What if?

What If?




Hypothetical sports can be fun, and darn it Rick I expect at least a comment for this…



So I thought I’d start with a trade. Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell for Hanley Ramirez and Anibel Sanchez. Yes, there were other pieces to this trade, but frankly they don’t matter so much.



What if this trade never happened?



Let’s look at this from a player by player perspective.



Mike Lowell would almost definitely not be playing baseball this year, let alone for $13 million. Fenway allowed him to hit more homeruns and doubles because of the green monster. He became a fan favorite because of this, as well as a world series MVP.



Josh Beckett will probably never attain a level of lore for his pitching in Boston. He would have benefited from staying in the national league, but his win loss record is better because of Boston. He will have made over $100 million from the Sox, so I’d say that he benefited from this deal.



Hanley Ramirez was the top prospect of the Red Sox from the day he was signed. But he did not get a chance in Boston. Looking just at his offensive numbers, Hanley Ramirez playing for the Sox for the next decade could be a wise choice. I’m not convinced that he is a big market player. He’s probably better off in a small market playing bad NL teams.



Anibel Sanchez. Most likely you are wondering who this is. He pitched a no-hitter for the Marlins, but has suffered through some arm injuries. I think he would have been better off in Boston’s system. They protect younger pitchers, whereas Florida tends to throw them in the fire (Dontrelle Willis anyone?). He may not have had the level of success, but would probably have had a longer career.



Florida made out like a bandit. Two people that would not have been with the team have turned into a franchise player and an immediate contributor (when healthy) in the rotation.



Boston did ok as well. They got a World Series MVP, and a pitcher with Cy Young type stuff. It’s the long term affect that might be the worst for Boston. If Lowell never comes to Boston, he isn’t signed for $13 million a year, Youkilis is playing third base, and they have money and a position available for some guy named Mark Teixera. Theo would not have made that trade, I can’t say if the Sox would be better or not.



Can you?