The Red Sox intend to use Brock Holt as their primary option in left field against left-handed pitching, Ian Browne of MLB.com tweets. That means that high-priced Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo will be battling with Chris Young for playing time against righties. While both could certainly be in the lineup at the same time, manager John Farrell suggested that he sees both Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts as more or less everyday options, as Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. That certainly could leave few options for Castillo, who is looking to make good on the big contract he signed as a free agent out of Cuba.
Here’s a look at more notable roster moves to come from the East divisions:
- It’s “a given” that Juan Lagares and Yoenis Cespedes will both be in the Mets’ lineup against left-handed pitching, ESPNNewYork.com’s tweets. It’s not yet clear whether Michael Conforto or Curtis Granderson will see the lion’s share of time in right field when a southpaw is on the mound, he adds, but the scenario figures to cut into their time. As for Alejandro De Aza, it’s unclear when and how he’ll get action, though a late-spring trade still seems possible.
- Meanwhile, the Mets appear not to have any cause for concern with righty Matt Harvey, who is dealing with blood clots in his bladder but is expected to open the season on the active roster, according to WFAN’s Ed Coleman (h/t to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, via Twitter). Alarm bells were rung after the team announced an undisclosed medical issue for the star hurler, but it seems he’s still in line to take the ball on April 3rd.
- Erasmo Ramirez will start out in the pen for the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (Twitter links). He’ll presumably move back into the rotation when the need for a fifth starter arises, but Tampa Bay is set to use four starters for most of the first five weeks of the year.
I think you meant that Holt will see most of his time in left vs Rhp and that Young/Castillo will split time vs Lhp
Also that Chris Young should link to the Chris Young on the Red Sox.
Yes makes no sense since Chris Young has always smashed left handed pitching and below average against righties. It must be a typo error. Don’t worry Holt will also play all over the field he is great at all positions.
I find it funny how the RedSox throw around money. They’re paying a fifth outfielder 70 million, Hanley who is only blocking Travis Shaw 120 million, and best of all Pablo 100 million also. They could be really good if they didn’t sign these foolish contract. They gave Hanley money he would’ve got as a shortstop or 3rd baseman and a guy who retweets dirty pics during games 100 million.
Mets should option Conforto to start, try to get an extra year out of him. If their offense is lagging or one of the other four gets hurt they can always bring him up.
Sending him down wouldn’t get an extra year out of him since his service time started when he was first put on the roster. He accumulates service time from the time he is put on the roster no matter what level he is at after that. There was a great post on TalkingChop (SBnation Braves blog) that gave in depth explanations of all roster moves, I highly suggest reading it…
This is not true. When a player is optioned off the 25 man roster they do not accrue service time. A good example is when the Marlins sent Ozuna down for a while last year and he lost enough service time that he wasn’t eligible for arbitration this year
I think you need to go back and read it again. If a player has options they can be sent down and they do not get service time.
Yeah… service time is the biggest weapon that teams have against rising costs of players. If Chapman’s suspension exceeded 47 days, he would not be eligible for free agency after this season, and would have had to make one more run through arbitration after this season. Service time is a huge thing.
Poor allocation of finances for the Mets if you have $15MM named Granderson on the bench on a part time basis as well as De Aza making $5.75MM, but barely getting any at bats at all if you’re going to play Conforto in a time share with Granderson. Glad it’s NY’s problem, but I really like symmetry in baseball. There are 6 teams that could use an outfielder at least in a platoon role. Mets should have really considered moving De Aza at minimum(I’m sure they did, but there are teams that would take him if you are not asking for too much for sure) if you’re going to even consider not throwing Granderson out there everyday. I mean, you lose nothing by trading De aza for even a non prospect. You signed him out of necessity and he became expendable. No assets or money lost. But starting the season with him as a 5th outfielder is losing you 221K/week.
Not a Mets fan, but I think every team needs a viable back-up plan for regulars who might o down during the coarse of the season when fighting for a pennant. Obviously, stripping themselves clean of a good back-up plan in the outfield might put them in a bad place when the injury bug hits.
And certainly this comment might be the pot calling the kettle black…..how about Rusney making over 110 mil a year with a contract that already is dead weight 2 seasons in with nothing but hope in your face until 2020. ….but wait, I forgot the Red Sox always make good personnel choices.
I meant $10 million a year.
Yeah, you’re right! I am no Mets fan either, but it is always someone who can use a decent platoon-type player. And, my thinking was, they look like they have 5 outfielders that can all play on a daily basis if you let them. that’s why I was saying moving De Aza would be better money than having him, Conforto, Lagares, Cespedes, and Granderson splitting time.
$27.5MM=Cespedes
$15MM = Granderson
$$5.75 = De Aza
Any day all 3 of those guys are not out there together has to hurt the owners wallet pocket( I don’t care, but spending the cash the right way has got to be a major formula in making a run at the playoffs as well).
As for Castillo, my best friend is a Red Sox fan, and he said exactly the same thing about him.
who claimed the Red Sox don’t make any bad personnel decisions? Even as a Red Sox fan, it is easy to see some horrendous moves. Every team does and usually you notice the bad choices of your own more than those of other teams. I would say most Red Sox fans are critical of the choices of management. Trading away the whole career of Jeff Bagwell for a one month rental of Larry Andersen. Bagwell took ROY the following year. That still stings.
You can thank your fellow Sox fan and friend @bigpapi4ever for ruining everyone’s perception of Sox fans.
I have seen plenty of over-the-top jingoistic Yankees fans too. Bigpapi4ever is no worse than the Yankees fan who used to call himself 26rings and then 27rings. He was over’the’top and obnoxious and I suspect even Yankees fans are glad he isn’t around anymore.
I’m a Red Sox fan and he makes us all look horrendous with his rediculous trade scenarios.
Holt works better in the supersub role. I’m hoping this is a temporary thing until guys start needing a day off. His stats also start to decline significantly in the second half. Not sure if that’s because he can’t handle a full season or he’s just a first half guy. But either way it should be taken into consideration. Castillo is still a question mark, but he should get a chance to prove himself. And not just in spring training. In real games that mean something.
I think the mets should hold on to De Aza. Yeah, 5.75m might be expensive for a bench player, especially with their payroll, but that depth is extremely valuable, especially having a solid guy like de aza on the bench. I would throw Granderson out there everyday, along with cespedes and id let conforto and lagares compete for it. Clearly one of them needs to be traded, which one, im not sure. Conforto would probably get you the most, but hes also the cheapest option.
That is exactly the way it should be. You are thinking logically, I was thinking financially. But, your way is always the right way, and the Mets seem like they are thinking…. No way… or not thinking at all…. But you’re right… it is valuable to have a guy like De Aza…. I mean they actually look like a big market team for a change with a $60MM outfield…..Which is not such a bad thing….
There’s no way Conforto is getting traded.
Holt is playing against righties, Young and Castillo against lefties. Think you got mixed up there.