RED SOX IN TRADE MODE
Blue Jays plot strategy
OAKLAND While the Blue Jays, and most other teams, sit back and wait for the trade deadline market to identify itself, the Boston Red Sox struck quickly.
Last week, with closer Craig Kimbrel headed to the disabled list, they swooped in and traded for reliever Brad Ziegler. This came after they picked up veteran infielder Aaron Hill from Milwaukee and utility man Michael Martinez from Cleveland. Thursday, they made a very bold move, trading away a young arm many believed was their best pitching prospect in Anderson Espinoza, to get left-hander Drew Pomeranz from San Diego.
Pomeranz and Oakland’s Rich Hill represented the cream of the crop of pitchers available at this year’s non-waiver trade deadline. Which is another way of saying that the market is incredibly thin.
“In a case in which the demand exceeds the supply, which definitely is the case in this situation, I’m not sure that you don’t take a greater risk in waiting,” said Red Sox GM David Dombrowski.
“There were only a couple of pitchers that we thought had a chance to be available that we thought would substantially upgrade us in our rotation.”
Espinoza, just 18 and still pitching at low-A ball, has a chance to be something special. His fastball already sits 94-96 with gusts up to 99. He already has a plus curve and change-up to go with the heater.
This trade will certainly give other teams, like the Blue Jays, pause as they try to strategize before the deadline. If the BoSox had to give up that level of superior prospect for a moderate talent like Pomeranz, then the price tags are guaranteed to be steep for similarly mid-level talents.
The Blue Jays have every reason to believe this team cannot only make the playoffs this year but contend for a pennant and a World Series title.
With a core group that includes Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman, Russell Martin, Devon Travis, Kevin Pillar, Roberto Osuna, J.A. Happ and Marco Estrada, there is a foundation that can be built upon still to contend for another year or two. The chances improve even more if they can re-sign one of Edwin Encarnacion or Jose Bautista to reasonable deals.
Those are problems that won’t resolve themselves until the offseason but they will most certainly colour the team’s approach to this trade deadline. Look for them to add at least one relief pitcher and maybe two, including a left-hander.