Cliff Lee is undoubtedly the biggest difference-maker among pitchers who could even conceivably be traded by Wednesday. With Lee signed through at least 2015, it’s going to take a pretty penny to pry the left-hander away from the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Boston Red Sox could use some pitching help, and the team certainly has the prospects to make a deal happen, if they want. However, the question is whether or not Boston would be willing to give up one of their high-end chips in exchange for a 34-year-old who’s thrown at least 200 inning every season except one since 2005.
The Phillies are said to be asking the Red Sox for infield prospect Xander Bogaerts, according to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo. Bogaerts has an .891 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
Bogaerts has played shortstop in the minors, but he’s expected to eventually move to third base at some point. Either way, at just 20 years old, his bat will play anywhere on the diamond. Trading Bogaerts would be a major all-in move on the part of the Red Sox and general manager Ben Cherington.
