The Chicago Sun Times Joe Cowley is reporting this morning that the Mets and Braves have dropped from the prime position to acquire prized left-hander Mark Buehrle away from the collapsing Chicago White Sox. The new frontrunner? Your Boston Red Sox. White Sox GM Kenny Williams is reportedly targeting the top three prospects in the Red Sox farm system: centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and starting pitchers Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden. Other names dangled are shortstop Jed Lowrie, who is having a tremendous year, relievers Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen, along with probably outfielder Brandon Moss in the near future. Kenny Williams values the Red Sox farm system greater than the competitors at this point, even with the Mets throwing out names like Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez.
The Red Sox would love to bolster their rotation with a left-hander who has proven success in the American League and at Fenway Park. Buehrle is just 28 years old and is having maybe the best year of his career in, remember, a bandbox stadium. In 93 IP, he’s surrendered 81 hits, walked 17 and struck out 60. His ERA is a stellar 3.39, his WHIP just 1.05 and opponents are hitting .238 off the lefty. His ERA+ stands at 134. He has a carer 3.49 ERA in 28 IP at Fenway during his career.
Acquiring Buehrle would mean either the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has struggled mightily as of late, or Julian Tavarez, would make a move to the bullpen right away. This also signals that Theo and his cohorts don’t necessarily believe that Jon Lester will be ready to contribute in the rotation at any point during the season. He could also go to the bullpen when rosters expand in September.
Likely, Kenny Williams will be as patient as possible and wait for everyone to get their offer in. I’m sure he wants to deal Buehrle, but he doesn’t want to make a rash decision. If the Red Sox do acquire the lefty, it will likely be later than sooner. Also, Boston would likely choose to lock up Buehrle to a long-term contract, most certainly four or five years, before he hits the free agent market this winter.
My thoughts: Is this a move that really needs to be made? If this was a National League pitcher being rumored, I would immediately be firmly against it. But, Buehrle has a history of success dealing with the AL. Do we really want to lock Buehrle up, with his low K/9 and ugly 2006, to a long-term deal? Is he worth giving up one of our prized three prospects? Delcarmen, Moss and Bowden?
I would love Buehrle in the rotation, but it’s not a pressing enough need to surrender the future.
