Investigating Ryan Braun to Red Sox
By Blake Yagman
On Sunday, the Red Sox won a hard fought, extra-inning battle against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Boston’s 5-3 was capped by a ground-rule, RBI double by Dustin Pedroia in the top of the 11th inning. The Sox’ matinee victory ended a three game losing streak; the team turns south to Baltimore for a three game series.
During the Red Sox victory, the Sporting News reported that there is a possibility the Boston general manager Dave Dombrowski may be looking to improve on offense. Per SN’s Marcus DiNitto, the Boston Red Sox are interested in Milwaukee Brewers’ Outfielder Ryan Braun.
Braun, a product of the University of Miami, has been one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball over the past decade. After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2007, Braun was named a National League Sliver Slugger for five consecutive seasons. Ryan Braun’s best offensive year came in 2011 (.332, 33 HR, 33 SB, 111 RBI); he won the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.
In return for the six time NL All-Star, Milwaukee will be seeking young, major league ready talent. Dombrowski probably would have to part with at least two players to free Braun from the barren Brewer wasteland. The Brewers could ask for a combination of: pitcher Henry Owens, outfielder/catcher Blake Swihart (whom I really hope the Sox keep), shortstop Marco Hernandez, outfielder Rusney Castillo, or first baseman Sam Travis.
Just a few weeks ago, word spread that the Red Sox were prepared to stretch the team’s current salary cap to win in 2016. Adding Ryan Braun to Boston’s roster would be just that; Braun is in the first year of a five year, $105 million contract. The Red Sox would have to absorb much of that contract, a deal more expensive than either of those signed by Pablo Sandoval or Hanley Ramirez. However, neither Sandoval or Ramirez are of Braun’s pedigree; the former-MVP would add a huge boost to the Sox’ already historic lineup.
Some questions remain: would the Red Sox be willing to add nearly $90 million dollars to an already hefty payroll? And, shouldn’t Dombrowski be focused on improving the team’s pitching?
I have my doubts about how realistic this trade is. First, because much of the speculation is built on Blake Swihart’s “audition” in left field. Blake Swihart isn’t auditioning in left field; no one auditions for jobs on first place teams in the AL East. Although Swihart’s traditional offensive numbers have not picked up, his advanced metrics (.333 OBP, 1.000 Fielding %, 0 Errors) are above league average.
Second, because the trade monetarily does not make sense. Rusney Castillo would likely have to be a key piece of this trade, and that makes the deal too expensive to complete. Aside from the $105 million attached to Braun’s side, Castillo is a minor league outfielder with a 7 year/$72.5 million contract. I have a hard time believing the Red Sox are willing to pay off the remainder of Castillo’s contract; thus Braun’s 4+ years will be worth about $177.5 million. That is a lot of money. Too much money.
Finally, the Red Sox will look to add pitching after the team lost Carson Smith for the season. Eduardo Rodriguez still has not made a start (he makes his first on Tuesday), and Clay Buchholz was booted from the second spot in the rotation to long relief. The Red Sox are running out of internal pitching options, and could go outside to try to upgrade the bullpen and rotation.
There are a bunch of options for the Red Sox to buckle down on one of baseball’s highest team ERAs (click below!) Keep it locked here at Chowder and Champions for continued Red Sox coverage. Go ‘Sox!