With teams like the Yankees, Cubs, and Red Sox, we fans simply assume that their means to improving the ball club is to sign pricey veteran players. However, the Red Sox are looking to trade for younger right fielder Justin Upton of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Red Sox have had to deal with many injuries during the 2010 season and it cost them the playoffs. They have been looking at free agents Carl Crawford and Jason Werth. Crawford makes sense if they’re going to keep Jacoby Ellsbury and have a speedy outfield. Werth, .296BA 27HR 85RBI, you have to sign him to make your team better by default. But it also makes sense to sign Justin Upton as well.
Last year, Justin Upton hits .273 with 17HR and 69RBI. Their current right fielder, JD Drew hits .255 with 22HR and 69RBI. Here’s the difference. Justin Upton has stolen 18 bases and is 23 years old with a lot of upside. JD Drew has stolen 3 bases and is 34 years old, slowly passing his prime. Upton was paid $.7M, Drew was paid $14M.
It makes perfect sense to trade for Upton. It makes even makes more sense to sign Crawford and cut ties with Mike Cameron and JD Drew.
But the Red Sox are going to have to give up a package for Upton. My guess is it’s going to cost Boston two good, young, major league ready arms and a bat.
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