OK, I'll say it...

SPORTING GOODS

I would trade Ellsbury, Lester, and a couple other prospects for Santana, if they could complete the deal by signing him to a long term deal. Right now there seems to be a divide on the issue among Sox fans; but I guess you'd only consider it a divide in a way that GWB's approval rating is a "divide." Because on the Globe it was 80-20 saying no way do the Sox give up Ellsbury.

The way I see it, if you have the chance to score a surefire hall of fame pitcher for the low price of $120M, a guy who will probably be a #3 starter for his career, a centerfielder with all-star potential, and a couple prospects, you have to do it. And you don't look back.

If Hanley Ramirez came up for 6 weeks in 2005 and got to play nearly every day, the fans would have fallen for him like they have Jacoby, and would have screamed bloody murder when he was traded for Beckett. How'd that work out? Yeah having Ramirez around would be nice, but...well, Josh Beckett. I love Ellsbury and would love to not trade him. But if that's the dealbreaker, so be it.

Then there's the idea of the Sox pitching prospects. How many pitching prospects actually work out? Remember when the Sox traded Carl Pavano and Brian Rose, the Sox pitching "gems" for Pedro? Remember all the Mets "can't miss" pitchers over the last 15 years, all of whom have bombed. Well, except one, but that's a sore subject that I won't mention further. Lester is a great story, and has a ton of wins for the Sox, but his stats don't impress. He's benefited from some great run support in general. I'd rather not give up Buchholtz, but again, dealbreaker, etc...

Rumor has it that Crisp and cash might be traded instead of Ellsbury. Great, let's do that. But if it's got to be Ellsbury, put me in the 20% group that would rather watch Johan Santana, the most exciting pitcher since Pedro in his prime, stalk the mound that Pedro once owned.