Will there be an Atlanta Braves Red Sox Deal?
By Fred Owens
Will there be an Atlanta Braves Reds Sox Deal – Maybe but probably not for Teheran
Earlier today Alan asked the rhetorical question ‘if the Atlanta Braves have what the Red Sox need why hesitate?’ The answers are out there so let’s round them up.
In today’s post on his website Hall of Fame writer Peter Gammons addressed the Julio Teheran issue. Gammons knows the Red Sox better than any other writer and understand the way their front office – and more importantly the ownership – thinks,
"While MLB hypes the All-Star Game he opines that the real interest of baseball aficionados is in the trading deadline. “There are at least 12 to 14 teams currently trying to trade for pitching, and there is very little available pitching right now,” says one general manager. “If you’re Atlanta or Oakland or Tampa Bay or a team that has pitching to consider trading, if you’re not getting an extreme seller’s price, why move before the last week of July.”"
So it is as we have said here a seller’s market and the buyers know the price will be high for the pitchers that are available. Alan reiterated the often quoted history of Boston President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski to trade prospects from current success and Gammons backs that up but says maybe things aren’t that simple.
"“Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski hasn’t shied away from admitting he is searching . . for pitching, but . . . he constantly is told, “almost everyone is in the same position.” In other words, begin the process with fixing what you have . . .”"
That doesn’t mean Dombrowski isn’t looking, quite the contrary.
Dombrowski estimated that he and #RedSox GM Mike Hazen combined to talk to 10 teams today. "Some of it was just checking in," Dombro said.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) July 5, 2016
Part of the Red Sox's decision to put Brian Bannister in uniform before games was driven by the pitchers' desire... https://t.co/E9mc7IzLek
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) July 5, 2016
Gammons supported those reports saying that “ Dombrowski has had a phalanx of scouts looking at Jake Odorizzi, Rich Hill, Julio Teheran, Drew Pomeranz, Jeremy Hellickson, et al” but that the recent acquisition of Aaron Hill ”had been a focus for a month. According to MLBTR the Red Sox also added defensive by adding utility man Michael Martinez from Cleveland for cash.
Next: But Pitching, right?