While the Red Sox value their draft picks highly, and are typically reluctant to spend heavily on middle relievers, the team does not necessarily view the need to give up a draft pick to sign Type A free agent Scott Downs a deal-breaker. If the team could come to terms with Downs on a contract that made sense, it would consider forfeiting a draft selection (which could be as high as the No. 24 pick in the first round of the 2011 draft) to strike a deal with the top left-hander on the market.
Downs had a 2.64 ERA in 2010, and a 2.36 mark over the last four years with the Blue Jays. His track record of consistent excellence in the AL East will make him one of the more coveted relievers on the market this offseason.
After the Gonzalez trade, to see Theo contemplating going after a type-A free agent is a bit of a surprise. Especially one with, presumably, a fairly large price tag.
I'm quite skeptical of Scott Downs. His track record is pretty stellar - 2.36 ERA over the past 4 seasons in the AL East - but that's really weighed down by his ridiculous '08 campaign where he logged 70 innings and rocked a 1.78 ERA. Over the past two seasons he's seen his ERA climb to 3.09 and 2.64, respectively. Last season alone his WHIP was .99 and he held batters to a .211 average. Solid production for sure, but he's also 34 years old.
My worrying may be unfounded, but In the AL East, you just have to wonder how long a guy can keep this up. Mariano Rivera doesn't grow on trees.
All the "what if's" aside, I'm onboard. We desperately need to upgrade the bullpen. I'd rather see Theo reverse course and overpay for a Scott Downs than roll out the red carpet to Scott Schoeneweis and his ilk.
Original Story:
