Red Sox Trade Deadline 2017 Thread

[harmony]

If the roles were reversed, would the Red Sox trade four-plus years of righthander Heath Hembree to the San Francisco Giants for first base prospect Chris Shaw?

Hembree and Strickland are same-sized 28-year-old righthanded relievers who come with four more years of team control. Since the start of the 2016 season Hembree has posted an ERA of 3.04 and an ERA+ of 147 in 81 appearances while Strickland has posted an ERA of 2.65 and an ERA+ of 153 in 111 appearances. Over that period Hembree has posted 0.9 fWAR while Strickland has posted 1.4 fWAR.

Edge to Strickland. The irony is that the Giants drafted Hembree while the Red Sox drafted Strickland.

Sam Travis and Chris Shaw are MLB Prospect Watch's eighth- and ninth-ranked first base prospects:

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017/?list=1b

This year as 23-year-olds in Triple A, Travis has posted a wRC+ of 109 in 186 plate appearances while Shaw has posted a wRC+ of 119 in 195 plate appearances. Travis makes more contact while Shaw has more power.

The John Sickels scouting reports from last December:

5) Sam Travis, 1B, Grade B-: Age 23, second round pick in 2014 from Indiana University; hit .272/.332/.434 with six homers in 173 at-bats in Triple-A until season ended early with knee injury; scouts love the bat and they aren’t easily impressed with right-handed hitting first baseman; projects as .280ish hitter with moderate power; defensively limited to first base due to lack of speed or plus arm strength; should be ready soon if healthy. ETA late 2017.

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2016...pects-for-2017

9) Chris Shaw, 1B, Grade B-: Age 23, first round pick in 2015 from Boston College; hit .267/.335/.484 with 38 doubles, 21 homers, 48 walks, 125 strikeouts in 502 at-bats between High-A and Double-A; note large number of doubles to go with the homers; 60-65 raw power and he gets to it more often than not; strikeout rate is a caution flag but not horrible, though more walks would be nice; some observers feel his swing is too long for consistent MLB success but that’s not unanimous; good throwing arm but otherwise a mediocre defender with poor range which may limit his chances, at least for an NL team. ETA late 2018

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2016...pects-for-2017

[mvp 78]

Since the White Sox are in sell mode, I wouldn't mind paring away Abreu.

Sure, but they aren't moving him. He has more years of control left and is the only draw remaining in their clubhouse to put butts in the seats.

[BstHcpr]

Hunter Strickland is not a rental.

The San Francisco Giants would demand more than a fringy prospect for four-plus years of an established reliever.

FWIW, the Giants have one-time All Star first baseman Brandon Belt signed through 2021.

You are putting far too much long term value in relievers who are notoriously volatile commodities.

[Bellhorn04]

You are putting far too much long term value in relievers who are notoriously volatile commodities.

That overvaluing of relievers seems to be the way it is in baseball right now, as evidenced by moves like our trade for Thornburg.

[oldtimer]

That overvaluing of relievers seems to be the way it is in baseball right now, as evidenced by moves like our trade for Thornburg.

When we are in a tight game in the 8th, I certainly hope we have a quality reliever (person) to put in the game.

[BstHcpr]

That overvaluing of relievers seems to be the way it is in baseball right now, as evidenced by moves like our trade for Thornburg.

Shaw, Dubon, and Pennington was not considered to be a major haul at the time of the trade.

[OH FOY!]

That's scary, if our evaluators see this. Pennington hurt most of year, losing Dubon who many have followed in his Minor League Career, saw he hit everywhere he's been. Shaw first year in the bigs not too bad. Dubon was SS with that great Salem team last year, and now he's all the way up to Triple AAA. The first 3 batters of that Salem team last year are no lower than Triple AAA.

[mvp 78]

Shaw, Dubon, and Pennington was not considered to be a major haul at the time of the trade.

Many people on here lamented the loss of Dubon as a throw in. Didn't seem to be necessary to include him. Trade should have just been Shaw plus one minor leaguer for Thornburg.

[harmony]

You are putting far too much long term value in relievers who are notoriously volatile commodities.

Some Red Sox fans place too much trade value in a fringy prospect such as 23-year-old Sam Travis, who failed to make Baseball America's Top 100 prospect list, John Sickel's Top 200 prospect list, MLB Prospect Watch's Top 100 prospect list and Baseball Prospectus' Top 101 prospect list:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minor...7UVt7SXEGLj.97

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2017...or-league-ball

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017?list=prospects

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minor...15kpSV3sBXi.97

In January Travis reportedly landed at No. 98 on Keith Law's ESPN prospect list (which is hidden behind a pay wall).

[BstHcpr]

Some Red Sox fans place too much trade value in a fringy prospect such as 23-year-old Sam Travis, who failed to make Baseball America's Top 100 prospect list, John Sickel's Top 200 prospect list, MLB Prospect Watch's Top 100 prospect list and Baseball Prospectus' Top 101 prospect list:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minor...7UVt7SXEGLj.97

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2017...or-league-ball

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017?list=prospects

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minor...15kpSV3sBXi.97

In January Travis reportedly landed at No. 98 on Keith Law's ESPN prospect list (which is hidden behind a pay wall).

Sam Travis and two other prospects is pretty similar to other trades involving middle relievers across MLB.

[moonslav59]

Strickland is having a down year (1.41 WHIP fuelded by a 5.0 BB/9 rate), but his overall career numbers are pretty good:

1.083 WHIP

8.9 K/9

2.98 FIP

[mvp 78]

Sam Travis and two other prospects is pretty similar to other trades involving middle relievers across MLB.

i.e. not worth it

[Station 13]

Strickland is having a down year (1.41 WHIP fuelded by a 5.0 BB/9 rate), but his overall career numbers are pretty good:

1.083 WHIP

8.9 K/9

2.98 FIP

His season is about as good as Hembree's.

[moonslav59]

His season is about as good as Hembree's.

His career is better, but I'd shy away from any RP'er in the midst of a poor season. His 5.0 BB/9 this year is scary.

[jacksonianmarch]

Travis is a victim of his position. He's a hitter but he doesn't project to have typical 1b power. Hence he'll get overlooked. He might have a fair amount of worth to Boston, but he isn't a headliner for anything significant