Youkilis had very little trade value; I believe he is in the last year of his contract so whoever gets him will only have him for 1/2 of the season. He has played well for the WS after stinking up Fenway so good luck to him. Middlebrooks is the future and they had to trade him.
Actually the Youkilis trade was not the point I was trying to make. I am sorry that I wasn't clearer. My point is that Ben has been empowered to make whatever trade he needs to make to improve the team and while other teams are making significant deals, Ben trades Brent Lillibridge to Cleveland for right-handed pitcher Jose De La Torre. That is about as exciting as watching the grass grow.
I see your point but maybe they would have to give up young prospects for an outside shot at a playoff spot and they may not think it is worth it it. The Sox don't have a shot unless Beckett and Lester start pitching like top of the rotation guys. Lester has the stuff to rebound but Beckett's fastball is only 92 at best so he has to become a different type of pitcher. This may be a year when they may be better off standing pat.
I don't think they should be giving up prospects for a shot at the playoffs. They have too many holes to get to the playoffs and no chance at a meaningful run, if they somehow got there. They should be dumping some of their players for prospects or players who can help them next year. I would be willing to part with Beckett, Aviles, Shoppach, Salty and Sweeney for starters. If there was some reasonable way to do it, I would add Lackey, Dice K (although this problem will fix itself at year end) and Carl Crawford to the list. I would also try to move Jacoby Ellsbury because the Red Sox apparently will make no attempt to sign him.
I think we have the center fielder in Jackie Bradley. He may be a better hitter that Jacoby but probably will not have the burst of power that we saw last year. He is better defensively, has excellent speed and a much stronger throwing arm. He was hitting .359 at Salem when they moved him to AA Portland. He was tearing the league up there but injured the hamate bone in his hand. He is 22 years old and could be ready late next year.
I agree on Bradley but the next player to make the Sox roster could be J.C. Linares. This is the first year he has been healthy and he seems to hit no matter where he is. Unfortunately, his best position may be DH.
I agree about making a run. They just don't have the starting pitching. Buchholtz and Dubront are solid. Lester is trying but hasn't figured things out yet. There is still an outside chance that he will get it together. Beckett doesn't care. He is pitching badly but his golf game is coming along. I have no problem with the fans booing him when he was injured. Why should they respect him? Cook is just not good enough any more. Good hitters can handle him with ease. Dice K is done and Lackey will not contribute anything this year. They should put Morales back in the rotation for the rest of the year.
Agreed, massive media overeaction to fans booing as if its some mortal sin and reflects badly on the city's character. Never mind crime, poverty etc.. did you hear them HISS and yell at the overpaid, ambivalent athlete!? For shame
Still think the Sox are making a run? I don't understand Cherington's moves at all. He has done almost nothing significant since he took over. Now with the Sox clearly going nowhere, he signs a 36 year old outfielder whose best years are behind him. He should be unloading some of the excess baggage to contenders and picking up some players who have a future.