Helton, a Welcome Addition

A possible trade of Todd Helton to the Red Sox is being thrown around all over the internet, tv and radio.The 33 year old, two time gold glove, and .330 career hitter is being shopped by Colorado and it looks like Boston will be the most likely destination (Atlanta & St. Louis are the two other teams that he would waive his no trade clause). The Rockies paid an arm and a leg to lock him up through the 2012 season, still owing him a remarkable 90 million dollars. There are a few snags that could hold up the deal, the Sox are offering Julian Tavarez and Mike Lowell, while the Rox want a top tier prospect (Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, or Jacoby Ellsbury).

If one of these prospects is all it takes to get this deal complete, the Sox have to pull the trigger here. The Sox have a plethora of pitching, and while we should take heed to the lessons we learned from the Josh Beckett for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez trade, sometimes as a general manager you have to take that gamble. For every prospect that pans out, there are the Brian Rose's and Robinson Checo's that completely fall on their face. Helton is a future Hall of Famer who fits the Sox's batting philosophy perfectly, he is patient takes alot of pitches and makes the opposition work hard to get him out. If Helton was traded here, the Sox would have a lineup that is strong from top to bottom (though Dustin Pedroia needs to prove his abilities at the plate). Look at the key differences from last year:

Alex Gonzalez .299 OBP -------> Lugo .341 OBP
Trot Nixon/ Wily Mo .373 OBP/ .349 OBP --------> Drew .393 OBP
Lowell .339 OBP ---------> Helton .404 OBP


Those are three huge additions to a lineup that struggled through the second half of last season. I have no idea why the Rockies would pull this deal unless there was a significant physical defect with Helton. From what I've heard from Colorado folks, there is NOTHING wrong with him right now, and that this might simply be a salary dump (which in the end would be a net saving of 6 million a year). I am salivating at this deal, and I would pack the Sox prospects bag if it brings him here.