Boston Lands Gagne?

The Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers have agreed on terms of a trade for Eric Gagne. As part of the deal Boston has agreed to go with a co-closer scenario in the bullpen where Gagne and Jonathan Papelbon will share the closers job. Boston gives up Kason Gabbard and prospects in the deal. Its likely that one of the prospects is either David Murphy or Brandon Moss to fill the Rangers need for a center fielder. Gagne must approve the deal before its finalized. **UPDATE** Engel Beltre is part of the deal, he joins Gabbard and David Murphy in the group going to Texas. Boston is working with Gagne now to get him to waive his no trade clause. 3:12PM WEEI reporting the deal is done.

And Down The Stretch They Come...

Here we are, just hours from the trade deadline and Boston looking to make some serious noise. Lets start with a somewhat quiet move. Boston sent Joel Pinero to St. Louis for a player to be named. Now for the big talk. According to various sources, Boston has the best offers on the table for both Jermaine Dye and Eric Gagne. We know that Boston wasn't so willing to include Manny Delcarmen or Justin Masterson in the Dye deal last night as the talk cooled, we now know that Boston has offered a revised offer that Chicago is seriously considering. Wily Mo Pena would likely remain the centerpiece of the deal but who else is in it? Perhaps Craig Hansen? In their pursuit of Gagne Boston maybe considering paying the full incetives on Gagne's contract to persuade him to waive his no trade clause to the Sox. Gagne is due upto $5 million this season in incetives based on games finished.

Jermaine Dye Deal Imminent?

A Major League source is saying a deal between Boston and Chicago for Jermaine Dye happening is very good. The source also says that in the deal Boston would give up Wily Mo Pena and a minor league pitching prospect. The source added the prospect isn't Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester. That would leave the two most likely names being Michael Bowden or Justin Masterson. This would clearly show that the prices are indeed coming down as the deadline approaches. Dye would most likely be a rental player for Boston, but they would pick up two draft choices this winter when he signed elsewhere. Though Boston could try resigning him and dealing Manny Ramirez during the offseason.

What Is The Cost Of Doing A Deal At The Deadline?

A soruce within Major League Baseball has said the deal Boston was working on for Jermaine Dye that would have included a third team would have had to include Boston giving up Hideki Okajima, Boston was not willing to do that and the deal fell apart. Boston has several appealing players who they would move in the right deal such as Wily Mo Pena and Coco Crisp from the big league roster, though Crisp's availability probably depends on the seriousness of Jacoby Ellsbury's groin strain. The Sox also have David Murphy and Brandon Moss who could be moved before the deadline. Most teams however want some combination of Ellsbury and/or Clay Buchholz to make a deal. Even Tampa Bay for Ty Wiggington was asking for Justin Masterson. Boston in all liklihood will pull off a minor deal or two but wont be able to land a big name player with the reluctance to deal the top kids on the farm.

Red Sox Round Up

Sorry I haven't been able to post for awhile, I have been busy. Lets take a run around whats happening in the Nation this fine Saturday afternoon. Lester Return Continues Jon Lester takes the hill tonight against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in his second start back from his heroic battle with cancer. This will be his first appearance against the Devil Rays. The six strikeouts in his last start against Cleveland was the second highest in his brief career, he has had atleast two strikeouts in each major league appearance. Manny Being (the) Manny We Expected Manny Ramirez has been on a tear since the all star break. He is hitting .421 (24-57) with 6 HR and 19 RBI since the break. Ramirez is on pace for a .306 27 102 line for the season but as his second half tear continues those projections will continue to rise. Prospect Status Some Sox fans will be very upset come next week when Boston lets the deadline pass without making any major moves, but why? Boston still owns the best record in baseball and a magic number of 52. As I have stated to some people recently, I would rather fall short in the playoffs this season and still have Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz to lead the team into the future, then to trade them for what will probably be a little over a season rental of Mark Teixeira, who is most likely going to Baltimore once he's a free agent. Not to mention that getting Teixeira doesn't guarantee a World Championship. Meanwhile do we really want to see another Sox draftee turn into an all star (Sanchez, Bagwell, Schilling) or Rookie of the year (Bagwell, Ramirez) elsewhere? The Road Ahead Of the remaining 59 games for Boston a whopping 37 come against teams below .500 including 14 against Tampa Bay and 13 against Baltimore, another seven come against teams currently right at .500. If we assume Boston plays the remainder of the schedule at a .550 clip (hardly impossible) then New York would have to play .667 ball over the remainder of the season to catch Boston. Donnie Sadler Suspended Former Sox player Donnie Sadler was suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games today for testing positive for a drug of abuse under baseball's minor league program.

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Okajipped

What do I want this morning? Well since I haven't cooled off any since last night when Hideki Okajima was totally screwed, I want nothing more then pure revenge. What do I want? First I want that scumbag Jim Leyland's team to come to Fenway for the playoffs so when that ass Leyland is introduced the fans can boo his ass for an hour. Of course having the Tigers miss the playoffs maybe better punishment for Leyland, but that leaves Red Sox Nation without the ability to air out our outrage directly at him. Nearly five million fans made Hideki Okajima the only fan elected pitcher to the American League All Star team and then the fans were screwed over when he never got the chance to pitch. Yet we got to sit back and watch a guy pitch who is currently suspended by Major League Baseball, ok point taken, he was on the other team, but I don't care, I am pissed as hell this morning. There were several pitchers who have or will have more opportunities in the future in the All Star game who pitched late, and while I know that theres no certainties, there future as All Stars are more certain then a 32 year old setup man who only made it because of the final man vote. Okajima should have gotten in that game over Papelbon in the 8th and even over Santana in the 7th, lets forget about the fact that J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez nearly gave the game away. I feel sorry for Okajima who had his little boy in San Francisco with him to see the game. And next season when Tito and MLB are picking the pitchers for the All Star game that they choose Okajima and get him into the game. By the way, how great is that gonna be? A Red Sox manager managing the AL All Stars in Yankee Stadium.

Daily Dose: Monday

Houston Wants Buchholz According to Boston.com, the Houston Astros are interested in landing Clay Buchholz in a deal for Brad Lidge, this of course makes me wonder what is in the water down there in Houston cause I don't see how a reliever who can't close games anymore can be worth Buchholz...and I'm guessing Buchholz is only the beginning of what Houston wants. ESPN Banned From Ballpark ESPN will not be allowed to broadcast from inside the stadium this week during the All Star events except for a one hour show prior to the home run derby in which they are broadcasting. Why? Because ESPN released the All Star rosters before the TBS announcement show was finalized. I must go with ESPN here, fans had already waited two hours past the time the show was to air because TBS was broadcasting a Braves game that first had a rain delay and then went to extra innings, sorry MLB, fans before all else. More Buchholz Clay Buchholz was promoted to AAA after the Sea Dogs game Monday afternoon. His replacement at AA? Justin Masterson who pitched 6.2 no-hit innings before the bullpen took over. The no-hitter ended with two out in the ninth when Fisher cats player Lyle Overbay, on rehab from Toronto hit a single. Manny Being Manny: Take 1,964 Manny apparently is AWOL in San Francisco. He failed to show up at the team press conference, but David Ortiz insists he's in town, they traveled from Detroit together. Mid-Season Awards American League MVP: Gary Sheffield National League MVP: Prince Fielder American League Cy Young: Josh Beckett National League Cy Young: Chris Young American League Rookie: Dustin Pedroia/Daisuke Matsuzaka/Hideki Okajima (I couldn't justify any of the three over the other two.) National League Rookie: Hunter Pence American League Manager: Mike Hargrove National League Manager: Bud Black

An All Star Injustice

We all know the joke suspensions are for pitchers in Major League Baseball. Generally it's a five game suspension which is usually appealed and then dropped immediately following the pitchers next start. Thus he doesn't really miss a game, just gets an extra days rest. Its an injustice when a pitcher really misses no time when a position player misses five games for similar rules violations. If Major League Baseball wanted to put players on equal ground, starting pitchers would receive 25 game suspensions as opposed to just five. Today's injustice actually goes beyond this. Next week in San Francisco, a pitcher who will be in the midst of a five game suspension and who plays for arguably the top team in the National League will dress and be available to try helping his team gain home field advantage in the World Series should they make it that far. Chris Young will be allowed to help benefit his team while suspended... Ladies and Gentleman, only in baseball could this happen. Don't get me wrong, while voting nearly 900 times for Boston's Hideki Okajima I cast several hundred votes for Young as well, he was the most deserving of the five National League players. (I also cast several hundred votes for Brandon Webb in a vote trade with a Diamondbacks fan for Okajima votes) This however was before Young dropped the appeal Thursday. The guy deserves to be an All Star, to be honored as such, but in no way should he be allowed to participate, in fact he should relinquish his spot on the team immediately. Should he not, manager Tony LaRussa should not use him in the game. No player under suspension should ever be allowed to take part in a game that could benefit his team.

Meet Your 2007 All Stars

Josh Beckett SP After a dismal debut season with the Boston Red Sox in 2006, Josh Beckett came out on an impressive run this season. Beckett leads the team in wins while posting a 3.38 ERA. His 83 strike outs is second to rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka. Beckett sits at 11-2 and will pitch once more before the All Star game which he could start. The most impressive stat for Beckett this year, which has led to his remarkable season is that he has allowed just 6 homeruns. Mike Lowell 3B Rewarded with a strong first half, Mike Lowell was named as a reserve to the All Star team. His 55 RBI leads the team. He's second on the team with 12 homeruns while batting .297 Lowell who came over in the trade with Beckett was long considered a throw-in, a take him or no deal kind of thing. Boy what a throw-in he has been for Boston. This is Lowell's fourth All Star selection having been a member of the National League team from 2002-04. David Ortiz 1B With the game being played in a National League park this season there was no DH on the ballot, thus David Ortiz appeared as a first baseman, and he walked away in the voting. Ortiz has had a down year in the power category, but is still having a great season. He leads the Red Sox in homeruns with 13 and doubles with 27. He's also batting .314 and has 49 RBI. This is his fourth consecutive selection to the American League All Star team. Jonathan Papelbon Closer Picking up where he left of last season, Jonathan Papelbon is again one of the best closers in baseball. He of course leads the team in saves with 19 in 20 chances. He leads Sox relievers in strikeouts with 42 in 30 innings and one would expect he be leading the relievers in ERA as well, but he's not. A 1.50 ERA is fabulous but good for just second among Sox relievers. Manny Ramirez OF Manny being Manny, boy do Red Sox fans love it. Ramirez has had a slow start but he is finally hitting the ball better, and Sox fans hope the power isn't far off. Combined with Ortiz, Ramirez is part of what is one of the most feared hitting duo's in baseball. When there on, the middle of the Sox order is one tough place for a pitcher to navigate through untouched. American League pitchers know they have had it easy thus far with Ramirez hitting just 11 homeruns, and American League East opponents fear whats going to happen to them when Ortiz and Ramirez are hitting like they usually do considering Boston has built a 10 game lead without their power. The wake up could occur as soon as this week when Boston open its first series of the season against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

VOTE FOR HIDEKI OKAJIMA

Boston reliever Hideki Okajima is among the final vote candidates for the last spot on the American League All-Star team. Click here to cast a vote for Hideki. Okajima has been great all season, aside from his first batter that is. He has gone 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 40 innings. Along the way he has struck out 36 while walking 10 and saving four games for the first place Red Sox. After allowing a homerun to the first batter he faced he went 22 innings before allowing another, and that run came on what could have been an inning ending double play that was instead a fielders choice. Coming into today's game his BAA was .163 and he had a WHIP of 0.82 both numbers went down with his 1-2-3 inning against the Rangers. Okajima would be the third Red Sox player in the six years to win the last man voting should he win. Johnny Damon won it in its first year and Jason Varitek in its second.