More speculation on starters

Update: JS was quoted today as saying " “I don’t have any intention of trading [Salty].” That makes this trade a whole lot harder. Escobar won't get it done with the Sox due to the presence of decent infield prospects in the Sox system. However, the more I hear the more I think Oswalt is our target. The Astros are out of it and need to rebuild and the braves have proven that we can field a minor league team and still win. If you want to rebuild fast you look at the example of the Marlins and get a lot of prospects for your older expensive vets.

So as you can tell, I'm a bit of a rumor monger and I've got one that looks to have some legs. Chris Solberg over at Baseball Opinion is speculating that Vazquez could become a Brave before the deadline. I've been watching the Sox's pitching situation since Buherle's name first came up in June and I must say that Vazquez is a very good #3 for the braves. He eats innings very well. His shortest outing was April 13th @ Cleveland where he was pulled after 5.1 innings due to the pitch count, other than that he goes 6-9 consistently while keeping his team in the game. He doesn't allow base runners primarily due to his control (he walks less than 1 per 4 Ks). Best of all he comes cheap ($11.5 mil/year), is signed long term (through '09), AND has a limited not trade clause to only teams in the west. It should also be noted that JS likes this guy. He's been linked to the Braves almost every year since 2003. There was even a rumor of us sending AJ to the yanks for him back in the winter before last season.

What would it take to get him now? Solberg says Salty and a top pitching prospect. I disagree. I think Salty would definitely have to go as behind Pierzynski there's nothing in the system. But a young starter might not be what the Sox are looking for. The rotation in Chicago is fine but the pen is horrendous. No one outside of Jenks has an ERA under 4 and the pen has blown a lot of games. I can see one or two of our young players in the pen going. I'd bet Villarreal and Devine. Villarreal is a proven long reliever and Devine has the stuff to be a setup guy if he works out his confidence issues.

Now, do i think this trade makes sense for both sides. Yes. Do i think JS will let that much talent go all at once? No. This deal is one that we will only see closer to the deadline as JS will be reluctant to give up two pieces of the pen at once. We may see a vet from the pen and a minor league pitcher go instead. That minor leaguer is almost certainty not Harrison. I consider Jo-Jo part of the staff right now btw.