Alex Speier, WEEI.com

Last night was the best start of the second half of the season. Not mathematically but you know what I'm saying the start of the season after the All-Star break in the Red Sox dropped the first game of their four game homestand against Texas Rangers. Here to help sort things out from a Red Sox perspective. His help on the way where will that help come from from WEEI dot com is our body Alex -- good morning Alex. I you don't -- great about it so better than Tim Wakefield at the moment.

Yeah look closely not the godmother could not a career highlight I want to add to that the movement at. Volume of of a couple -- that he had as a member of the Red Sox.

Well -- scenario make this season. Is this whole season and that way.

It has been -- difficult -- I think there's you know you can point in part of the the important. He does does the prevailed for dispute about what kind of -- you're going to have there now in the shuttling between the other pick them all and -- degree by. The fact of the matter is. As many have said the number the number and so the depth within. In one of his more difficult Heaton as a member of the Red Sox. I do you think that the record is a little bit misleading if I'm because there have been some really good game in which he hadn't gotten much run support. Work with -- and ended up betraying good outing by. All of you know all all of the performance that is political part. Is and what you know it isn't up the standard that you set for -- career. And you know in all likelihood is not for the standard reflects you didn't in a member of the in a member of the rotation but not to say that incorrect court. But it the -- you know performance at the point is that --

All perfect Segway Alex -- because I'm gonna ask -- if it's just a matter of time before Tim Wakefield is out of the rotation. And should he be out of the rotation in your opinion.

Well when you look at the -- about it but you know -- I think that it is pretty clear that and none of the -- he's got -- out he was earlier in the year. You know obviously quite -- isn't going anywhere -- the -- aspect of fact there'll be an opening for him. You know what a great -- about whether or not. -- came up -- it has earned its spot I think that. He probably had more dominant in that you're than Wakefield has it capacity to be that its current. Now is probably. As far as you do critically -- then -- computed the -- more valuable member out contributor out of the bullpen. A -- out really but that was a -- and they never thrown out of the bullpen which still has felt. Overall look at the overall value of the team eight on those six guys didn't you wanna -- well I get responses. Get behind Wakefield is the number seven yarder by. Yeah I think there's the likelihood is that if by -- by the other guys are healthy Wakefield and a Quebec or.

What's the story with Michael Bolton where does he stand with his second version back to the bullpen. And and when do you expect that he would be here helping this team.

But the good quit and I hit it to the Red Sox like it gives guys the number of different like like the -- number of different situation before they make them the bullpen. It wouldn't quite the thing situation as well as the outcome Papelbon heard at the masters when they were being. I converted the book and because both of those guys. -- pretty significant wealth of experience that pat -- and spent his entire life as a starter so it's important for the Red Sox to allow him in the minor league. We gotta get game with a runner on a they're getting there's the pitch multiple innings pitched one single and in different you know different. Stresses of the situation. So I think it will probably -- and the the and it no more than that you would think that he would need to be. You know has -- that simple maybe maybe a couple weeks worth of of relief appearances. The kind of through a bit of a trial and in -- that something that would be helpful the Red Sox. Because one thing that you don't know wanna -- is jeopardized because development I'd bring him out. It happened -- ready for the situation and then you know and that moreover hurting the Red Sox are not being able reform. In the role that it. But I I think that -- really thought it odd that you'd -- themselves well. -- the number of bowl and I know that the number of the reliever in the majors but you're the looks of it but those -- the -- pretty badly I want out if you look at -- number relief. I actually I think he gave up like who run in the seventh -- something like that and he was you're pretty effective than he got it in and he threw strikes. And he was actually a month month are. But you know overall I got up and showed him the make up -- one yet and -- and certainly these simple willingness of people that open guy. Very helpful with them.

You know Alex we were stood up by David Ortiz. Earlier this week and and since then I've been obsessed with David Ortiz. I'm -- upsets of the business that -- barber and it's usually not right not really this the other way. But. But I say that to say this do you think. The Red Sox are thinking about what Ortiz mentioned earlier and earlier this week earlier this week he dropped the possibility of a contract extension do you think there's any chance the Red Sox. Legs would extend David Ortiz before the season's over.

Mean I -- for the didn't go or no there's no need to that was really the at all. -- yeah. -- beyond the option. I think that the possibility of that I mean -- that it could be a situation and not unlike Wakefield last year. -- in which he saw. The Red Sox McClain is not an option but then signed him to a two year deal a multi year deal that have a lower base salary with the opportunity I have greater. I think it have been like that reasonable because I think that you know twelve of the half million dollar with what they would look -- up for. Is -- the economic but it hurt you if you look at the market and got like like Guerrero or at interpret these. Are making about five million bucks now. Guerrero wasn't helped you last it would certainly depressed market but you know EA is don't get opening half million dollars year. So I think it's there's a will there's there's directing. On or is it part obviously they -- the Red Sox there's -- desire you know I think up for a month that part of the Red Sox. Organization the important around and certainly either being the possibility they thought that a bit on that mutual. Mutual interest. Of their -- A declaration of the the option but -- you're you'll that would be or he's around now that the a possibility that I would fit within the --

What would you do it would you would you which is not a guy was in his mid thirties will be 35. I believe after the season is over. Would you sign him to a contract extension.

Well based on performance that you -- you can get something that that a reasonable market rate on the short term deal at the I think that he's. I think it is you know a terrific producer in the middle of the order that here yeah I think -- there's value -- you Duke it you can sign a guy like that. To a relatively short term deal then as they -- the relatively good contract. I'm a lot of them. -- are -- doing other -- you -- the decision between you know going out acquiring Adrian Gonzales signed him to a long term extension. Or resigning Ortiz then I think -- become different for the -- all. Let it bother you perform -- This year when he's been one of the top mediate is the game. Based on his performance of the strike last year I thought -- you -- you both present middle and order so yeah I think it. -- short term deal. Right you'll Mario probably a one year contract with like a vesting option. Or -- or not in the -- like that. And not been that great you know and maybe you end up which meant to you -- what is.

I want to ask you about this roster and when help can come. Over the horizon and help out and I'm gonna set aside Manny Delcarmen Clay Buchholz and Josh Beckett. Because I feel fairly confident Delcarmen will be here this weekend and the other two will make their next start after the rehab start for the big league club. But as far as the lineup is concerned. What's realistic expectations for when Terry Francona will start to get guys back -- it was lineup who can help them.

That's a great question and really one of the great unknown that they -- It makes their position and that your. Build up the July 31 trade market so complicated my mind. I mean you don't know precisely when guys like Pedroia when Victor Martinez are going to be back you have which is a little bit and put up at a Tokyo very. You know you have a general and where you say OK maybe law and a fitting these guys back sometime in. I -- late July early August you know I think that seem like they are relatively realistic timetable. Based on what we -- for. For all three of those guys in that they're note though is that is that -- it because. Nobody in the -- then we expect the Victor Martinez will be back for him after the All-Star break it now we're learning it looked at but on the glove though. Though I I think that there is. A tremendous amount of uncertainty it is dictate that they kind of I think that. But on that uncertainty. You can't really make move assume that they're not going to come back because if -- you'll late prospect. And then acquire guy who could be a regular -- and then all of that you have Victor Martinez back one week later. Then you that you're up before the -- from the short term and long term. So I I think that it it will really difficult situation -- respect to operate in. And in general they have to go on if something that you know these guys that would be back in until. There's not a lot that you can view on the trade market based on the assumption of you know based on not yet -- they won't be back but it's -- tricky situation.

We're talking to Alex spear from WEEI dot com. Given the way this team is having trouble scoring runs right now and it's it's a fairly obvious reason why they are and it's a it's an understandable reason why they are. At what point does the organization decide to take a shot at a 22 year old outfielder like Ryan -- the way he's been hitting the ball on the docket.

An interesting question because when you look at the history of who the guys were promoted and who the Red Sox have promoted. -- that kind of in the old very profile of a guy -- you've been doing a significant amount of success even though it in a relatively short sample size. I think on the cover page and that you know I I think it. There's kind of a back in -- in BI and the organization about you know whether or not. About what -- appropriate I think would be -- for putting a guy like out of it. When you look -- situation because it would be added to the forty man roster after this your regardless of regardless of whether or not he's the big -- but -- the so. Supporting and if you without significant one I didn't think that they. Really do like these guys and their development and as couldn't it was a number of -- there has been in an -- at triple -- level. I was -- you're striking out when he was double play in AAA -- striking out roughly twice but these blocking which you expect. And that part of adjusting to a new level. You know I think that he's a very very good overall player all around player. He's an intriguing guidance that we could help he could cut out. Lightning in the bottle a lot of people there in 2007. Let you aren't sure. There's you know there's always going to be some question but that's what happened who dies with effort -- I -- You know being recovered -- they're having about a guy like got Redick at the end of spring training because he looked for all the world. Like you're going to be tremendous asset to the in the outfield that turned out that it it needed more time to develop that not flawed as part is that the reality they're all so. I think there's I I think you will -- it was the majors sometime before the year is over whether or not that come before September I'm not sure.

Alex. A little exercise here Fauria. We were talking about the Yankees the Red Sox and the rays and trying to figure out which team was the best when healthy. So what should have put your put yourself in the position of of a neutral observer you're looking at these three teams and you have to imagine a bit with the Red Sox because they've been hit with so many injuries. Which came which team is the best or or really in terms of playoff talk. Which routines. Are the best out of the three Red Sox rays Yankees European.

You're in the equipment the great one because you're absolutely right we haven't seen that help you -- all year. So you know baseball bat and I I think it. Well football I don't know but wherever going to be up all the help -- Red Sox in the -- because. Even at the other guys come back whether or not Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron are ever able to perform at a healthy -- level and that he's been is a very open question but. That is by -- all of the team where 100% healthy I opened it I opened the Red Sox and actually I think -- let the rays. Probably would've been the top of the I don't the regular local media. I think Eric Allen is. As good if not better in -- in the I have guys. It's associated with them by entering the year I thought the red -- Because I didn't think though that I I thought the Yankees were going to have a pitching staff that suffered some in the aftermath of a seven month even I -- in the that they. Where rotation. In I think is that. The Red Sox lineup would have been tremendous -- given you the performance of Beltre in what it was beautiful. And for that matter that you would have been looking at. Really outstanding lineup to a company. What was supposed to be this. And that it built and up the bat because the it is the bat but right now currently get guys out there they need.

Final question before we let's ago every year before the trading deadline Theo basically tells the sonic we're gonna make any moves and because -- Victor Martinez or whoever. He's already made that that same -- trading deadline speech this year. Was gonna go get.

In the in question if -- from them the other year is that the Red Sox. They have -- and feel a little bit different required for creativity. In high -- guys. Another that's going to happen. I we think it. Via the media. -- I think the respect and recruitment -- into the trade market is more limited this year and at the only you know only curiosity. For me -- require work that they would you give Major League caliber he is back in battle of the they have what it would be looking for. What the whether or not you know it Prince Fielder was definitely out there. That would be intriguing department the -- well it's not. -- But they have you know what you have felt that you put so there's that a lot of opening there are a lot of guys out there were -- told me that -- I think it is going to be you know. One. My mind that all options like if it. -- It.

According to Ed price of AOL fan house that's because there up against the luxury tax and they won't go over. Have you heard any rumblings at all but their financial implications. To any potential deals that they could be make.

Yet I definitely believe that there are that they will take into account is not a payroll that they have available and that they -- more than a year. The big hit in the past couple years -- not here where they could to support equality and parity of in his contract. And invent a -- bail out of that not at night that that your with. In which they exactly have -- they have an operating budget every year but this year -- more if they'd been in past years. So I I think that would take a pretty special player who they go over that that that. You know as you'd think that the Red Sox are creative and from other in terms of history resources. An era -- their ownership group has always done well in the but if you -- If it.

And just to put it in perspective is that price put it in the peace that he wrote. Right now the Red Sox have 45 million dollars on the disabled list.

It meant there's no question there's nothing like they're basically baseball right now the fact that they are willing. All stars on the disabled let. In that they did it in the perfect fit in front of time and that buried within sniffing distance of content with significant by. You know I I think -- they know that have obvious that they're coming when that as you come back. But I I -- think it got money into a third one it is. But it is on the market.

Alex we appreciate time thanks. Take -- gala Alex -- WEEI dot com.