Boston's well-stocked farm system can benefit the major league team in multiple ways

Joe, a fellow blogger and a regular on Sox and Pinstripes, does not agree with my opinion that the Red Sox should trade for Texas shortstop Michael Young. He cites Young's age (32), glove and range (which are both average) and salary ($16 million per season for five years starting in 2009) as his reasons for avoiding the perennial all-star. Joe also believes that Boston should not part with young players like Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie and Clay Buchholz.

I partly agree with Joe. The Red Sox should carefully contemplate any prospective trade that involves a prospect. Boston could have landed Johan Santana last off-season, but it would have cost them Lowrie, Masterson, Ellsbury and/or Lester among other names. While it is true that Santana would have given the Sox two extremely dominant aces, where would the team have been in 2008 without Lowrie stepping in for Julio Lugo and Mike Lowell, Lester emerging as one of the best left-handed starters in baseball, Ellsbury stealing 50 bases and playing exceptional defense and Masterson contributing as a starter and a reliever?

Talented depth is a key reason why the Red Sox won it all in 2007 and came within one game of returning to the World Series last season. Talented depth is a key reason why the Red Sox will once again be a serious contender for a World Series title in 2009, even without Mark Teixeira.

That said, a deep farm system is not only a resource to produce homegrown players that contribute at the major league level, but it is also a means to acquire difference-making veterans via trades. Though Theo Epstein would never have signed off on the deal that sent Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez and other prospects to Florida for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell - the transaction was made during his brief hiatus as general manager - the trade was worthwhile. Beckett remains one of the best starters in baseball, and Lowell was the 2007 World Series MVP. Both players will be instrumental to Boston's success in 2009.

Simply put, when you execute a trade, you gotta give up something to get something. Unlike most franchises, the Red Sox have a track record (at least under Epstein's tenure) of minor leaguers producing when they are called up to the big leagues. Other teams notice this, so they are understandably enamored with Red Sox prospects. Remember, not only have guys like Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Lester, Masterson, Lowrie, Ellsbury and Buchholz helped the Red Sox, but names like Hanley Ramirez, Freddy Sanchez, Kelly Shoppach, David Murphy, Brandon Moss, Cla Meredith and Kason Gabbard have contributed to the teams where they were traded. 

This leads me to the reason why I disagree with Joe about Boston surrendering prospects to acquire Young. He is a run producer who is consistent at the plate and adequate - not spectacular, but adequate - at shortstop. At 32, he is far from past his prime, and he should significantly contribute during the full period of his five-year contract. Young is a difference maker who would bolster the Red Sox lineup, thus the reason he is worth giving up a couple top prospects and a mid-level minor leaguer for.

Apparently, Joe and the other Sox and Pinstripes readers who disagree with me on this topic need not worry. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported that Boston is not interested in Young. Evidently, they are intrigued about journeyman catcher Gregg Zaun and injured reliever Takashi Saito, but not Young. If Epstein believes that Young is too old and not worth a five-year, $80 million commitment, I hope that he is still working the phones to find a young slugger in Hanley Ramirez's category. Or, if Epstein is content with the starting lineup as is (aside from the open catcher's spot), hopefully he builds a strong bench that includes names like Eric Byrnes and Mark Kotsay, who both can step in and contribute as starting position players, if needed.

Make no mistake. I am ecstatic that the Red Sox have placed a commitment on developing their farm system. Not only is the team willing to spend big money on high school and college draft picks, but they are signing high-profile international free agents in Latin America countries, Asia (Japan and Taiwan) and even Australia (remember the names Mitch Dening and Boss Moanaroa).

Now that most of Boston's highly regarded prospects at the Triple-A level have graduated to the big leagues, a bulk of the next crop of top minor leaguers can be found at Double-A Portland and at the Single-A affiliates. By 2009, some of these guys will make their way to Pawtucket. This is why the Red Sox can afford to trade one or two of Buchholz, Bowden, Lowrie, Ellsbury or Josh Reddick for a big bat or a talented young catcher. It is the benefit of having such a well-stocked farm system.