Matthew Kory wrote a post over on Fangraphs about what it would like if the Sox traded both players
On value to other teams:
On whether it's still a good idea:
Overall, I tend to agree. I think dumping the contracts now, is going to look like a mistake. We're not even a full season in, and though it's frustrating, it's going to take more than a half season to see if the contracts are such a bust that they need to be traded away. Still, I know this idea has gotten traction around here, specifically in the selling thread so I think it's a good idea to start a new topic to break down the idea further.
On value to other teams:
It’s not hard to see that since the Red Sox signed these players, their value has dropped, possibly substantially. It’s not that Sandoval and Ramirez couldn’t step in and help other clubs right now. Quite possibly they could. They’re but a few months past being desirable free agents. The problem is that they don’t appear like they will come close to providing the value for which they’re being paid. If the Red Sox are going to give these contracts away, making the players essentially like free agents to the acquiring team, that acquiring team isn’t going to want to pay them their current salaries.
On whether it's still a good idea:
But considering where Boston is now, that seems presumptive. In other words, it’s not at all clear yet that Sandoval and Ramirez are mistakes. What’s more, the Red Sox don’t have talented enough players at present to replace Sandoval and Ramirez, unless you assume the way they’ve played so far in 2015 is the way they’ll continue to play more or less throughout their contracts. But if Boston has to pay their contracts to make them go away, those are mistakes that are going to linger seasons into the future, no matter when they admit it.
Overall, I tend to agree. I think dumping the contracts now, is going to look like a mistake. We're not even a full season in, and though it's frustrating, it's going to take more than a half season to see if the contracts are such a bust that they need to be traded away. Still, I know this idea has gotten traction around here, specifically in the selling thread so I think it's a good idea to start a new topic to break down the idea further.