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June 12, 2007

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: No regrets on Helton

Sean McAdam joins Art Martone on today's edition of Projo SoxTalk. Click here to listen to the full audio file. Today, they look back (as is fashionable) on the trade for Todd Helton that did not happen. Helton's Rockies are in Fenway Park tonight. And although Helton is having another fine season at the plate (click here to read his statistics), Sean believes that the performance of Mike Lowell (who would have gone to Colorado in a deal) leaves the Red Sox little to feel badly about. Sean also discusses the Red Sox possible trading-deadline strategies, and why there just aren't that many midseason trades made anymore.

Here are a couple of excerpts from Sean's comments:

On the Helton talks: "I think [the Red Sox are] actually quite happy they didn't make that deal, given the kind of season they've gotten certainly from Mike Lowell, who has along with Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz been really one or the linchpins of the offense so far, and has been a very important part of the middle of that batting order. I think they like the fact that they did not get themselves tied into a contract that would run another four years, as Helton's would have."

On possible a possible deadline deal: "I still believe that they would like to go out and get another power arm in the bullpen -- a right-handed one to serve as the eighth-inning setup guy with lefty Hideki Okajima. They might want to evaluate whether Timlin could emerge and fill that role, as he has [in the past]. They may be hoping against hope that Brendan Donnelly could do it. My guess is that they're probably going to want to go out and try to improve the bullpen. But I would say that there'll be a lot of teams looking to do that, and it won't be easy. They do have some trading chips. They could conceivably move Tavarez by that point if Lester is back and healthy and in the rotation. They do have Wily Mo Pena as a spare part that other teams might find intriguing for his power and youth and relative affordability, and of course they do have prospects that they could move, though clearly there are some that they regard as near untouchable."

Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:20 AM | Permalink

Comments

Mike Lowell, pound for pound is more important to the team than Manny. He is without a doubt the top producing, day in and day out Red Sox

Jim | June 12, 2007 12:23 PM link

This is the second pundit I've seen talk about bullpen tweaking. Wow. This is the best bullpen Theo's ever assembled, and he's not very good at it. Best leave well enough alone. Who knows what exasperating retread he would pick up?

It's obvious to most fans that they have to find someone to take Lugo or Crisp, or both, and we'll have to give up a Manny Delcarmen for incentive. What we get back almost doesn't matter -- take prospects and promote one of our AAA guys. It would still be an upgrade.

Brian W. | June 12, 2007 2:46 PM link

I agree with Brian W. I would love to replace Crisp.

randy | June 12, 2007 5:42 PM link