Reggie Sanders - Replacing Wily Mo? TRADE RUMOR
Wily Mo Pena has pretty much proved he doesn’t belong here in Boston (Bronson Arroyo threw 7 shutout innings yesterday too…). He is the ultimate Catch-22 (yes, he is also number 22) in that he can only hit when he plays regularly, but will never play regularly unless he hits. He would be a perfect prospect for the Royals since they would end up playing him a lot more in hopes of upping his value.
Reggie Sanders is a solid player with a lot of experience. He was activated off the DL yesterday and played against the Sox, and is the kind of veteran that can really help down the stretch and in the playoffs. I’d much rather have him coming in to pinch hit in a crucial situation than Wily Mo, and I think the Sox are on the same page (They left Wily Mo on the bench with Ellsbury up and the game on the line - if you don’t pinch hit there, you never will).
Their salaries are about the same, with Sanders making slightly more, so its a good deal for the Royals here too. Even if it isn’t for Wily Mo, its looking like Sanders may still come here and replace him.
Here was his quote from yesterday:
“No, not at all,” Sanders said when asked if he would be adverse to a trade to the Red Sox. “It’s a great group of guys over there. I have never played there, but I have felt like I have just because of the way they embrace everybody.”
Sanders has relished his role of elder statesman on this ultra-youthful Royals team for the past 1 1/2 seasons. But he also has heard about the euphoria that can come with playing in Boston from his friend Curt Schilling [stats]. And there is also the prospect of making a fourth World Series appearance.
“I think so,” Sanders said when asked if the Red Sox would be among the teams at the top of his list, if traded. “(Schilling) is probably over there trying to make it happen right now.”
Personally, I’d love to see Reggie in a Red Sox uniform - its better than clinging on to Wily Mo and just hoping.
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