Win Now

The Boston Red Sox appear to be in win-now mode, trading four prospects for a closer with a big contract:

New Boston Red Sox boss Dave Dombrowski on Friday night made his first big move to rebuild the franchise after its third last-place finish in four years, acquiring four-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres for four prospects.

Kimbrel, who saved 39 games for the Padres this season, spent the first five years of his career with the Atlanta Braves before they traded him to San Diego on the eve of the 2015 regular season. The Red Sox assumed $25 million remaining on Kimbrel’s contract but have him under control for up to three more seasons.

The Padres get four players, but don’t worry Boston fans, these young players would have no bearing on 2016:

The Padres receive outfielder Manuel Margot, infielders Javier Guerra and Carlos Asuaje, and left-hander Logan Allen. Only Asuaje and Margot made it as high as Double-A last season.

”We didn’t give anything up at the major league level to affect our club this year,” Dombrowski said. ”It’s good talent. Some of it’s a while away.”

Margot is a centerfielder, and the most impressive thing about him right now is that he reached AA at age 20. He may not have much of a future with the Red Sox if they hang on to Mookie Betts. Guerra will play 2016 as a 20-year-old. He’s a shortstop, so again, he may not have much of a future in the Red Sox organization. Asuaje is a second baseman who hit well at single A, but was old for single A. Allen may be the best of the bunch, at age 18 striking out 26 and walking one in 24 1/3 innings of rookie ball.

So the Padres dump a big contract, add some depth to their minor leagues, and maybe get a big league start in Allen in a couple of years.

That said, the Red Sox didn’t really address their need for starting pitching, although they may have shortened the game to six innings. Still, if starters are giving up four or fives runs in six innings, the bullpen might not be able to do much to help.

Update: People around the web like the Padres side of the trade a lot more than I do.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1YaFzO5