plagued Red Sox season. Reddick was able to put together a solid half season of work in 2011 filling in for the oft-injured Drew. 

Now with Oakland actively shopping Bailey and the Red Sox in a position where they are looking for a closer but not willing to invest big money in one, this may be a perfect spot for a deal. 

Oakland has reportedly asked for third-base prospect Will Middlebrooks as part of the Bailey deal. That's not going to happen but Oakland likely knew that when they asked for the Red Sox top positional prospect. Reddick and a few lesser prospects could happen, though, and it would make sense for both teams.

For Boston Red Sox fans, a Bailey acquisition could signal a move to the rotation for Daniel Bard. That would make sense for Boston, who is in need of at least two starting pitchers to fill out their five-man rotation by Opening Day 2012.