Alex Speier of WEEI tweeted that the Red Sox have traded hometown boy Manny Delcarmen for low-A RHP Chris Balcom-Miller.
Strange move in a number of ways. For one, the Rockies are just as far out as the Sox -- in 3rd place and 7 games out in a crowded NL West.
For two, who is Chris Balcom-Miller?
On Baseball America he doesn't even have a photo next to his name, which is disconcerting. Looking at his stats, he's a high-upside guy. In one season of high-A ball, Balcom-Miller tossed 117 Ks in 108 IP, going 6-7 with a 3.31 ERA. His WHIP was 0.98, and he only walked 20 guys, which is pretty decent given the high Ks.
Of course, it's low-A ball, which is comprised of me, your grandma, and Julio Lugo.
The transaction is clearly a small sign of the Sox packing it in and looking toward the future, while simultaneously giving Jarrod Saltalamacchia a run for his money in the long-name department.
But this isn't a move for next year, it's a move for far into the future. Which begs the question: Is Theo going to hit the free agent market for bullpen help this offseason, or just hope farmhands will fill Manny's void?
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