Boston Red Sox

Have the Red Sox gutted their farm system?

Michael Kopech pitched for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. Globe Staff/Stan Grossfeld

Shock spread quickly in the lobby of the Gaylord National hotel, home of Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, as word of the blockbuster trade spread Tuesday: The Red Sox had landed lefthander Chris Sale from the White Sox.

The shock reflected in equal measure the audacity of what the Red Sox had done — acquiring arguably one of the three best pitchers in the game — and what they’d given up to do so. A number of evaluators couldn’t help but reach the conclusion: The Red Sox have gutted their farm system.

Read the complete story at BostonGlobe.com. Don’t have a Globe subscription? Boston.com readers get a 2-week free trial.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com