Every fan of the Boston Red Sox has been dreaming of Giancarlo Stanton mashing balls onto Landsdowne Street for about a year or so. These were just fantasies though because there was really nothing driving that idea. Now, after the slew of trade deadline maneuvers, it appears that the Sox may be getting their assets built up for a blockbuster.
CBS baseball insider Jon Heyman reports that the Red Sox will be making an aggressive push at Stanton in the offseason. It isn’t clear what Boston would be willing to move in the deal, but with Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig added to an already crowded outfield, some roster players would definitely have to be moved to make room for Stanton. Will Middlebrooks has always been a name associated with any Stanton mega-deal proposals and Heyman believes the Marlins are still interested in the third baseman. Middlebrooks has played one game since returning from the DL and will need to have a strong performance the rest of the season to remain valuable. Even if this deal doesn’t end up happening, a job on the left side of the Red Sox infield is going to be tough to get next year.
Who else could be on the table? Perhaps Craig, who is under contract until 2018, would make sense as a trade piece. Craig recently hit the DL after playing just one game for the Red Sox, joining Shane Victorino on the shelf. But what happens next year when Cespedes, Victorino, Craig, Jackie Bradley Jr., and others are all looking for an outfield spot?
[Did the Red Sox get damaged goods at the deadline?]
The Sox also have two top catching prospects in Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart. Many see Swihart as the better prospect and the catcher of the future, so why have two top prospects at one position?
While there are plenty of assets to group together for Stanton, the price may be pushed up due to another contender for the slugger. Heyman has heard that the Los Angeles Dodgers are also very interested in the 24-year-old superstar. The Dodgers have some intriguing prospects of their own which could make it difficult for the Red Sox front office.
The Red Sox just made a crazy amount of moves, yet the idea of Stanton has me begging for more. I wish Heyman never reported this so we could focus on who we have for the last two months of this season. Just imagine Stanton in the outfield and Jon Lester back on the hill for the Sox. 2015 World Series champions?
This article Boston Red Sox interested in Giancarlo Stanton appeared first on isportsweb by Mark Gallant