Thanks Spec... now, that one lights UP the mainframe's alert lights...

If the Red Sox thought Reddick were really a .600 SLG'er, he would not be available (and who says he is, anyway) ... you can bet your login ID on that, my friend...

But even adjusting for where Reddick is going, after he's "solved," here is a young player who greatly interests the mainframe ... especially in Safeco ...

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=== My Kinda Ballplayer, Dept. ===

A fascinating subplot here, is that Josh Reddick is reportedly in a mini-war with the Red Sox over their desire to see him take more BB's ... Reddick takes the Eric Wedge Be Ready To Hit (TM) bait hook, line, and sinker.

Reddick has been on fire like sagebrush in a volcano not just the last 30 games, but since the ASB last year ... we are talking 27% line drives and the rest of the balls up in the air... a lefty slugger, five tools, who has little problem clearing the Boston right field fence and therefore would have none clearing Safeco's...

Despite Reddick's year of Roy Hobbs magic, SSI can easily imagine the Sox fearing the worst concerning his plate discipline and imminent crash.

SSI does not share their concerns, believing this to be a rare touch of dogma on the Sox' part...

Also intersecting with Eric Wedge's proclivities, Josh Reddick's reputation as a "gamer."  Can guarantee you that Wedge would be at the airport with flowers.

***

At every turn, since Bill James got there, Boston has echo'ed SSI crunches on player after player, including Beltre in Fenway, DiceK, AGone, etc etc etc.  The national news is that the Red Sox "are all over Erik Bedard" and that is because they know what you know on Erikkk, brudder.

Reddick for Erikkk-plus would be, for them, a quasi-Cliff Lee deal.  In which they gave up a player they don't think as highly of, as the Rangers did Justin Smoak.

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=== Take Yer Pick, Dept. ===

Here's a fascinating question:  assume that Zduriencik and Erikkkk have a handshake on a hometown discount for a few years to come.   Who would you rather relinquish? Erikkk or Doug Fister?   

Take a breath... the question is a complex one, especially if your goal is not "a competitive club and a nice night at the ballpark," but rather playoff victories...

***

Interesting too the trade-deadline reports that "every team looking for rotation help" is drooling a stream off their chin at Doug Fister.  Tolja so  :winning smile:

Major league GM's are very smart -- generally a GM in New York knows what you know about the Mariners -- and the fact that 100% of them are bullish on Doug Fister also means that he is extremely valuable in the industry.  If the interest rectangle is that wide, it is also real high, y'feel me?

But Zduriencik also knows who Doug Fister is.  Fister goes in nothing less than a Reddick-type deal.  If he does, hey, Paxton's ready next year.

***

Here's the thing.  Assuming that the Sox would deal Reddick -- and who knows -- you have 4x the chances of pulling this one off, because if the Red Sox are enthused about either Bedard or Fister, you can get it done.

I'm Doug Fister's biggest fan, but he's not untouchable.  Gimme an exciting young bat in CF, and you can have 'im.  I got four more where he came from.

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=== Most-Comparable Player Dept. ===

If you want a quick fix, count up the ways in which Josh Reddick and Nick Franklin compare.

There are differences, to be sure, especially in age-arc and swing mechanics.  But!  Their:

• Swing shapes
• Line-drive fly-ball tendencies
• AVG-first reputations, but PWR-first results
• At-times spotty EYE's
• Physical frames
• etc

All remind of each other.  Supposing that Nick Franklin had come up and slugged .600 for his first trip around the league -- and that he played CF?  Would he be worth Doug Fister to you, if your goal was to convert pitching into hitting?

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=== Dr's R/X ===

Reddick might not be a .600 SLG'er, but it sez here the kid can play ball.  Salary even steven, I'd grab him over Rasmus.  And the salary ain't even.

I think Reddick would defend nicely in CF in Safeco, would cost much less payroll space than a Colby Rasmus, and his line drive / fly ball / LH swing definitely matches the park.

POTD forthcoming, but suffice it to say that  if the Sox are thinking SP-for-CF, well, this one adds up...

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My $0.03,

Dr D