The Red Sox have designated catcher Erik Kratz for assignment and optioned struggling right-hander Joe Kelly to Triple-A Pawtucket, the team announced. (CSN New England’s Sean McAdam tweeted the Kratz DFA prior to the announcement.) Additionally, Dustin Pedroia has landed on the 15-day DL due to a hamstring injury. In a series of corresponding moves, Boston has recalled Jackie Bradley Jr. from Pawtucket and selected the contracts of shortstop Deven Marrero and right-hander Jonathan Aro.
The biggest item of note in this story, for Red Sox fans, will be the departure of Kelly from the rotation, at least for the time being. One of two players acquired from the Cardinals in what now looks to be a lopsided John Lackey trade (the other was Allen Craig), Kelly has made 24 starts in a Red Sox uniform, with the cumulative result being a 4.96 ERA to go along with 6.7 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9. His 4.20 ERA in 2014 was significantly better than his 5.67 mark this season, but his FIP and xFIP marks over the two seasons are pretty similar, each pegging his true talent in the 4.10 to 4.40 range.
Kelly’s struggles this year have come largely as a result of an inability to strand hitters, but some pundits have suggested that he may simply be better off being converted to a relief pitcher in the long run. Whether that outcome proves to be the case remains to be seen, but one can imagine Kelly’s fastball (currently averaging 95.7 mph) playing up even better in the bullpen. For the time being, at least, Kelly will work in the Pawtucket rotation, tweets the Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato.
Kelly has already accumulated enough service time in 2015 to reach three years of Major League service and thus qualify for arbitration following the season. As such, there’s no risk of this option — even if he’s left in the minors for a significant amount of time — delaying his path to free agency. The struggles and demotion will, however, undoubtedly impact his earning potential in his first trip through the arbitration process.
As for the 35-year-old Kratz, he was claimed off waivers from the Royals on Sunday due to some concern over an injury to Blake Swihart. However, Swihart is healthy and back in the lineup, so Kratz’s time in a Boston uniform will end without so much as a single in-game appearance over the few days that he was on the roster. A career .217/.270/.400 hitter, Kratz has proven himself capable of hitting for power but at the cost of questionable batting average and OBP marks. Defensively, Kratz’s 31 percent caught-stealing rate is above average, and he’s received plus ratings in terms of pitch framing.
And now Red Sox fans get to see the wonderful Justin Masterson start. Seriously, it should’ve been Johnson getting the call, but maybe that’ll be the case if they push his start back.
I’d rather see Johnson too, but he was involved in a collision yesterday. Maybe they’re just being careful.
He is fine. Was at his pitch limit when he came out.
He was taken out right after the collision after consulting with the medical staff. He probably is fine, but they didn’t just take him out because he was done for the day.
Actually after the game they said he was fine and that he was coming out after the next batter anyway, so they decided just to take him out then.
I’d rather see Henry Owens, control problems and all, over Masterson.
Brian Johnson is due to pitch Monday. That would mean he would be on short rest. That, and hes NOT on the 40 man and it would require an additional move…
I don’t begrudge Cherrington and co. for this trade. Lackey was basically demanding to be traded, and Kelly and Craig didn’t look like a bad return, after all, they were both STARTING against them in the World Series just months earlier.
When was Lackey basically demanding to be traded?
Here’s on article regarding Lackey asking to be traded, but there’s been more specific stuff to filter out since then…
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/08/did_john_lackey_ask_ben_cherington_to_trade_him_ou.html
I don’t see anywhere in that article that Lackey said he wanted to be traded. That is still a rumor with no evidence to support. It’s still a bad trade either way.
Lackey never demanded a trade. Nor did he ever specifically say he was going to retire.
He didnt want to be here. It was pretty obvious. And he kept saying we’ll see what happens when asked about the minimum salary…
I still believe in Kelly, he’s had major league success before and his stuff is filthy. Just incorporate the offspeed more and hit the corners with his 97 mph fastball and no one will touch him.
If I were another team I’d be after Kelly in a deal to turn him into a late inning reliever.
The Lackey trade really couldn’t have gone any better for Pawtucket
“Cy Young” may be out of reach, but “International League Most Valuable Pitcher” is still possible!
Probably too late for the too, with 2 months left in IL season.
I don’t know, he may have stiff competition from Shane Greene for that.
Max Scherzer got sent now down to Toledo in 2010 with a 1-4 record and a 7.29 ERA. Hoping both Greene and Kelly can get some inspiration from that.
It’s quite possible that Greene just isn’t a very good pitcher. Scherzer had a 2.61 ERA in the minors, Greene had a 4.36. Kelly can throw as hard as he wants, but until he learns to dial it back a bit and sacrifice speed for location, and develop a third out pitch, he won’t be much more than a bullpen arm. And probably not a very good one.
Joe Kelly was the one Cardinals starting pitcher who never worried me when they played the Brewers. He’d come in with these impressive stats, then look like a scared kid out there against the Brewers. I was sad to see him get traded to an AL team.
Them mashing Brewers – always putting fear into opposing pitchers!
Kelly to the bullpen is long overdue. Doesn’t have the command to be a starter. Put him in the ‘pen and let him it upper 90’s for one inning and he’s much more effective.
So does this mean Mookie starts at 2B until Pedroia is back and JBJr plays CF?
Holt at second and JBJ in right today.
Mookie isn’t gonna play second anymore. He is a better outfielder than second basemen.
Marrero with get some time at 2b. If Bogey needs a day off while Pedey is out he sould fill in there too. Mookie is now officially an Ofer.
What “now” looks like a lopsided trade? That Lackey trade was terrible from day 1.
And yet, there are still many that defend it. Baffling, really.
Personally I think he was the last guy remaining from the Chicken and Beer and
management wanted to see the chapter closed.
I liked him as a pitcher but he could get you upset with his antics when players made errors behind him. Matheny probably solved that issue pretty quickly whereas Sox managers didn’t address those antics.
Fastballs down the middle are going to get hit by big league hitters no matter how fast they are (e.g. Farnsworth) Pitching is all about command.