Sox Drawer: looming deadline could affect chemistry

I was going to do this post yesterday but I got sidetracked. So of course Carfado did a piece on it today, and now it looks like I'm taking my cues from the Globe.

Anyway, as the trade MLB deadline of July 31 rapidly approaches, every team in contention (by my count at least 19 teams that fall under that large umbrella) will be considering a move that could modify their club just enough to get them over that postseason hump.

Which begs the ultimate annual mid season question:

Does a first place club fuck with the chemistry by altering the makeup of the team, or do they stand pat/make minor moves that solidify the bench and keep the core nucleus intact?

As the team with the best record in baseball and few glaring weaknesses the Sox are in a most precarious situation: Theo could make a Nomar-esque trade that would shock the clubhouse while dramatically changing the team on the field, but he also could tinker with the bench and bullpen in an attempt to fine tune an already well-oiled machine.

My guess is the latter.

Make no mistake the Sox brass will not be innocent bystanders when the deadline approaches. With the rival Stankees having already made the first move, albeit a minor one (picking up veteran catcher Jose Molina), you can be sure Boston will be eager to counter with something that makes it look like they are not getting out-hustled in the front office.

But unlike 2004, when the Nomar deal shook the foundations of the franchise and its faithful fanbase, Boston does not need a major upgrade in the field and/or at the plate and will not make a major move just to do so. Nor will Theo strip the farm system for a short term solution for an already strong club.

But the lack of depth on the bench and surplus of quality starters dictate a move of some sort.

Rumours abound about which direction Theo will take, and potential trading partners include Texas (Mark Teixeira), Chicago (Konerko) and of course the perennial sellers, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (pick a player.)

Here are my theories on who will stay and who will go in the next week.

STAYING:

-Mike Lowell: the Sox have entertained thoughts of dealing the pricey ($9 mil) and aging (33) veteran third baseman for the last couple of seasons, but that was when he was a solid complimentary player.

Now Lowell has become the de facto heart and soul of the offense, leading the team in RBI and second in homers while batting over .300 for most of the year, and with Manny's power numbers down and Papi hurting, dealing this fan favorite and team leader, even for a young offensive force like Teixeira, would be a monumental chemistry changer that the team might not recover from.

-Jon Lester: eleven months removed from his cancer diagnosis and having made a triumphant return to the bigs with an impressive win Monday night, trading this real-life hero would be a MAJOR blow to the players and fans who have stood by and supported the young man for the last year.

Sure baseball is a business and if a team makes the right offer no one is expendable (ahem-Nomar), but my guess is the Sox let this kid ride out the rest of the season in the Hub to see what kind of inspirational lift his return can give the city and the team

-Manny Delcarmen: sure his stock is sky high right now, but why would the Sox want to deal a hot young bullpen arm unless they were going to get a major player in return. He's too young, inexpensive, and has too much upside to let him go

GOING:

-Wily Mo Pena: right now Boston would be willing to deal this hitting & fielding liability for the proverbial bucket of balls, but whatever the deal you can bet grandma's pension that the affable man-child will be wearing another uniform come Aug. 1st.

-Javier Lopez: the sidearming lefty was supposed to be a lefty specialist, but the problem is lefthanders are batting .288 off him, and his recent struggles (8 hits, 3 BBs, 3 ERs all'd in last 6 1/3 innings) have made it clear that Boston would be willing to let him go if they could get someone more reliable in return

-Kason Gabbard: with the return of Schill imminent and the return of Lester already a success it appears that Gabbard would be the odd man out. He's good, he's young, and on a team that has four entrenched starters and two rookies vying for one spot, he's expendable

-Julian Tavarez: I know his teammates, namely Papi & Manny, love him and he is a valuable arm in the pen because he can go 1-3 innings, but in the last two years he's been bounced around more than a superball, and a move to another team might be the best thing for him and the Sox right now

The bottom line is this team doesn't need a major change to shake things up and to get in contention like the '04 club did. Sure the offense & bullpen could use some tweaking, but to bring in a Teixeira or some other big-name player right now might do more harm than good.

My suggestion: tinker all you want, Theo, and move a couple of bit players, but don't alter the heart of this potential championship squad.

Then if they shit the bed in the postseason, or God forbid miss the playoffs entirely, go ahead and burn the mother down!