With Season Lost, Red Sox Primed to be Trade Deadline Sellers
From worst to first to worst; barring a major turnaround in August that is how the 2014 Boston Red Sox season will be remembered. With just 10 wins in 22 games entering the final four days of July, the defending World Series champions have tumbled to the cellar in the American League East, 10.5 games back of the division-leading Baltimore Orioles.
After starting the current campaign with strong odds of 14/1 to repeat as champs, the Red Sox have tumbled to 80/1 in World Series betting and a dismal 33/1 to win the AL East. Prices can vary though and it’s always best to check prior to placing your bet.
With hope all but lost for the current campaign, the RedSox are expected to be active sellers at the July 31 trade deadline. Boston got the ball rolling on the weekend, dealing pitcher Jake Peavy to the San Francisco Giants for a pair of pitching prospects.
22 year-old Edwin Escobar is a lefty starter who entered the season as the 56th ranked prospect by Baseball America. Heath Hembree is a 25 year-old right-handed reliever, who has recorded an impressive 46 strikeouts in39 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A Fresno.
Despite the Peavy trade and the din of speculation surrounding the club, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington claims that no further trades are imminent. However, pitcher Jon Lester has publicly stated that he would not be surprised if he were dealt by the deadline. Lester is a free agent at season’s end and has also publicly expressed his desire to re-sign with Boston.
Shortstop Stephen Drew is also a candidate to be moved by July 31. The left-handed infielder has platooned this season with Brock Holt, another lefty. Drew has been used primarily in games against right-handed starts, against whom he has the most success at the plate.
However, his presence only delays further the debut ofBoston’s current shortstop-of-the-future Xander Bogaerts, who continues to toil at third base on a full-time basis.Moving Drew and the remainder of his $10 million salary could make sense for a contender looking to strengthen their bench down the stretch while allowing the Red Sox to get on with the future, right now.
