Breaking Down – Mets Needs – Boston Red Sox

Players Under Contract past 2012:
1B Adrian Gonzalez

2B Dustin Pedroia
LF Carl Crawford
DH David Ortiz
RHSP Josh Beckett
RHSP Clay Buchholz
LHSP Jon Lester
RHCL Mark Melancon


Free Agents After 2012:
1B Kevin Youkilis
SS Marcos Scutaro
SS Jose Iglesias
RHP Bobby Jenks


ARB-Eligible Players:
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
RF Josh Reddick
LHSP Andrew Miller


ETA - 2012: Will Middlebrooks - 3B - Born: 9/9/1988 - Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: .285, 26(2B), 1(3B), 23HR, 94RBI, 20SB

Ryan Lavarnway C - Born: 8/7/1987 - Highest Level Reached: MLB Boston Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: .290, 23(2B), 32HR, 93RBI - MAJORS: .231, 2(2B), 2HR, 8RBI

Jose Iglesias SS - Born: 1/5/1990 - Highest Level Reached: MLB Boston Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: .235, 9(2B), 1HR, 31RBI, 12SB - MAJORS: .333, (2-6 in 6 At-Bats)

Lars Anderson 1B - Born: 9/25/1987 - Highest Level Reached: MLB Boston Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: .265, 31(2B), 2(3B), 14HR, 78RBI - MAJORS: .000 (0-5 in 5 At-Bats)


ETA - 2013: Miles Head 1B - Born: 5/2/1991 - Highest Level Reached: High-A Salem Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: .299, 37(2B), 2(3B), 22HR, 82RBI ETA: 2014+

Xander Bogaerts SS - Born: 10/1/1992 - Highest Level Reached: Low-A Greenville Drive - 2011 Combined Stats: .260, 14(2B), 2(3B), 16HR, 45RBI

Matt Barnes RHP - Born: 6/17/1990 - Highest Level Reached: 1st Round Pick In 2011 MLB Draft - 2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

Blake Swihart C - Born: 4/3/1992 - Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Gulf Coast League Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: .000 (0-6 in six at-bats)

Jackie Bradley Jr OF - Born: 4/19/1990 - Highest Level Reached: Low-A Greenville Drive - 2011 Combined Stats: .250, 1(2B), 1HR, 3RBI

Anthony Ranaudo RHP - Born: 9/9/1989 - Highest Level Reached: High-A Salem Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: 9-6, 3.97ERA, 127IP, 46BB, 117K, .244BAA

Bryce Brentz OF - Born: 12/30/1988 - Highest Level Reached: High-A Salem Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: .306, 25(2B), 4(3B), 30HR, 94RBI

Brandon Jacobs OF - Born: 12/8/1990 - Highest Level Reached: Low-A Greenville Drive - 2011 Combined Stats: .303, 32(2B), 3(3B), 17HR, 80RBI, 30SB

Henry Owens LHP - Born: 7/21/1992 - Highest Level Reached: 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft - 2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

Noe Ramirez RHP - Born: 12/22/1989 - Highest Level Reached: 4th Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft - 2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

Williams Jerez OF - Born: 5/16/1992 - Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Gulf Coast League Red Sox - 2011 Combined Stats: .248, 2(2B), 3(3B), 12RBI

Research:

http://topprospectalert.com/2011/10/20/2012-boston-red-sox-prospect-rankings

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tz8qHiYrIzlFtVnly7gibjw&output=html

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=bos#playerType=ALL&sectionType=sp&statType=pitching&page_type=SortablePlayer&season=2011&season_type=ANY&sportCode='mlb'&league_code='MLB'&split=&team_id=111&active_sw=&game_type='R'&position='1'&sortOrder='asc'&sortColumn=era&results=&page=1&perPage=50&timeframe=&extended=0&last_x_days=&ts=1324052222198&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+pitching

Needs: fourth outfielder, starting pitcher

Thoughts:
-Boston is very deep in organizational talent, especially at lower levels.

-Five prospects graduate this year.

-SS Iglesias is no longer ARB-eligible and his 4-yr. contract runs out at the end of the 2012 season.

Summary Suggestion: Boston is as stacked as a team can be. They’re not shy to spend money, they have a bunch of all-stars and they draft for talent. Boston already has two left-handed starters, so Jon Niese is probably not a good fit here, but what a great place this would be for a new start by Mike Pelfrey. It sure would be great to pry away one of the lower-level outfield prospects, but Boston has no plans to trade Brentz.

Pundits say a Beckett for Pelfrey bad contract would be good for both teams.

I’ll take OF Brandon Jacobs.