Ohman Rumor

The Red Sox today are talking to the Braves about reliever Will Ohman, who has a 2.84 ERA, 13 holds, and 41 strikeouts (with 18 walks) in 44 1/3 innings pitched this season.

Besides the Red Sox, five other teams are discussing Ohman with the Braves, who are looking for a pitching prospect in return. A logical name that might surface in trade talks with Atlanta from the Red Sox farm system is Double-A pitcher Daniel Bard, who is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 37 2/3 innings pitched for the Sea Dogs this season.

That's a pretty good return for Ohman (and by extension Jose Ascanio). Bard was ranked as the 19th-best prospect in the Red Sox organization to begin the year and was a first round draft pick out of North Carolina in 2006. He's a real hard thrower with an easy 96 to 98, but his breaking stuff is a work in progress. He's doing better this year after suffering through some trials at two levels last year. All in all, if we can get him for "Will Ohman" then I'd do it in a heartbeat. He's still a year or so away, but like Marek this a guy who used to be a starter and was converted to a reliever.