5 Reasons Why the Red Sox Should Make a Deal for Felix Hernandez

The Boston Red Sox do not have a major league "ace" on their pitching staff.  At least that is how it would appear after a dreadful collapse during the 2011 season.  Josh Beckett gave up.  Jon Lester was just good, and Clay Buccholz was injured.

There are very few teams in baseball that actually do have an ace at the front end of their rotation.  The Yankees do in C.C. Sabathia.  The Giants do in Tim Lincecum.  The Seattle Mariners do in Felix Hernandez.

The Red Sox do not.

According to an interview he had on WEEI, Larry Lucchino is not ruling out any major trades this year, and I feel that the time may be right to do such a thing.

Having said that, here are five reasons why the Red Sox should make a deal for Felix Hernandez.

1. Felix Hernandez Is Dominant

In his seven seasons as a major league pitcher, Hernandez has been an All-Star twice, has won a Cy Young Award in the American League and has been a Cy Young Runner Up while pitching for the Seattle Mariners.

During his time in Seattle, a park that many believe to be one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in all of baseball, Hernandez has posted a winning record of 85 wins and 67 losses in 205 games.  He has started all 205.

Hernandez has pitched 18 complete games with four shutouts in 1388.1 innings of work.  During that time he posted an ERA of 3.24 and a WHIP of 1.224.

During that same time, his team posted a losing record of 509 wins and 625 losses, losing over 100 games twice in that stretch.  Needless to say, Hernandez has been the bright spot on that staff for quite some time. 

2. He Can Handle the AL East

In his seven seasons, Hernandez has faced American League East teams 52 times.  During that time he has posted a record of 22 wins and 15 losses.

His ERA has been 3.42 with a WHIP of 1.311.

He has pitched seven complete games with two shutouts. One came against the New York Yankees, the other came against the Boston Red Sox.

3. Fenway Park Has Been Nice to Him

Hernandez has started six games in Fenway Park and has posted a 3-1 record.  Of those three wins, one was that complete game shutout mentioned in the previous slide.

He has an ERA of 2.53 and a WHIP of 1.125 in 42.2 innings of work.

He has only given up 35 hits and 12 earned runs (13 overall) against the Red Sox, a team that is historically atop the runs scored category every season in baseball.

4. The Yankees Would Rather Have Him Than Face Him

The Yankees fanbase wants King Felix, just read fellow B/R writer Chris Sbalcio's piece on the matter.  

Keeping Hernandez away from the Yankees and making a major acquisition would make Red Sox fans happy beyond belief.  This would give General Manager Ben Cherington some instant credibility in town (as it has definitely been low since the whole managerial search debacle.)

It would also give the Red Sox the ace that their staff is so desperately in need of.  It is hard to believe that the Red Sox, being the team they are, with the payroll they have, do not have a bonafide ace as of now. 

5. It Would Be Costly, but It Would Be Worth It

As I mentioned, Larry Lucchino has not ruled out any major trades.  This move would indeed be a major trade.

It is likely that the foundation of this trade would have to start with the likes of Clay Buccholz and Anthony Ranaudo.  It may even involved a player like Jacoby Ellsbury, a player that I believe may leave Boston for more money when he becomes a free agent.

With this deal, the Red Sox would at least have an ace pitcher on their staff and not be left with nothing should Ellsbury eventually decide to leave.

If you want the King, you have to pay a King's ransom.