Though they’ve had some issues on the left side of their infield, the Red Sox have yet to waver from their commitment to using Xander Bogaerts and Will Middlebrooks as their primary shortstop and third baseman, writes WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford. Specifically, Bradford writes that the team has had zero discussions with Stephen Drew and agent Scott Boras since the season kicked off. Drew remains perhaps the most prominent free agent available and could be waiting until after the June draft when teams will no longer need to forfeit a draft pick to sign him. Here’s more on the AL East…
- A roster shakeup is coming for the Orioles, writes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, who notes that both Manny Machado and Troy Patton will be joining the club soon as they return from knee surgery and a 25-game suspension for Adderall usage, respectively.
- From that same piece, Connolly notes that Steve Pearce’s release waivers expire tomorrow, and it’s possible for the team to re-sign him and put him on the 25-man roster in place of the injured Chris Davis. Normally, a team that re-signs a released player must wait 30 days to place him back on the active roster, but Connolly spoke with one industry source who said there is a rules scenario that would allow Baltimore to work around that restriction.
- Over the weekend, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet wondered if the Blue Jays’ need for an eight-man bullpen could make Juan Francisco a roster casualty when Adam Lind returns from the disabled list. With both Brandon Morrow and Dustin McGowan averaging fewer than five innings per start, the team is being forced to carry two long relievers — Esmil Rogers and Todd Redmond. Francisco has impressed in his brief eight-game sample thus far, but as a left-handed power bat with serious platoon issues, he could be seen as redundant when Lind is healthy.
Stephen Drew is ancient history in Boston….in short, png…
Maybe the Jays should’ve thought about putting a starter in the rotation who has started regularly more recently than 2008. McGowan’s return to the majors is admirable, but it was more admirable in the bullpen where he wasn’t a complete nightmare.
Indeed.
With a 1.82 WHIP to boot, just how long can they afford to keep him in the job?
As you say, admirable but prone to disaster, as it has turned out.
He looks very uncomfortable out there.
Jays need to call up Romero.
No they don’t. He has yet to figure out his control problems.
Jays are actually carrying FOUR long relievers right now…Jenkins, Happ, Redmond, and Rogers
Francisco -> 3rd base when facing right hand pitchers, Lawrie to 2nd, Goins to AAA! Problem solved…
They’re not gonna put Lawrie at 2nd
AGREE
That’s a rough defense to live with. Lawrie/Fransico’s bat are not good enough to justify running that defense, especially as the right side of a platoon.
Trade Cabrera.
That was out of left field (pun intended).
Shame MLB doesn’t have the 10 day contract like the NBA used to, maybe still does.. That way Drew/Morales could pick up some cash, rather than looking for loose nickels under the sofa so far this season.
Would Drew.Morales really risk injury for a 10 day contract?
Thoughts were only way a guy like them could find work this year with Boras holding them out, even after the draft when comp is taken away.
Googled and saw NBA still has 10D contracts, haven’t watched NBA in years and years. It was a way for both teams to fill a temporary need and in the case of Drew here.. It would enable him to stay sharp, Morales also. Everyone knows both those players are going to need time to get ready when they return, it’s not going to be magical return to game conditions. Playing 10 days, even both playing Indy ball for free would help.
You think a 10 day contract causes more injury risk then any other contract length?
No just less reward….
No just less reward….
NBA still does
They’ve made a pretty decent living over the course of their careers. I don’t think they can cry poverty, especially when they turned down $14 Million.
I love how taking greenies is only 25 games and doctoring the baseball is 10.
10 game suspension isn’t really for doctoring the ball its for being too obvious while doctoring the ball
Yep. It’s one of the unwritten rules of baseball – don’t get caught cheating. Cheating is acceptable, not trying to hide that you’re cheating is not.
Keep francisco, kid gonna get better and better i like what he has done so far, be a mistake to send him down.
The most likely scenario for Drew: after June 2 signing him won’t be tied to draft pick compensation, so any team will sign him for the remaining of the season for something like a prorated salary in the 8-10 millions range. Since he won’t spend the whole season in the roster, the team which signs him couldn’t make a qualified offer, so after the end of the 2014 he will be a free agent without draft pick compensation hurting his market.
Could Drew and Morales be waiting themselves into irrelevance? It’s almost May 1. Unless you have an absolutely critical need that cannot be filled elsewhere, why would you engage with Boras now? Wait until the middle/later May, have the player get into shape, sign them after June 7.