Sportsfrog.com

Persistent. For Helton’s part, according to the Denver Post, he is open to a trade (he has a no trade clause in his contract), but wants the deal done quickly to avoid becoming a distraction.

Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe with these thoughts on the potential deal:

“Presumably, the Red Sox wouldn’t be against giving up Mike Lowell (possibly to San Diego for a reliever such as Scott Linebrink) and moving Kevin Youkilis to third. Or they might get Colorado to bite on Lowell; the Rockies already are interested in Julian Tavarez. That way, the Sox could keep their young pitchers, but you have to think Colorado would need at least one young pitcher in a package deal. But imagine this lineup:

SS Julio Lugo
RF J.D. Drew
DH David Ortiz
LF Manny Ramírez
1B Todd Helton
3B Kevin Youkilis
C Jason Varitek
CF Coco Crisp
2B Dustin Pedroia
…

If Helton came aboard, the Sox offense could be lights-out. Couple that with one of the most solid starting rotations in baseball, and the pressure on the bullpen could be greatly eased. The Red Sox aren’t commenting on the Helton reports, and efforts to reach Colorado GM Dan O’Dowd were unsuccessful. But there have been talks, and there may be more this week. Right now, the concept is intriguing, but from what we’re being told, the Red Sox would need a lot more nudging before they’d do it.”

Dunno about how much nudging the Red Sox would need. Colorado apparently isn’t looking to break the prospect bank in moving Helton, and Craig Hansen and another young Sock might get it done. Along with picking up some of the mammoth contract. If the price is that little, there is simply no good reason why Boston won’t close the deal on this. And, it would make their line-up, well, rather Yankee-esque.