MLB.com is reporting the Yankees have had internal discussions regarding trading for Mike Moustakas.
On the surface, this would appear to be a possible game-changer. Having a lefty hitter who popped 38 home runs a year ago play in Yankee Stadium, at a position (first base) that New York carries the second-worst OPS in baseball at, is undoubtedly an upgrade.
But the Red Sox shouldn't lose sleep over this scenario.
The Sox will be reminded what a good player Moustakas is this weekend when playing in Kansas City. Last season wasn't an accident, and he does have 16 homers and a respectable .784 OPS. But he is also a somewhat flawed hitter, carrying a .312 on-base percentage while potentially being asked to play a position he has manned just twice in his career. The Red Sox lefty starters have also had solid success against Moustakas, for what it's worth. (He is 4-for-6 against Joe Kelly, however.)
Todd Frazier was a nice pickup for the Yankees last year -- hitting 11 homers in 66 games after being acquired by New York -- but this was a tipping point in the divisional race. This Moustakas idea has the same sort of vibe.
What the Red Sox should clearly be fretting about is the Yankees potentially hauling in another name: J.A. Happ.
Sure, Happ hasn't blown the doors off anybody this season, posting a 4.03 ERA in 17 starts. And his last outing was horrific, giving up seven runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings. But this is lefty pitcher who has shown the ability to absolutely shut down the Red Sox.
In the past two seasons, Happ carries a 1.76 ERA in five starts, having limited the Red Sox one run over seven innings in his only appearance against Boston this season.
This is the guy the Yankees truly need, and the Red Sox better hope they don't get.