Rumor has it today that Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the trading block for the Boston Red Sox. I think this is the right move by the Sox (if true, of course). If they think that John Lackey and Josh Beckett can return to form this season and that they got the real deal from Clay Buchholz last year, Dice-K is an awfully expensive and unpredictable 5th starter. Granted, it would have been tough for the righty to live up to the $100 million ($50 million just to talk to him) expectations that Red Sox Nation placed on him but Dice-K has underperformed, he has just 13 wins in the last 2 years. I spent a lot of time last summer listening to WEEI sports radio in Massachusetts and from those guys, you’d have almost expected the Sox to trade him this offseason. Pure conjecture and probably not entirely realistic, but I always thought Seattle would be a good place for Matsuzaka to shine. Not sure they have the pieces or desire to make it work though.
Thing is, the same rumor has the BoSox very high on newly signed Alfredo Aceves as a possible 5th starter. I watched this guy with the Yankees last year and honestly, he doesn’t scare me. If I’m the Yankees or the Rays or any other team I’m rooting for a Dice-K trade and for the Red Sox to pitch Aceves over Tim Wakefield, Andrew Miller or Felix Doubront. Aceves is a fine pitcher, that’s it. He worked out of the bullpen for New York, and was fine, not great, just fine. Now, I think the Red Sox wont have a problem making the playoffs this year and the 5th starter is not a not a make or break spot for their season and I understand the frustration with Dice-K and unwillingness to pay him tens of millions of dollars to fill that role but I think that Alfredo Aceves in the starting rotation makes this team weaker overall.
By the way, if I’m Brian Cashmen, (Yankees GM) I’m making a call….
-Max Frankel
