MacPherson On Toucher & Rich: Red Sox Finally Admitting Defeat
BOSTON (CBS) - Comments by the manager and general manager have Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal thinking the Red Sox are finally throwing in the towel on the 2014 season.
MacPherson joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich show Wednesday morning for a Red Sox postmortem.
"This Red Sox team is finally admitting it's time to gear up for 2015, correct?" Fred asked to lead the discussion.
"Yeah it seems like it. (Manager) John Farrell said before yesterday's game they haven't turned the page on anything, but even after the game he acknowledged that this homestand was supposed to clear up internal situations and the decisions they would have to make. They've won one game on this homestand -- I think they're 1-7. This was an opportunity against the Cubs, Orioles and White Sox and it hasn't worked at all.
"It's pretty clear [it's over]. General manager Ben Cherington has talked to Jake Peavy and it certainly seems like he is on the move. It seems we're getting to the point where it doesn't make sense to keep veteran guys whose contracts are up at the end of the season."
On Peavy, rumors have surfaced that the Cardinals and other National League teams are interested in his services.
Peavy, 1-7 with a 4.64 ERA, hasn't gotten much run support -- but then again none of the Red Sox pitchers have. The Sox rank dead last in the American League in runs scored, and it appears the team is ready to give Rubby De La Rosa, just 22-years-old, a shot to stick in the starting rotation.
Fred was curious to know what the team could get in return for Peavy.
"The return would depend how much salary the Red Sox would be willing to pick up," said MacPherson. "I don't know how much the Red Sox would pick up. In some ways it's a sunk cost because they were prepared to pay that money. If it can get them a better player I think the Red Sox would pick up a significant chunk of the deal. If it came down to it I don't see why they wouldn't pick up the whole thing if it could get them a significantly better player."
The St. Louis Cardinals have a plethora of outfield prospects, which is something the Red Sox desperately need. So the Cards, once World Series foes, make perfect sense in MacPherson's mind as trade partners.
"You're not gonna get a starter in return for Peavy, but you can get a useful player. And the fact that you can do that by also clearing space for Rubby De La Rosa and another one of those young guys in Pawtucket, it just makes too much sense not to do."
Listen below for the full discussion, including thoughts on Shane Victorino, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and more:
Brian MacPherson Providence Journal
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