Yankees Look To Outmaneuver Red Sox In Hot Stove Deals

On Season Ticket today, Guest Host Chad Finn talks "Hot Stove" - offseason trades and player signings - with Boston Globe Red Sox Beat Reporter Peter Abraham. The Yankees may be positioned to add another slugger, which could be bad news for the Red Sox - and their fans.

Guest

On the Yankees being on Giancarlo Stanton’s short list

Pete Abraham: It does surprise me because, last I checked, the Yankees had a very tall right fielder who hits a lot of home runs so I didn’t realize they needed a second one of those! It sounds like it’s getting to be a test of wills between Stanton and the Marlins, that he doesn’t necessarily want to go to St. Louis or San Francisco and he’s naming teams now that he would play for, whether it's Houston or the Dodgers or the Yankees. At this point, he’s trying to force his way into a certain situation ... using that no-trade clause that [the Marlins] foolishly gave him a couple years ago.

On how Red Sox fans should feel if Stanton does land in New York

Chad Finn: Would there be backlash against the Red Sox if he ends up with their rival and they have a batting order next year in New York that probably includes Aaron Judge batting second and Stanton batting third - arguably the two best sluggers in baseball?

Pete Abraham: Yeah, I think if he does end up with the Yankees, it will create more backlash for Red Sox fans than it would any other team. If he were to go to San Francisco or St. Louis or something like that, Red Sox fans would understand that. He’s super expensive. That they didn’t want to give up the prospects and that it didn’t make a lot of sense for the Red Sox. But it never seemed to make a lot of sense for the Yankees either, so if he does end up [playing] for the Yankees I think the natural question among Red Sox fans will be, “Well, why couldn’t we make this work?”

"I think if he does end up with the Yankees, it will create more backlash for Red Sox fans than it would any other team. If he were to go to San Francisco or St. Louis or something like that, Red Sox fans would understand that.

Pete Abraham on how Red Sox fans may feel if Giancarlo Stanton signs with a different team

On if the Red Sox have plans to make another big splash this Winter

Chad Finn: You look back through history, and I think we’re kind of conditioned to expect a big move this time of year. Chris Sale was almost exactly a year ago today when they made that trade with the White Sox. The Adrian Gonzalez trade late in 2010 for the 2011 season came this time of year. David Price (was) a couple of seasons ago. You’re looking for something to happen and you get a little itchy and edgy when it doesn’t.

Pete Abraham: There’s a lot of guys who are first basemen/DH types who could probably fit this team pretty well. I think [Eric] Hosmer would, I think certainly Carlos Santana would. I think J.D. Martinez less so because he’s probably a DH and if he does play the field, it’s the outfield and the Red Sox don’t need one of those. There’s a lot of ways they could go with this. I don’t know that they could necessarily pull off a trade unless they’re willing to give up somebody off the Major League roster but, in terms of free agency, there’s guys out there … There’s this perception that the Red Sox, they need to do this big thing, they have a big hole that they have to fill. And yeah, they need a first baseman or a DH but they did win 93 games last year.

On Rafael Devers and other young players that should be considered untouchable

Chad Finn: I think generally you look at this roster and you say, “These guys are going to be better players. These guys are going to live up to their ability.” Do you look at this lineup and say there’s one or two guys in there that - say another slugger becomes available - you would absolutely not give up in a blockbuster

Pete Abraham: I wouldn’t give up Devers. He’s 21. He hits for opposite-field power. I think he’s going to get better as a third baseman … They need to watch him to make sure he’s athletic enough to play third base. But, to me, it’s hard to find a guy like that. You can find outfielders and you can develop outfielders. But a third baseman who can hit for power like that, who’s only 21, that’s a real unicorn.

"He's 21. He hits for opposite-field power. I think he's going to get better as a third baseman ... it's hard to find a guy like that ... that's a real unicorn."

Pete Abraham on why the Red Sox should not trade infielder Rafael Devers