scout

Today's Herald mentioned some teams interested in Crisp, who had a decent year after July and a good postseason, thus, his value is good. The other player is Lugo. The article mentioned that the Sox would have to dump him or make a trade with another big contract player who bombed. One pitcher that was mentioned was Willis with Detroit. I would make that trade in a heartbeat. Pitchers are very erratic and can bounce back and be great, as Willis has done in the past. As a fan, I really don't care about the size of the contract given there is no cap.

Patsfanin Philly

Absolutely, and he may flourish in an environment where he doesn't have to be a #1 or even a #2 or a #3................We could always use him as a pinch hitter if needed............

lostjumper

I can't believe that Lugo is drawing trade interest. If he really is, we should all help drive him to the airport.

I don't think I would take on Dontrelle's contract right now. He has shoulder problems, made worse by his herky-jerky motion, and he has mental problems as well. Remember, he spent almost the entire year last hear in the minors. I can't remember what his contract is, but it's big.

Crisp actually has value now. He could get much more on the trade market.

Foley

First off, the trade proposal from the Herald was Willis for Lugo, not Crisp.

Second, Willis has never spent a day on the DL in his life for a shoulder injury, so I don't know where that is coming from. He was on the DL this season for so long because he hyper-extended his knee while slipping on a wet mound.

Third, he made 11 starts in the minors because he sucked. Not because of "mental problems". Accusing the guy of having troubles upstairs because of an awful season is a bit silly.

Fourth, his problems look to be almost entirely mechanical. His delivery now versus how it was a few years ago are completely different, ergo his stuff less sharp and he's lost command of his pitches. If his delivery can be changed back to how it was circa 2005, then he could get back to his former dominant form.

Finally, his remaining contract is 2/$22M. Substantially more than he is worth, but considering Lugo is still under contract for 2/$18M it's not that bad for a 1-for-1 swap. The contracts are basically a wash, and I like Willis' chance of being a quality starter more than Lugo's chances of being an impact hitter. Either of those happening is unlikely, but it would be a decent risk to take considering all they have to lose is Julio Lugo and $4M.

Real World

I don't think it's silly to attribute part of his inability to throw strikes, as being partly mental. Some guys just think about it too much.

I'm not sure Detroit is going to give up on a high end arm like Willis, even with all his problems, for a .220 hitting, stone gloved defender, with no pop, in order to save $4 million. Of course, they did give Willis 3 years & $30+ million last year, so who knows.

Crisp for Khalil Greene is a rumor that keeps popping up.

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
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FreeTedWilliams

I would trade Lugo for some new bats, literally maybe like ten new 34 ounce Louisville Sluggers.

I could see a Willis for Lugo trade (bloated contract for bloated contract) at least this way the Sox will be greatly overpaying a guy actually playing for them, and not someone else.

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Foley

It's silly to call it mental at this point because there are several other, more logical explanations to his crappy performance. Maybe he does have some mental problems, but he definitely was injured, and he definitely had messed up mechanics. If he was perfectly sound in every other aspect but still sucked (ie Ankiel) maybe I'd buy the mental argument. But it is way too early to put him in that category.

And the Greene/Crisp swap was debunked by both SD and Boston. The reporter that wrote the article where the rumor originated was contacted and said he wasn't saying that the two were in a rumored deal together. The article was just poorly worded.

JoeSixPat

The trade involves a Little League Team from Guam and the Red Sox would pay his full salary.

Real World

I'm not saying all of Willis' problems are mental. Clearly though, throwing strikes, or the inability to throw them when you've had the success he's had in his career, does affect a guy from the neck up a little bit. Maybe saying pscycological, as opposed to mental, fits a little better?

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

WhiskeyBreath

Dontrelle Willis is ****ing awful.

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