UPDATE: The trade is official.
The #RedSox today acquired RHP Carson Smith and LHP Roenis Elias from Seattle in exchange for LHP Wade Miley and RHP Jonathan Aro.
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) December 7, 2015
#Mariners acquire LHP Wade Miley and RHP Jonathan Aro from Boston in exchange for RHP Carson Smith and LHP Roenis Elias.
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) December 7, 2015
-----
The Boston Red Sox got their ace in David Price last week and now they have a surplus of starters. Although Dave Dombrowski said the team is probably done with big transactions, he reportedly made another trade on Monday.
Boston is sending starter Wade Miley to the Seattle Mariners, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. The Red Sox will also ship prospect Jonathan Aro in exchange for pitchers Carson Smith and Roenis Elias, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Smith, 26, finished with a 2.31 ERA and 13 saves in 70 games (70 innings) last season while Elias, 27, maintained a 4.14 ERA in 22 games (20 starts).
The latest rumors find the Red Sox are getting calls on starters Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly as well. The Seattle Mariners were interested in Buchholz or Miley and FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported they were making progress on a trade for Miley before the deal reportedly went through.
Buchholz and Miley were among the top two trade candidates for Boston this offseason as both carry good value because of their team-friendly contracts, but Kelly is also an attractive piece. The right-hander had a strong finish to the 2015 season and did not record a loss in his final 10 starts (8-0). However, it's been said the Red Sox aren't keen on moving him since he doesn't become a free agent until after 2018.
Rob Bradford of WEEI.com says it's "unlikely" the team is motivated to move the right-hander. Still, Kelly says he'll be keeping an eye on his phone.
"I haven't put too much thought into it. Whatever happens is going to happen," he told Bradford. "I haven't really checked up on anything. But I'll probably start checking my phone over the next week with the Winter Meetings. That's always a possibility. We have six guys and obviously Price isn't going anywhere. It will be interesting to see what will happen. I'll stay on my phone, that's for sure."
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Texas Rangers are interested in Kelly and the Kansas City Royals are looking at some of the Red Sox's starters "not named Price" (and also mentioned Buchholz would make "perfect sense" for them). Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News also mentioned the Rangers' interest, but he said Boston's efforts were "directed elsewhere." Texas also inquired about Miley and the Miami Marlins asked about Miley and Kelly.
Right now it appears as if Miley will be dealt because multiple MLB clubs have contracted Boston about him. The left-hander took a step back in 2015 and finished 11-11 with a 4.46 ERA in 32 starts, but he's earning just over $15 million in the next two years, which is an attractive acquisition due to the high price of starting pitchers this year.
"At this week's Winter Meetings in Nashville, Dave Dombrowski may tweak the rotation even more," Cafardo wrote in his latest edition of Sunday Baseball Notes. "Boston ranked 24th in the majors last season in starters' ERA. While there's a feeling Rick Porcello will be better, Clay Buchholz will stay healthy, Joe Kelly will emerge, and Eduardo Rodriguez will become a No. 1 talent, there are no guarantees."
Don't forget the Red Sox still have Henry Owens, Brian Johnson and Steven Wright as options in the rotation, so there's depth in that department.
