ESPN guy suggests Red Sox trade for Z to start Wednesday

[UMFan83]

I don't know why I'm posting this because its not an idea based on anything, just a speculation article. Dan Szymborski writes that the Red Sox are exploring the possibility of trading for a starter to start game 162 instead of pitching Lackey on 3 days rest. In that list he suggests Zambrano:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7023605/boston-red-sox-trade-options-final-day

 

Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs

An absolutely crazy idea, no doubt, but one with high upside. Zambrano has been a solid player for years and if anyone might flourish with a change of scenery, it could be him. He has one year and $18 million remaining on his contract, and that's not so bad relative to the multiyear deals we've seen certain pitchers get on the free-agent market. Not to mention the fact that the Cubs are probably so desperate to get rid of him that they might throw in some money.

 

I doubt this would ever even be considered, given that he couldnt play in the postseason, but if their was interest it might be the best chance to get rid of him without eating much money as the Red Sox are in a position of desperation.

[Yeti]

and who negotiates on behalf of the cubs?

[imb]

I will

[KingCubsFan]

He probably hasn't picked up a baseball since he got suspended.

[E.J.]

They going to trade for him so they can get maybe 2 innings out of him?

[Clem Fandango]

He probably hasn't picked up a baseball since he got suspended.

 

This. This guy thinks he can just come back after two months of no playing and just put up a decent enough game to keep them in contention?

 

By all means, please do... but that's ridiculous

[SouthSideRyan]

It won't happen, but it should be noted that Szym isn't your typicl moron ESPN writer. He got his start at BTF

[Little Slide Rooter]

Might not be the craziest thing in the world. They'd only get 1 start out of him this year, but then they'd have a very solid 3-4 starter for next year with potential 2 starter or even ace stuff with a very weak FA SP class coming up, plus, it will be a contract year for Z, so if there's ever a time he'd get back to his old form, it would be next year.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

This makes perfect sense if you think about it.

 

Theo Epstein deals with the Carlos Zambrano situation before he even takes over as the Cubs general manager.

[UMFan83]

It's not the first time a team has made a trade for a better than marginal major league player in mid-to-late September.

 

In 2008 the Brewers traded for Todd Coffey down the stretch, and he pitched in multiple games, helping the Brewers win the Wild Card and then sitting out the playoffs. He went on to spend 2 full seasons in Milwaukee, with a nice sub-3.00 ERA in 2009.

[Little Slide Rooter]

This makes perfect sense if you think about it.

 

Theo Epstein deals with the Carlos Zambrano situation before he even takes over as the Cubs general manager.

 

I was thinking something like that. Say the Red Sox do pick Z off the waiver wire, and the Cubs let them have him and his contract. Next thing you know, Epstein signs with the Cubs. Won't someone call shennanigans?

[davearm2]

This makes perfect sense if you think about it.

 

Theo Epstein deals with the Carlos Zambrano situation before he even takes over as the Cubs general manager.

Haha well played.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It's not the first time a team has made a trade for a better than marginal major league player in mid-to-late September.

 

In 2008 the Brewers traded for Todd Coffey down the stretch, and he pitched in multiple games, helping the Brewers win the Wild Card and then sitting out the playoffs. He went on to spend 2 full seasons in Milwaukee, with a nice sub-3.00 ERA in 2009.

 

Yeah, but usually it's a relativeley minor player with little to nothing left on a contract with a few weeks left to play. Not a guy whose owed 18 mil with a 9 mil buyout for the next year with 2 games left. Again, it makes sense if they want him for next year, not for 1 starter this year.

[Old Style]

This makes perfect sense if you think about it.

 

Theo Epstein deals with the Carlos Zambrano situation before he even takes over as the Cubs general manager.

BRILLIANT!

[Little Slide Rooter]

Chen Among Red Sox Targets For Tie-Breaker

By Tim Dierkes [september 28 at 10:18am CST]

Royals lefty Bruce Chen is among Boston's trade targets as they consider acquiring a starter for a potential Thursday play-in game, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Chen is scheduled to start tonight in Minnesota as he seeks to tie his career-high of 13 wins.

 

Chen projects as a Type B free agent, and an arbitration offer from Kansas City is realistic. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein would have to surrender something significant to best the value of that potential draft pick, and he'd probably have to complete the trade before even knowing whether he'd need Chen for tomorrow. At most, the Red Sox would be able to use Chen for that one game, as he would not be eligible for the postseason roster. As Rosenthal notes, the lefty has already cleared waivers. The 34-year-old Chen has a 3.98 ERA, 5.7 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 1.1 HR/9, and 35.5% groundball rate on the season.

 

In theory, Epstein could also look at fully rested starters such as Chien-Ming Wang, Rodrigo Lopez, and Aaron Harang, though Harang also may be a Type B. If the Red Sox do not acquire a starter, they might have to use John Lackey or Tim Wakefield on three days rest should a play-in game occur Thursday at Tropicana Field. Another option might be activating Clay Buchholz, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford.

 

After all of the money pumped into the team, and all the time they spent in 1st place to spiral to where they were( a mere 90 wins, losers), they could potentially let their season lie in the hands of Bruce Chen or Rodrigo Lopez against Jeff Neiman or Matt Moore? Good luck with that.

[UMFan83]

I highly doubt the Sox will trade for Chen. Here is why. He is a FA after the season, and projects as a type B FA, the kind of FA compensation that the Royals should thrive on acquiring. So the Royals would probably require something better than a type B compensation pick.

 

For the Red Sox, they would have to decide to give up that much for a player that would not be eligible for the postseason. Further complicating things, Chen is scheduled to start tonight meaning that the Red Sox would need to acquire him in a matter of hours, without knowing if they would even be playing a 1 game playoff. If they acquire him and don't have a 1 game playoff tomorrow, they would never actually get to use him.

[TruffleShuffle]

bruce chen is a type B FA but carlos pena might not be??? great system.

[jersey cubs fan]

bruce chen is a type B FA but carlos pena might not be??? great system.

 

Are you suggesting Carlos Pena has been a clearly better player? I could see complaining about a random middle reliever, but Chen has been a decent starting pitcher, which tends to be valued more than completely replacable 1B. You need 6 or more of the former and only 1 of the latter.

[TruffleShuffle]

huh i foolishly assumed that chen had been lousy since he always has been and he has pitched for basically every organization in professional baseball. turns out he's been pretty average the last couple of years.

[jersey cubs fan]

huh i foolishly assumed that chen had been lousy since he always has been and he has pitched for basically every organization in professional baseball. turns out he's been pretty average the last couple of years.

 

I thought he was relatively decent once or twice before, with Baltimore?

[Little Slide Rooter]

bruce chen is a type B FA but carlos pena might not be??? great system.

 

Aramis Ramirez is a type B but Jeff Keppinger and Placido Polanco are Type As. I still need help with that one.

[Bull]

In retrospect....