AJ to Beantown?

[yankee_cafe]

From Rotoworld ...

According to the New York Daily News, A.J. Burnett is headed to the Red Sox.
General manager Theo Epstein denied the rumor. ''There is no truth at all to any deal we are making with the Marlins,'' Epstein said. Jul. 17 - 10:17 am et

[This is the year]

Supposedly the deal is Arroyo+prospects for Burnett, but the Fish also want the Sox to take Lowell and his big contract.

Arroyo's value would increase (lower ERA/whip, a couple less wins) and Burnett's would probably drop a bit (more wins, higher era/whip)

[mcqfesijiba]

There are going to be rumors abound with Burnett. With so many suitors, I will only believe it when a deal is official, but it certainly looks like he's going somewhere.

[acsguitar]

I think the O's land him.. They have way more to offer

[mweir145]

The Jays are supposedly offering a package of players including Gustavo Chacin.

[Pokey]

I think the O's land him.. They have way more to offer

Unless the O's aren't willing to part with Cabrera, which is what's being reported. Last I heard, the package the O's had put on the table was Julio, Bigbie, Penn. That's nothing the Sox can't match.

[YanksHater213]

Supposedly the deal is Arroyo+prospects for Burnett, but the Fish also want the Sox to take Lowell and his big contract.

Arroyo's value would increase (lower ERA/whip, a couple less wins) and Burnett's would probably drop a bit (more wins, higher era/whip)

I have also heard things of a 3 way deal including the Padres where the Sox would end up with Burnett and Lowell, the Marlins would end up with Arroyo and Sean Burroughs, and the Padres would end up with Abe Alvarez and a Marlins prospect (I believe). I am not really sure the validity of this because I heard it on a different message board, their source was another message board, and I am not sure where it came from before that.

[Pokey]

Supposedly the deal is Arroyo+prospects for Burnett, but the Fish also want the Sox to take Lowell and his big contract.

Arroyo's value would increase (lower ERA/whip, a couple less wins) and Burnett's would probably drop a bit (more wins, higher era/whip)

I have also heard things of a 3 way deal including the Padres where the Sox would end up with Burnett and Lowell, the Marlins would end up with Arroyo and Sean Burroughs, and the Padres would end up with Abe Alvarez and a Marlins prospect (I believe). I am not really sure the validity of this because I heard it on a different message board, their source was another message board, and I am not sure where it came from before that.

According to Gammons, that deal is all but dead.

[nsulham]

Couple things here: if they can sign AJ to an extension and not have to sell the farm to get him, I'm all for the deal.

Otherwise not sure how I feel about it. Arroyo's a given in the deal and they'll probably have to lose either Papelbon, Sanchez, Lester or Alvarez, in addition to maybe Shoppach. It's a lot, especially considering they'll likely have to take on Lowell's contract.

However if it does go down, I could live with AJ in the roation, especially since they'll need an ace with Schill not up to par yet. As for Lowell I'm guessing he'd take over at 3B with maybe Muller shifting to 2B? (Not sure about this as I know Billy's got bad knees and 2B might be too much for him to handle...maybe a 2B platoon with him and Bellhorn or something?)

[YanksHater213]

Otherwise not sure how I feel about it. Arroyo's a given in the deal and they'll probably have to lose either Papelbon, Sanchez, Lester or Alvarez, in addition to maybe Shoppach. It's a lot, especially considering they'll likely have to take on Lowell's contract.

You see, Theo is committed to the farm system, and building from the inside out, so I think that if he has to deal any of those guys it will be Alvarez because his ceiling is probably 4th or 5th starter. I would be so mad if he dealt Papelbon, Sanchez, Lester, or even Delcarmen, because they have all showed so much progress and promise than I am starting to think that they will be a huge part of our future. All 4 of those guys have the stuff to be good major league pitchers, including Delcarmen who is throwing a lot harder after his Tommy John sugery, so I think that all of these guys have what it takes and could be part of the big picture soon. Do I think trading one of those four pitchers along with Arroyo and Shoppach will be worth it? Now, yes, in the long run? No. Alvarez is 24 I believe, and doesnt throw hard, and doesnt have a 100% awesome out pitch, so I wouldnt be as disappointed if he was dealt, but we NEED to keep Papelbon, Sanchez, Lester, AND Delcarmen. Shoppach doesnt matter as much to me either because we have Varitek for quite a few years, and Mirabelli has proved to be a more than servicable backup, so I think that Shoppach doesnt really have a place on this club.