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  • July 31, 2007 05:49 PM ET

Red Sox Acquiring Gagne Is A Bust

CodyShep233 (9-9-2) vs TheSportsGuy. Chelsea! (58-19-10)
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Argument: Acquiring Gagne for this season is a bust

The Red Sox acquired Gagne today before the MLB Trade Deadline, when in fact they don't need him this season. If you look down the road, Gagne could play a significant role next year if Schilling decides to retire, which seems likely. In that case, if need-be, Papelbon moves to the rotation to take his spot.

Giving up Kason Gabbard wasn't a smart move for the Red Sox. Gabbard is a fabulous young pitcher, and I feel the Rangers did just as good with all the prospects they picked up (not just in the Red Sox trade) if you want to look down the road. Gabbard will most likely turn out to be a legitimate third, if not second, starter in any rotation.

During the post season, the rotation is shortened up, and the starters normally go longer. That means one or maybe two of their current starters could be in the bullpen and either they don't get playing time, or Gagne doesn't. You have to feel bad for DelCarmen who got a chance and has played very well this season.

You feel Theo just wanted to get Gagne so other teams couldn't. Way to give up prospects, Epstein.


Acquiring him so other teams couldn't? No way. This gives them easily the best bullpen in the league with Gagne,Okay,Pap, and Delcarmen. Yes Gabbards had a few good games, but they still have younger guys in Lester and Bucholz. As you said it will give them more versatility allowing them move Papelbon to the starting rotation if they need to.

I wouldn't be worried about relievers getting less playing time because of starters moving into the pen. You can never have enough pitching and in the playoffs Gagne will give them a veteran (bums like Tavarez don't count) to help newcomers to the pressure of the playoffs in Boston such as Delcarmen and Okay.

Like I said, you can never get enough pitching especially if its one of the games best closers in Gagne.


They already easily had the best bullpen in baseball. When playoffs come, if Gagne does pitch giving them that veteran presence, think who won't play. The starters *normally* go deeper into games because they give it their all... not that they shouldn't in every game. The rotation is normally either three or four starters rather than five. They will have Beckett and Matsuzaka for sure, and perhaps Schilling if he pitches well coming back because he has so much experience in the post season. Wakefield will be thrown in sometime I imagine as he is also a veteran. That means Lester, who would probably love to be in a post season start, might not get a start. DelCarmen or Timlin probably won't pitch much as the starters will go AT LEAST six if they have good outings.. then Gagne, Okajima, and Papelbon.

My argument is that he's a bust for this season.. next season? He has a chance to be a big part of their bullpen if he needs to be.


You can never have too many pitchers, especially in the playoffs! The more pitchers you have, they less they have to throw they. This is a good thing. By the time the playoffs come around, both their bullpen and rotation will have gotten a lot more time off and they can bring their A game when it really matters most: the playoffs.

I just don't understand how aquiring a pitcher who is 2-0 witha 2.16 ERA and 16 saves out of 17 oppurtunities is a bad deal, or why he would be a bust. With a Red Sox line up that often scores as few as 2 or 3 runs, they need as many fresh pitchers as they can get.


Whether Gabbard was going to be with them in the near future or distant future (way more likely), he was a very good prospect. The Red Sox are already looking at getting Schilling back soon, and that means some of their pitchers should have a little more rest if he pitches well.

Gagne's asking price was just too high, in my opinion. He is still good, but he isn't what he used to be. He doesn't throw 97-98 anymore. He hasn't even played after the trading deadline since 2004 due to injuries.

Maybe he will be a good addition, but I still feel keeping Gabbard would be a smart thing to do for the Red Sox.

On top of all of this, Hideki Okajima has been sparkling for the Red Sox this year, and now they're basically saying Gagne is going to be the set-up guy. He doesn't want to pitch in the seventh.. he didn't even really want to set-up, but the Red Sox were willing to pay him 2 million of his 3 million bonus that he potentially had for closing games.. not to mention a few other benefits. Okajima now gets the seventh inning role when he's an All-Star, and been fabulous for them all year. Fair to him? I think not.


The Sox can shuffle this three reliever combination of Pap, Okay, and Gagne all they want. Maybe one night Pap comes in in the 8th and Okay closes. Maybe Gagne sets up Pap. Maybe Okay sets up Gagne. They can do whatever they want know. Maybe they play a night game and Pap pitches for 2 or 3 innings and the next day they have a tight one and they need a closer so Gagne comes in. They play so many games and go through so many pitchers they need to be able to switch it up a bit. The trade is all about depth, which gives them options, it gives them versatility.

As for him never playing in the second half because of injuries: he is now part of a bullpen that is loaded with great pitchers. When playing for the Dodgers he was the go-to-guy to come in and close day in and day out. He will see far less time and will not have to deal with the wear and tear of pitching almost every day.

Comments (27) Add A Comment

July 31, 2007  05:54 PM ET
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dude you made the point papelbon could move to the rotation, way to support the other dude.

July 31, 2007  05:54 PM ET
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never the same after injuries also they have papelbon

July 31, 2007  05:57 PM ET
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What other dude?

July 31, 2007  05:58 PM ET
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Acquiring him so other teams couldn't? No way. This gives them easily the best bullpen in the league with Gagne,Okay,Pap, and Delcarmen. Yes Gabbards had a few good games, but they still have younger guys in Lester and Bucholz. As you said it will give them more versatility allowing them move Papelbon to the starting rotation if they need to.

I wouldn't be worried about relievers getting less playing time because of starters moving into the pen. You can never have enough pitching and in the playoffs Gagne will give them a veteran (bums like Tavarez don't count) to help newcomers to the pressure of the playoffs in Boston such as Delcarmen and Okay.

Like I said, you can never get enough pitching especially if its one of the games best closers in Gagne.

July 31, 2007  06:00 PM ET
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woops my bad i'll put that up top

July 31, 2007  06:02 PM ET
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lI WISH I GOT THIS ONE!!! ol you have to be kidding me. Gagne- 2-0 2.19 ERA 16 saves- only because of limited opportunities. He is lights out again. now the games are shortened with Gagne. in the 7th 8th and 9th inning you have to face Okijima, Gagne and then Paplebon. that is scary. Pitching wins in the playoffs. the Red Sox already have the best pitching staff in the majors and they just upgraded it drastically. Gagne also takes pressure off of Paplebon and Okikima. Gagne wont be back next season. He will sign elsewhere and the Red Sox will get 1 first round and 1 second round draft picks for his signing elsewhere. so the 3 prospects they traded they esentially get back. Gabbard a number 2 pitcher in the AL? way to go out on a limb.
why is it bad that some of their pitchers dont pitch in the postseason. When Wakefield gets moved into the bullpen during the playoffs you'll have a bullpen of Wakefield, Tavarez, Lopez, Timilin, Snyder, Delcarman, Okijima, Gagne, Paplebon and probably Bucholtz. If only Okijima Gagne and Paplebon are the only ones used during the playoffs that means they are winning. I dont think the others will mind

July 31, 2007  06:04 PM ET
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CodySHep has to be a disgrundled Yankee fan. he wished his team got Gagne

July 31, 2007  06:04 PM ET
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the other dude, sports guy, you opponent. you supported his argument by talking about papelbon going to the rotation.

July 31, 2007  06:06 PM ET
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It's only not good because you give up young prospects for a man who might only play for you for 2-3 months.

July 31, 2007  06:08 PM ET
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The Red Sox farm system is filled with prospects. Murphy wasnt going to get called up anyway. Ellsbury and Moss would have been up before him. and Gabbard wasnt going to be put before Bucholz, Bowden, Hansen, Delcarmen, or Masterson. they gave up prospects they would have never used

July 31, 2007  06:10 PM ET
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yea they have Gagne for 2 or 3 months...... they also have the most complete pitching staff top to bottom in the league. they had the best record without him. now they get a cy young caliber pitcher. games will be shortened to 6 innings versus the Red Sox now

July 31, 2007  06:12 PM ET
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why are you talking about next season. he doesnt even have a contract next season. the Red Sox already said they dont plan on resigning him becauase they would rather have 2 compensation draft picks in return so they get back what they gave up for him

July 31, 2007  06:14 PM ET
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your argument is weak and doesnt makke too much sense

July 31, 2007  06:14 PM ET
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your actually proving your own point

July 31, 2007  06:22 PM ET
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If they do only have him for 2 or 3 months, then there was no point in acquiring him. They shouldn't have given up Gabbard.

July 31, 2007  06:35 PM ET
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You can never have too many pitchers, especially in the playoffs! The more pitchers you have, they less they have to throw they. This is a good thing. By the time the playoffs come around, both their bullpen and rotation will have gotten a lot more time off and they can bring their A game when it really matters most: the playoffs.

I just don't understand how aquiring a pitcher who is 2-0 witha 2.16 ERA and 16 saves out of 17 oppurtunities is a bad deal, or why he would be a bust. With a Red Sox line up that often scores as few as 2 or 3 runs, they need as many fresh pitchers as they can get.

July 31, 2007  06:36 PM ET
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dang i did it again.

July 31, 2007  06:41 PM ET
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Hey, Sports Guy, can you have too many pitchers, especially in the playoffs?? I wasn't clear on that...

Go back to your column, get off Kimmel's knob and quit doing the podcast thing. It's crap!

July 31, 2007  06:42 PM ET
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why is there no point. it makes the Red Sox an even bigger threat- the biggest actually- in the AL. With Gagne Okijima and Paplebon games and only 6 innings long for other teams. Those 3 have been lights out and it is very difficult- as there stats show- to score on them. The Red Sox have a World Series team and will probablyy -bearing no injuries- win the World Series. They have a very dominant pitching staff. it makes perfect sense. Trade 3 players who would of never gotten a chance in Boston because of better players ahead of them for a lights out proven closer who makes your team the most dangerous in the league. you cantt argue witth thatt

 
July 31, 2007  06:59 PM ET
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Yeah I like Bill Simmons but the podcast thing is pretty bad.

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