It’s fun when trade scenarios pop up on an hourly basis on Twitter and on blogs. Scouts are out in full force trying to find that one deal or piece that may put their team over the top. You’ll hear everything and anything, but only a small percentage of the scenarios come to fruition.
The Phillies were here looking at some Orioles relievers. It’s all because, as one American League East scout put it, “When my boss asks me should we go for this guy or that guy, I’ll be able to tell him, ‘I think this guy can help us more than that guy.’ ’’
Teams are becoming increasingly protective of their prospects and draft pick compensation, but the serious teams - such as the Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies - aren’t afraid to deal prospects for proven, young veterans.
“Most teams have a window and if you don’t do all you can to win in that window, you’re shortchanging your organization and the fans of that organization,’’ said a National League scout.
And the Red Sox have lived by that philosophy. They have scouted and developed as well as anyone in the game, but they’ve also never been afraid to trade prospects if it means getting a valuable piece in return. They traded Hanley Ramirez to Florida for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. They sent Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone, and Bryan Price to Cleveland for Victor Martinez. And they shipped Reymond Fuentes, Casey Kelly, and Anthony Rizzo to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez. The Ramirez deal yielded a World Series championship.
As the deadline approaches, the Sox strategy remains the same.
Inquire about anyone who may make an appreciable difference to your team, then start matching up the pieces with that team. There are hundreds of dead ends. Most of the work is futile because either the teams don’t match up or the money is too exorbitant. Yes, even the Sox reject deals that are too costly.
“What some of us understand is, prospects are just that, prospects,’’ said the NL scout. “Some of them make it big. Some of them don’t. If you’re in that window and you hold on to those prospects, you may find yourself waiting for the next window and that might be a ways down the road.’’
