Announced just after the deadline...

This is definitely a BLOCKBUSTER deal, which we rarely see anymore since players salaries and the clauses in their contracts play such a big role in keeping multi-team and 7-player deals like this one from being completed....I don't quite understand why the Red Sox would want Mientkiewizc (who has been having the worst season of his career in 2004) since they still have David Ortiz and Kevin Millar to serve as DH/1B....unless they're planning on platooning Millar and Mientkiewicz (which wouldn't appear to make either one of them happy) or including one of them in another deal, Theo's strategy is a bit difficult to figure out here -- other than the obvious desire of the Sox to move Nomar.

As for Alex Gonzalez going to the Expos that is definitely good news -- now with any luck I'll be able to see the gorgeous shortstop playing 81 home games in DC next season. wink

~Joe

[ July 31, 2004, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

They can't make any more deals without the players going through waivers, so it seems a platoon of some kind is in order.

The Red Sox' most glaring defensive need has been at first base -- both Millar and Ortiz have proven clumsy and unreliable playing that position. Mientkiewicz (got to learn to spell that one) at first and Cabrera at short are both gold glove winners who will significantly shore up the Sox infield.

As it happens, the Sox are in Minnesota this weekend, so Mientkiewicz just had to walk from the Twins clubhouse to the visitors', find a uniform to fit him -- they even managed to get his name sewn on -- and take his place in the Red Sox lineup batting sixth and playing first base.

As to Garciaparra, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said "We weren't confident that we'd be able to re-sign him. In my mind we were not going to win a World Series with our defense the way it was," but the addition of Cabrera and Mientkiewicz give the Red Sox "maybe the best infield in the game." ( Boston Globe, 7/31/04)

Here's what some Red Sox fans have to say...

[ July 31, 2004, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

Meanwhile, the worthless White Sox and their inept GM Kenny Williams trade All-Star pitcher Estaban Loiza for some inconsistent, pathetic pitcher, Contreras.

This is what I thought initially. Loiaza was the Cy Young runner-up last season, BUT, Kenny Williams is not as dumb as he looks... if he's giving away Esteban Loiaza, then there's probably a reason... maybe Loiaza is damaged goods. There's just something not right about that trade.

Edit to add: For example, years ago Kenny Williams traded Mike Sirotka to the Jays for David Wells... in a much-disputed trade after Sirotka was revealed to be injured without ever throwing a pitch for the Jays. But since Sirotka had passed his initial physical with the Jays, it was tough luck. But many people believed that Williams knew Sirotka was potentially damaged, and shafted the Jays (his former team) on the deal.

Jayson Stark on ESPN.com actually declared the Yankees a loser in this deal:

Loiaza's numbers this season: 9-5, 140.2 IP, 156 H, 45 BB, 83 K, 4.86 ERA, 1.43 WHIP


As for the Red Sox, I don't understand their deals at all. The traded quality (Nomar) and got quantity (Mientkiewicz, Cabrera, Roberts). This is not going to push them above the Yankees, not unless Yankee pitching totally self-destructs.

[ August 01, 2004, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Can, we long-suffering White Sox fans will believe Kenny Williams is adept only when we at least get to the World Series.

From what many of us have heard here in the Windy City, Williams has been for some time the laughing stock of MLB's GM's.

I hate this trade. :mad:

Did the Red Sox have a love/hate relationship with Nomar? This from Dan Shaughnessy's column in the Boston Globe:

Meanwhile, the Chicago media seem very happy the Cubs acquired Nomar.

I hope it works out for you Gamecock! Alex Gonzalez is the hottest looking player in baseball. I hope the Expos end up within driving distance of me. I'll get to finally see him!

Then the moronic Cubs fans will suit him just well. They're too stupid to recognize someone who isn't a team player. What do they care? They're all unemployed drunkards anyway. eek!

I hope it works out well for you as well. I'm going to miss Alex for the rest of the season. He is the hottest player around...and in my opinion one of the best shortstops around. It was tough having him gone for so long this season...and now to Montreal. I may have to change my spring season plans...and head to watch Montreal instead of the Cubs this spring.

I am still in mourning from the trade of Alex. Damn! He's just so hot and I can't see Red Sox games at my location.

Interesting, if rather self-serving, perspective from John Henry:

John Henry speaks out on No-mah trade

MIB must be in reality Lee Elia.

And I'm *very* employed

The same 38,000 unemployed homos keep coming to Wrigley Field.

If the park collapsed on these idiots and a new park was immediately rebuilt, the attendance would be zero, for the same fans keep showing up every day. And why not? They've got nothing better to do.