The Boston Red Sox are on their way to missing the playoffs for the third time in the last four years. Ever since the 2014 MLB trade deadline, the goal was to change the Red Sox for the better. Let us revisit the good, the bad and the ugly from that deadline, and the off-season that followed.
The Good:
The Red Sox trade LHP Felix Doubront to the Chicago Cubs for a PTBNL (SS Marco Hernandez): The relationship between Doubront and the Red Sox soured to the point where they dealt him for almost nothing. That has since changed with the emergence of the minor league shortstop who was included in the deal. Marco Hernandez was tremendous in AA Portland this year, hitting .326, before earning a promotion to AAA Pawtucket where he hit .271 in 46 games. He is a candidate to be added to the 40-man roster this off-season and has become a Brock Holt type player. Hernandez’s short, compact swing and increasing versatility (has played 2B and 3B as well) help draws the comparison. Meanwhile, Doubront played briefly for the Cubs before eventually moving on to the Toronto Blue Jays and now the Oakland Athletics.
The Red Sox trade LHP Andrew Miller to the Baltimore Orioles for LHP Eduardo Rodriguez: This trade is not about Rodriguez being better than Miller. He isn’t. However, Rodriguez was quite a haul for a reliever who was going to leave in the off-season anyway. Getting a future number two starter is excellent. Rodriguez has been an effective starter all year and figures to be there for years to come. Miller continues to have success as a dominant closer, but in New York and not Baltimore.
The Bad:
The Red Sox trade RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Allen Webster and INF Raymel Flores to the Arizona Diamondbacks for LHP Wade Miley: Wade Miley has been a serviceable piece in the Red Sox rotation this year but hasn’t been anything special. He’s pitched to an 11-10 record with a 4.34 ERA. The reason why this can be labeled as bad is simply because the difference in what Miley has given the Red Sox and De La Rosa has given the Diamondbacks is marginal. De La Rosa is 13-8 this year with a 4.60 ERA. Miley is essentially a more expensive De La Rosa at this point, and the Diamondbacks have two other prospects to work with now. Flores is young developmental piece who has hit .266 in 67 games in Low-A baseball. Webster has a lot of raw talent but it remains to be seen his future role. The trade was designed to improve the Red Sox considerably but only ended up being marginal in year one.
The Ugly:
The Red Sox trade OF Yoenis Cespedes, RP Alex Wilson, and LHP Gabe Speier to the Detroit Tigers for RHP Rick Porcello: The Red Sox took a calculated risk to try and find a future ace by using their glut of outfielders. The risk failed miserably. Not only has Rick Porcello failed to live up to his hype (8-13, 5.13 ERA), but Yoenis Cespedes went on to hit .292 in Detroit before being traded to the New York Mets for two top pitching prospects who have performed very well so far (Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa). Alex Wilson has become a very effective reliever and even saw time at the closer role. Even Gabe Speier went 4-2 with a 3.27 ERA in Single-A West Michigan. The Red Sox could have had a stronger bullpen, outfield and likely had a similar pitching staff if they didn’t do this move.
While there were other trades made by the Red Sox (including the Jon Lester trade that landed them Yoenis Cespedes) these stood out for their profound impact. These trades will have ripple effects on not only the Red Sox but also the other teams involved.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
