Red Sox to Trade for Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez?

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ July 28, 2009 at 8:23am ⋅ Post a comment

So instead of deciding between acquiring a big hitter or an ace, the Red Sox and Rays may now be interested in acquiring both in the same deal. According to the NY Post, the Sox and Rays are interested in trading for SP Cliff Lee (last year’s Cy Young award winner) and C/1B Victor Martinez in a package deal.

The Rays are willing to part with top pitching prospect Wade Davis to get a deal done. Tampa Bay may also become a seller however, as they are now 7.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East and five games behind the Sox in the Wild Card race.

The Red Sox haven’t been willing to deal away Clay Buchholz, but may do so if they can get Lee and Martinez in the same deal.

One club executive said he would bet “1,000 percent” that Cleveland moves Lee and Martinez because of financial reasons. This executive said that the economy has hurt the Indians as bad as any club and noted that the three players who make the most for the Indians next year are Travis Hafner ($11 million), Jake Westbrook ($11 million) and Kerry Wood ($10.5 million).

“That is $33 million for three players they can’t trade and know are going to be part of their team next year when they will probably have to lower their payroll into the $50 million range,” the executive said. “How do they get to that number with Lee ($8 million in 2010) and Martinez ($7 million) on the team, also?”

These are just rumors, however. Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is Friday, July 31 at 4 p.m.

About KC Downey

KC is the "head coach" of the Sports of Boston, LLC blog network. Follow him on Twitter: @kc_downey

Tags: Cliff Lee, MLB Trade Deadline, Red Sox, trade rumors, Victor Martinez

Discussion

4 comments for “Red Sox to Trade for Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez?”

[...] This comes just two days after the New York Post said that the Sox were in negotiations to acquire Cliff Lee and catcher Victor Martinez from [...]

Posted by Cliff Lee Traded to Phillies, Red Sox Running Out of Options | Sports of Boston | July 29, 2009, 3:30 pm
[...] the Sox were trying to deal for pitcher Cliff Lee and Martinez in a package deal. Now that Lee has been dealt to Philadelphia, Martinez, like the cheese, stands [...]

Posted by Red Sox Trade Rumors | Sports of Boston | July 31, 2009, 1:06 am
[...] sitting on a 42-60 record and are 12.0 games back in the A.L. Central and are in desperate need to trim down their payroll. The Indians have $33 million wrapped up next season in three players (Jake Westbrook, Travis [...]

Posted by Indians Trade Catcher Victor Martinez to Red Sox, LaRoche to Atlanta | Sports of Boston | July 31, 2009, 3:52 pm
[...] sitting on a 42-60 record and are 12.0 games back in the A.L. Central and are in desperate need to trim down their payroll. The Indians have $33 million wrapped up next season in three players (Jake Westbrook, Travis [...]

Posted by Indians Trade Catcher Victor Martinez to Red Sox, LaRoche Dealt to Atlanta | Sports of Boston | July 31, 2009, 4:00 pm