Boston Red Sox hypothetical fire sale: Five potential trade ideas

The Red Sox have money, but what would happen if conditions suddenly existed that forced a franchise dismantling? Just what type of return could be expected of young, talented, and controllable players?

Charlie Finley dismantled an Athletics team that won three straight World Series championships with his motivator being free agency and the impending doom it would present to Finley. The Red Sox purchased Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers only to have the transaction vacated by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Going back into A’s history a similar occurrence happened in the years after the Great Depression started when owner Connie Mack was financially strapped. The Red Sox and Tom Yawkey stepped in and…