Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com joined Tony Massarotti on the Baseball Reporters to discuss the upcoming Trade Deadline and Bobby Valentine’s future in Boston.

What should the Red Sox be doing as the Trade Deadline approaches? Should the Sox be buyers or sellers?

“I’ve been saying for a while that they may end up doing a little bit of both,” said McAdam. “There are spare parts on this roster that have value; a guy like Kelly Shoppach who has had a pretty good first half as a backup catcher. There are teams that are thin at that position; the Mets are one team that have kicked the tires there.”

“I think a couple of the outfielders like Nava, Podsednik and maybe Sweeney (could be available), who become a bit redundant or at least crowded out when Ellsberry and Crawford come back,” added McAdam. “Then you have bullpen guys who are probably having career years, guys like Albers and Atchison who aren’t part of the long-term picture here but you can sell high on them.”

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Could the Red Sox pull off a bigger trade, possibly sending out one of their struggling front-line starters like Josh Beckett or Jon Lester.

“I don’t think it’s out of the possibility that they move on of the big guys,” said McAdam. “The only problem with that thinking is it’s two fold: one is management gives them that green light, because that’s tantamount to waiving the white flag, at least on this season… then the other thing that would preclude them is, are you trading these guys when they’ve bottomed out and their value is low; when you’re getting 60-cents on the dollar?”

“The best thing to do is hope one of them turns it around in the second half and you shop them in the offseason,” he said.

While McAdam would like to see Boston kick the tires on any deal, he said the ones that should remain untouchable are their young prospects still in the minor leagues.

“The one thing I would avoid doing is moving prospects. Don’t trade Lavarnway, Middlebrooks and Jackie Bradley Jr., some of the guys they’re getting a lot of calls on,” said McAdam. “If they’re intent on remaking this, keep your younger guys and listen to offers on every veteran you can.”

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What is Bobby Valentine’s state of mind, this point in the season? If the Sox miss the playoffs, will Bobby Valentine return to the Sox next season?