The Red Sox deal for Gonzalez involves one of the two first basemen in high minors, Anthony Rizzo, as well as a #2 cliber 20 year old pitching prospect, Casey Kelly, from AA, and Rey Fuentes, their 2009 #1 pick. Unless the Nats were willing to put in Norris (or Harper
) I don't think they could match the position prospects. Maybe JZ, Marrero, and Eury Perez would have been in the ballpark, but Fuentes is likely to have more power than Perez will develop and I think is a very effective baserunner.
That said, it makes a very good 1b LH bat, Lars Anderson, blocked. I'd kind of pound my fist on the table and scream if our Rizzo does not get on the phone with Theo and offer Burnett and Flores or Ramos for Anderson. Anderson was a top 20 prospect going into 2009, but had an awful year at AA Portland. This year, he destroyed AA for month, was bumped to AAA, had a terrific 2d half, and was the regular 2d baseman in September. This guy is about 21 and major league ready. Jump on it.
Talking to Ben last night, I suggested there are some incredibly nice matches between needs and talent between the Red Sox and the Nats. Willingham is a great platoon match for Ortiz / Drew, Lowrie would be a very nice 2d baseman paired with either Desmond or Espinosa, they have Kalish / Ellsbury / Reddick for young, rangy OFs with MLB bats, and some hard throwing minor league starters like Stolmy Pimental. They need bullpen help, so Burnett or Clippard might be useful, could perhaps use a catcher if they decide to go with 3 and use Salty as a 1b backup, are probably looking for righty bat who could play OF/ 1B / DH, and are looking for corner OF prospects in high minors with power like Burgess, perhaps.
This makes too much sense to me. Someone explain what I'm missing.
