With Schilling Injured, do Blanton and Baker become Trade Targets?

While the news about Curt Schilling’s injured shoulder is troubling, especially if we cannot get his contract voided, it does make me wonder if Theo Epstein will look to trade for another arm.

There are two names I am interested in right now that are “reasonable” trade targets, Joe Blanton of the Oakland A’s and Scott Baker of the Minnesota Twins.

Blanton is a workhorse of a pitcher who doesn’t have dominating strikeout rates, but took a major leap forward last season with his control. That said, is the new-found control for real? In 2005 and 2006 he was a 1.75 K/BB pitcher, which is not all the impressive, however last season that number jumped to an elite 3.50 K/BB. You have to assume he will settle somewhere in the middle and end up a really good middle of the rotation pitcher who will eat a lot of innings. The problem is Billy Beane, the A’s GM, is going to ask for a package of top prospects (he will not want Coco Crisp, so don’t ask) in return and that is not going to happen if you ask me.

Baker is an interesting pitcher; he is a control artist who has dominated in the minor leagues and finally had some major league success last year. There were also some musings around that the Red Sox have previously inquired about his availability. The Twins, as we know, are looking for a stopgap centerfielder who can give Carlos Gomes time to mature as a player in the minor leagues. Crisp might be in play here, and if we include cash and another prospect that the Twins showed interest in during Santana discussions we might have something.

Of course, it would be nice to know what the actual issue with Schilling is, and until we do, or see that Theo has made a trade, this is all just crazy Red Sox speculation.