Boston Red Sox Considering a Trade for Hunter Pence?
Numerous sources are reporting that the Houston Astros are likely to trade outfielder Hunter Pence prior to the July 31st trade deadline.
The Astros are 22 games under .500 and own easily the worst record in baseball, which makes them obvious sellers.
The Red Sox are in the market for a quality right-handed hitting outfielder, and other than Carlos Beltran and his $18.5 million salary, Pence is likely the best option on the market.
Pence is hitting .316 this year with 11 home runs, 61 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He’s also extremely durable having played at least 156 games in each of the last three seasons.
He doesn’t walk a lot (24 BB in 2011) but would provide an All-Star presence in the bottom third of Boston’s batting order. (more…)
Boston Red Sox Aggressively Pursuing Trade for Carlos Beltran
According to a report from FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox and Phillies are pursuing a trade for New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran more aggressively than any other team in baseball:
“The Phillies and Red Sox are in similar positions — both face luxury-tax concerns, and likely would want the Mets to cover a substantial part of Beltran’s remaining salary. But both clubs also have demonstrated a past willingness to spend for the right players.”
Beltran will be owed roughly $6 million of his $18.5 million salary by July 31st. He has a full no-trade clause in his contract but would reportedly waive it to come to Boston.
Based on the high interest in Beltran, Rosenthal adds that “the Mets might trade him several days or more before the July 31 non-waiver deadline — and include less money in the deal than they initially expected would be necessary.” (more…)
Boston Red Sox Join Ubaldo Jimenez Trade Sweepstakes
According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, the Red Sox have expressed interest in Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez.
Jimenez went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA last season but is just 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA this year. With that said, he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since the beginning of June.
The 27-year-old is signed under team-friendly contracts of $2.8 million in 2011 and $4.2 million in 2012. He has club options in his contract of $5.75 million in 2013 and $8 million in 2014.
Despite Boston’s preliminary interest in the righty, Knobler believes that two other teams have the inside track:
“People familiar with the Rockies plans believe that the Reds and Rangers would have a better chance of landing the ace. Both Cincinnati and Texas are said to have enough young talent to motivate the Rockies to make a deal.” (more…)
Pitching Matchups: Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles
Here are the starting pitching matchups for a three-game series between the Red Sox and Orioles, which begins on Monday night at Camden Yards:
Monday (7:05): Tim Wakefield (5-3, 4.74) vs. Brad Bergesen (1-6, 5.65)
Tuesday (7:05): Kyle Weiland (0-0, 13.50) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (3-13, 4.45)
Wednesday (12:35): Andrew Miller (3-1, 5.68) vs. Jake Arrieta (9-6, 5.10)
Alastair Ingram is the lead Boston Red Sox writer for the RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlastairIngram. For daily Red Sox updates, follow the blog at @FenwayReport and join the fan page on Facebook.
Dustin Pedroia’s New Nickname: “The Muddy Chicken”
Dustin Pedroia is on a season-high 15-game hitting streak and delivered the game-winning RBI for the Red Sox in an epic 1-0 win over the Rays in 16 innings on Sunday night (and Monday morning).
Pedroia is usually known as the Laser Show, but Josh Beckett gave the second baseman a new nickname after the win.
“We don’t even know his name any more. He’s now the Muddy Chicken,” Josh Beckett told The Boston Globe. “The Muddy Chicken was definitely the player of the game. He got it done when we absolutely needed it.”
Nobody seems to know what the mysterious nickname means, but it certainly has a nice ring to it.
The Muddy Chicken is batting .384 during his hitting streak and has raised his average to .293. The former MVP also has six home runs in his last nine games. (more…)
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