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http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7072074

The Red Sox are on the verge of winning the Eric Gagne sweepstakes, pending his approval and a review of his medical records, according to major-league sources.

Gagne must waive his no-trade clause to Boston for the deal to be completed. It is possible the Red Sox will allow him to share the closer's role with Jonathan Papelbon.
The Rangers had discussed trading Gagne to the Mets, Yankees and Brewers. He could have been sent to each of those teams without his permission.

Gagne could reject the deal because of his desire to remain a closer with the Rangers rather than share the role with Papelbon or become his setup man.

The Red Sox also could attempt to persuade him to waive his no-trade protection by guaranteeing all or part of his remaining $3.65 million in potential bonuses for games finished.

It is not known whom the Rangers would receive for Gagne. They had been seeking a young, major-league ready center fielder in a multi-player deal.

The Red Sox have resisted trading Jacoby Ellsbury, but could include Class AAA center fielder David Murphy as well as a minor-league pitcher in the deal.

A game finished bonus? If they didn't want to they could just let papelbon close and screw Gagne out of that bonus.

I don't think he should go to Boston.

They're good with Okajima/Papelbon

Noooo, Brewers need him.

okajima is now going to pitch the 7th?

ReddBogutCharlieV wrote:Noooo, Brewers need him.

No, your good, Linebrink solved all your problems.

That bullpen could be scary good now. Boston is going to hard to beat as if they weren't already

Load of crap. Kason Gabbard gets it done with the Red Sox, but nooooo, the Yankees have to give up Ian **** Kennedy just for a two month rental. Ah well, at least Cashman didn't bite and overpay.

Ian Kennedy > Kason Gabbard

Oh well, Daniels wants to play hardball with the Yankees. He'll regret it.

Okajima
Gagne
Papelbon

My Lord...

There starting pitching is set, bullpen is set. All that needs to happen now is Ortiz and Manny to wake up. Thats the scary part...

Manhattan Project wrote:Okajima
Gagne
Papelbon

My Lord...

There starting pitching is set, bullpen is set. All that needs to happen now is Ortiz and Manny to wake up. Thats the scary part...

Well, Manny is awake now. He is tearing the cover off the ball recently; it's more like Ortiz and Drew need to wake up.

cmaff051 wrote:Ian Kennedy > Kason Gabbard

Oh well, Daniels wants to play hardball with the Yankees. He'll regret it.

why will he regret not dealing with the yankees? its not like kennedy was being offered either.

studcrackers wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



why will he regret not dealing with the yankees? its not like kennedy was being offered either.

How is Kennedy an equivalent package to Gabbard?

Hopefully Cashman will repay the favor by extending Arod and making Hicks and Daniels pay most of Arod's salary for the next 3 years.

From all the sources I heard, Hughes, Chamberlain, Tabata and Kennedy were untouchable. Aside from those four guys, I didn't see any world beaters in the Yankees system. Gabbard and Clippard have probably the same value (Clippard is younger but Gabbard has pitched well in the majors and is a lefty), Murphy is pretty close to Gardner in ceiling (although Murphy can be called up today and contribute) so I guess the only place the Sox had the Yanks beat was including Beltre, who was a major bonus baby but someone like Jackson could have been an equal value to Beltre. I'm really really surprised that the Yankees didn't match this. I think Cashman fell asleep at the wheel. Not only did the Yankees NOT get a potentially great set-up man for Mo but he traded away one of Torre's favorite (but failing) arms. mahalo
~Chach~

Supposedly the Rangers were demanding either Kennedy or Melky Cabrera for Gagne. Cashman's gotten considerably more protective of our prospects (probably because we actually have legitimately good ones now) but I don't think he'd refuse a deal revolving around Clippard, who's not on the same level as Hughes, Kennedy, et al.

Chach wrote:From all the sources I heard, Hughes, Chamberlain, Tabata and Kennedy were untouchable. Aside from those four guys, I didn't see any world beaters in the Yankees system. Gabbard and Clippard have probably the same value (Clippard is younger but Gabbard has pitched well in the majors and is a lefty), Murphy is pretty close to Gardner in ceiling (although Murphy can be called up today and contribute) so I guess the only place the Sox had the Yanks beat was including Beltre, who was a major bonus baby but someone like Jackson could have been an equal value to Beltre. I'm really really surprised that the Yankees didn't match this. I think Cashman fell asleep at the wheel. Not only did the Yankees NOT get a potentially great set-up man for Mo but he traded away one of Torre's favorite (but failing) arms. mahalo
~Chach~

The Yankees' top 6 prospects were not available for anybody. That includes Hughes (not really a prospect anymore), Joba, Tabata, Kennedy, Jackson, and Horne. And Melky obviously wasn't for sale for a 2 month rental. Cashman didn't fall asleep at the wheel, none of those guys would've been worth the 20-25 innings Gagne would've provided this team. Others would've been worth it, but it doesn't look like Texas wanted guys like Clippard or Gardner.

I'm all for prospect hounding as well but we are talking about the Yankees possibly not making the playoffs having very legit chances. Hughes is obvious, Joba and Tabata as well. Kennedy is having a good season but I still don't buy it and Jackson and Horne, while playing well, I personally can't see them having a tremendous impact on the Yankees major league roster. The reason you have farm systems is to develop other worldly talent (like Hughes) and to develop some good talent to move in trades. To offer a deal like Horne and Gardner for Gagne does not set the franchise back several years or even really inconvenience them and sures up a weak bullpen and gives the Yankees a real chance of competing in September. And for Dotel to get moved for Davies makes me think that Cashman is spending too much time with Stoneman. mahalo
~Chach~

What don't you like about Kennedy? Care to explain?

Indifferent is a better word. I think he's got decent stuff (at least coming into the year, the Yanks may have helped refine his secondary stuff) and pretty good command but he had a bad junior year at USC after a stellar sophomore year and there are rumors floating around about injuries. Unless the Yanks have tightened his curve and improved his change considerably, I don't see him being much more than a back of the end starter. Then again, Yankees fans would probably say the same thing about Bowden and I'd cry bias so it may be my Sox-colored glasses. mahalo
~Chach~

Chach wrote:Indifferent is a better word. I think he's got decent stuff (at least coming into the year, the Yanks may have helped refine his secondary stuff) and pretty good command but he had a bad junior year at USC after a stellar sophomore year and there are rumors floating around about injuries. Unless the Yanks have tightened his curve and improved his change considerably, I don't see him being much more than a back of the end starter. Then again, Yankees fans would probably say the same thing about Bowden and I'd cry bias so it may be my Sox-colored glasses. mahalo
~Chach~

They have tightened his curve and improved his changeup... maybe you should watch him someday.

I see that you ripped your "scouting report" right from Baseball America too...