By: Paul Leoncavallo

Trade Rumors and Possibilities

Well it's no secret that Dan Duquette has been contacting teams around baseball looking for help in three areas, third base, left field, and pitching. I doubt that all three holes will be filled, but I don't think two out of three is too much to ask for.

If I had to choose, I'd pick pitching and third base. As bad as Troy O'Leary has been (since been put on the DL for personal reasons) I think Wilton Veras over at third has been worse. Now don't take me wrong, I truly believe that Veras is the third baseman of the future. But he was simply thrust too quickly into the limelight. To say he has struggled is an understatement, yes he's hitting a bit better than O'Leary, but it has gone for nothing as Wilton only has 13 RBIs and no homers. To top it off, his defense (which is all I would have been happy with) has been very suspect. So as much as Darren Lewis and Curtis Pride don't strike fear into the opponent, their still a better option than Wilton Veras at this point.

So what do we do? Who do we go after? The list of names thrown around has been pretty abundant, some with some substance, and many just made up by people who like a good story.

Below I'm going to go thru the list of guys I have heard rumored on the block or that I think will be a help to the team and the quest to the World Series.

Before I go on though, the first thing everyone has to realize is that we're not going to get rid of "dead weight" for superstars. Over and over I see people on the ESPN.com Red Sox message board propose trades for all-stars with the Red Sox giving up little more than Andy Sheets, Manny Alexander, Donnie Sadler, Troy O'Leary, and John Wasdin. It simply is not going to happen. If your one of these people I would like you to ask yourself one question. Why would a team take players from us that aren't producing at all, and give us their all-stars? It's the equivalent of the Duke trading Nomar for Mike Timlin and a block of cheese. I don't mean to insult anyone, but think about it before you say it, that's all.

To get any player of significance we're going to have to dip into the farm system. We all know that every team can always use more pitching. So in order to snag a top flight player, we're talking guys like Tomo Ohka, Sun Wu Kim, Gin Ho Cho, and David Eckstein. For hitters and guys who can play good D Dernell Stenson and Steve Lomasney will surely be coveted. Also teams will be looking for one, maybe two, players who had some ML experience, like Brian Rose or Scott Hatteberg.

Another issue that is also taken into consideration, as much as everyone would like to ignore it, is money. You have to consider whether or not your willing to take on a significant contract that doesn't run out right away. There's also the factor that the guy you trading for will be a free agent at the end of the season. But are you willing to trade the future in exchange for a half season of play and no guarantees?

All these factors go into making trades in this day and age. Whether you like it or not it's how the game works right now. Money, Singability, Contract Status, Free Agent Status, and Teams Future all get factored into every deal that is made.

That being said, lets move onto "the list".

SAMMY SOSA

PROS: Back to back 60+ home run seasons, right handed bat in the confines of Fenway Park, will certainly boost the Sox struggling offense, has a huge fan base that will bring more $$ to Boston.

CONS: Will become only the third player in history to strikeout 500+ times over the course of three seasons, has become a very poor fielder with little range, upon any trade he commands a 6-7 year 150+ million dollar contract extension, with that contract the Sox hands will be tied for the upcoming free agent frenzy for 2001, Trot Nixon May have to be involved in the deal, pitching on the farm will take a big hit, very possible that he becomes a clubhouse distraction, he's used to being "the star" may not like sharing it with Nomar and Pedro.

OVERALL: I see more bad than good in getting Sammy. You can work around the bad defense with the DH and the small left field in Fenway. But Sosa does not want to be a DH, and him playing the wall scares the hell out of me. The contract that he "must" have will kill the Sox Fans hopes of ever seeing Jeff Bagwell come home. We also will have starting pitching issues to address in the off-season with Schourek and Fassero having the options to walk. We may need that money to get some starters. And the fact that even though Pedro and Sammy are both from the Dominican, in a sense their both from a different side of the island and it possible there could be some "heat".

MY DECISION: Let the Yanks give up their farm for him and get one team out of the picture that DD will be competing with for other players.

JUAN GONZALEZ

PROS: Doesn't have Sammy's homer numbers, but he drives in as many runs, if not more. Career numbers in Fenway Park are incredible. Will certainly bolster the Sox offense. Friend of Ramon Martinez. Willing to be a DH.

CONS: Free agent at the end of the season. Can we resign him? Will we resign him? Is it worth the prospects to rent him for half a year? Trot Nixon will more likely be a part of this trade. Gonzo brings a definite attitude problem that the Sox don't need. His antics with the all-star game last year were deplorable. More concerned with his stats that anything else. Suspect glove and will have to learn the wall.

OVERALL: Going into this whole trade mess I was fully against getting Juan. His attitude is what bothers me the most and I'm almost positive that we won't be able to resign him. But I also like him in Fenway more than Sammy if I had to choose, and him being a friend of Ramon, maybe he'll pull his act together. Maybe.

MY DECISION: If it's between Juan and Sammy, I say Juan.

MIKE MUSSINA

PROS: With him in the rotation you give the Sox the title now. Still young and has many more productive seasons in him.

CONS: We may not be able to resign him.

OVERALL: The money he will command will be huge, but it will also be worth it and the prospects we'll have to give up. This trade is also highly unlikely for a couple of reasons. 1) It would be a inter-divisional trade, not a thing Baltimore is likely to do. 2) He's the kind of player you build around, or re-build around if your Baltimore.

MY DECISION: Get him Duke, but only if we know we can resign him.

BRAD RADKE

PROS: The title isn't guaranteed with him, but he makes the Sox the front runner. Younger than Mussina and much more production to come. Will not cost as much in terms of prospects or to resign.

CONS: Again singability. Also has shown interest in being traded to Tampa Bay. Doesn't seem to interested in winning.

OVERALL: He's pitched well on a very bad team. As mentioned he won't cost as much to resign and we won't have to completely rape the farm for him. My only concern is his interest in going to Tampa, his home town, over a winning club.

MY DECISION: See Mussina.

JOSE LIMA

PROS: In two seasons before this year he was very dominant. Has pitched well recently and could benefit from a change of scenery. With his poor season, but still good upside, we may not have to give a ton for him, and he's also more signable for his poor start as well. Free Agent at the end of the season, if we don't give too much for him, and he still does poorly, he walks.

CONS: 1-10 record thus far this year, but to his defense he is a fly-ball pitcher who went from the hardest stadium to hit one out, to arguably the easiest. Fly-ball pitcher in Fenway. Houston may not want to deal with us due to the Carl Everett steal.

OVERALL: Considering how the pitching has been lately and that Lima has been improving with his last few starts, I think he's a good fit. He can go deep into the game and has had success in the past. Even if he stinks up the place, if we don't give too much, we don't lose much when we let him walk at the end of the year.

MY DECISION: Not my first choice, but seems like the next best alternative.

HIDEO NOMO

PROS: Signed to a cheap one year deal that ends this season. Can get you deep into ball games.

CONS: Went from very good in LA, to real bad in New York, to very good in Milwaukee, to decent in Detroit. Which Nomo will show up in Boston?

OVERALL: If he's not part of a blockbuster including Gonzo, he could come cheap. Resigning him is not a major concern.

MY DECISION: Would be better than Brian Rose has been.

MOISES ALOU

PROS: Solves the left field problem. Has much needed power we've been missing from that slot. I'd trust him with the wall. Has ties with Duquette from Montreal days. Signed thru next season at a bargain compared to today's contracts. Will not cost as much as Sammy or Juan.

CONS: History of injuries recently. As with Lima, Houston may not want to talk to us anymore.

OVERALL: If he's healthy, I like Alou alot and knowing he's signed thru next season we have time to resign him to an extension.

MY DECISION: If Houston will deal, I say we listen.

ELLIS BURKS

PROS: Will probably be better than O'Leary has been. Won't cost very much to acquire.

CONS: Long history of DL trips. Also on his last legs as far as baseball goes.

OVERALL: I'd rather have the better defensive, cheaper, DLew out there.

MY DECISION: See Overall.

DEAM PALMER

PROS: Certainly will improve third base drastically. Signed to a longterm contract.

CONS: Signed to a longterm contract for big $$, could get in the way of free agents in 2001. Will put Veras on the back-burner for a long time to come.

OVERALL: Possible he could be included in a blockbuster with Gonzo, and the Tigers will ask for more than he's worth. Tough call on this one.

MY DECISION: In the interest of a World Series, lets take a chance.

ED SPRAGUE

PROS: Having a good year in San Diego on limited paying time. Has shown he still has some pop left in his bat. Will cost very little in a trade and makes relatively a small amount. Singability is not a concern.

CONS: Hasn't played third in a couple of seasons and was decent at best when he was there.

OVERALL: Offense will improve at 3B, but will the defense? Unlikely.

MY DECISION: There are better options out there, but in a last resort, maybe.

RUSS DAVIS

PROS: Decent 3B who has done well in a part time role with the Giants. Has twenty homer power but has never hit for a high average. Defensively, though nothing special, can hold his own at the hot corner.

CONS: None, only because not much is expected out of him. Giants are in a race of their own and may not want to deal.

OVERALL: Like Sprague, not really an impact player, though with Ken Caminitti taken out of the picture for three months with a wrist injury, he becomes more valuable.

MY DECISION: Like him better than Sprague, but only marginally.

Well I've gone on for a good hour writing this out, so I'm sure i left some possibilities off the list (and no Bagwell wasn't one of them). If you would like to remind, berate, or commend me, you can email me, paul@redsox2000.com.

Credit to ESPN.com for statistics.