Oh, those silly Indians were stolen from again

-Don't look so grim, You're heading to Boston!!

As I was coming out of the movie theater, I received a text from an anonymous source informing me, Victor Martinez has been traded to the Boston Red Sox from the Cleveland Indians. The trade of V-Mart is one that helps now and in the future and filled their biggest need. A BAT. It was an addition that I hoped would happen and now has come true. I guess the Red Sox finally listened to me.

In this trade, they gave away 3 players; Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone, and Bryan Price.

Who these players were;

Justin Masterson was in his second year with Boston and hadn't really been getting the job done. A pitcher who could be used as a starter or reliever. If you combine his two seasons, it's like having one full season. For example, in his combined two seasons he pitched in 160 innings, had 135 SO, went 9-8, with a WHIP of 1.28, and an ERA of 3.76. He will be somewhat missed, but overall not a big loss. He still has potential to be better, but not worth the wait for what they got.

Nick Hagadone is a 23 year old left handed starting pitcher, who is in his 3rd year in single A ball with the Red Sox. Originally drafted by the Mariners in the 2004 draft and then again in 2007 by the Red Sox, in his 3 minor league seasons, he was 1-4, and in 59 IP, had a 1.82 ERA, 77 SO, allowed only 1 HR, a WHIP of 1.011, and started no more then ten games yet in a season. Losing a player at his age, still in single A ball does not phase me in the least. He did have Tommy John surgery back before the 2008 season started. Which is the main reason probably why not too many people have heard of this kid before and is still projected to be good number two if he can get healthy.

Bryan Price is another minor league starting pitcher, also who is in his 3rd year at single A ball. I could tell you more about him, but I think this link could do a better job. http://www.soxprospects.com/players/price-bryan.htm

Again, another player who giving away is not a big concern of mine.

Martinez gives the Red Sox a lot of depth that they didn't have before and here's how. They now have a player who can play Catcher, First base, and obviously, DH. This allows them a lot of versatility so they can give either Varitek/Ortiz/Youkilis a day off, if needed. If Ortiz fails to get back to form when his contract expires they can now replace his bat with a supposedly, steroid free player. He's a switch hitter; always a good thing. This year he is batting .284 and is on pace for 24 HR and 108 RBI. His career avg. is .297 and averages 20 HR and 102 RBI per season. Pretty darn good for a catcher if you ask me.

There is a club option next year for a very reasonable $7 million. And maybe this is one of the biggest reasons to acquire Martinez. That in 2 years from now, it may not be mandatory to go after/fight the Yankees for Joe Mauer; when he becomes a free agent. Assuming that the Red Sox can/will resign Martinez. Not to say that I wouldn't want to have both of those players, but the Red Sox do have options now.

Now that I think about this trade, it may have been one of the biggest steals that happened this season. You didn't have to end up giving away any of the players you would have if the Red Sox had acquired Halladay. The Red Sox did originally offer the Indians, Clay Buchholz for Victor Martinez straight up and were declined. I wonder if the Indians would have taken that deal now. The players the Red Sox did end up giving away barely affect them. They filled a need with a big bat. They are now not obligated to resign Jason Varitek for $5 million and can let him walk if he doesn't resign for the $3 million player option. He can still earn the extra $2 million, which is based off of performance bonuses. If he plays 80 games next year, he will earn an extra $400,000 and for every ten games after that he earns another $400,000. Wow, I sure would like to play ten games to make $400,000. This spot in the lineup was one of their weakest spots this season and now has been fixed. Although looking at how Varitek did last year, it could have been worse. This has to be quite the blow to the 12 year veteran though, who back on May 20th of this year, finalized his divorce. You have to wonder if that played a part into why he played so poorly last season. Looking deeper into this, we find another interesting fact. Varitek married his ex Karen in 1996 the year before he became a major league player and gets divorced as his career may be coming to an end. Maybe I'm reading too into this, but it has to be noted and if nothing else just something to think about folks.

On another note, the Red Sox traded newly acquired Adam LaRoche, who was only here for a little more than a week (a move I would expect to see from the Pirates), to the Atlanta Braves for Casey Kotchman, but lets take a closer look into what happened here. Two years ago, the Braves traded Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison to the Rangers for Ron Mahay and Mark Teixeira. Teixeira played in Atlanta for 1/3 of a season and 2/3 of the next season. Then, they sent him packing for Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek.

And finally here we are.

Also take a look at the history of Adam LaRoche. He came up through the Braves system and in 2004 platooned with Julio Franco for two years. In 2006 became the everyday first basemen for the Braves. After his first full season, he was traded to the Pirates for Mike González and Brent Lillibridge. Then in 2009 was traded to the Red Sox for ten days and went full circle right back to where his career started. He was also the first player to have a HR taken away due to the instant replay.Looking back at how things turned out, would you follow what the Braves did? I'm not sure I would have, but for what they got in the end it looks like they did pretty well for themselves.

It looks like the Red Sox did this deal because they now have Martinez (not Pedro), who supplies them with a bat; and figured they needed someone who plays a little better defense, so they went out and got Kotchman. Another benefit of this trade is that they may have saved themselves a little bit of money. Kotchman is earning $2,885,000 this year, while LaRoche earns $7,050,000. I don't know how that would break down by the end of the year with the money they're owed, but if they can save some bucks then good for them. Plus I would rather have a player who can come off the bench and get on base more and play good defense, then a player who gets on less, but gets a bigger hit; because how often would that player get the chance to hit the ball anyway with this stacked Red Sox line-up?

And finally to my closing note. Probably the funniest and best part of the trade is how tomorrow night, August 1, 2009, in Cleveland is...yep, you guessed it, Victor Martinez, BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT. Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians organization who really messed this one up.-

-As always this has been Corey Sobel, with a special report.

AN UPDATE:

For those of you who did not believe me when I said this deal would be a good one, here is how he has helped the Boston Red Sox out so far this year.

In 56 games for the Red Sox, Martinez hit .336 with eight homers, 41 RBIs and a .912 OPS.

Unless you expecting something better you can't be disappointed with what he has delivered.