Should the Sox trade for pitching?
DAN SHAUGHNESSY
Globe columnist
It's hard to address this question without looking at the Bronson Arroyo trade in the rearview mirror. Many of us (me, for one) applauded the deal at the time, but right now it looks like a blunder that has put the Sox into a difficult position. Simply put, Theo Epstein made a bad read of the David Wells situation and now the Sox are paying the price. And yes, they should attempt to trade for Dontrelle Willis, or another established young starter. There was a lot of chest-thumping last winter about the Sox having a glut of pitching, but the old ``you can never have enough pitching" axiom applies here. And now they need to get more.
NICK CAFARDO
Globe baseball writer
It's never too early to start looking, but I'd hold off on being a buyer. For one thing, you have to see how effective Jon Lester can be in the major leagues. For another, pitchers are costly. How many more prospects must you give up to obtain a proven starter? You have to be careful about this. If you're giving up prospects for Dontrelle Willis, who is still very young, then it's worth considering. If you're giving them up for a third or fourth starter, I wouldn't do it now. It's early June and you're hovering around first place. Your major competition, the Jays and Yankees, also have injury issues and neither is able to pull away. Don't panic now. Stay the course.
CHRIS SNOW
Red Sox beat reporter
No, it is not time to seek rotation help. If David Wells is done, Jon Lester will be here to stay, and it's early enough that he'll have time to adjust before the games really mean something. It is time to go out and seek bullpen help. The Sox have one healthy, reliable reliever, and he doesn't pitch until the ninth inning. Mike Timlin, 40, has pitched once in the last 21 days, and there is no guarantee he will hold up. Keith Foulke's health is even more uncertain. There's nothing more dispiriting than losing winnable games in the seventh or eighth innings. So Craig Hansen must be worked into the middle- to late-inning relief picture. And a little outside help must be added.
GORDON EDES
Globe baseball writer
The Sox have already been looking for a pitcher. Among others, they scouted Kyle Lohse of the Twins. Everyone is looking for pitching. The Sox are banking on Jon Lester to stick, especially since they are pessimistic that David Wells will be back. Next year, Jonathan Papelbon will probably be in the rotation. That doesn't help this summer. Maybe a Livan Hernandez will pop free, or a Jason Schmidt or a Dontrelle Willis or a Barry Zito. But some fans are already grumbling about what the Sox gave up to get Josh Beckett. A deal probably won't happen until the trading deadline, and it's more likely, I suspect, that Theo Epstein shores up his bullpen than his rotation.
BRAD GLIDDEN
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Could it be only three months since the Sox felt they had seven quality starters and Bronson Arroyo was surplus to requirements? Oh well. As far as going out for a veteran arm for the summer run to the playoffs, who's available and what would the Sox have to give up to get him? While the current Sox lineup is solid from 1 to 9, there isn't a lot of depth to trade away and still cover for injuries. So the arms coming up are young and untested? Everyone was once young and untested. Time to throw 'em in the deep end of the pool -- and Fenway in August doesn't get any deeper -- and see what we've got.
