Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun wrote Saturday that both the Blue Jays and Indians are interested in Rockies catcher Chris Ianetta.

Ianetta is batting .221 this season, with a .232 career average. He has shown some power in previous seasons, however, topping 15 home runs in two previous seasons. He is a .272 hitter with two home runs in eight career games against the other four teams in the AL East (not including Toronto). He has far more experience against the AL Central (20 games, not including Cleveland), but is just a .222 hitter with two home runs as well.

Toronto doesn’t appear to have the catching needs that Cleveland does. Cleveland’s catching duo of Carlos Santana and Lou Marson are a combined .230 this season, although Santana has 15 home runs. Toronto’s J.P Arencibia is a .221 hitter, but has 17 home runs. Backup Jose Molina has batted .313 in 33 games this season.

Peter Gammons

Longtime MLB insider Peter Gammons made his weekly call into The Big Show to talk about all things Red Sox and baseball, especially at the most hectic time of the season: the trade deadline. Gammons covered many different topics, including the Red Sox’ plans for the next week as the July 31 deadline approaches, the plans for key free agents, the return of injured players and the rise of some minor league players in time to be traded.

“I don’t trade Clay Buchholz for a first baseman. The only way [the Red Sox are] going to win is with pitching,” Gammons said. ”Now, if you’re talking about [Felix] Doubront or something like that, that’s fine, but they’re not going to give up [Jon] Lester or Buchholz to get Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder. I think that’s what it would take.”

Below are highlights of the interview. To listen to the complete interview, click on The Big Show audio on demand page.

On the trade deadline’s significance:

You know, it’s kind of interesting. I’ve done a lot of research — gone all over the trade deadlines — and other than last year, where the Phillies got Cliff Lee, which clearly got them into the World Series, the last team that got to the World Series and did anything of significance at the trading deadline were the Red Sox in 2004 when they moved [Nomar] Garciaparra for [Doug] Mientkiewicz and [Orlando] Cabrera. The notion of pennants being changed by trading deadline deals is essentially fiction. In 2003, the Yankees got Aaron Boone and he hit under .200, but he did hit one famous home run. In 1999, the Yankees got David Justice, but otherwise, that’s about it.

On whether or not Theo Epstein should make a move at the deadline or wait for his roster to settle down:

Well, I think he looks at it as, “OK, can we do something for this year and next year?” You can get a catcher that can go both years. I think the relief pitchers are more temps because that’s the nature of relief pitchers. Outfielder, I think you would like someone who can play for you next year, but if you want a David DeJesus, that’s out of the window now. I think I was told 4-6 weeks on his thumb.

So I think he looks at it both ways. When you look at it, Beckett comes back, and [John] Lackey was certainly encouraging last night, if four times or five times around the rotation your starting pitching is the best in the league, then you’ve got a chance to catch Tampa and get into the wild card. You can go into the playoffs with Lester, Buchholz, Beckett, you’ve got a great chance to win every series.

I don’t think he’s going to trade off six prospects to go get a guy that’s going to fill in. I do think that Cody Ross was another world. I’d still pick [Rick] Ankiel if he shows he can play, the problem is he came back off the DL last night, hasn’t played any rehab games, so it’s hard to tell if you can take him. You still have the whole scope of it in the Jayson Werth thing, but that’s a big gamble until you sign him because he wants to be a free agent at the end of the year.

On the possibility of re-signing Adrián Beltré instead of bringing on a new big bat:

I think it’s going to be hard to sign Beltré. They’d like to. The question with attendance down — I think [in] 13 cities now — how many teams can afford a $13 million a year third baseman? I think that’s one of the things they have in the market. I still think the Angels’ first priority … well, I know their first priority is Carl Crawford, that’s why they put his locker next to Torii Hunter at the All-Star Game. Read the rest of this entry »

According to a tweet from Peter Gammons, the Rockies are not actively looking to move catcher Chris Iannetta. In fact, tweets Gammons, they rejected a proposed swap from the Red Sox of infielder Jed Lowrie for the catcher.

One reason as to why the Rockies may be leaning towards keeping the 27-year-old is that he could potentially play first base if incumbent Todd Helton, who has battled back and hamstring issues this season, doesn’t last in his return from the disabled list.

A native of Providence, R.I., Iannetta has a career batting average of .240 but an on-base percentage of .358. He has played in only 27 games this season and has spent time at the Triple A level. He has seven homers in 106 plate appearances this season, playing in 27 games and hitting at a .220 clip.

Lowrie, 26, has been rehabbing after missing the first half of the season with mononucleosis. The 45th overall pick in the 2005 MLB draft, Lowrie has has hit .235 with a .313 OBP in 113 games in the majors.

With the top catchers in the organization slowly working their way back to action, the Red Sox are looking for solid replacements behind the plate for the future.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Red Sox have contacted the Rockies again about Chris Iannetta. Rosenthal writes that the Rockies are reluctant to make the move unless they can acquire someone who can help them in the tight NL West. The Red Sox, on the other hand, can’t sacrifice enough talent to push the deal across.

WEEI.com’s Alex Speier first reported in May that Boston could have drafted the 27-year-old Rhode Island native back in 2004, and since then the Sox contacted Colorado several times about him.

Over his five-year career, Iannetta has a .240 batting average with 47 home runs, 168 RBI, 155 walks and 267 strikeouts. He has been much hotter this season, hitting five home runs in his last 32 at-bats since returning to the club from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

The Red Sox have always been bullish on catcher Chris Iannetta.

In 2004, Jason McLeod (then the team’s director of scouting administration) saw the catcher excel in the ACC Tournament. Iannetta impressed with his work behind the plate, and further research offered further cause for interest. He had thrown out 24-of-48 attempted base stealers that year and picked off nine runners. He had a great catcher’s build. In interviews, his makeup and leadership became apparent. Moreover, the Providence, R.I., native was a huge Sox fan.

The Sox liked him, but the team hadn’t scouted him as thoroughly as it would have wanted over the course of his junior season. Though he had hit .336/.438/.598/1.036 with 15 homers that year, when draft day came, there were questions about how he would hit at the professional level.

“We just undervalued him that year,” recalled one team source.

The Sox thought that Iannetta might be available when they drafted in the fourth round, and the team had made it a priority to pump college pitching into the system. And so, when they drafted in the third round, the Sox drafted Andrew Dobies out of the University of Virginia. The Rockies jumped on Iannetta with the ninth pick of the fourth round, 16 picks before the Sox might have selected him.

Dobies never pitched above Double-A for the Sox before being shipped off to the White Sox for cash or a player to be named earlier this year. Iannetta, meanwhile, reached the majors two years after being drafted, and in 2008, emerged as one of the more promising catchers in the game, hitting .264/.390/.505/.895 with 18 homers in 407 plate appearances while contributing solid defense in Colorado. At times, particularly during that outstanding run, members of the Sox front office would kick themselves for not having taken Iannetta, viewing him as one who got away.

Last year, his offensive numbers took a hit. Though he still had a well-above average OBP (.344) and OPS (.804) for a catcher, his average fell to .228. Still, the Rockies signed him during the offseason to a three-year, $8.25 million deal that included a team option for the 2013 season.

That made it rather surprising to see Colorado demote the catcher to Triple-A after Iannetta got off to a slow start in 2010. In just eight games, he hit .133/.235/.333/.569, resulting in a demotion. The 27-year-old has been raking in Colorado Springs, hitting .350/.452/.717/1.169.

The Denver Post reported on Friday that the Sox had been monitoring Iannetta in Colorado Springs to see if the Rockies might be available. That said, the team’s need for (or ability to use) a catcher acquired in a trade is currently limited.

The Sox have seen an improvement in recent weeks in the ability of their catchers (and pitchers) to control the running game. Moreover, the resurgence of David Ortiz as the designated hitter means that the option of making Victor Martinez the regular DH would not make sense at this juncture, as noted by NESN analyst Peter Gammons during his interview on The Big Show on Friday.

“They tried to get him two years ago. They have been looking at him, but I think now that Ortiz is hitting, I think it lessens their need for him. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they went out and got him at the end of the year,” said Gammons. “But I just don’t know right now if they could expend what Colorado would want to get him.

“Colorado really needs pitching depth because they have four guys on the disabled list. But Chris is a much better player than what he has done this year. It’s really a shame. The Red Sox do really love him. If they can get him cheap, maybe they find a way, they bring him here and have Victor be catcher, DH, first base, everything, and you just find a way to gerrymander the whole roster.”

Hall of Fame journalist and NESN Red Sox analyst Peter Gammons checked in with the Big Show on Friday afternoon. Gammons described the uncomfortable state of the Sox, and particularly the reality that confronts Sox manager Terry Francona.

With David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and Tim Wakefield all unhappy with the nature of their roles and playing time, Francona faces a situation that is becoming challenging on a near-daily basis.

“I think this is by far the most difficult year he’s had managing,” said Gammons. “Everyday he’s treading such a thin line, trying not to offend players but realizing that people are angry at him.”

Gammons suggested that the Sox’ catching situation has few easy solutions, with no apparent answer available in a trade. He hypothesized that if the Sox released Ortiz, then they would implement a timeshare at DH with Victor Martinez and Mike Lowell, with Jason Varitek getting more regular playing time behind the plate.

A transcript is below. To listen to the interview, click here:

On the state of the Red Sox:

In time I think the Wakefield situation will abate. I think in time if he gets more at-bats the Lowell situation will calm down. I do think that treading the line on how far they go with Ortiz and whether or not he gets so frustrated and embarrassed he just blows up, I think that’s the line that’s going to be very difficult here. … I don’t know how it’s going to end up. I don’t have a solution to it. I do think it will be determined fairly quickly. There’s just too much hanging over them.

On the awkwardness of pinch-hitting for Ortiz:

I guess by now David should have been prepared for it. I’m not sure it ever happens. It’s different than Marty Barrett being sent up for Jim Rice. Jim had no idea that was going to happen. But I’ve said this many times: I don’t know what it’s like to be David Ortiz or Jim Rice. I don’t have that experience in my life. Therefore, it’s very hard for me to say that they should just accept it. Now, should he accept that he’s just not catching up to fastballs? Yeah. But that’s part of the whole pride thing. When you’re a star, there’s a lot of denial that goes into the later years of your career. We’ve seen it in a lot of sports with a lot of people. And I think we’re seeing it with David right now. Whether or not he can make that adjustment is something that I guess they have to determine very fast, because I just don’t think they can go on having two or three DH’s all of the time.

I think it’s partly denial. It’s not over for me, I’m not in my later years. We’ve seen extreme versions. … It got that way last year with Jim Thome in Chicago.

How challenging a situation is this for Sox manager Terry Francona?

I think this is by far the most difficult year he’s had managing. Everyday he’s treading such a thin line, trying not to offend players but realizing that people are angry at him. This is something that I think you might start to see two or three years from now with the Yankees, when Jeter and A-Rod are approaching 40. I’m presuming Jeter is going to get about a five-year deal. So they’re both going to have two or three years left on their contracts. If they start to decline, what do the Yankees do on the left side of their infield? And I think you might start to see them have some of the same difficulties that the Red Sox are having right now.

What is the impact on the clubhouse of an unhappy Ortiz?

I think that if it goes another entire month it could have a negative effect. I think that for now, people are sort of walking the line. Players have, over the years, liked David so much, and with very good reason, knowing how much he’s carried other people and that he’s made a lot of money for other people, and sort of go, ‘He’s struggling. He’s not entirely honest with himself. At the same time, if I were in that position, I’d probably be the same way.’ but I think if it drags on for another month and continues to be a major issue, it’s hard.

How are Victor Martinez’ defensive struggles messing up the roster dynamics?

I don’t think there’s any question. One of the reasons that you didn’t see the Red Sox jump when Joe Mauer signed was that they weren’t planning on signing Victor Martinez long-term as a catcher. That was never in their plans. I know they thought they could get by for a year the way they did the last two months of last year. … Victor’s a very good catcher. Varitek went on and on the other day about how you watch his hands, and his footwork is so good. The problem is simply the throwing. He’s not Joe Mauer with his hands, but he’s in the top echelon of catchers being able to catch the ball and present himself. But that throwing is an issue. … That’s a problem. How you end up, if they decide they’re going to move Ortiz, release him because they’re not going to trade him, let’s say they decide to release him, you’ll probably see Varitek play two or three days a week, and you’ll see Victor DH two or three days a week, and Lowell at DH. I’ll say this: the way Varitek has handled this is one of the most admirable scenes I’ve ever witnessed.

The other night, the night that there were all the stolen bases on Wakefield, there were a couple fans by the dugout who were screaming at Victor. And Varitek went back to the end of the dugout and was screaming back at them, telling them to shut up, it’s not his fault, all that. … Varitek has been the best friend and the greatest supporter that Victor Martinez has. I’ll probably remember that more about Jason Varitek than anything else. …

Throwing is a problem for both catchers. I don’t see, unless Colorado decides to bail on the remaining $8 million in Chris Ianetta’s contract, there’s nobody out there to go get right now. You’re going to have to live with it, and hope that pitchers hold the ball or that the four starting pitchers are simply dominant all the time, which is possible. You’ve got Lester and Buchholz both throwing well. I think most guys around the game would say that they’re the guys with the best stuff on the staff.

It was surprising to see Ramon Ramirez close a game in Toronto.

That was unbelievable. Yet he threw the ball like he did in April of last year. There’s something funny in the dynamics with Ramirez. I guess he feels a lot that he is disrespected. Part of the reason he’s been disrespected is he hasn’t been very good. He scares the manager to death, but they had no choice. They had to use him in the ninth inning and he threw like he did last year. He was throwing 94, he had that great changeup, that dipping changeup. It may be that the next time he’s brought in for the sixth inning that he doesn’t perform. But it was interesting to see. They went into that Buchholz start with the fewest wins, the fewest quality starts and the second worst earned run average of any starting staff in the American League. This team was obviously built to have four really good starting pitchers and either Daisuke or Wakefield. They really didn’t have anyone pitching well. Now, the two young guys with great stuff pitched well. My guess is that a lot will follow from there.

If Ortiz is released, would it involve ownership? Have talks along those lines already occurred?

Well, I think it would have to come from way above, especially because you’re talking about a guy making $13 million. But I think the practicality is, you say, OK, can we afford, if David’s not going to play, a) Is it fair to him – maybe he can go off and find another home somewhere the way Thome’s found one in Minnesota and re-prove himself, and secondly, can you afford to have someone who you’re not going to play in the field sitting on the bench? I think the lack of flexibility for a manager is really tough. I think we all wish that they had a young Chone Figgins or some guy who could move all around the field and play seven positions. That’s so invaluable. If you have someone who can’t play a position sitting on the bench and you’re not going to use him, it just makes no sense. You might as well swallow the money and move on.

How do you deal with Ortiz in a fashion that is respectful for everything he’s meant to the franchise? It seems like this thing can only end in ugly fashion.

I think that may be true. Every time he goes up there, I make no bones about it. I am hoping that it comes back, that he takes the ball about thigh-high and drives it in the air to left-center field and all of a sudden that swing to left-center and center comes back. I root for him. It pains me to watch this. I agree with you: it could get ugly. If people didn’t really like the guy so much, if he hadn’t been so great for this city, all those commercials he did, he’s really genuinely been very good to people around the city, he’s a tremendous guy, that makes it much tougher. Talking to some of the Dodgers people, Manny’s decided to take a vacation and go home to L.A. The trainer said half a day, but he took 15. But there are no tears when he leaves anywhere. But David Ortiz always really cares: he cared whether they won, he cares about teammates. That’s what makes it really complicated. It’s not as if some jerk is struggling in the twilight of his career. That’s the ugliest part of it.

Is the concern about him magnified by the Sox’ slow start and Tampa’s great start?

I think it goes two ways. You look at Tampa Bay, and I really believe that Tampa Bay, in terms of talent, has the best team in baseball. Now, how Wade Davis and Price and Hellickson hold up in the American League East in June, July and August, we’ll see. I have a lot of questions about their bullpen. At the same time, physically, the players they have on the field are on another planet. If the Rays and the Yankees, say they get seven, eight, nine games up, I think the Red Sox may do what the Yankees did two years ago, which was take a deep breath, say, ‘OK, we’re going to find out everything we can about this team the rest of the year, we’re going to have money – we’ll have Lowell’s contract gone, we’ll have Ortiz’ contract gone. We’re going to have some money. Maybe we go out and get Jayson Werth or whatever they’re going to go out and get.’ And they move on and find out what they can find out the rest of the season. It might be more relaxed that way. I do think it hurt to have Mark Wagner get hurt (Thursday) and be out six to eight weeks, because I think they probably would have given him a shot to play at least a couple days a week in the fairly near future.

What do you know about Adalberto Ibarra, the Cuban catcher whom the Sox signed?

I know he can really hit. I’ve had people in the organization tell me that they think he may be a platoon catcher next year. They think he’ll be a left-center field power hitter, and that he wants to catch, that they think he can catch. Now, can he learn the game? Can he learn calling the game? Cubans normally have tremendous instincts because they play so much. As you know, what’s happened in the Dominican is kids don’t play anymore. All they do is they’re prepared by agents to go to tryout camps. Cuban kids play all the time. What a joy to watch [Jose] Iglesias play all spring. They tell me this guy has great baseball instincts.

I was talking to some of the Reds people about Chapman. There are a lot of things he doesn’t understand. For instance, he had never hit. I remember Dusty Baker telling me in spring training, the first two times he got on base, one he hit the ball back to the pitcher for a forceout, the other time somebody walked him, and he immediately just ran and got thrown out. He had no idea how to run the bases. He had no idea how to pitch out of the stretch. We don’t know.

This guy has played internationally, and he has played well, but it’s going to be a fascinating experience. I was told that he’s going to go down to extended spring, then he’ll go down to either Greenville or somewhere in A-ball, and then as the season goes along, they take all these catcher – whether it’s Wagner or Exposito or Federowicz or Lavarnway, the kid from Yale, or Ibarra – and they find out what they have exactly, and where they’re going to be in the future.

Adrian Beltre’s defense was heralded before he arrived. One month in, he’s not convincing people of his greatness. Too small a sample, or is something wrong?

The other day, he booted the first two balls hit to him then made two of the best plays I’ve ever seen, the inconsistency is the thing that’s bothered me thus far, is that both at the plate and in the field, he’s lost some concentration. He’s had great at-bats. When he stays in the middle of the field, he is not only a very good hitter, but I think when the warm weather comes, he’s capable of hitting 35 home runs. But there are too many at-bats when he takes a wild cut at a hanging breaking ball trying to pull it, then ends up chasing a breaking ball down and out of the strike zone. And there have been some plays at third where you say, ‘Where is his head?’ Now, as the season goes along and he gets comfortable here, it will get better. But I agree, he hasn’t been as good as I thought he would be. Everyone has told me, and I believe that he is justifiably regarded as the best third baseman in the game. But he hasn’t been here. That will be something to watch as the season goes along. You hope that if he makes a couple more errors, and a couple things happen, and he starts getting booed, that this doesn’t turn into an Edgar Renteria situation. You know it’s not going to happen with Mike Cameron. We know he was playing hurt anyway, but it’s not going to impact Mike Cameron when he gets back. But it could impact Adrian Beltre. You never know until they get to Boston, Philadelphia or New York.