I brought it up in the first place after reading a report that he was more likely to fit at 2nd then 3rd. They haven't done much to play him at 2nd yet, but it does make some sense. We have a need and he looks like an up and coming MLer. Getting a low cost player in the lineup with a good bat should be considered but the Sox would have to prepare him.
Last edited by Fan_since_Boggs; 10-29-2017 at 01:28 PM.
A Kansas City blogger suggests a trade of Whit Merrrifield, Kelvim Herrera and Ryan Buchter for Michael Chavis, Brock Holt and Austin Maddox:
https://kingsofkauffman.com/2017/10/...oston-red-sox/
The nearly 29-year-old Merrifield, who posted 3.1 fWAR this year while leading the American League in stolen bases, remains under team control for five years after playing 132 of his 145 games at second base this season.
The nearly 28-year-old Herrera, a two-time All Star reliever, remains under team control for one season at a hefty projected arbitration salary of $8.3 million.
Buchter, a nearly 31-year-old reliever, remains under team control for five seasons.
I suspect the KC blogger seriously overstates the trade value of Chavis and Holt. The Red Sox would likely do that deal in a heartbeat.
Maddox would be the centerpiece of the deal, and you barely mentioned him.
I'm not sure how desperate KC is to cut salary as they have Hosmer & Mosse coming off the books, but I do think they'll want to dump Herrera and his $8M arb.
I'm not so sure the Sox are looking to take on that kind of salary for RP'ers and 2B. Their biggest need is clean-up hitting, 1B, 4th OF and SP'ing. This deal fills none of their biggest needs.
What do we do when Pedey comes back? Bench Merrifield or HRam?
Interesting trade suggestion, though.
Austin Maddox is a 26-year-old prospect ranked 21st and 28th in a mediocre Red Sox farm system, according to SoxProspects and MLB Prospect Watch:
http://www.soxprospects.com/moreprospects.htm
http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017?list=bos
https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=maddox001aus
Maddox averaged 4.7 walks per nine innings this year in 49.1 minor league innings.
I do agree. The Sox would make the deal in a heartbeat.
Merrifield has played a lot of OF in the minors, so he could double as our 4th OF'er.
I'd even throw in another mid-level prospect like Shawaryn or Travis, if needed.
The SoxProspects summation on righthanded reliever Austin Maddox:
http://www.soxprospects.com/players/maddox-austin.htmSummation: Projects as an organizational arm. Average three-pitch mix. Throws strikes, usually around the zone. Lacks above-average offering to project as a major league arm, but if any pitch takes a step forward, could get a cup of coffee. Should develop into a solid organizational bullpen arm who bounces around the high minors.
Whit Merrifield tied Jackie Bradley Jr. for the team lead in home runs on the 2010 University of South Carolina baseball team:
http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sport....html#TEAM.GMS
Merrifield was the only Gamecock to start all 70 games that season.