Report: Angels close to acquiring Kazmir
Now here’s a potential trade no one apparently saw coming — and it’s one that might have an indirect impact on the Red Sox’ playoff chances.
According to a report this afternoon by Angels beat writer Lyle Spencer on MLB.com, the AL West leaders are close to acquiring talented but injury-plagued lefthander Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays would receive a pair of prospects from Los Angeles, reportedly pitcher Alexander Torres and third baseman Matthew Sweeney.
Initially, it’s stunning that the Rays, who trail the Red Sox by 3 1/2 games in the wild-card race — and have six games remaining against the Sox — would deal Kazmir, a 25-year-old with a mid-90s fastball and a sharp slider. He has also been effective against the Red Sox in his career, going 8-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 23 starts, which may be one reason he appeals to the Angels, who are the Red Sox’ likely first-round opponent should they make the postseason.
But the lefthander has his obvious flaws. He struggles to pitch deep into games, and he is having an injury-plagued and ineffective season — he’s 8-7 with a 5.92 ERA in 20 starts. There is speculation that the Rays intend to use Kazmir’s salary — he is in the first year of a three-year, $28.5 million deal — to acquire another pitcher. They are also expected to recall promising righthander Wade Davis from Triple A.
So how do you read this deal? Is it a salary dump by the Rays, a sign they don’t think they’ll overtake the Red Sox and make the playoffs this year? Is getting rid of Kazmir addition by subtraction for the Rays since he’s had such an uneven season? And should the Red Sox, who have a higher waiver priority than the Angels, have put in a claim on him to prevent the Rays from dealing him?
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