David Aardsma off to BOS Options

[Underdogger]

David Aardsma was shipped to the Red Sox Monday in exchange for two minor leaguers, according to the AP.

Our View
Aardsma will attempt to win a bullpen job with Boston this spring after posting an ugly 6.40 ERA in 25 relief appearances with the White Sox in 2007.-Fanball.com

The Red Sox obtained reliever David Aardsma from the White Sox for Willy Mota and Miguel Socolovich on Monday in a trade involving three right-handed pitchers. Mota had 17 relief outings last year at Class A Lowell, going 5-3 with a 2.60 ERA and one save. Socolovich pitched last year for two Class A teams, Greenville and Lowell. He was 2-2 with a 6.65 ERA in 11 games with Greenville and 5-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 14 games with Lowell.-Cbs.sportsline.com


Probably not much of a fantasy impact here but you never know these days.

This post has been edited by Underdogger: Jan 29 2008, 12:55 AM

[os_gamejunkie]

Maybe, probably if your an AL East only league that counts Holds.

[slackerjack1943]

A great low-risk move for Boston.

Aardsma has a great arm, but for reasons unknown he completely imploded after an outstanding April last year. He pitched ok in the minors, but self-destructed a few more times when the White Sox recalled him.

There has been no mention of an arm injury, so the problem is likely mechanical or between his ears. If Boston can fix what's wrong with him, they just got themselves a cheap Timlin replacement for the bullpen.

[Zara]

Bigtime under the radar terrific move. Amazingly live arm. Not sure what his problem really is but I guess it's severe enough for an organization with the reputation for pitching like the Sox to give him away and pay millions to Dotel and Linebrink. If someone could harness Aardsma, he could be better than both.

[HighLanderZ]

Agreed, could be a very good move by Boston. Aardsma has had some buzz about his potential but hasn't lived up to it. He's only 26 y/o so he has some time to work things out. As mentioned, if Boston can fix him, watch out ...

[Van Buren Boys]

I'm moderately excited about the move. No doubt the guy has a good arm. He just needs to harness his stuff. Good low risk move by Theo.

[Rotobronco]

This signing underlines Theo's likely fretting over the Boston 'pen during the September & the playoffs, when Okajima clearly was getting gassed, and Timlin found a little lightning in a bottle to tide them over. Counting on Timlin to perform that way again has burned many teams in the past - I personally think Delcarmen is set for big things this year, and Aardsma may be being groomed as the 6th inning / long-relief guy.

A low-risk move, and given that he won't be asked to do much re: high-pressure situations, it's one that might work out - either way, given the low price paid, it won't be a terrible loss.

As much as I bag on the White Sox's bullpen, since they signed both Dotel *and* Linebrink (the latter I believe they'll regret), with Thornton & Jenks likely solidified in their 'pen, and Aardsman out of options, KW decided to get *any* value for Aardsma. Out of all the guys that failed in the ChiSox 'pen, he surprised me the most - either the NL really is AAAA compared to the AL, or US Cellular got into his head, or Aardsma was just over his head at PacBell.

Given the circumstances for both clubs, completely understandable, but the Red Sox end up with a slight edge, if only because Aardsma's ceiling profiles higher than the other 2.

This post has been edited by Rotobronco: Jan 29 2008, 10:39 AM