Yoenis Cespedes for Rick Porcello Trade a Good Fit for Both Red Sox, Tigers

The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers capped off a ridiculous flurry of late trades at the winter meetings by making a swap on Thursday that had been rumored for days. The reported deal has right-hander Rick Porcello going to Boston in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, according to CJ Nitkowski of Fox Sports:

Told Cespedes to Detroit, Porcello to Boston is done.

- CJ Nitkowski (@CJNitkowski) December 11, 2014

While this isn't a straight-up, one-for-one move-fringy big league right-handed reliever Alex Wilson and low-level righty Gabe Speier are going to Detroit, too, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports -it's a good fit that fills needs for both clubs.

The Tigers immediately followed up the acquisition of Cespedes by picking up another starter in yet another trade, which also is covered below.

In the wake of losing out on bringing back lefty Jon Lester, who signed with the Chicago Cubs for $155 million, the Red Sox have addressed their highest priority-an inexperienced rotation -by adding two proven, innings-eating mid-rotation starters in short order.

In the hours before the trade for Porcello, Boston obtained lefty Wade Miley on Wednesday in exchange for Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, a pair of young, promising and enigmatic right-handers.

These two moves should insert 400 quality innings from two slightly-better-than-league average starting pitchers. Given the state of the Red Sox pitching staff 24 hours ago, this is both a good decision and a necessary one.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Red Sox still lack an ace, which Lester would have been. But even after moving Cespedes, who was more or less excess given how many outfielders are on Boston's roster, general manager Ben Cherington has enough trade chips left to play if he wants to go after a true No. 1 like, say, Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Red Sox's other possibility, of course, is to throw a lot of money at either one of the two remaining big-name free agents, James Shields or Max Scherzer. Either way, it feels like Cherington still isn't done wheeling and dealing this offseason.

Speaking of Scherzer, he now could become the Tigers' top target once again.

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Parting with Porcello, who had his best year yet at age 25 in 2014 (3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), actually could have left Detroit's once deep and mighty rotation looking a little-dare we say-light.

Former ace Justin Verlander is a shadow of his 2011 MVP self, and fellow right-hander Anibal Sanchez spent a large chunk of 2014 battling through injuries. Southpaw David Price is now the unquestioned ace of this staff, but he's also a free-agent-to-be, so a year from now the Tigers' five-man could look a lot worse.

In the meantime, however, general manager Dave Dombrowski had something else up his sleeve. Like trading for Cincinnati Reds right-hander Alfredo Simon, as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports:

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Source: #Tigers getting Alfredo Simon.

- Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2014

Simon, who also is a free agent after 2015, posted a 3.44 ERA and 1.21 WHIP last year on his way to earning an All-Star appearance (and out-pitching his peripherals, which added up to a ).

The Tigers are losing something in going from Porcello () to Simon, but it's not a massive downgrade, provided Simon can handle starting in the tougher American League enough to give Detroit something close to his 196.1 innings from 2014.

The Tigers' other option? Dombrowski could decide to re-sign Scherzer, who is seeking a $200 million contract, per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. Whether Detroit can afford to add that much to an already bloated payroll to retain the 2013 Cy Young winner, however, is a question for deep-pocketed owner Mike Ilitch.

Regardless of what happens with the arms, Detroit's offense and outfield defense will be better next season, thanks to Cespedes.

Tigers announce Eugenio Suarez, Jonathon Crawford to the Reds for Aldredo Simon.

- Chris Iott (@Chris_Iott) December 11, 2014

The 29-year-old slugger provides a boost in both the lineup and outfield by replacing Torii Hunter in right, where Cespedes' plus arm will be put to better use than in left, which is occupied by 2014 out-of-nowhere breakout player J.D. Martinez.

What Cespedes lacks in on-base skills (.316 career OBP) he makes up for by providing arguably the hottest commodity in baseball these days-big-time power from the right side. The Cuban star has hit at least 22 home runs in each of his three MLB seasons and makes Detroit's lineup deeper and much more dangerous.

The last matter to consider in this trade is that both Porcello and Cespedes are set to become free agents after 2015, but under slightly different terms.

Porcello comes with ability to be extended a qualifying offer, so the Red Sox can get a compensation pick if he signs elsewhere next winter. Boston also could consider signing the in-his-prime righty to an extension.

Cespedes, on the other hand, is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer per the terms of his contract, so there's more impetus for the Tigers either to get all they can out of him in 2015 or to sign him long term if they like him.

That difference likely explains why Detroit was able to finagle a couple more arms out of the Red Sox in this swap.

Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference and unless otherwise noted. To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter:

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