Interesting handicapping of the available names on the trade market by Rocky Mountain News columnist and sometimes-Colorado Rockies mouthpiece Tracy Ringolsby on foxsports.com. That makes his opinions of both Brian Fuentes and Matt Holliday -- a pair of Rockies players that the Sox have been casually linked to over the last month -- pretty interesting to first pick apart and then try to read btween the lines.

There's also a good Q & A with Ken Rosenthal and Brian Fuentes here.

My own take: The Sox seem to be taking their name out of the race for both of the Rockies' players, which could be genuine or could be posturing on their part to reduce the price of either player. The Rays seem to be very interested in Fuentes as well, and that could do a lot to ease the burden on Troy Percival in the back of their 'pen (isn't it interesting that the Red Sox front office has two AL East teams to worry about this season when it comes to blocking trades and driving up prices for players).  

If the Sox make a move, the two names that will pop up the majority of the time on other team's wish lists will be Michael Bowden and Lars Anderson -- considered the two top prospects in the Sox organization that haven't enjoyed the wonder of a Major League per diem. Fuentes has saved at least 20 games three years in a row for the Rockies while bouncing around the Colorado bullpen, and he brings more traditionally dominant reliever stuff from the left side than say a Hideki Okajima does.
 
I was hesitant to Justin Masterson's name being linked to either of these deals, but I've started warming to the idea of selling high on the 23-year-old sinkerballer.

It will be very interesting to track Boston's pursuit -- or lack thereof -- in Holliday, who is a clear long term replacement for Manny Ramirez in left field. Holliday's father, a college baseball coach at the University of Oklahoma, has ties with John Farrell during their time as Sooners ballplayers and has worked to improve defensively. He could be the classic Fenway left fielder -- in the mold of Manny, Jim Ed "6-4-3" Rice or Mike "Ellis Burks' worst nightmare" Greenwell -- that is pretty pedestrian defensively, but will learn to play the Green Monster like a baseball-playing maestro. 

It may be that the .285, 30 home runs and 105 RBIs Ramirez is on pace for along with this year's murkier version of Manny Being Manny simply aren't worth the $20 million option price tag. Stay turned.



Here are Ringolsby's takes:



LHP Brian Fuentes, Colorado: Potential free agent has Rockies willing to deal him, but he's a three-time All-Star as a closer who has dealt with tough situations without whining. If team can't get what it feels is a package worth more than the two comp picks it would receive next June for letting him go as a free agent, the Rockies won't send him packing.

OF Matt Holliday, Colorado: The fact that he figures to test free agency after next season has made his name popular in trade talks, but teams back away once the Rockies make it clear that his agreed to salary for next year fits their budget. So they aren't dealing him without a return of two players who could make the big-league team better right now, and a prospect.

 

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