No Need to Deal
by: Nick Fasulo
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. While it will be difficult for Red Sox fans to adhere to this adage as Tuesday’s trade deadline looms, it is crucial for Theo Epstein and company to maintain the idea. As stated in my last contribution to this blog, a healthy Sox team is as complete and competitive as there is in baseball, so pressing to make a deal isn’t necessary.
With the market thin, trying to construct a deal between another, possibly two, other teams is even less important. Just how would a Mark Teixeira fit constructively into this ballclub? He’s a first baseman, which means Kevin Youkilis would most likely move to third and make Mike Lowell, a man who has resurrected his offensive game this season, the odd man out. White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye is in a walk year, and a terrible one at that. There’s no way you can justify platooning him with J.D. Drew, and Dye has stated he wouldn’t be accommodating to a situation where he isn’t an everyday player.
However, if the Sox feel so inclined to get involved in the trade deadline hoopla, shopping lefty Kason Gabbard and Wily Mo Pena is justifiable. Right now Gabbard’s stock his high, probably as high as it will ever be. Sure he’s looked sensational at times in the past month, but he lacks velocity and may be riding a wave as major league hitters see him for the first time. Soon he will no longer be an enigma, just another lefty.
Pena, who was advertised as far from just another right-handed hitter, has become nothing more than a batting practice sideshow. He shows zero patience at the plate and would struggle to even put a breaking pitch in play if the pitcher told him it was coming.
A change of scenery and chance to play everyday would be best for the burly Dominican. Dealing Pena could very well come back to haunt the Sox in, say 2012, but for now there’s no room for him.
The Sox have always said their philosophy is to remain a playoff caliber team every season, but don’t want to compromise their long-term plans for short-term solutions. Right now is a great opportunity to exude that—by remaining quiet and mindful as July 31 comes and goes.
Stumble it!