Reports Say Red Sox Listening For Potential Bogaerts, Bradley, Porcello Deals
The MLB Winter Meetings are always fun. Rumors float around consistently, and I think the biggest one involving the Boston Red Sox is full of bologna.
According to Bob Nightengale, the Red Sox are looking to shed some payroll by trading away players like Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Rick Porcello. But like I said, this is definitely fake news.
If you look at it, this may not be the worst move for the Red Sox with multiple contracts coming up in both 2019 and 2020. Those contracts are tied to players like Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, J.D. Martinez, Bogaerts, Bradley, and Porcello. The Sox and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski are going to have some decsions to make, but I doubt those big decisions happen soon.
The Sox are coming a franchise-best season in which they won the World Series. Why break that up? Payroll? I mean, I get it but this team had tremendous chemistry and has the potential to repeat.
The guys they are reportedly listening about are too big to the team for them to ship. Porcello is a solid leader in the rotation. Bradley Jr. graces the outfield like nobody else. Bogaerts was a middle of the order bat for one of the best offenses in baseball.
Even if they traded any of the three, the only thing they would get is salary relief. No one is going to give up top-tier prospects for one season of Rick Porcello or Xander Bogaerts. Bradley is the most likely to get traded, in my mind, but what will you get for a guy that hits .230? Not much.
The Red Sox would be better off keeping this group of guys together for another World Series run. Dombrowski and manager Alex Cora both know this, so don’t expect any key pieces to be moved.
-Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)
You love fantasy sports but getting tired of the same thing every year? Stop it. Join ThriveFantasy today where you bet on only the top tier players and gain points based on prop bets. Sign up today using the Couch Guy Sports link NOW & get in on the action. (Must deposit a minimum of $10 upon signup and ThriveFantasy will match)