With Adrian Beltre finally inking that lengthy, far too expensive contract that I predicted someone would eventually offer him, this got the wheels turning. I wondered if the signing of this former Red Sox player could somehow benefit Boston.
Eager to spend all that money burning a hole in the new owners' pockets that was intended for Cliff Lee, Texas dropped $96 million on an oft-injured, 32 year-old third baseman who produces a good season about every five years.
Good for them. I'm just glad the Red Sox, as usual, displayed more sense and stuck to their guns by not submitting to Scott Boras' preposterous demands. In the meantime, the Sox not only got younger, but they got much better with the additions of Gonzalez and Crawford. This move by Texas is an interesting one, though. Mainly because they already have an all-star caliber third baseman on their current roster in Michael Young.
Word is that Young will now be reduced to more of a utility role with the Rangers, playing some first base, third base, DHing and perhaps sending him to the outfield every now and then. This is quite a disrespectful request for one of the most loyal players the organization has had over the last decade. Originally, a second baseman, Young moved to short stop with Ian Kinsler's arrival and then, after 700+ games there, the team forced him to switch to third base when they promoted Elvis Andrus.
I propose that the Red Sox help assuage his undoubtedly betrayed and sore ego by trading for him and offer him the starting gig back at short stop, his most comfortable and familiar position. With a bountiful supply of quality starting pitchers and mostly below average or unproven options at short stop, Boston could help themselves by assisting Texas in their quest to acquire a solid starter, which they desperately need after losing out on Lee to the Phillies. Earning about $5 million less, on average, over the next two years than Young, Matsuzaka would give the Rangers another starter in their depleted rotation and free up some salary for them to explore re-signing Vlad Guerrero, who was an offensive juggernaut at the DH position for them last year.
I understand this would be somewhat of a long shot, but I really think it would make sense for both sides. Scutaro is a decent #9 hitter and an average fielder. Jed Lowrie, who came on very strongly the last month of the season, has never made it through an entire year healthy and all kinds of questions and doubts would surround him as a starting short stop.
Michael Young would be a significant upgrade over either of those options, and it would also allow the Sox to include Scutaro in another deal to acquire another starter to replace the departure of Matsuzaka, or he could also be included in the Young deal with the Sox offering to pay a percentage of his remaining salary next year to help even out the salaries exchanged in this deal. Scutaro's name has been mentioned as trade bait on several different occasions this off season anyway, so it might be in the best interest of both parties to part ways. Scutaro could be shopped as that ultra-utility infielder for Texas, with the ability to play both middle infield spots and some third base, which would be a comfortable role for him, as that was his calling card for the majority of his career before coming to Boston.
Young could be that one missing ingredient that Jayson Werth was speculated to contribute- a good, disciplined, right handed hitter with some pop with the ability to protect Ortiz in the 6th spot in the order. Last season Young hit .284 with 21 home runs with 91 RBIs, and has a career .300 average. Despite being 34 years old, he has developed into an incredibly durable and consistent player, playing in at least 150 games in eight of the last nine seasons.
With Matsuzaka out of the picture, I think that there a couple viable, inexpensive options on the free agent market that the Sox could try out to fill that final 5th spot in the rotation. The best option, in my opinion, is Chris Young, former Sand Diego Padre pitcher. Yes, he certainly comes with some health concerns, but when he has pitched he has been a solid, above average starting pitcher.
In two early season with the Rangers and five with the lowly Padres he complied a career record of 48-34. 14 games above .500 is actually quite an achievement considering the teams he was on. In that time period, he recorded an ERA of 3.80, a 1.21 WHIP and opponents have only managed a .220 average against him. At 6'-10", he's an imposing figure on the mound who possesses a hard sinker, which usually translates into good results at Fenway. He reminds me of a bigger Derek Lowe, who had a reasonably successful career for the Red Sox. As a fifth starter, if he can stay healthy (and that is a big "if"), he would be a more than capable replacement for Daisuke, who, coincidentally, has a career record of 46-27 in his four seasons with the Sox.
There are a few other names that sound enticing that have a similar story: once good,solid, veteran pitchers with injury concerns. A few of those potential suitors that might spark the Sox interest enough to take a shot on are Ben Sheets, Justin Duchscherer and possibly Jeff Francis. Any of these pitchers, I believe, would be able to produce the same type of success that an unreliable, erratic and highly inconsistent Matsuzaka would, especially with that high-powered offense supporting them.
Regardless of this proposed scenario, the Red Sox will actually benefit from this move as they will be given a compensatory first round draft pick due to Beltre's type A free agent status. But, with the Rangers in a depressed state from losing out on their #1 priority this off season, Theo might be able to tack on to this benefit and catch them in a vulnerable position and get a really good player in exchange for a pitcher that has been one of the more frustrating players in recent memories for Red Sox fans.
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