Here’s the latest from around the AL East…
- The Rays added several veterans to an already-crowded outfield and first base mix, leaving youngsters Mikie Mahtook and Richie Shaffer disappointed but understanding about probable Triple-A assignments, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. It’s not out of the question that a roster spot could open up in the event of an injury or a trade. The Rays have been rumored as a possible trade partner for teams looking for outfield help, and the club has been shopping first baseman James Loney for much of the winter.
- Yoan Moncada isn’t likely to be playing his natural second base position with the Red Sox as long as Dustin Pedroia is in Boston, but the Sox want to see Moncada prove himself defensively at his “base position” before shuffling him around the diamond, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford writes. Moncada made 23 errors in 71 A-level games at second last season, so there’s certainly still work to be done in that regard, though scouts have long felt Moncada has the athleticism to play third base or the outfield.
- Several players vying for spots on the Blue Jays roster are out of options, which the Toronto Sun’s Ken Fidlin feels could impact the team’s decisions for Opening Day. Of the four outfielders (Domonic Brown, Ezequiel Carrera, Darrell Ceciliani, Junior Lake) competing for a backup spot, for instance, Ceciliani is the only one with a minor league option remaining. The battle for the fifth starter’s job is similarly complicated since Aaron Sanchez, Gavin Floyd and Jesse Chavez are out of options while Drew Hutchison isn’t.
- The fifth starter competition is further complicated by the fact that Sanchez and Floyd both pitched well in Grapefruit League action today, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith writes. The Jays would obviously love to see heralded prospect Sanchez in their rotation, though the team also knows it use Sanchez as a setup man since he thrived in the role last season. Alternatively, Sanchez could start while Chavez and Floyd go to the bullpen, as Chavez has swingman experience and relief work could be easier on Floyd’s arm given his injury history.
- Also from the AL East, MLBTR’s Zach Links spoke to Russell Martin about the catcher’s free agent experience last winter.
Not really sure where Moncada will end up, given that Pedroia will be at 2B for a long time, Bogaerts at SS, Betts and Bradley in OF. Then Devers is coming up at 3B and Benintendi in the OF. That is provided that those guys work out in the majors, which obviously is not a guarantee. I have a feeling Moncada and Devers will compete for the 3B job and the other will wind up at 1B perhaps.
Pedroia is 32. He hasn’t played a full season in two years because of injuries. If he fails to return to his former skill level and resistance to injury in 2016 he may be gone by 2017 when Moncada is ready to become a regular in Boston’s line up, Look for Travis Shaw to take over 3rd base as soon as the Red Sox sports media chew up Pedro Sandoval for his poor fielding and weak bat. Shaw is a .280 hitter with much power and good defensive skills.
Pedroia might be hurt all the time, and he may be in decline, but his ‘team friendly’ 6/$85MM contracts hasn’t even kicked in yet.
Moncada is destined for great things, so pumped he picked us over the Stankees.
Yet again, my friend, you give ALL of us Sox fans a bad rep with your ignorance and disrespect.
Just because a player that’s unproven in the majors gets paid too much doesn’t mean he is destined for great things. Do you ever post anything that makes sense or do you just like getting attention for all your stupid posts?
I don’t think there’s a problem in saying that he’s destined for great things…. he probably is. He’s an elite prospect. It’s like saying Byron Buxton or Corey Seager are destined for great things, they probably are. The “Stankees” jab is the immature part of the post that does not represent us respectful Red Sox fans.
I understand that but he thinks that every player the Red Sox have are the greatest players in the MLB. Just because he’s a prospect doesn’t mean he’s going to be great. He’s only 19 so he still has a lot to learn before he makes the MLB.
Wow what a condescending SOB! If you’re a Sox fan and don’t hate the Yankees, I question your sincerity. Let the guy show his Boston pride.
hah sure
Money tends to influence decisions…
A lot of the guys mentioned in that article have options.
Sanchez out of options already?
Sanchez was added to the 40-man roster on July 22, 2014 and has never been optioned to the minors.. Additionally, some of the players listed in the Toronto Sun article are not even on the 40-man roster, so they wouldn’t have to go through waivers if they were sent down.
That’s incorrect. Sanchez has options just like Drew Hutchison and Marcus Stroman, who both have more MLB service time than Sanchez. Sanchez has also spent a couple of stints in the minors since his debut in 2014.
That’s incorrect. Sanchez still has options just like Hutchison and Stroman, both of whom have more MLB service time. Sanchez also has been sent down a couple of times since his debut in 2014.
That can’t be accurate can it?
The article is very wrong. Sanchez and Hutchison both have options. And, Dom Brown is on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, so he can be sent to the minors as well.
Richie Schaffer is going to be a great big league player in
In….?
23 errors in 71 games BEFORE shifting him around the diamond certainly doesn’t spell “destined for greatness” to me…
Jeter had 21 errors in 57 games his first season in the minors. It may not spell “destined for greatness”, but it certainly doesn’t eliminate the possibility.
So….can he just write incorrect facts about the Jays??? No way Sanchez is out of options already considering he’s never been optioned. Also, almost all of those OFs aren’t even on the 40 man.
Pretty much. It’s the Toronto Sun, what do you expect?
Sanchez “out of options” is a misprint for sure…