RealGM

Posted: **Sat May 26, 2007 1:46 am**

Buster Olney had an intriguing thought in his blog yesterday. The Padres' bullpen is a source of strength, but they've got a lefty-heavy lineup and are tenth in the league in slugging. How about Wily Mo Pena to the Padres for a top shelf reliever, maybe Scott Linebrink?

I know what you're thinking - the Red Sox have the best relief ERA in the league. OK, maybe you weren't thinking that. I had to look it up. But Boston's relief success has been reliant on two players - Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima. Are the Sox confident that this pair will remain healthy and effective all year?

Wily Mo is an unfortunate story. The 25 year-old has prodigious power and should be entering the prime of his career, but his development has been trifled with. He essentially skipped Triple A, and now the Red Sox can barely find at-bats for him. Pena's comparables list is littered with names like Frank Howard, Matt Holliday, Dale Murphy, Jay Buhner, Jesse Barfield, and Richie Sexson. Pena is a 40 homer season waiting to happen. He won't find an opportunity in Boston unless Manny Ramirez is traded.

mlbtraderumors.com

Posted: **Sat May 26, 2007 6:58 am**

It's interesting but don't believe a word that mlbtraderumors puts up. mahalo
~Chach~

Posted: **Sat May 26, 2007 1:21 pm**

Linebrink is terribly overrated.

Posted: **Sat May 26, 2007 1:55 pm**

Pena playing in the spacious outfield of Petco Park? I'd do it if only for a laugh or 2, or 200.

Posted: **Sat May 26, 2007 2:10 pm**

kobeSTOPkobeDONT wrote:Pena playing in the spacious outfield of Petco Park? I'd do it if only for a laugh or 2, or 200.

Linebrink pitching in Fenway Park?!? Errr...

Posted: **Sun May 27, 2007 12:43 am**

I've got a different number of opinons on this, many have just changed in my head in the last 3 minutes.

As far as i'm concerened, we only have two reliable arms, Okijama and Papelbon. Romero is shaky, Timlin is old and hurt, Lopez is iffy, and Donnely has pitched enough to prove his worth. We may need another arm.

However

Crisp might be traded if he keeps up his poor performance, and Drew will probably get hurt. So having Pena would be good to have then.

I'm guessing its one of those deals we will have to wait and see about. I see this going down at the trade deadline depending on each teams needs

Posted: **Sun May 27, 2007 5:55 pm**

The thing is once Lester comes back, Tavarez will head back to the pen. I'd rather put my trust in Tavarez instead of sacrificing our bench depth espcially given the shakiness of Coco and the injury history of Drew.

Posted: **Mon May 28, 2007 11:26 pm**

the question is... linebrink or bronson arroyo

Posted: **Tue May 29, 2007 12:43 am**

Is neither an option?

Posted: **Tue May 29, 2007 1:09 am**

I'll pass on Linebrink. I'd rather have Pena on the team.

Posted: **Wed May 30, 2007 2:00 pm**

I would too, but i'd rather have another solid option in the pen than i guy who sits on the bench

Posted: **Wed May 30, 2007 9:49 pm**

I can't stand guys who strike out that much so I'd do it.

RealGM

Pena for Linebrink?

Pena for Linebrink?