SB Nation Boston - MLB Trade Deadline: Red Sox Make A Series Of Minor Deals, Adjust Bullpen

MLB Trade Deadline: Mike Lowell Reportedly Nearly Traded To Yankees

2010-08-02T12:58:51Z

Mike Lowell, who hasn't played a game for the Red Sox since June 22 and spent the past week rehabbing with Pawtucket, was a bargaining chip that Boston was trying to trade before Saturday's deadline. And according to Ken Rosenthal, Lowell was reportedly almost shipped to New York.

In the deal, which foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal says was discussed Friday, Boston would have traded Lowell to Texas. The Rangers, with the Sox' knowledge, would have then shipped Lowell to New York. The Yanks -- with whom Lowell began his career -- would have used him as a backup to both Alex Rodriguez at third base and Mark Teixeira at first base and as their right-handed DH.

No word on what the Red Sox would have received.

As it is, Lowell continues in limbo, still a member of the Red Sox, but not yet activated.

MLB Trade Deadline: Red Sox Make Bullpen Moves, Add Catching Depth

2010-07-31T23:30:08Z

The Red Sox didn't make any big moves at the 2010 MLB Trade Deadline, but they were at least active, pulling off a handful of minor moves:

LHP Felix Doubront will be moving from Pawtucket's rotation to the bullpen, and after a bit will be called up and join Boston's pen
Red Sox called-up top prospect OF Ryan Kalish (and LHP Dustin Richardson). To make room for him, Jeremy Hermida was designated for assignment
Addition by subtraction, perhaps: Ramon Ramirez was traded to the Giants in return for Daniel Turpen, a AA pitcher
Finally, at the last minute, they traded a pair of prospects (plus a player to be named later and cash considerations) for the Rangers' Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a catcher who was struggling in AAA

Get more news and reaction at Over The Monster.

MLB Trade Rumors: Hours Before The 4 P.M. Deadline, Red Sox Aren't Optimistic

2010-07-31T17:17:39Z

We're now less than three hours from Saturday's 4 P.M. MLB trade deadline, and the Red Sox are becoming less optimistic about making a deal before then.

The price for relievers was still enormous, but that may come down this afternoon closer to the 4 p.m. deadline. If it does, the Red Sox might be able to land a reliever, but for now the plan is for lefty Felix Doubront to start working out of the bullpen in Pawtucket and at some point have both Doubront and Michael Bowden up with the major league team.

The Sox passed on Chad Quails (who the Diamondbacks shipped to the Rays today) because they felt he wasn't that much better than Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez or Hideki Okajima. One option that still remains is Kerry Wood, whom the Indians just activated Saturday morning (he had been on the DL with a blister on his finger).

This is a player the Red Sox might monitor for a few days to see how his finger is doing. Wood could be had for minimal player price but you'd have to be willing to pick up the remainder of the $10.5 million remaining on his contract and deal with an option year next year. Wood hadn't had a great year, but he still throws hard and had allowed only one run over his last six outings before shutting it down on July 11th.

And of course, the Sox may opt to do nothing at all before the deadline, instead choosing to wait until August to pick up a player they're confident will pass through waivers.

Help From Within: Sox Reportedly Moving Felix Doubront To The Bullpen

2010-07-31T17:05:05Z

The Red Sox have been actively searching for relief help this week, with the MLB trade deadline approaching, and so far, have come up empty. No Trevor Hoffman, Scott Downs or Kerry Wood (at least, not yet). So it makes sense then that Boston would look within.

According to Alex Speier at WEEI, Felix Doubront will head to the bullpen in the hopes of providing some much needed help out there (Boston's bullpen is sporting a robust 4.43 ERA, to go along with the most home runs allowed in the A.L. and the second-most blown saves).

Doubront, a 22-year old left handed starting pitcher, has made three spot starts for Boston this season (1-2, 4.11 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 15.1 IP), and the Red Sox had hoped to keep him in the rotation in Pawtucket, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

However, with the team's ongoing bullpen struggles, the Sox have committed to shifting him to relief for the remainder of the year, a process that will begin immediately. According to the sources, Doubront's shift to relief will occur regardless of whether the Sox make any moves to acquire bullpen help. [...]

With the Sox lacking an effective lefty in the bullpen right now (given the struggles of Hideki Okajima), his potential to contribute as a reliever became increasingly appealing to the Sox, particularly given the available options on the trade market.

MLB Trade Rumors: Deal Possible Between Red Sox And Padres?

2010-07-29T21:06:09Z

While the often-rumored deal for Adrian Gonzalez is long since dead and buried (at least for this season), don't completely count out a trade occurring 2010 between the Red Sox and Padres.

Boston needs bullpen help, and San Diego has Joe Thatcher, a lefty who in 32 games (he just came off the DL) had a WHIP of 0.68 with a 1.74 ERA.

Nothing is etched in stone, but the the two teams appear to be a good fit given their respective needs. The Padres are looking for a middle infielder and Padres GM Jed Hoyer has familiarity with Jed Lowrie from their Boston days.

He's also looking fror an outfielder and the Sox will have some excess in the form of Jeremy Hermida, Bill Hall and Darnell McDonald when Jacoby Ellsbury returns in a week to 10 days (or so is the hope).

Red Sox Leaving No Stone Unturned In Search For Bullpen Help

2010-07-29T17:47:44Z

The Red Sox have been looking high and low for relief help, checking in on trade candidates from a number of teams. Nick Cafardo has a long, if not comprehensive list:

The Red Sox expect to do something to help their bullpen by the trading deadline Saturday afternoon. Toward that end they’ve explored everyone from Rafael Perez, Will Ohman, Mike Gonzalez, Matt Capps, Michael Wuertz, Craig Breslow, Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood, David Aardsma and Kyle Farnsworth to name a few.

There’s a good mix of names in there, but only a few really stand out as impact talent. The Sox have said time and again that they won’t overpay for a reliever, however, so picking up a buy-low candidate like Woods or Aardsma could be all they’re willing to do.

MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Still Trying To Deal Ramon Ramirez

2010-07-29T15:58:02Z

It’s no secret that the Red Sox are looking to add a piece to their bullpen, but it looks like they may also be looking to remove one. The Red Sox, who had almost traded Ramon Ramirez for Rod Barajas before the catcher suffered an injury, are still looking to deal the reliever to the Mets, possibly for a minor leaguer.

Dealing Ramirez might appear to be addition by subtraction, given his 4.57 ERA. But with two solid months out of the pen in June and July, it might not make a whole lot of sense to get rid of one of their more reliable relievers in recent months unless the return is good, and they have a replacement in mind.

MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Interested In Wuertz

2010-07-27T18:25:46Z

The Red Sox have another candidate in their search for bullpen help in Oakland Athletics reliever Michael Weurtz, according to Nick Cafardo.

Weurtz, 31, is coming off a career year in 2009, when he posted a 2.63 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 78 innings. He hasn’t been nearly as effective in 2010 after an injury kept him sidelined to start the season, but is finishing up a strong July.

Weurtz is under contract at an affordable rate for 2011, with a team option for 2012. The Sox might run into the same problems in Oakland as they have elsewhere, though, as the A’s aren’t looking to unload the reliever unless they’re blown away.