MLB Trade Rumors: Giancarlo Stanton To The Boston Red Sox Makes Sense

Jul 28, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) rounds third base after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reported that the Boston Red Sox would be “willing to part with whatever it takes” to pry Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins.  The Marlins have repeatedly said they are not trading Stanton, but do the Red Sox have enough top prospects for them to even consider it?

Frisaro points to the four top prospects in the Red Sox system which would all need to be be included to make the deal happen.   They are shortstop Xander Bogaerts, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., and pitchers Allen Webster and Henry Owens.   Let’s take a closer look at these prospects.

Here is what they have done in 2013 in the minors:

Name

Level

G

HR

R

RBI

SB

AVG

OBP

SLG

wOBA

wRC+

BB%

K%

X. Bogaerts

AA/AAA

97

14

61

59

7

.298

.396

.495

.401

146

13.5%

18.6%

J. BradleyAAA

57

8

39

26

6

.277

.375

.489

.386

138

12.0%

19.0%

NameWLSVGIPK/9BB/9HR/9ERAFIPA. WebsterAAA

5

3

0

14

65.1

9.78

4.27

0.83

4.29

4.29

H. OwensA+

8

5

0

20

104.2

10.6

4.56

0.52

2.92

3.31

Xander Bogaerts is the top prospect in the system and considered by some the top prospect in all of baseball.  He has already excelled at AAA at 20 years old and projects to be a top offensive shortstop at the major league level.  His plate discipline is outstanding and should help him quickly succeed in the majors.  Frisaro sites that the Marlins would be reluctant to move Adeiny Hechavarria off shortstop, but I would have to disagree.  A top offensive shortstop is a once in a generation find and light hitting glove man should not be an impediment.

Jackie Bradley Jr. is a 23 year old centerfielder with superior on-base skills, adequate power and a plus defender.  Bradley opened the season on the big league roster after a torrid spring campaign, but struggled to the tune of a .155/.258/.310 slash line in 23 games.

Allen Webster is a right handed starting pitcher with “plenty of stuff, but command remains troublesome.”  That stuff includes a fastball that reaches the upper 90’s.  Webster has also struggled in a brief major league call up with a 9.57 ERA in 6 starts.

Henry Owens is left handed starting pitcher of who John Sickels of minoleagueball.com says “love the strikeout rate; still needs to lower walks.”  The 21 year old is only in his second professional season so there is still time for him to develop.

This is an outstanding group of prospects which likely includes a future all-star in Bogaerts and a solid first division outfield starter in Bradley plus 2 young pitchers with loads of potential.  The Red Sox would be mortgaging their future for a run at a title in the next couple of years.  The Marlins would be getting a true rarity in a top offensive shortstop and 3 big league ready players with six years of control remaining.

I will point out that the Red Sox have already said they are not trading Bogaerts.  However, this is exactly the type of deal I think the Marlins should actually make for Stanton.  They are getting players that can be plugged in right away at the big league level and making a huge upgrade in the infield where their system is probably weakest.

What do you think is this enough of a return to the Marlins for Stanton and would he put the Red Sox over the top for a World Series title?