Could Rockies left fielder, Matt Holliday be on the Boston Red Sox radar? Joel Sherman of the the NY Post suggests that the Rockies will not trade Matt Holliday before the July 31st deadline knowing they can get more value in the off-season. The Rockies would be able to pick from the Red Sox deep farm system, getting the most value for a player they won't be able to sign after he becomes a free agent after the 2009 season. Sherman also speculates that trading for Matt Holliday will allow the Sox to decline the 20 million dollar option on current LF Manny Ramirez.
Any Red Sox deals made before the deadline will hinge on the health of DH David Ortiz and how his wrist holds up during his minor league stint that should last about week. According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, The Braves have offered Free Agent to be 1B Mark Teixeira for 1B Kevin Youkilis and P Craig Hansen. If the Red Sox were to make this trade they would then be faced with having Tex as a rental player or resigning him to a monster deal in the off-season likely leaving little money for a run at Holliday. Whereas, Youk is under Red Sox control until 2010 and thus is a cheaper option who is a strong defensive player at both 1b and 3b.
And what about Barry? He has been linked to the D-Backs, who deny having an interest. He has been linked to the Red Sox should the Ortiz injury be more serious, there is even rumors that the Red Sox had Bonds in for a secret workout at Fenway, how on earth would the Red Sox be able to sneak Bonds into Fenway/Boston without anyone knowing? The Red Sox have denied all interest, however I wonder if Bonds still feels that Boston is a town of racists, as he is quoted as saying in the Book "Game of Shadows." Then with the injury to Moises Alou, the Mets have become an option, The Mets have denied all interest, but can we honestly believe anything GM Omar Minaya says after how he handled/stabbed Willie Randolph in the back? Then there are the most likely suitors, the Yankees, possibly without Hideki Matsui for the rest of the season and Johnny Damon for an extended period, could turn to Bonds who could come in as a DH and take aim at the short porch in Yankee Stadiums right field. If Bonds plays anywhere the Yankees seem to be his only chance.
