Trade Review: One Nut and Cowhide

One Nut recieves:
SP Jon Lester BOS
23rd rounder

Cowhide receives:
1B Eric Hosmer KC
16th rounder

Dave seems to be taking a different approach suddenly with a bevy of relievers and most of his starters on the block. It could pay off if the relievers continue to K at the rate they are because I imagine with the guys he has, he shouldn't have a problem winning ERA and WHIP. Obviously he won't get the QS category, but it's a new, interesting approach that a complete reversal from the no-reliever strategy employed by some. The benefit is he'd avoid a lot of the competition that exists for quality starters. This wouldn't work with most because the Ks just won't add up in most circumstances, but Chapman, Kimbrel, Jansen, and Grilli are among the top strikeout closers and Rosenthal and Robertson put up good numbers as well. Something to monitor.

But, I am afraid this trade is just not worth it in my mind. I would think he'd be able to get a much more established hitter than Hos, as well as a pick upgrade, for someone like Lester.  Sure, he's struggled lately but he's shown enough to make one of the plentiful Sox followers in the league to give up someone of value. The reason I gave up on Hosmer, despite his once ample promise, is his position. You need power at 1B, particularly if you don't have it elsewhere like Dave, and he's just not showing it. Someday,  I think it will. Perhaps the second half will be better. I've just seen enough of him to have my doubts that he won't have a Daric Barton-like year. Obviously, the high pedigree and promise he once showed gives him tremendous upside. He's hitting for a decent average, just not getting lift. He had the highest percentage of groundballs in the AL at 61% -- that's an awful lot for a guy at a power position. I still think he'll rejoin the ranks of the great young players. I just don't think it will be this year, making it tough to keep him.

Jason meanwhile continues to rack up the big names. I mocked him last year for accumulating names and not numbers, but it seemed to work out pretty well for him. Really, for all his offensive promise, his pitching is just OK. This should help. I'm not sure I like this team as much as I did when I ranked him second in my midseason power rankings because of all the turnover. It's certainly different. The names are great, I just (again) question whether the names are bigger than the numbers. He's 8-21-1 since I ranked him so high and is not having a great Week 11 as we speak, so it will be interesting to see if he ultimately makes good of his promise.  Either way, win for him here in my mind.