The calendar is closing in on July 31, 2010 and most are discussing who could the Red Sox acquire to help the team close the gap in the A.L. East. But few talk about the prospects that could be moved until a year or two or twenty years from now.
Hopefully, the Olde Towne Team will not give up another future Hall of Famer this summer. Two that could go are Lars Anderson and Oscar Tejada .
The former Red Sox top prospect could now find his way to another organization. The Red Sox have many options at first. Kevin Youkilis is not going anywhere unless it is across the diamond to third, which is unlikely at his age and with Adrian Beltre a possibility. Victor Martinez is an option to man the position as well.
Anthony Rizzo could be the scoping low throws in the next few years too. Rizzo, currently in Portland, currently profiles as a better power prospect than Anderson as well as a better defensive player. The PawSox first baseman is expendable and could be trade bait.
Tejada is also blocked. Dustin Pedroia is locked up for a long time at second. Jose Iglesias appears to be the next in line after Marco Scutaro’s time is up as the Red Sox shortstop. Jed Lowrie would seem to be the primary backup infielder for the foreseeable future as well.
Tejada has also played some third but the other breakout player for Salem, Will Middlebrooks , looks like the best bet to play the hot corner at Fenway. The season in which Tejada’s production finally caught up to his tools, he could find himself dealt at the deadline.
Anderson’s stock has fallen and Tejada’s has risen, but both could be with another organization on August 1, 2010. Neither one are going to bring back a difference maker. They both have warts, although each could be the centerpiece of a package that gets the Red Sox a necessary complementary player for the playoff push.