Sox Are Robbed In Roberts Deal

I'm so sorry to see Dave Roberts go.

Well the stories were bleeding out all over Red Sox Nation, Dave Roberts wanted out of Boston. This was not because he didn't love playing for the Fenway faithful... he just was not satisfied with his role on the team as the bench. With the departure of Gabe Kapler, the Red Sox were in need of right-hand hitting outfielder with some starting experience.

The deal resulted in a San Diego swap of 32 year olds, with the Red Sox acquiring Jay Payton, right handed career .285 hitter with starting experience on the Mets, Rockies, & Padres over the last few seasons. The biggest loss for the Red Sox will not just be the speed factor that Roberts brought off the bench, but also the chemistry that Dave brought with his glowing smile.

The fact is that Dave Roberts did want to go, he wasn't going to get many starts being a lefty hitter playing behind Damon & Nixon, and Theo had promised his ALCS hero that he would send him to a place that would satisfy him - so Dave is going back to Cali. In exchange the Red Sox recieve more of a power punch off the bench in Payton who hit 28 homers in 2003, thus crossing off my fifth priority of offseason workload - but adding a priority to add some more speed, but this is something the Sox could address in resigning Pokey, or in another platoon type speedy outfielder toward midseason.

Also changing uniforms in the deal is San Diego's backup infielder Ramon Vazquez as well as a minor league prospect pitcher in David Pauley. Vazquez provides another infielder to fight for the bench position behind Mark Bellhorn to start the season. He has 4 seasons of experience and provides a left handed bat off.

Overall in the swap, the Red Sox payroll increased only slightly in the exchange from Roberts to Payton as the Padres also included cash considerations. All sides in the trade were satisfied including the Red Sox organization, Padres, Payton & Roberts who were all interested in a scenary change, although Dave Roberts will never be forgotten for his involvement in one of the finest comebacks in baseball history.

Paolo DeVito
Back In Beantown