As the MLB Trade Deadline approaches, the Red Sox are in position for a Wild Card spot. This should make them buyers, rather than sellers, at the deadline. Teams that have given up on their season are usually sellers at the deadline, willing to trade a talented player for promising prospects that will help them win in the future. Teams that hope to make the playoffs usually try to trade prospects for established pros that might help them win now. Not everyone agrees that the Red Sox should be buyers, but I believe that they have a shot at making the playoffs and should go for it.
There’s been a lot of speculation amongst Red Sox Nation that the Sox might trade Jarren Duran, their speedy outfielder who often bats leadoff. I think that this would be a mistake. It’s true that the Sox have four very talented outfielders on the roster, and Duran is desired by several teams, due to his abilities and his team-friendly contract. While these factors make him desirable trade bait, they also make him important to the Sox. Duran’s swiftness lets him beat out infield hits, steal bases, and stretch singles into doubles and doubles into triples. He’s the spark plug that ignites the Red Sox offense. I’m not saying that he’s untouchable. If some team is willing to trade a #1 starting pitcher for Duran, then we’d have to listen, but the pitcher would have to be an absolute ace. Very few teams are willing to trade such an elite pitcher.
On the other hand, another starting pitcher is exactly what the Sox need. Unfortunately, that’s what most of the other buyers are looking for at the deadline. So what can the Sox offer to obtain a starter? I’m wondering if a combination of Masataka Yoshida, David Hamilton and a minor league prospect or two might be enough to get a good starter. I hope that the team will retain all four of their talented outfielders: Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela. These guys are the future of the franchise. They should rotate as designated hitter, with each of them playing three out of every four games in the outfield, and one out of every four games as designated hitter. This way, when one of them gets hurt, as so often happens to baseball players, the transition will be seamless.
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion.

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