August 30, 2006

Will Wells Be Traded After Tomorrow's Start?

All the papers offer some medical information on David Ortiz's condition, but there are also reports that the Red Sox are shopping David Wells.

Since Wells has been one of the team's best pitchers in recent weeks, it would be a major concession that the team has little chance at making the playoffs. The Red Sox trail New York by 7.5 games and are 6.5 GB Chicago for the wild card. Boston still has three games remaining with both the White Sox and Twins.

If Boston does decide to deal Wells, who cleared waivers on August 3, they would likely do it by midnight tomorrow, so he would be eligible for a team's post-season roster. (ESPN's Buster Olney said a source put the odds at "80-20 or 90-10" that a deal would be made.) Wells is scheduled to pitch against Toronto tomorrow night at Fenway.

Boston has apparently spoken with the Dodgers, Padres and Cardinals. One report said Boston had asked the Dodgers for 21-year-old outfielder Matt Kemp, who hit .279 in a six-week stint in LA earlier this year and is currently batting .349 for Las Vegas (AAA).

Theo Epstein refused to discuss the matter, but Padres GM Kevin Towers said he had spoken with Epstein on Monday afternoon.
We've had some dialogue, but nothing is imminent. ... I think Theo is just trying to find out which clubs would be interested if they decided to move him. He's putting his feelers out. That's kind of where it's at. ... I wasn't getting the impression from Theo that they were raising the white flag or anything. He just wants to be proactive in case they get to that point.

5 comments:

laura k said...

This is depressing.

Pokerwolf said...

Too banged up and old to make anything happen, I guess.

I'm surprised that they're getting rid of Wells, unless there's a AAA pitcher in the wings waiting for his roster spot.

I wish they'd fight more for the playoffs, but considering everything that's wrong with the team right now, it's not that surprising.

Jim said...

Interesting that Sox 'snuk' Wells through waivers at the beginning of August when his future was iffy. I guess the only question is whether Matt Kemp is better than Adam Stern. I don't have a lot of confidence at the moment in Sox evaluations of outfielders or relief pitchers (or veteran catchers, for that matter). As for waiving the white flag ... well, it's been done before, just not by the Theo regime.

laura k said...

No, I-girl: the fact that I agree the Sox were a very good team at the All-Star break does NOT make Redsock's point.

Uh, ok. I guess I'm just not into assigning blame to the extent that most Sox fans seem to be. It doesn't change anything and doesn't make me feel any better.

I'm disgusted and depressed about this season, but what measure is Theo's fault, what measure Tito's, what part injuries, even perhaps what measure is my own unreasonable expectations, it's not possible to sort out, in my opinion.

The rage at Theo and Tito understandable, but IMO a little over the top. As if other teams are somehow run by brilliant management that works the chess pieces perfectly, and we poor Sox fans are stuck with the dregs.

laura k said...

By the way, it's L-girl. Blogger makes it look funny with the lower case L.