Do you really think PR value changes the Sox outlook on whether to trade a player? I do, but not because he's a local kid... it's because he's a player that needed 2 things to forgo his college career (Money and the Red Sox - 1 of the 2 wasn't enough)

This is completely hypothetical because there is no way for me or any one else on the outside to know for sure. However, I do think there is something to the speculation that Westmoreland (and Tazawa for that matter) only wanted to sign with the Red Sox and because of that the Sox cannot trade him, this early or risk future negotiations with players down the line... If you are in position where certain amature players only want to go to your team, beit from the US, Japan or Latin America, then you really need to treat those players differently once signed. I dont really look at it as handcuffing yourself as those players are almost a bonus in that you wouldn't have had them in the first place... This isn't to say you can never trade a Tazawa or RWM, however you need to be sure the return is worth the potential future ramifications if you feel there may be some... if the Sox could get Pujols for those two; then the sh!tstorm would be worth it. This may be a bit exagerated, but hopefully my over-all point is there... i dont think RWM gets traded, but I don't think it's PR from