Major League Mongering: Reggie Sanders to the Red Sox

Major League Mongering will look at players rumored to be on the move between now and the July 31st pseudo-trade-deadline.

Why does this need to happen? Because Reggie Sanders is 39 years old and in the last year of a two-year contract. I mean, seriously, the Royals are in the middle of a youth movement, have been vying for the worst record in the league since Opening Day, and are still giving at-bats to someone five years shy of middle aged?

Besides, it's no secret that Sanders wants to be dealt to the Red Sox -- in fact, he's outright campaigning for it. From the Boston Herald:

"No, not at all," Sanders said when asked if he would be adverse to a trade to the Red Sox. "It's a great group of guys over there. I have never played there, but I have felt like I have just because of the way they embrace everybody."

Sanders has relished his role of elder statesman on this ultra-youthful Royals team for the past 1 1/2 seasons. But he also has heard about the euphoria that can come with playing in Boston from his friend Curt Schilling. And there is also the prospect of making a fourth World Series appearance.

"I think so," Sanders said when asked if the Red Sox would be among the teams at the top of his list, if traded. "(Schilling) is probably over there trying to make it happen right now."

Sanders certainly wouldn't be anything more than a fourth outfielder for the Sox, but it's not like he's racking up the playing time in KC -- he's played in just 18 games, missing two and a half months with a torn hamstring.


What might he bring back? A sack of baseballs and a bucket of Lena Blackburne's Original Baseball Rubbing Mud? Seriously, the Royals can't afford to be picky. Sanders is set to be a free agent at the end of the year, and dumping him by the end of July will save the team over a million bucks. Considering he'd only be bench depth for the Red Sox, the Royals would be lucky to get a low-level prospect in return.

What other teams are interested? Anyone that's desperate for cheap outfield depth, which I guess might also include teams like the Indians and Brewers (if Bill Hall's injury lingers). Though he's been injured for much of the year, he can still hit a little bit: in 53 at-bats (a criminally small sample size, mind you), he has a .377 average and a 1.073 OPS.

Should fantasy owners care? If he skips over the National League, maybe owners in deep NL-only leagues will want to think about it, but he'll most likely see such little PT no matter where he ends up that those in mixed leagues can safely continue to ignore him.