RedSoxs... Time to get Young!!

So you decided to sell, huh, who would have thought?

Just like the stock market every baseball season has it peaks and valleys. However, in Boston rarely in recent memory have the Red Sox found themselves with as straightforward of a decision… let alone July. July Red Sox fans. Just in time to focus on Brady and Bill distract you from the misery that is the 2014 baseball season.

It has been a horrific year for the Sox faithful since before even game one. The Red Sox with a full-understanding of the market, decided to offer Jon Lester at least fifty million underneath his market value. I will repeat fifty million. Now Lester is not the number one pitcher in baseball nor his league. Either Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, or Justin Verlander hold those positions. However, those pitchers are being paid on an average of seven-year contracts, worth roughly 28 million a year.  For Lester, one of the top prospects to come up through the Red Sox system in the past decade, a three-time all star, two-time world series champion, including a no-hitter, the Red Sox offered him 17.5 million per year. Not to mention that the guy who won three games in two World Series championships and currently 10-7 with a 2.52 ERA. This was the first of several mistakes that has led us to the point of selling today.

Let us address the notion Lester “could” return to the Red Sox after the trade. Well if the Red Sox didn’t want to give him a penny over 80, they will have to pony up another 50 now to sign the same player. Yes, Jon Lester will get at least 130M based on Homer Bailey getting 100M, Zack Greinke getting 147M, or even Tanaka getting 155M. Lastly, Jon Lester is from Tacoma, WA. With the way the Mariners spend money it is highly likely to occur, well before a return to Harvard Square.

For the rest of the demise we will “Cliff Notes” the rest.

 Game 1: Grady Sizemore starting in CF. Victorino on the DL. Jackie Bradley on the bench of the MLB roster. AJ Pierzynski at C. Middlebrooks on MLB roster. Stephen Drew watching from home.

All-Star Break: Sizemore released. Middlebrooks in Minors (DL). Victorino 1^st games. Jackie Bradley finally gets over .220. Pierzynski released. Stephen Drew signed.

4-14 Post All Star Break has led them here. And, given the huge amount of mistakes that the Red Sox front office has made this year, it is time to press reset; start over; sell now; clean slate… best of all get young.

• Braves give Peraza is a special talent in the system as their #1 player. Plus, three additional top 25 prospects including two starting pitchers perhaps MLB ready for 2015.  Braves get Lester which could be a potential signing spot for him. They also add a lefty reliever in Breslow.
• Pirates get Andrew Miller who will be the perfect fit for their bullpen and rotation needs. Red Sox may get their C of the future.
• Uehara to Dodgers straight up for Zack Lee. Former QB who turned down football to focus on baseball. Not the top pitcher in the Dodger system, but good move for Dodgers to sure up their bullpen.
• Lackey has a option for next year for him to make the league minimum. With the injury to Fernandez, and their outside shot at making the Wild Card there is little risk for the thrifty-spending Marlins. Red Sox gets another SP to add into the mix for next years rotation.
• David Ross to the Orioles allows for the Weiters issue to be settle. Ross is a veteran who was big last year in the playoffs for the Red Sox. However, at 37, he becomes expendable. Peguero is a 26 year old prospect who could add some pop as a OF / DH for 2015 behind Big Papi.
• Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence get back together to make a run at the Dodgers. With Victorino in LF, Pagan in CF, and Pence in RF with Morse available the Giants add their impact bat. Victorino, a great clubhouse guy, will be a great addition to the close-knit Giants team. The Red Sox get two of the Giants many stud P’s in their system.
• Johnny Gomes goes to Cincy in a smaller trade, but the Reds need a power right bat in their lineup. They give up Yorman Rodriguez but, with their stable of OF at the ML level and plethora in the Minors, he becomes expendable. With only a few right handed bats available, Cincinnati has to pay a bit extra to get it done.

Yes, it is tough to say good-bye, but it easy to say hello. With the additional of five pitchers, three outfielders, and some serious infield talent, these are additions that can perhaps be contributing by September when the rosters expand. These players with the likes of Bradley, Olt, Bogaerts, and Middlebrooks, along with the other talent the Red Sox possess puts this team back in the playoffs by 2016 with a ton of young talent. And, depending on what Pedroia, Buckholz, Napoli, and Big Papi can do  -- that could be as early as 2015 with the new wildcard system.

Name	POS	THROW	AGE	TEAM	RETURN
Craig Breslow	RP	L	33	Atlanta	Jose Peraza 2B/ SS, Jason Hursch SP
Jon Lester	SP	L	30	Atlanta	Victor Caratini 3B / C, Aaron Northcraft SP
Andrew Miller	RP	L	29	Pirates	Reese McGuire C
Koji Uehara	RP	R	39	Dodgers	Zach Lee SP
John Lackey	SP	R	35	Marlins	Jose Urena SP
Jonny Gomes	LF	R	33	Cincinnati	Yorman Rodriguez OF
Shane Victorino	RF	R	33	Giants	Clayton Blackburn SP, Chris Stratton SP
Stephen Drew	SS	L	31	Tigers	Tyler Collins OF
David Ross	C	R	37	Orioles	Francisco Peguero OF