Dave Hill: It was recently mentioned by Peter Gammons in an interview on 98.5 that Jon Lester may be unhappy and want out of Boston. Do you feel the Sox would consider moving him, and what type of return would they be looking for?

Derek Skytalo: As of now I don’t think the Sox will move Lester. But if the club struggles over the next couple weeks I think both he and Beckett could be moved and I think they both should be. There is too much clubhouse noise and I firmly believe both are heavily involved, look at last year. If this team can’t get it together then a shakeup is needed and not just trading players  like Cody Ross or Mike Aviles but Beckett and Lester. Although the off season would be more fitting to move both pitchers I dont see either being dealt this month. If they did I could see Lester packaged with some prospects and a guy like Ryan Sweeney to go after a Matt Garza type pitcher. King Felix would be nice and I wouldn’t think twice about dealing Lester in a package but I seriously doubt he’s available regardless of the offer.

DH: How much will the return of Jacoby Ellsbury impact this lineup?

DS: Ellsbury does so much for this club by his return. First, he brings some much needed excitement to all involved including an anxious fan base. Most importantly he brings a threat to the lead off spot, speed on the base paths which has been almost non existent for the Sox and a level of defense that’s been missing since he got hurt. I expect his timing to be slightly off at the plate but I look for him to bounce back quickly, giving this club a kick start they need so badly.

DH: Carl Crawford is set to begin his second attempt at a minor league rehab assignment. When would it be reasonable to expect him to return, and how much of an impact can he be expected to have?

DS: If things go well this time around and its a big if, I’d say the end of the month is reasonable to see CC with the big club. As far as an impact, not many fans are expecting much. I mean he will be playing with an elbow that will undergo TJS after the season so his production is likely to be on par with last season. Personally I think he should have the surgery now and be fully healed and hungry for next season. I understand he wants to contribute now but sometimes what a player wants versus whats best for the team aren’t the same thing.

DH: Daniel Bard has imploded dramatically since being sent down to Pawtucket. There has been talk that his struggles may be similar to Steve Blass and Rick Ankiel. Can Bard be fixed to the point where he can once again be a vital member of the bullpen?

DS: I think he can but it won’t be anytime this year. Something’s happened with Bard and it could be more mental than anything now. I think he needs a winter to clear his head and recover from an awful decision to try and start. He’s an asset to any bullpen when he’s throwing like he did for the past two seasons as the set up man. The pen is where he belongs and both Bard and Sox management finally realize that. I just hope he can bounce back next season and help this team out.

DH: With the struggles the Sox have had this season, how likely are they to be sellers at the deadline, and who would they be looking to move?

DS: Similar to the Rays I expect the Sox to be both. Guys like Sweeney, Daniel Nava, Scott Podsednik and Kelly Shoppach are almost surely to be moved while Ross and Aviles could be trade chips if the club falls further behind. We discussed Lester and Beckett and unless a deal for Hernandez is available those two along with Ellsbury and Buchholz are unlikely to go anywhere. Ben Cherington has said he’s focused on acquiring starting pitching help so look for some of the above names to make headlines in the next three weeks.

Jacoby Ellsbury is a player the Rays drooled over. After all, he does fit a profile they like and a profile they have gone after in the past. Ellsbury has always had blazing speed that suits him extremely well in the outfield and on the basepaths, and he also had a compact stroke that he could use to hit for average. The Devil Rays saw that in Ellsbury and selected him in the 23rd round of the 2002 MLB Draft out of Madras High School in Oregon despite Ellsbury’s strong commitment to Oregon State University. Ellsbury, of course, didn’t sign and went to OSU, and in 2005 he was a first round pick by the Red Sox. Now, he is the enemy.

No one would have guessed back in the day that Ellsbury would have added power, and it’s unfortunate for him that he’s been injured so often (something ironically good for the Rays). Ellsbury fits the Carl Crawford profile for Rays outfielders, and even the B.J. Upton profile when you count his power. Would have been crazy to get Upton and Ellsbury in the same 2002 Draft, but alas. Ellsbury has ended up as the better version (again, when healthy) of current Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings, who the Rays selected in the 10th round of the 2006 draft. Ellsbury has power, speed, but especially pertinent for the Rays is his excellent centerfield defense and constant hustle. You have to wonder if Ellsbury would have ever had a prolific power season like he did in 2011 if he played his home games at the Trop. I’d say yes, but instead of 32 homers, more like 25.

In a way, it’s kind of good that Ellsbury didn’t sign. He would have frustrated the heck out of us like he has done for Red Sox fans. And considering Ellsbury’s injury problems, they could have been magnified if he had been running as much as Joe Maddon would have made him. But all in all, the Rays would have loved to end up with Ellsbury. But he didn’t sign and we ended up where we are.