Red Sox, Rockies discuss Atkins for Saito Trade

by Matt Buggenhagen on Jul 10, 2009 8:01 AM EDT

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Red Sox and Rockies recently discussed a deal that would send Red Sox reliever Takashi Saito to the Rockies in exchnage for Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins.

Even though the Rockies have given every indication that they would love to move Atkins, and his $7.05 million contract, it appears they are looking for more than Takashi Saito in return.

The Red Sox were looking to acquire Atkins to protect against the uncertainty of third baseman Mike Lowell, who was recently placed on the disabled list with a strained right hip. Early reports out of Boston were that the team was going to stand pat on making any deals until they had a better understanding of Lowell's inury. An attempt to acquire Atkins from the Rockies could give us indication that Lowell's injury may be more serious than first thought.

Apparently these two teams are continuing to discuss alternative options, and I would expect if Lowell is on the shelf for any extended period of time that the Red Sox might pull the trigger on a guy like Atkins. If this deal doesn't work the Red Sox might want to call their divison rivals the Toronto Blue Jays, and ask about acquring their third baseman Scott Rolen. Word out of Toronto is that they may be willing to deal Rolen in order to rid themselves of his contract. Boston is one of a few teams who has the luxury of adding payroll at the moment, so Rolen might be a nice fit.

If the Atkins to Boston deal doesnt work out look for the Cardinals and Reds to also inquire about Atkins.

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Comments

Robbery

Garret Atkins has had a down season(Although is playing better now)but is still a valuable young-ish player, I doubt they trade him for an aging reliever.
I imagine Atkins would turn it around in Boston although you would want to play him at 1B and move Youk to 3B permanently.
The talent is there for him to hit .300 with a roundabout .350 obp and hit 25-30 HRs they could get more than Saito for him.

by Ohpityme on Jul 10, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

by Matt Buggenhagen on Jul 10, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

IDK...

He IS playing at Coors right now, so the boost he’d get from the lineup might be balanced out by the less-hitter friendly ballpark. That, plus facing the AL East, which is still better than the improved NL West, makes me not so sure I’d want Atkins. Well, that, and the fact that our bullpen now apparently believes the goal is to have LESS runs than the other team.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bdalebs on Jul 10, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

aging?

He’s 39 for petes sake!

No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded. - Yogi Berra

by trademan56 on Jul 10, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

And he's relying on crazy new-age blood platelet transfusion stuff to keep his elbow healthy.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bdalebs on Jul 10, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

New type of energizer

Well as long as he wins hes good, but Atkins for Saito NO WAY

No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded. - Yogi Berra

by trademan56 on Jul 10, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

nothing "new age" about it

it’s actually much more medically interesting and sound than slicing and dicing, particularly with a 39-year old pitcher. Of course that doesn’t mean it will work, but within a few baseball generations, we may start looking at tj surgery the way we now look at using morphine and the saw to treat infected limbs.

As for Rolen, that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. Rolen is raking (though not hitting bombs), playing incredible D, and only has a year left on his deal. I could see the Jays moving him if someone were to make the right offer, particularly if a young third baseman were coming back, but why would they do it just to dump salary? They have no one in the minors to take his place next season so they’d just have go out and get another third baseman, and he wouldn’t be as good as Scott.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jul 10, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I was just trying to emphasize the fact that it's not exactly trusted - maybe not the best choice of words.

Also, they have money issues, IIRC. So if they deal anyone, they’ve decided their chances of making the playoffs aren’t good enough to risk not making the playoffs, with all the money that comes with it.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bdalebs on Jul 10, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Atkins should stay in Colorado

by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 10, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

its funny

on every post you just leave one line haha

No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded. - Yogi Berra

by trademan56 on Jul 10, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, I believe that's his MO.

Simple, to the point.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bdalebs on Jul 10, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

yes.period.

No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded. - Yogi Berra

by trademan56 on Jul 10, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

True (I guess this means i comment too much if other readers know what I do)

by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 11, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

oh no

I just found it funny because I lways leave whole paragraphs

No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded. - Yogi Berra

by trademan56 on Jul 11, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Well I watch alot of baseball and usually know about players and how they are doing but i usually do not have statistical information to back my comments up, therefore they are short. i found it funny that yall noticed

by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 11, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions