Headlines

  • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings
  • MLB To Experiment With New DH Rule, Mound Distance During 2021 Atlantic League Season
  • Astros, Martin Maldonado Finalizing One-Year Extension
  • James Paxton To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
  • 2021 Trade Deadline Will Be July 30
  • Diamondbacks Sign Josh Reddick To Minor League Deal
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

AL East Notes: Franklin, Red Sox, Tanaka

By Steve Adams | September 15, 2014 at 9:00am CDT

Infielder Nick Franklin, part of the haul that the Rays acquired in the David Price trade, will be recalled to join the club today, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Once ranked as one of the game’s top 50 prospects by MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus, Franklin struggled for much of his time at Triple-A with the Rays, hitting just .210/.288/.290. As Topkin points out, Franklin did hit .424 with a pair of homers in nine playoff games that aren’t included in that stat line, and he of course had an excellent first half as a rookie with the Mariners in 2013, hitting .268/.337/.451 in 169 plate appearances.

Here’s more from the AL East…

  • The Red Sox could follow the same method they did with Andrew Miller and the one the Royals/Rays employed with Wade Davis by moving some of their current young starting options to the bullpen, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. MacPherson notes that Brandon Workman already looks like a future reliever and speculates that some or all of Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo and Rubby De La Rosa could end up in the bullpen eventually as well. MacPherson also spoke with Miller about the transition from the rotation to the bullpen.
  • Masahiro Tanaka will throw 60 pitches — including some splitters — in a simulated game today, writes John Harper of the New York Daily News. If Tanaka pitches well, he could re-join the Yankees’ rotation and make a couple of starts before season’s end. While that may be too little, too late for the Yankees’ playoff hopes, a few healthy starts from Tanaka would give the Yankees some peace of mind heading into 2015.
Share 7 Retweet 22 Send via email0

Boston Red Sox Masahiro Tanaka New York Yankees Nick Franklin Tampa Bay Rays

Quick Hits: Hernandez, Castillo, Martin, M’s, Pirates
Main
International Links: Tomas, Maeda, Dominican Showcase
35 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. Jeff Hill

    7 years ago

    Another guy I could see the Red Sox using out of the bullpen is Barnes. He has pitched well there so far this year from what I have heard. I think our future closer is in the system already. I think it’s easily De La Rosa or Barnes as the next closer for the sox. They also could give Hembree a chance there as well.

    Like
    Reply
    • d-blaque1212

      7 years ago

      Hell, Steven Wright could surprise everyone and be a good 9th inning guy. It’d be cool to see another closer that doesn’t throw 95 mph+.

      Like
      Reply
      • Joe Goodin

        7 years ago

        A knuckle baller closing? Good luck mate

        Like
        Reply
      • MaineBaseball

        7 years ago

        Knuckle ballers are too inconsistent to be long term closers.

        Like
        Reply
      • pazsky

        7 years ago

        He could throw pitches and never smile….oh THAT Steven Wright…sorry..

        Like
        Reply
  2. andrewyf

    7 years ago

    So if all of the Red Sox’s starting pitcher prospects end up in the bullpen, does that indicate a failure of their development program?

    Like
    Reply
    • Victoria Roberts

      7 years ago

      Hah, that’s cute, you think those four guys are actually all of the Red Sox starting pitching prospects. You forgot Owens, Rodriguez, Johnson, Barnes and Ball. And those are just the ones in the top 10 not mentioned in this article.

      Like
      Reply
  3. Scott Berlin

    7 years ago

    Nick Franklin might have a glove but he can barely hit his own weight in the majors.

    Like
    Reply
  4. DarthMurph

    7 years ago

    This could be an unpopular idea among fellow Sox fans, but I think we should cut ties with Juan Nieves. He did a great job with the staff last year, but that hasn’t translated to this year and he really isn’t doing a good job with the young guys.

    I’d make a bold move and tab Pedro or Varitek as the next pitching coach. A beloved Red Sox legend could have a really positive impact toward showing this young guys that they’re in a winning environment.

    Like
    Reply
    • Jeff Hill

      7 years ago

      I think that is a good idea to can Nieves. And I would like to see what Varitek could do with this staff. He did play with Buchholz so maybe he could fix what is wrong Buchholz.

      Like
      Reply
      • Greg Gaugler

        7 years ago

        I feel like a former pitcher would make for a better pitching coach, so I would favor Pedro Martinez. Though I don’t know how well he’s suiting for coaching. I simply don’t know about that. He may just be best suited for what he currently does… not 100% sure what his title is, but from what I understand he does help coach the young pitchers, just in a smaller role.

        Catchers work with pitchers a lot, but wouldnt really know how to fix and improve the mechanics of a pitcher because they never had to go through that process.

        I do hope we see Varitek as the Red Sox Manager some day soon. I think that would be great.

        Like
        Reply
        • Jeff Hill

          7 years ago

          That’s the thing Buchholz’s problems are mental I think. Not mechanical.

          Like
          Reply
          • Greg Gaugler

            7 years ago

            Good point. You were talking about Buchholz, and that could help him out. But I don’t think we should name of new pitching coach because of 1 isolated player. I think it would be more beneficial to all the pitchers to have a former pitcher as a pitching coach.

            Like
            Reply
            • Jeff Hill

              7 years ago

              Yea you could make a case for either to be made but like you said earlier, “Though I don’t know how well he’s suiting for coaching”, I don’t think he would make a good coach because of his personality. But I like him in the role he has where he does help the younger guys with problems during ST. I would much rather have Varitek because he is not flamboyant and knows the ins and outs of pitching in the majors. If a guy needs help with mechanics bring in Pedro to help him.

              Like
              Reply
    • Karkat

      7 years ago

      I don’t know if Pedro is necessarily pitching coach material. He strikes me as more of an advisor who can just point things out from time to time in practice. Plus, I feel like it’s always the average pitchers who make the best coaches. They know what it’s like to struggle and to overcome challenges.

      Like
      Reply
      • DarthMurph

        7 years ago

        Fair point, though I suspect the average pitchers tend to apply for those positions more often. The aces generally aren’t the ones who become coaches. Tek might be an option worth considering.

        Like
        Reply
    • Ed Duffy

      7 years ago

      Using that logic they should fire the entire staff.

      Like
      Reply
      • DarthMurph

        7 years ago

        Not really. Nieves turned around a bunch of veterans last year. He hasn’t made any progress with the Sox’ young pitching since he came aboard and that’s a problem.

        Like
        Reply
  5. MadmanTX

    7 years ago

    Are a couple of starts worth the possibility of Tanaka needing Tommy John surgery if he does more damage to his arm?

    Like
    Reply
    • MB923

      7 years ago

      As of now, he doesn’t need the surgery. Doctors have given him the clear to throw. Why NOT throw and see how his progress goes? Why get surgery when at the time being it isn’t needed?

      Like
      Reply
      • Karkat

        7 years ago

        I might break my foot if I get out of bed. Guess I know what I’m doing for the rest of forever.

        Like
        Reply
        • MB923

          7 years ago

          Hahahahaha.+1

          Like
          Reply
    • Victoria Roberts

      7 years ago

      People are confused about the Tanaka situation. They think he’s just putting of the inevitable, when in fact as of right now Doctors do not recommend he have surgery. The recommended rehab, which he has done. At some point in his career he could sure, but what’s he supposed to do, never throw another pitch just to be on the safe side?

      Like
      Reply
  6. MetsEventually

    7 years ago

    Wouldn’t piece of mind mean having him fully rested for next year…?

    Like
    Reply
    • Yamsi12

      7 years ago

      Redsox nation will rise from the ashes of 2014!!!!

      Like
      Reply
  7. Mike1L

    7 years ago

    The only reason at this point not to pitch Tanaka is to give him more resting time, but in fact, there seems to be very little that indicates that rest will fundamentally change his elbow. This isn’t like having someone back early from an oblique, or a wrist injury, etc. You might as well find out, and if he needs the surgery, then he gets it.

    Like
    Reply
    • LazerTown

      7 years ago

      Right. They really need to find out if he will need surgery, not in May next year. Getting it done now would mean 16+ months of rehab without going into another year, rather than if you do it next spring and you start creeping into 2016 with any setbacks.

      Like
      Reply
      • Mike1L

        7 years ago

        If I recall, Tanaka has an opt-out. He probably wouldn’t if he lost a year, if for no other reason because he might feel obligation, but this should probably serve as a warning sign to other teams–if you are going to give an opt-out, make sure you at least get the first 3/4 years healthy. If I remember, Boras has J.D. Drew opt out of his contract with the Dodgers after 2 years even after Drew missed half of the first season. Drew then signed a five years deal with the Red Sox

        Like
        Reply
        • Scott Berlin

          7 years ago

          If Tanaka opts-out he might not get as good of a contract depending on his health. He would have to come back and pitch lights out up until he can opt-out. He might not risk it.

          Like
          Reply
          • LazerTown

            7 years ago

            IMO if teams knew that he already had TJ done, especially with this situation I think they would be more willing to offer that big contract.

            Like
            Reply
            • Scott Berlin

              7 years ago

              He only projected as a #3 starter to most scouts or a 2 at the most. Many thought the Yankees offered him too much since he had never threw a ML pitch yet. In retrospect maybe he get more but I don’t think a TJ surgery would have given him a more lucrative deal.

              Like
              Reply
              • LazerTown

                7 years ago

                I think a good number scouts had him pegged as a #2 at least. Yankees didn’t completely blow everyone out of the water, multiple teams were willing to go $100MM+.

                Like
                Reply
                • Scott Berlin

                  7 years ago

                  Yeah but with a TJ you’re staying teams would have did much more the $155 million plus the post fee. I just see teams approaching $200million for a guy that many/most criticized the Yankees for investing in a guy who had no MLB experience. But many more scouts pegged him as a mid rotation then top rotation starter.

                  Like
                  Reply
                  • LazerTown

                    7 years ago

                    Talking about his next contract if he intends to opt out. Now every team knows that he has a partially torn ligament, and there a good chance it may need surgery sometime in the future, whether it is next year or 5 years.Knowing that he had it done 2 years before free agency would actually put a lot of teams more at ease.

                    Like
                    Reply
        • LazerTown

          7 years ago

          He does, but something about him makes me think he might sign an extension to make up for this. He works hard, and everytime he let’s someone down he always there apologizing and saying that he didn’t do his best in the postgame. Even when he goes 8 innings with 1 run.

          Like
          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    2021-22 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings

    MLB To Experiment With New DH Rule, Mound Distance During 2021 Atlantic League Season

    Astros, Martin Maldonado Finalizing One-Year Extension

    James Paxton To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

    2021 Trade Deadline Will Be July 30

    Diamondbacks Sign Josh Reddick To Minor League Deal

    Jonathan Hernandez Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Dexter Fowler To Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

    MLB Inspecting “Suspicious Baseballs” From Trevor Bauer’s Latest Start

    Trevor Rosenthal Undergoes Thoracic Outlet Surgery

    Recent

    Angels Select Scott Schebler, Designate Jon Jay

    Padres Activate Fernando Tatis Jr.

    Offseason In Review: San Diego Padres

    Giants Place Johnny Cueto On 10-Day IL

    Aristides Aquino Undergoes Surgery To Repair Hamate Fracture

    Pirates Notes: Frazier, Goodwin, Center Field, Oviedo

    Braves Place Drew Smyly On Injured List

    Offseason In Review: Tampa Bay Rays

    2020 Rule 5 Draft Update

    Cardinals Select Scott Hurst

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • Francisco Lindor Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version