ShareThisThere's no question general managers around the majors will be working agonizingly long hours until the trade deadline Friday afternoon.
Are the Boston Red Sox in greater need of a pitcher or a hitter?
That obviously includes the Red Sox' Theo Epstein and the Blue Jays' J.P. Ricciardi. After the Indians dealt pitcher Cliff Lee to the Phillies Wednesday, the attention now turns to Toronto ace Roy Halladay.
In order for the Red Sox to acquire the veteran right-hander, Epstein will likely have to part with pitchers Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Casey Kelly and first baseman Lars Anderson. At this point, Bard and Kelly are reportedly off limits, but that doesn't mean Red Sox management won't change their minds.
Just like Epstein and his staff., Ricciardi and assistant GM Tony LaCava were working behind closed doors late Wednesday night. Unless the Red Sox agree to surrender the core of prospects, Halladay will likely stay in Toronto.
It's also likely the Red Sox are interested in Indians slugger and catcher Victor Martinez, who wants to play for a winner and no doubt would enjoy playing in Boston.
Epstein will make some kind of deal. He should and here's why: The Boston organization is deep with pitching prospects and it has the track record of scouting, drafting, signing and developing talent. If Epstein wants to win a third -- and possibly more -- World Series as GM, now is the time to deviate from his philosophy and go after Halladay or Martinez.
Another reason he should pull the trigger is the current landscape in Boston. Catcher Jason Varitek, designated hitter David Ortiz and third baseman Mike Lowell are all aging veterans and will need to be replaced in the near future. While the Red Sox' development system has adequate prospects at all three positions, those players are simply not ready for prime time.
The foundation in which Epstein has created in Boston is already in place. It just needs to be tweaked just a bit. If that means parting ways with such talented prospects, so be it.
If the Red Sox feel so strongly about their scouting department, there's another Buchholz, Bard, Kelly and Anderson playing on some high school, college or sandlot field some where. Having a chance to add a premiere pitcher or hitter into the lineup for the next couple of years is a rare opportunity.
(Contact Joe McDonald at jmcdonal(at)projo.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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Must credit The Providence Journal
