Red Sox Diaries

Dear Theo Epstein,

It's understandable that you're getting a little bit anxious.

Even including the three-game sweep in Detroit, your team is 12-11 in its past 23 games. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are finally starting to come around, but David Ortiz is still mired in a terrible slump and is so desperate that he's having his eyes checked. Shortstops Julio Lugo and Nick Green have been average to above-average at the plate and dreadful in the field while replacing the injured Jed Lowrie. The lineup has held out nicely even considering Big Papi's struggles, but it is still lacking some punch.

You also have a surplus of pitching, particularly young pitching. First basemen/designated hitter types like Baltimore's Aubrey Huff and Washington's Nick Johnson are on the trading block, and both clubs need more arms. Maybe Oakland outfielder Matt Holliday can be had for slightly below-market value because the Athletics are struggling. Smells like a good idea to investigate a trade, right?

Well, on behalf of Red Sox nation, I'm begging you not to.

Mr. Epstein, you've undoubtedly done a terrific job with the farm system. Sure, you've had some major misses, like Craig Hansen, but on the whole, Boston serves as a model for drafting and developing young talent. Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester--you get the idea.

The current young crop of talent has as much potential as any. Clay Buchholz (if he concentrates more on his pitching than his Playboy Playmate girlfriend), Michael Bowden, Lars Anderson, Josh Reddick, Daniel Bard, Junichi Tazawa, Justin Masterson -- all of them are capable of making an impact on the major league level, and sooner rather than later.

On trades and high-profile free agent signings? Well, let's just say your record on that front in recent years leaves something to be desired. You shelled out five years and $70 million for J.D. Drew, four years and $40 million for Edgar Renteria, four years and $36 million for Julio Lugo, and six years and $100+ million for Daisuke Matsuzaka (including the money you bid for his rights). You've traded for Coco Crisp, Eric Gagne, Javy Lopez, Wily Mo Pena and Doug Mirabelli (after trading him a few months before) ... not a pretty list, especially because one or more productive major league players were given up in each deal.

The trade for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell occurred during your hiatus from the Red Sox and power struggle with Larry Lucchino. You deserve credit for the Manny Ramirez trade, but re-signing Bay is a necessity. Going back a little ways, the deal for Curt Schilling was a brilliant one, and the mid-season deal for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz was great from a team chemistry and defense standpoint (albeit only in the short term). Then again, you also managed to deal future batting champion Freddy Sanchez, among others, to Pittsburgh for two months of Jeff Suppan.

If you want to make a smaller deal around the deadline, like flipping Brad Penny (who by then should be expendable if John Smoltz comes back strong) for a useful part, fine. But trying to swing a major deal and change the dynamic of the club? Sorry, but your track record suggests that won't end well. Be patient, and have faith in your younger players and the squad you assembled before the year.

Respectfully yours,

Danny Daly (ddaly06)

P.S. If you can pry Adrian Gonzalez away from San Diego for a somewhat reasonable price ... well, all bets are off then.