Here's another fun trade I came up with fast:
Cubs get:
2B/SS Marco Scutaro
Red Sox get:
OF Kosuke Fukudome
IF Jeff Baker or Darwin Barney
2M
I think this trade could work, but again, very unlikely.
This is kinda a bad contract swap, but not really. Scutaro only makes 5M next year, with a 6M CO (likely would be decline anways). The Red Sox already have enough OF (Drew, Ellisbury, Cameron) and I think they will sign Werth. So, that leaves already 4 OF on their roster. However, they want to trade Ellisbury and for spects (Gonzo trade?) Drew and Cameron are injury prone now and up their in age. Drew is not a great defender and Kosuke could play in place of him if he DH's or something like that. Off days too. So, I think Kosuke would be great insurance as I think Ellisbury will be traded and either Cameron or Drew will be injured, if not both. I'd expect Kosuke to put up nice stats in a RS uniform.
Now for the Cubs:
The Cubs would save 1-1.5M on Baker if dealt or 420K on Barney. Also, they would save 6.5M in the deal (not counting Baker or Barney's contract in 11'). The Cubs would have Rami at 3B, Castro at SS, Scutaro at 2B and ??? at 1st. Scutaro is 35 but is a FA after 11' and if stays healthy he would either be a type A or B FA. He plays good D, will hit .275-.300, around 15hr. He's a good baserunner and can still swap a base. He would be a good 1, 2 or 8 hitter (I think 1 or 8 as Castro will hit 2). Then, DeWitt can be a super utility guy, back-up 3B, 2B and SS if needed.
The Red Sox are shopping him, and are willing to deal him. From what I've seen, they want to trade him.
The lineup for 11' could be:
1) Scutaro 2B
2) Castro SS
3) Byrd CF
4) ??? 1B
5) Rami 3B
6) Soto C
7) Soriano LF
8) Colvin RF
This is with no trades, signings, etc.
Thoughts? I know it won't happen, but it was a fun thought.