As is the case with many things, I tend to become unhealthily attached to Red Sox minor league prospects. From Kevin Morton and Michael “Prime Time” Coleman, to Brian Rose and Carl Pavano, I’ve dreamed of each and every one of these guys eventually escaping that one horse mill town that is Pawtucket and etching themselves in Boston folklore, and eventually in bronze plaques in Cooperstown.

After watching Hanley Ramirez become one of the top players in the National League, my trepidation at the thought of trading away our top minor league talent has only increased. Which brings us to our current situation:

• The Red Sox currently have a chance to acquire Johan Santana, a move which will completely tip the scales of the major league talent pool in the American League.
• If the Red Sox don’t acquire Johan Santana, there is a good chance that he will become a Yankee, which makes him have a slightly higher intrinsic value to both AL East juggernaughts.
• Whoever does acquire Santana will need to lose at least one of their highly coveted prospects.

With this in mind, we must face the difficult question: should the team part with their promising CF Jacoby Ellsbury? If he is the key to this deal, my answer is a solemn “yes”.

My reasoning:

1) Jacoby’s current value is likely inflated after a tremendous performance in a small late-season sample. His SLG% was over .500, which certainly placed him on the radar screens of many GMs in the league, but let’s face it, he’s just not that kind of player in the long term. In a world where “buy low/sell high” is the law of the land, this would be an optimal time to trade him.

2) The difference in value between Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp might not be as high as we think. Granted, Jacoby will probably become a better player than Crisp (he might be the better player now). But, is the difference between the two players noticeable enough to keep Johan Santana from putting on a Red Sox uniform? I don’t think it is.

Is Jacoby Ellsbury’s inclusion necessary to consumating this trade and sending the best pitcher in baseball to Boston?

If so…let’s make a deal.

2 Responses to “When To Let Go”

1. s1c says:

   12/3/2007 at 1:22 am

   I have come to agree with you on this, even though I think Ellsbury will be a .300/.370/.425 type of guy, to get Johan you make the deal.