I heard a caller on WEEI today offer what I thought was a great trade idea. How about sending someone like Wily Mo Pena and a pair of third-tier prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Ryan Doumit? Doumit is both an outfielder and a catcher. He's appeared in 18 games as a catcher this year and 21 games as a right fielder. He's batting .305 with 4 homers and 17 RBI. He's only 26 years old.
On the Red Sox, Doumit could be both our fourth outfielder and a third catcher behind Varitek and Mirabelli. This would allow the Red Sox to give more time off to Varitek without hurting the team with Mirabelli's bat. It would also allow us to comfortably pinch-hit for Mirabelli in Tim Wakefield starts.
In addition, the team could slowly groom Doumit into becoming our long-term No. 2 backstop by having him catch Wakefield's bullpen sessions. Because Doumit is also a capable outfielder, we wouldn't have to release Mirabelli. In a way, we'd be getting two players for the price of one roster spot. We'd also potentially be adding our 2009 starter if it turns out that Doumit can sustain a .300 batting average and solidly handle the position defensively. There's really no downside.
I'd offer Wily Mo Pena, Brandon Moss, Abe Alvarez and Edgar Martinez for Ryan Doumit and Damaso Marte. The Pirates would at least consider this deal because Pena is a potential 40 HR guy who would finally get an opportunity to play everyday in a city like Pittsburgh. Moss would replace Doumit as the fourth outfielder. Alvarez, as a slop lefthander, could have success as a fourth or fifth starter in a very weak National League. And Martinez is a fireballing young relief pitcher who would only cost the major league minimum.
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