USA Today: Red Sox Won The Trade Deadline

USA Today's Ted Berg makes a strong case that Ben Cherington and the Red Sox were the real winners of this year's trade deadline transaction period. Giving up just one major league player under their control in 2015 (John Lackey), Boston immediately added three major league players that can help jump start the re-building process (Yoenis Cespedes, Joe Kelly, Allen Craig). Moreover, they added three high-level minor league pitchers (Edwin Escobar, Heath Hembree, Eduardo Rodriguez). This trio adds significantly to their already deep organization—full of players they can hold on to and develop or potentially flip for big prizes like Giancarlo Stanton. All in all, an excellent and bold day for BenCher.

FenwayNation: Four Out Of Five On Trade Picks

The Rapture—2014

On Tuesday, we offered our predictions for the five most likely Red Sox players to no longer be Red Sox player this afternoon. Not to toot our horn or anything (ahem!), but we were correct on four out of the five picks: Jonny Gomes, Andrew Miller, Stephen Drew and Jon Lester. Only David Ross from our list escaped The Great Fenway Park Rapture of 2014. It's OK, you can applaud. Of course, some deals are announced after the official trade deadline, so we're still holding out the possibility of going five for five.

Stephen Drew Dealt To Evil Empire For Johnson

The Red Sox have paved the way for Xander Bogaerts to go back to SS by trading Stephen Drew to The Evil Empire. Drew will likely play second base for the balance of the year for The Bronx Embalmers. The Red Sox get currently injured Kelly Johnson in return.

Andrew Miller Traded To Baltimore Orioles

Well, he was traded. But, instead of heading to the Motor City, Andrew Miller will be going to Camden Yards to join the first-place Orioles. In return, Boston gets Baltimore's #3 overall prospect—LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, who some scouts say "could become a mid-rotation starter".

Andrew Miller Trade To Tigers Might Be Off

UPDATE: ESPNBoston.COM's Gordon Edes reports that 'Miller to Detroit' is stalled/off.
According to Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Red Sox and Tigers are close to a deal that would send left-handed reliever Andrew Miller to Detroit. No word yet on who comes back to Boston (Austin Kubitza, right-handed pitching prospect, has been rumored—9-1, 2.59 ERA this year in A ball).

Sox Trade Lackey To Cardinals For Craig, Kelly

Another shoe has dropped. The Red Sox have acquired starter Joe Kelly and IF/OF Allen Craig from the Cardinals for John Lackey. Craig is having a down year—hitting just .237 after hitting .315 in 2013. Kelly is just 26 and is 2-2 in 7 starts this year-with an ERA of 4.37. In 2013, Kelly was 10-5, with a 2.69 ERA.

Red Sox Snare Cespedes For Lester And Gomes

In a stunning development, the Red Sox got the big bat they needed from the Oakland A's—getting Yoenis Cespedes in exchange of Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes. Check out the absolutely amazing throw Cespedes made earlier this year HERE. This story was broken by Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Cespedes—this year's HR Derby Champ—is singed through 2015. Apparently, Boston sent some cash to Oakland, but will get a pick as well—the A's Round B competitive-balance pick in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft.

Lackey Wants Trade; Royals And Marlins Spots?

Multiple sources have reported this afternoon that John Lackey is "demanding" a trade from the Red Sox. The reasons for the demand are unclear. Earlier today, the Miami Marlins expressed interest in Lackey as a solid starting option that would be more than just a 2-month rental. Those rumors have since been at least partially quashed. Also earlier today, the Kansas City Royals were said to be interested in a deal for both Lackey and Andrew Miller. Those talks were supposed to have cooled, but may now have been rekindled. Frankly, at this point, almost anything could or could not happen.

Athletics Have Now Entered Lester Sweepstakes

Oh, the humanity! Now, the Oakland A's are reportedly in on Jon Lester. Starter Tommy Milone (currently at AAA) has been rumored as one of the centerpiece options in any deal—with two or three other top prospects also in the package. There had been some earlier rumblings about the A's involvement, but those rumors had been dismissed.

REPORT: Dodgers Out Of Lester Sweepstakes

According to Hall of Fame sportswriter Peter Gammons, the Dodgers are no longer in the hunt for Jon Lester—or Cole Hamels or David Price, for that matter. Reportedly, the Denizens of Chavez Ravine are now concentrating on the back end of their rotation and their bench. Of course, all of this could change in a nano-second.

Are Orioles Close To A Deal For Jon Lester?

Multiple reports indicate (and a couple of others deny) that the Baltimore Orioles are "close" to a deal that would bring Jon Lester to Camden Yards. This, of course, is completely out of the blue—and needs to be treated with a huge grain of salt. Names mentioned to return to Boston are RHP Miguel Gonzalez and Andover's Mike Yastrzemski (grandson of Carl). Stay really tuned on this one!

Cubs About To Acquire Felix Doubront In Trade

Theo Epstein knows Felix Doubront. And, this afternoon, his Cubs are apparently trading for the mercurial lefty and his significant up-side. Doubront has been a poorly-performing malcontent this season—after a stellar campaign in 2013. Clearly, the Red Sox have tired of his act and are shipping him to a guy who has favored him for a long time. Stay tuned.

REPORT: Cards May Still Be In On Jon Lester

Despite acquiring Justin Masterson, FOXSports.com is reporting that the Cardinals may still pursue Jon Lester. The word is that any such deal for Lester would need to include an "elite" prospect and current RedBird starter Shelby Miller. The 23-year old Miller has been mediocre at best this season (7-8, 4.20 ERA in 20 starts)—after a stellar 2013 (15-9, 3.06 ERA in 31 starts). He was not on the Cardinals World Series roster when they faced the Red Sox last year.

Cardinals Get Masterson, Likely Out On Lester

According to Hall of Fame writer Peter Gammons, the St. Louis Cardinals have acquired former Red Sox starter Justin Masterson from the Cleveland Indians. Logically, this means St. Louis is likely out of the Jon Lester Trade Sweepstakes.

Lester And Lackey May Go In Separate Deals

Fenway Rapture?

According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox may trade both Jon Lester and John Lackey—not together—but in separate transactions. While this general scenario has been floated before, this is the first time it's been suggested that Boston would broker two deals to rid themselves of their two best starting pitchers. Lackey is being coveted by many teams who like the idea of having a front-line starter for the major league minimum ($500,000) in 2015—although some sort of salary adjustment would probably need to be made. More and more, this is shaping up to be a major transformation of the franchise—with only a small core of younger players (plus David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia) left behind after the Great Trading Deadline Rapture.

Sox: At Least Two Elite Prospects For Lester

Scott Lauber of The Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox are asking teams for "at least two elite-level prospects" to land Jon Lester in a trade. Ben Cherington is in a unique position for a Red Sox GM—he's out of the race by the trade deadline, but he has one of the hottest commodities on the market being fought over by as many as eight teams. Because of this, the deal itself may literally go down to the wire—4PM on Thursday—to maximize the heist. In a weird twist, reports have surfaced that—in the event that a deal does not happen—Lester would pitch for the Red Sox Friday night against The Evil Empire.

Dalton Jones Industrial Average July Reading

Once again this month, all of our readers can "weigh in" on the State Of The Carmine Hose through our exclusive Dalton Jones Industrial Average Index. The DJIA (honoring the Red Sox all-time pinch-hit leader) gathers four key metrics each month using a simple "0" to "10" confidence scale on: starting pitching, relief pitching, overall offense and overall defense. Each month, FN readers—through a simple one-page survey tool—can assess the fortunes of the team. FenwayNation will publish the DJIA Index Score each month during the season. We invite all of our readers to complete the quick survey, then simply hit "done", which automatically (and anonymously) sends the form to FenwayNation. Here is the survey link for July: DJIA SURVEY LINK (Please complete and send by the end of the day, Thursday, July 31st).

Pirates Brass In Boston; May Signal Lester Deal

Marc DelPiano used to work for the Red Sox, he is now a Special Assistant to Pirates GM Neil Huntington. DelPiano was at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. The Pirates are rumored to be offering their top OF prospects in a deal for Jon Lester. You connect the dots. A number of sources are stressing that Pittsburgh is still in the hunt for Boston's ace lefty—in addition to the Cardinals and Dodgers. Essentially, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington is in a bit of a "cat-bird seat"—allowing multiple teams to bid against one another. But DelPiano's physical presence in Boston and his former connections to the team, make you wonder. Stay tuned!

Dodgers And Cardinals In The Lead For Lester

According to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, the Dodgers and Cardinals are leading the pack in the Jon Lester Sweepstakes. Heyman also states that these same two teams are the most aggressive in pursuit of David Price—which might lessen the haul that comes back for each lefty. Of course, the Rays are sort of legitimate contenders for the post-season, and may keep Price. The 2014 Red Sox on the other hand, are, well, the 2014 Red Sox. The Pirates—and their bevy of minor league OF prospects—seem to be third in line for Lester. A deal could come at any moment today, so stay tuned!

Sox Fall Again To Stroman; Beaten By Jays, 4-2

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons put it well, "The kid's good". The 'kid' in question is Toronto starter Marcus Stroman—who has shut down the Red Sox twice in the last five days. Boston managed a two-out RBI double by Dustin Pedroia and a 9th inning HR by Xander Bogaerts to account for its two measly runs in a 4-2 loss. Rubby De La Rosa managed to survive through six decent innings—despite being pummelled for nine hits. Of course, the game itself—despite being a pretty decent contest—took 'second fiddle' to the soon-to-be trade of ace Jon Lester.

Lester Scratched From Start; Trade Likely Today

Red Sox manager John Farrell announced—immediately after last night's loss to the Blue Jays—that Jon Lester would not make his scheduled start tonight. Clearly, a deal is imminent—the only question being who the trade partner will be. Depending on the source, between six and eight teams are bidding on Lester—with the Pirates being the most intriguing. Here's our earlier story on what the Pirates can offer Boston. Farrell's exact words were, "Yeah, Brandon Workman will start. In light of all the uncertainty surrounding Jon Lester, it’s probably in everyone’s best interests that he does not make that start, so Brandon will be recalled. There will be a corresponding move roster-wise at some point."

Top Five Likely Sox Departures By Thursday

Here are the top five most likely Red Sox players to no longer be Red Sox players by this time Thursday:

1.) Jonny Gomes, OF. There are plenty of contending teams that could use the "Good Luck Playoff Charm" that is Gomes. The guy just seems to win wherever he goes. He still hits lefties at a ridiculous pace and is no longer in Boston's plans;

2.) Andrew Miller, RP. There isn't a scenario in baseball in which a lefty out of the bullpen isn't disproportionately valuable. Miller has been particularly effective this year (except in a few cases when he let inherited runners score). He is tall, imposing and out of town;

3.) Stephen Drew, SS. 'The Great Ten Million Dollar Experiment' was clearly a failure. The Red Sox now have two months to figure out if Xander Bogaerts is really going to be a productive shortstop in the major leagues. Dumping Drew allows for that. It also lets them put Will Middlebrooks back at third to see if he can regain his power stroke.

4.) David Ross, C. He's a great guy, and the GM recently assured everyone "Rossy" is sticking around, but, honestly, "why?" He's getting older by the day, can't hit and is blocking a two-month look at the Blake Swihart/Christian Vazquez "Tandem Of The Future".

5.) Jon Lester, SP. This is a tough one. If BenCher is convinced he can re-sign Lester next year (for, say, 5 years and $130 million), then he will be dealt for prospects at the last minute.

Seven Different Teams Now In On Jon Lester

According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, a total of seven teams are now involved in discussions about Jon Lester. The ever-shifting seven are: the Blue Jays, Mariners, Brewers, Cardinals, Dodgers, Orioles and (a new one to the list) Marlins. Just the sheer number of parties involved tends to reinforce the prevailing view that a trade is virtually inevitable. One of these suitors is bound to offer Boston an attractive package—and Sox GM Ben Cherington can still daydream about re-signing Lester for next year.

Red Sox Wives 'Team Up' To Fight Hunger in MA

On August 1st and 2nd (during games against the Yankees), a contingent of Red Sox wives will be teaming up with The Greater Boston Food Bank for the 23rd annual Strike Out Hunger fundraiser at Fenway. Since the program's inception, Red Sox Wives have raised almost $300,000 to help feed Massachusetts residents in need. In 2014, their goal is to raise enough money to provide 60,000 meals. Fans can donate $10 and get an autographed photo of Red Sox players! Fans can also get involved by entering a special VIP Raffle by August 11th for a chance to win four tickets to the August 21st game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The package also includes a batting practice visit, a tour of Fenway, a welcome message on the big board, a gift bag and a photo in the Red Sox dugout. For more information, you can visit the Food Bank website by clicking HERE.

Red Sox Could Reap OF Windfall In Pirate Trade

Bell, Ramirez, Meadows

One of the teams reportedly interested in trading for Jon Lester is the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Buccos are currently just two games behind division-leading Milwaukee and could use a veteran stud in its generally mediocre rotation. With the inconsistent Gerrit Cole still recovering from injury, the BrewCrew currently features the following starters: Charlie Morton, Edinson Volquez, Jeff Locke, Francisco Liriano and a suddenly resurgent Vance Worley. Do you think Lester might help out here? What's really intriguing is the trio of elite outfield prospects the Pirates could send to Boston—Josh Bell, Harold Ramirez and Austin Meadows. Bell is hitting .321 at two different minor league levels this year; Ramirez is hitting .309 at High A; Meadows is hitting .360 in High A. All three are effectively blocked by the trio of quality players already in the Pirate outfield: Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte. All three of these players are under team financial control until 2018. A match made in heaven, right? The Pirates need pitching help, the Red Sox need outfield options.

Memo To Red Sox GM Ben Cherington: Be Bold!

The last time Ben Cherington rolled the dice with a crappy Red Sox team, he gained a half a billion dollars, two prized pitching prospects and an eventual World Series championship. So, what could possibly deter him from being bold again this year? He's already pared one veteran from the roster in Jake Peavy (and gotten two pretty good pitching prospects back) and he is signalling a willingness to do a wholesale restructuring of this woeful team. From offering up both Jon Lester and John Lackey in trades (as well as his best bullpen lefty in Andrew Miller), BenCher could be setting the stage for something even bigger. Very few players appear safe from this year's purge—only David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli and maybe Clay Buchholz, Jackie Bradley, Jr., Brock Holt, Daniel Nava and Christian Vazquez. In addition to Lackey and Lester, possible other departures are: Jonny Gomes, Mike Carp, Stephen Drew, Koji Uehara, Edward Mujica (if anyone would take him) and David Ross. And, who knows, maybe there's a still Giancarlo Stanton deal to be made. Our advice to Cherington is simple: BE BOLD AGAIN!

REPORT: Sox Would Deal Both Lackey & Lester

According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox have let it be known that they would trade both Jon Lester and John Lackey—if they got an appropriate return back in players and prospects. If true, this would represent the clearest "white flag" yet in this horrific year. Arguably, Lester and Lackey have been the two most effective starters for The Carmine Hose over the last year and a half—raising the question of: 'just who would anchor the staff?' if both of these veterans leave. Curiouser and curiouser!

BrewCrew Now Showing Interest In Jon Lester

Well, you can add another potential Jon Lester landing spot to the already cited Los Angeles, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. According to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, the Milwaukee Brewers are now burning up the phone lines to Yawkey Way in pursuit of the lefty. The BrewCrew currently sits atop the NL Central, but could use Lester to stave off the Cardinals, Pirates and Reds in the pennant race. Reportedly, the bait being dangled by Milwaukee is one of their top pitching prospects—right-handed starter Jimmy Nelson (10-2 with a 1.46 ERA at AAA earlier this year). After being called up by the big club, however, he is 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA. Nevertheless, three of his four big league starts so far have been pretty good—for example, in his last outing against the Metropolitans, he went seven innings, giving up just two earned runs. Presumably, the Brewers would have to add additional prospects to any package for Lester.

HumiliationNation II: Sox Scalded By Jays, 14-1

(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

It's fitting, isn't it? The Red Sox began their 'contention-ending' road trip with a 14-1 win at SkyDome, and they start their first lame-duck homestand with a loss to those same Jays by that same score of 14-1. This team has clearly given up: they are beaten, humiliated and lifeless. The most disgraceful performance was Felix Doubront in his petulant two-thirds of an inning—giving up six earned runs. Shameful. Five pathetic hits paced the "offense". They are worthy of a wholesale makeover at the Trade Deadline by GM Ben Cherington. For loyal Red Sox fans to spend good money to be subjected to this baseball dreck is a travesty. A contingent of FenwayNation staff will be attending tonight's game, and I can tell you there will be no rush to arrive early or stay late. My sole aim will be to sample the new vegan fare at America's Most Cramped Ballpark (not!). Would the last fan please turn out the lights when you leave? Thank you.

O's Now In On Lester; LAD Moving To Hamels?

Multiple reports on FOXSports.com suggest that the Baltimore Orioles are now expressing interest in trading for Red Sox ace Jon Lester. While previous reports had the lefty going to the Dodgers, the latest word is that the Denizens Of Chavez Ravine are turning their attention to the Phillies and Cole Hamels. The reasons given for the switch are: A.) Boston is not that interested in being saddled with Matt Kemp and his contract and B.) Hamels is signed through 2018 (as opposed to Lester who could be just a three-month rental). Look for these twists and turns to intensify as Thursday's Trade Deadline draws closer.

Roger, Nomar, Pedro Go Into Sox Hall Of Fame

(Photos by Otto Greule Jr./Ezra Shaw/Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Sports fans, set your 'controversy meters' to "stun". The Red Sox announced today that they will induct three players and one broadcaster into the team's Hall of Fame on August 14th. The three players are Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez. Broadcaster Joe Castiglione will also be inducted. Nomar, Pedro and even Joe are no-brainers—all well-deserving honorees. Roger, on the other hand, will undoubtedly cause some controversy. Despite beating a federal perjury rap, few people this side of Brian McNamee believe the big guy was clean (e.g., at age 41, he went 18-4 and won his 7th Cy Young). The reception from the crowd at the pre-game ceremony at Fenway will tell a lot about how The Nation truly feels about Clemens. Fasten your seat belts!

Sox And Phils To Hold Private Castillo Workouts

According to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, the Red Sox and Phillies—but notably not The Evil Empire—will hold private workouts for 27-year old Cuban defector Rusney Castillo. The speedy 5'9" outfielder escaped Fidel Castro's 'Socialist Paradise' (AKA Prison Island) and can hook on with any MLB club without hitting their international bonus pool money. It's estimated that Castillo will sign for between $25 and $35 million.

Tulowitzki Would 'Welcome' A Trade To Red Sox

(USATSI)

According to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe (AKA John Henry's Journalistic Plaything), Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki would "welcome" a trade to the Red Sox. Of course, it's been known for a while that "Tulo" wants to get to any big market team that can legitimately contend every year. Speculation has it that any deal for Tulowitzki would mean giving up Xander Bogaerts (and more). Still only 29, Tulowitzki is a perennial MVP-type player—if he can stay on the field. Last year, he played in just 126 games, in 2012 it was a paltry 47. Nevertheless, his 162-game averages over his 9-year career are impressive: .299 BA, 30 HR, 102 RBIs. But, then, there's the contract. He's owed $20 million a year for the next five years—then "only" $14 million in 2020. In 2021—when he will be 36 years old—you can buy him out for "just" $4 million. Yikes.

Joe Torre Spoke For Us All At HOF Induction

(Photo By Tim Roske)

We certainly didn't like Joe Torre when he was skipper of The Evil Ones. But we always respected the way he treated the game. He is an 'old-school' baseball lifer, and he reflected those sentiments in a fabulous Hall of Fame induction speech yesterday at Cooperstown. While he joked about some of his supposed shortcomings as a player (e.g., as a Met, he grounded into four double-plays in one game), he failed to mention that he was a pretty darned good ballplayer over eighteen seasons (.297 average, 252 HRs, 2,342 hits, 1,185 RBIs). But it was the closing portion of his speech that hit home—a simple, yet brilliant, expression of why we all love baseball. Here it is: "Baseball is a game of life. It's not perfect, but it feels like it is. That's the magic of it. We are responsible for giving it the respect that it deserves. Our sport is part of the American soul, and it's ours to borrow just for a while, to take care of it for a time, and then pass it on to the next generation. When I say us, I mean as managers and players. If all of us who love baseball are doing our jobs, then those who get the game from us will be as proud to be a part of it as we were. This game is a gift, and I'm humbled to accept its greatest honor." Amen, Joe Torre.

Yankee Fan Returns '13 Ring To Spinners Chief

Millitello (SportsReporters.com)

This is a story that gives you some hope for eventual world peace. Last Thursday, New York restaurateur Luigi Millitello found something very interesting on the restroom sink of his bar—a 2013 Red Sox World Series Championship Ring. Being a Yankee fan, his first thought was, "What are the chances of this happening?". The owner of the ring is also Lowell Spinners owner Drew Weber—who counts the restaurant (Luke's Bar And Grill) as one of his favorite Gotham haunts. When he discovered the bauble missing from his digit, Weber, "...started having palpitations. Sweat was pouring off my forehead." Hoping against hope, Weber called Luke's and got the good news from Millitello that his ring was safe—not without some choice Yankee-Red Sox razzing, however. All is forgiven, and Weber has even arranged for Millitello to attend Derek Jeter's final regular season game—on September 28th at Fenway Park. Nice ending. Send these guys to the U.N.!

"Growing Expectation" Of Lester Trade To LAD

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, there is a "growing expectation" that Jon Lester will be traded by the Red Sox before the deadline—most likely to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Whether the return to Boston is in the form of a package including 30-year old Matt Kemp (minus some of his humongous contract obligations) or just prospects—most likely stud center fielder Joc Pederson, remains to be seen. This could be even faster moving than we expected, so keep an ear to the ground!

Lester For Kemp Deal Could Be In The Works

Multiple sources are reporting that a deal may be in the works between the Red Sox and Dodgers that would send Jon Lester to LA in exchange for outfielder Matt Kemp. FenwayNation reported on the early rumblings of this transaction last week, but it appears that discussions have now moved ahead significantly since then. Lester, interestingly, has said he would be reluctant to sign an extension with any new team—so his trade value is somewhat more limited that it might otherwise be. The Red Sox have also had their eye on LA's top OF prospect Joc Pederson. Stay tuned, this could get interesting fast.

Papi HR Delivers First Win At MostPulp, 3-2

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

David Ortiz hit a three-tun HR that propelled the Red Sox to a 3-2 win—their first this year at Tampa's MostPulpDome. Allen Webster got his second career win, going 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs. Andrew Miller—who may be wearing other laundry by week's end—pitched a clean seventh. Koji Uehara pitched the ninth inning for his 21st save of the year. Boston returns home after the horrific 2-5 road trip to once again face the Blue Jays.

Red Sox Are Making Andrew Miller Available

Multiple reports suggest that the Red Sox are offering lefty reliever Andrew Miller in a trade. The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates are the two most interested parties. Miller has struck out 14.5 batters per nine innings this year—against less than three walks per nine. The Red Sox are only paying Miller $1.9 million this year—so he's a huge bargain for any acquiring team as well. No word yet on who would come back to Boston from either Atlanta or Pittsburgh.

Red Sox And Empire Vie For Next Cuban Star

The battle was engaged on Saturday. The Red Sox sent five key people (including Vice President of Player Personnel Allard Baird) to watch Rusney Castillo's showcase in Miami, The Evil Ones sent four. The 5'9", 27-year old CF speedster put on quite a display—two of his HRs cleared the scoreboard in left field at Alex Rodriguez Park at the University of Miami. Another shot landed in a parking garage in right. This guy could be picked up at any time—as his signing would not factor against a team's international bonus pool. It's estimated that he could match Yasiel Puig money—but more likely will sign for between $25 and $35 million. This could happen fast.

Offensive Indifference Again; Red Sox Lose, 3-0

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Even the most pessimistic of us could not have foreseen that—after a 14-1 win on Monday—that the Red Sox might drop the next six games on this key road trip. And yet—after a 3-0 loss on Saturday night—that's exactly what the team faces on Sunday afternoon. John Lackey again pitched well enough to win—going seven innings and giving up just two earned runs—but the offense was non-existent (at least in terms of getting runners in). Eight different Red Sox players got one hit—as The Carmine Hose left nine runners on the basepaths. The team remains 10.5 games out of first and 7.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot. Earth to Ben—continue to dump!

Sox Trade Peavy To Giants For Two Prospects

You knew it was coming. The Red Sox traded hard-luck starter Jake Peavy to the San Francisco Giants for two minor league pitching prospects, Edwin Escobar and Heath Hembree. Peavy got virtually no run support this year, and hadn't won a game since April 25th (1-9, 4.72). Hembree was once considered the Giants' closer in waiting. Both players were at AAA.

David Ortiz Is "Good To Go" For Tonight's Tilt

UPDATE: Ortiz in
OK, so now our evening is planned. Warm up the TV, because it looks as if The Great David Wars—Part Deux may actually happen tonight. According to CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam, the Red Sox DH has already told manager John Farrell he's "good to go tonight". Even though the lineup has not yet been officially posted, it looks like we're in for a treat! David Price plunked Ortiz on May 30th—which led to a bench-clearing brawl and the suspension of Brandon Workman (for later throwing behind Evan Longoria).

Could Fenway Be Matt Kemp's Next Destination?

(ESPN Photo)

The LA rumor mill is extra stoked today and the object of everyone's speculation is outfielder Matt Kemp. According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Dodgers are "making calls, and rival executives have the feeling the Dodgers are ready to move on." Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (AKA John Henry's Journalistic Plaything) suggested last Sunday that the Red Sox were one of the teams "intrigued" by Kemp. So, as Thursday's deadline nears, keep an eye out for the possibility of another big deal with the denizens of Chavez Ravine.

Ex-Yankee Knoblauch Held On Assault Charges

(US Presswire Photo)

Former New York Yankee second baseman Chuck Knoblauch was arrested this week in Houston for allegedly assaulting his ex-wife.  Reportedly, Knoblauch, 46, smashed his former spouse's head against the bedroom wall of her home and then threw a humidifier at her. We will resist the temptation of making any comment on his past baseball throwing difficulties. Back in 2010, Knoblauch was convicted of hitting Stacey Stelmach (his wife at that time). The 1991 Rookie of the Year (while with the Minnesota Twins) was named in the 2007 Mitchelll Report as having used HGH.

With Sixty Games Left, Red Sox Hopes Are Slim

Time To Clean House?

They are 6.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot. They have scored 31 fewer runs than they have given up. To reach 90 wins, they would have to go 43-17 the rest of the way. They are a .500 team at home. So, what is it that gives anyone hope that the 2104 Carmine Hose have any shot at the post-season? The honest answer is: nothing. This team is actually worse than 2012's 'Dysfunction Junction' crew. Believe it or not, after 102 games, Bobby Valentine's minions were 51-51—four games better than this year's record. So, even if Boston sweeps the Rays at the MostPulpDome this weekend, there is very little hope. It's time to face reality and deal away some of the flotsam and jetsam for anything we can get. At a minimum, that means shipping out some combination of Jonny Gomes, Jake Peavy, Craig Breslow and Mike Carp. Ben Cherington should also consider dealing Andrew Miller, David Ross, and Daniel Nava. And—if the return is good enough—deals should also be considered for Koji Uehara, John Lackey and (if they're not going to re-sign him) even Jon Lester. Also, if the rumored Giancarlo Stanton deal is real (Will Middlebrooks, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and two to three prospects), that should also be seriously considered. Apparently, 2013 was an aberration—not a sustainable model. As such, it's time to clean house, restructure and take a new course.

Tommy John More Likely For Evil Ones' Tanaka

(AP Photo)

Ten days after getting a "platelet-rich plasma injection", Yankee starter Masahiro Tanaka is still feeling "discomfort" in his pitching elbow. Earlier this season, Tanaka was found to have a small tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament. The Bronx Embalmer 'braintrust' opted for six weeks of rest and rehabilitation over immediate Tommy John surgery. Pinstripe Poser GM Brian Cashman told ESPN New York Radio, "... it's not good that he's still feeling it at this stage." Ya' think? It looks increasingly likely that Tanaka will need the surgery and therefore not return to the Yankee rotation for a long, long time.

"War Of Davids" (Ortiz-Price) May Have To Wait

(Photos by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

The long-anticipated encounter between Red Sox DH David Ortiz and Tampa ace David Price may have to be postponed to another date. In his final at-bat on Thursday, Ortiz tweaked his back on a check swing and had to leave the game. Reportedly, he's still in pain and may have to miss tonight's David VS. David confrontation. On May 30th, Price hit Ortiz after complaining that the DH had allegedly "admired" one of his two HRs off the lefty in the 2013 ALDS. Tempers flared, benches cleared and Ortiz called Price derisive names. Famously, Ortiz stated coldly, that this was now "war". He went on to say, "Next time he hits me, he better bring the gloves. I have no respect for him no more." That "next" time might have to be "next next time".

Evil Ones Scoop Up Another Ex-Red Sox Pitcher

(Boston Herald Photo By: Christopher Evans)

UPDATE: Cap starts
You might want to get used to this. After all, Jon Lester may be wearing the dreaded pinstripes in another few months. Anyway, word is that The Bronx Embalmers have acquired former Boston lefty Chris Capuano from the Rockies for "cash considerations". What makes this even worse is that Capuano is a native of West Springfield, Massachusetts. In his brief stint with The Carmine Hose, Capuano pitched 31.2 innings, posting an ERA of 4.55. He did have flashes of effectiveness at times, but Andrew Miller was ultimately viewed as the more effective lefty out of the 'pen. We're sure flags will be at half-mast at Capuano's alma mater—Springfield's Our Lady of Hope Cathedral High School.

Sox Suffer One-Hit Humiliation; Fall To Jays, 8-0

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)

Remember that small glimmer of hope you felt when the Red Sox showed some life coming out of the All-Star break? OK, dash that glimmer. Boston lost for the third time in four games in America Lite, falling 8-0 at SkyDome this afternoon. Being shut out is bad enough, but being one-hit by a 23-year old rookie is downright humiliating. Shane Victorino tallied the only safety in the contest—in which Rubby De La Rosa pitched poorly enough (4 innings, 6 earned runs) to make you wonder if the Dodgers might have known something after all. In any event, Boston now heads to Tampa for three games that will decide nothing more than who winds up in the AL East cellar. Need a cherry on top of this one? David Ortiz left the game in the ninth inning with a lower back injury. Goodnight, everybody! Drive safely. Tip your waitresses. Try the veal.