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McAdam On Toucher & Rich: Don't Expect An Ellsbury Trade Soon

BOSTON (CBS) - It's Day three of the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, and the Boston Red Sox are right one of the most active teams so far.

On Tuesday they signed outfielder Shane Victorino to a three-year deal, causing some speculation that a Jacoby Ellsbury trade could be coming soon.

Baseball insider Sean McAdam joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Wednesday morning from Nashville, and said he doesn't expect an Ellsbury trade in the near future, but it would be in the team's best interest to do it now.

"I don't think they are going to move Ellsbury," said McAdam. "Everyone I've talked to in the organization since the end of the year, the insist Ellsbury will have a huge season in his walk year, and they want to be the beneficiary of that. I think they're better off moving Ellsbury now and getting what they can for him. I think it's a real long-shot he stays and impossible to determine his value."

"I've said keeping Jacoby Ellsbury might be good for four or five extra wins over the season, but how much difference is there between winning 86 games and winning 81 or 82," questioned McAdam, noting he doesn't see the Red Sox as playoff contenders in 2013.

McAdam said Victorino is a pretty good player that should help the Red Sox, but they definitely over-paid for him. But, should they move Ellsbury at some point this season, Victorino could easily take over in center field.

Long-term, do these three-year deals for Victorino and Mike Napoli show the Red Sox are more committed to building for the future from within?

"They are committed to relying on guys like Bryce Brentz, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts; all of them should be part of the lineup in 2014. Add in Matt Barnes and some pitching like (Allen) Webster and (Rubby) De La Rosa, and they see that as the nucleus going forward, sort of augmenting that nucleus of Pedroia, Lester, Buccholz – guys that will are all in their late-20's and will be in their early-30's soon," said McAdam.

"They have said since the time of the Dodger deal they want to build from within, and the best way to win on a consistent basis is to depend on your minor league system and augment that with free agents and trades."

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