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In looking for potential top-of-the-rotation starting pitching targets for the Boston Red Sox, Brian McPherson of The Providence Journal speculated that Yovani Gallardo, Jarrod Parker, Ian Kennedy, Jeremy Hellickson and David Price are a few of the talented young arms that could become available in the near future.
Among the few pitchers who might fit the bill in future years are Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo, Oakland's Jarrod Parker and Arizona's Ian Kennedy. Beyond that, the pickings appear slim - especially for Boston, since it's unlikely the pitching-rich but revenue-poor Tampa Bay Rays are going to send them Jeremy Hellickson or David Price unless for a king's ransom.
McPherson notes that most of the impact starters that have been acquired over the past several years have come via trade and not free agency. He names Tim Hudson, Roy Halladay, Doug Fister, Mat Latos, Gio Gonzalez and James Shields as recent examples.
While none of the five pitchers he expects to become available appear to be on the block at this point, they could all be shopped soon depending on their prospective club's production in 2013.
Regardless of how the Tampa Bay Rays do this season, McPherson views Price as a "good bet to be traded." Still, he doesn't expect Tampa Bay and Boston to match up for a deal.
If the Milwaukee Brewers' struggles continue this season, Gallardo could find himself on the trade block as a potential piece to jumpstart the team's rebuilding effort.
Similar to the Brewers, the Arizona Diamondbacks are coming off a disappointing campaign. McPherson believes Kennedy could be shipped off to help "accelerate the reloading process" to chase after the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
Parker is only 24 years old, but McPherson could see Oakland potentially moving him for even young players, a move they have made in the past. Considering the A's bevy of other young arms, McPherson wouldn't be surprised to see general manager Billy Beane shop Parker "if he feels he can get commensurate value."
