Red Sox Rumors: Ian Kennedy A Trade Target?

The Boston Red Sox are on the prowl for more help in their starting rotation, and recent trade rumors suggest that Ian Kennedy could be a possible target for them.

When the Red Sox participated in a mega-trade that sent Jon Lester to the Oakland Athletics and landed them slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes this past summer, they left a significant hole in their starting rotation.

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The team is reportedly making a big push to re-sign Lester this off-season to plug that hole, but if they don’t, it is possible that they could end up using Cespedes to trade for a pitcher now that they have big bats in recently signed sluggers Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wonders about Ian Kennedy of the San Diego Padres as a possible fit for the rotation and therefore a possible trade target for the Red Sox:

"Ian Kennedy, RHP, Padres — He’s a possibility for Boston’s second or third starter if the Red Sox decide to deal Yoenis Cespedes. Kennedy was 13-13, 6-6 at home (100⅔ innings) and 7-7 on the road (100⅓). He had a 3.93 ERA in the large Petco Park, but 3.32 away from it. He turns 30 on Dec. 19."

Kennedy is solid, but certainly not on the level of a guy like Lester. There would be presumably be more to a trade between these two teams if Kennedy and Cespedes were the main players, especially given the premium placed on the right-handed power that Cespedes brings. Save for that, this deal makes little sense.

Ian Kennedy is a solid option for the starting rotation, but here’s guessing the Red Sox explore bigger names that will move the needle more first.