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| (Kim Klement/USA TODAY ) |
It's obvious that the Red Sox might want to trade for a closer—but do the struggles of
Will Middlebrooks suggest they need a third baseman more urgently? All the talk of late has swirled around the possibility of re-acquiring
Jonathan Papelbon from Philadelphia. But Phillies GM
Ruben Amaro has made it clear that
the cost to get the erstwhile Boston closer would be "astronomical". Paps is already signed though 2015, so Philly could just as easily hold on to him and hope the team fares better in 2014 and beyond. Someone Amaro
is more than willing to part with is third baseman
Michael Young—in the final year of a long-term deal. The 36-year old Young is doing pretty well this year—hitting .287 with 4 HRs and 18 RBIs in 69 games. One could make the case that a solid, everyday third baseman is of more value than an expensive closer like Papelbon (owed $33 million through 2015). Who knows, maybe
Andrew Bailey will right himself, or another arm in the 'pen will step up and fill the void from the inside? Maybe
Stephen Drew could head back to the National League and come off the bench to spell
Jimmy Rollins and
Chase Utley.This would also allow
Jose Iglesias to settle in at short. Just a thought.
