The low-risk/high-reward picks he's made his name on in the last couple of years are all fine and dandy - and in fact necessary given the Sox' modest budget.......But now is the time to see what he is REALLY made of as a GM. A f*** up and the season can be lost. A successful move and the team wins 95-100 games, assuming Maggs comes back healthy around ASB.

 

JD Drew makes only 4 Mill this year and is putting up better numbers than Maggs while playing in a pitcher-friendly park. Furthermore, he is just about the best fielding RF in the majors this season, and can do some things on the basepaths as well. This deal will be HARD to swing because Atlanta plans on being in it 'til the end, but Sox aren't in a position play it safe.

 

Forget about the ace pitcher, that's beyond Kenny's ability or JR's wallet. How about either O. Perez or Garcia, I'll settle for either at this point. NOW, NOW, NOW.

 

Incidentally, it's time for JR to put or shut up once and for all. Extra 10 Mill can get you Drew, Garcia and a premier closer from with 3 months remaining on the season.

Brando, I like the way you think although they won't get Drew. They should however pull the trigger on the pticher if not just to make it easier on the rest of the lineup. I also agree with getting another outfielder that can hit a bit, but they won't get Drew. I will have to give this some more thought.

Drew is an injury waiting to happen. He's a fine hitter but not dependable, plus his agent is one Scott Boras. Fuhgeddaboudit.

 

If anyone is looking for trade candidates, check out those teams who aren't doing well and will quickly fade from the race. In the NL Central, it's too tight right now.

 

Beck72 had the idea about Tony Armas Jr., not a bad thought, don't know if he's healthy though.

 

The only guy in the minors who could clearly help them is Reed, he's in a slump right now and I don't think they want to set the service time clock ticking.

To work with Jim's idea, Steve Finley should be available, and he could fit on this team perfectly. Give the D'Backs Timo Perez, just to fill a roster spot, and a solid prospect or two, and a deal could be made. Delgado could be an option, but it would be a very high price in all likelyhood...probably Lee, Konerko, and then a couple prospects too. Also, if we could get a solid player for Konerko, Tino Martinez from Tampa is an option. He'd give us good defense and a solid LH bat for about the 5th or 6th spot in the lineup.

 

Personally, I like the idea of getting Finley.

They should however pull the trigger on the pticher if not just to make it easier on the rest of the lineup.

Good point quickman! Not only would it relieve some of the burden on the rest of the rotation, but I feel that the whole team in general, would have more enthusiasm and renewed adrenalin flow by seeing management going for the gusto of filling in a well needed spot in the rotation that has been a sore spot for so long, but also of not having to deal with the problem on gameday of "Oh No, It's 5th starter day again"

Losing Maggs, this is team is as susceptable to a patented Sox collapse as ever. Getting false sense of security, being 2 games up, would be downright idiotic in light of what we know of 2001-2003 teams.

 

In retrospect, last year's team had a couple of similar moments of truth. Sticking with Kock, White and Paulie too long; the 5th starter debacle; failing to realize that Rios-Daubach plain didn't work; waiting til July to get Everett; etc. Kenny didn't bring his 'A' game as a GM in the 1st half of 2003 and it ended up costing us a season. I f***ing hope Sox learned from their mistakes.

 

Twins won't hesitate to make a trade - they are only 2 games back, Mauer and Koskie just got back, Hunter was on DL, Stewart will be returning.

 

Drew is cheap enough and producing too well that I can overlook his injury history. Unless of course he is signed past 2004 at a significant raise.....Finley makes 7 but with 3 months to go in the season and with prospects thrown in, D-Backs might pick up a mill or two, which means he won't cost that much.

 

But of course Sox' biggest need is a FRONTLINE pitcher. Whoever said it would take pressure not only off the offense but off other pitchers in the rotation is damn right.

 

Hell if Kenny swings Garcia and Finley/Drew, you could sort of maybe live with Koch-Marte-Shingo-Cotts in the BP.

J.D. Drew? I'm definitely intrigued. When does his contract expire?

 

If Atlanta drops out of the wild card picture come the end of July, this could be a possibility. Can you imagine this guy hitting fifth?

Ohh yeah just what we need someone who will end up on the DL!

Not interested...

Wasn't Kenny the first contender GM to swing a deal last year? And you know he's been working the phones this year. It takes two teams to make a trade, and some of these teams are not ready to do so yet. Saying KW "waited" to get Everett is a little unfair considering he got him weeks before the trade deadline.