So what do we make of the big blockbuster trade between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday? Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to the Dodgers for James Loney and three minor leaguers including two pretty good minor league pitchers going to the Red Sox.
It was a salary cap move for the Red Sox who are out of the race this season, and the Dodgers are going for it now in the NL playoff race and taking on the big salaries. The move was basically a salary and character dump for the Red Sox.
Adrian Gonzalez paid immediate dividends hitting a home run Saturday night at Dodger Stadium in his first at bat as a Dodger. Josh Beckett, once a quality pitcher has struggled the last year or so and maybe a change of scenery will be good for a pitcher who has pitched on two World Series winning teams in 2003 and 2007.
Carl Crawford meanwhile is having Tommy John surgery, and he wont be ready until at least next season.
As a fan of the Red Sox I dislike losing Adrian Gonzalez the most, a quality first baseman and a good hitter. Hey I would have liked to get Matt Kemp or Andre Eithier in return for Gonzalez, probably wishing there, but James Loney will be a good replacement at first base. And if these minor league pitchers develop the Red Sox will be in a good situation and could go after a quality free agent or two now that some money has opened up with the moves. Remember they let go of Kevin Youkolis to the White Sox earlier this year as well.
Finally I hope that Bobby Valentine will get at least another year as manager. The team he inherited wasn’t his or GM Ben Cherington’s, and was left over from the previous GM Theo Epstien and manager Terry Francona whose team collapsed in the pennant race in September 2011.
Say what you want about Valentine who has an eccentric and somewhat volitale style. He is a good baseball man though and if he and the Red Sox can get their team together and play well then good times may be ahead in Boston, and winning cures most all. So we’ll see what happens and talk soon again. Enjoy the pennant race. Best wishes. Bratman
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