In the event left-hander David Price falters this year in his return from elbow problems, the playoff-contending Red Sox will be forced to scour the trade market to bolster their rotation, observes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Jose Quintana, Sonny Gray, Gerrit Cole and Chris Archer represent high-end starters who could end up on the move prior to the trade deadline, notes Silverman, who doubts that the Red Sox would be able to put together a deal for any of the four. Even without factoring Cole into the mix, the Red Sox are bullish on the Pirates’ pitching at both the major and minor league levels, according to Silverman. If Boston and Pittsburgh don’t swing a deal, Miami right-hander Dan Straily could also be a possibility, though Silverman is skeptical that the Sox would meet the Marlins’ likely high asking price for him. Conversely, Silverman regards Royals left-hander Jason Vargas as an ideal fit for Boston and Twins righty Ervin Santana as a “perfect bridge-type acquisition.” Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported Saturday that Vargas and Santana are generating buzz as the trade deadline draws closer.
More from Boston and two other American League cities:
- For the second time this season, a shoulder issue will force Athletics right-hander Kendall Graveman to the disabled list, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Graveman, who’s dealing with soreness and will head to the DL on Monday, is likely to miss more time than he did when he previously sat out from April 15-26, per Slusser. When on the mound this year, the sinker-throwing Graveman has logged a 3.83 ERA, 6.13 K/9, 2.68 BB/9 and a 50.7 percent ground-ball rate. For now, his spot in the rotation will go to Daniel Mengden, a righty who has spent the year at Triple-A after undergoing offseason foot surgery. Mengden debuted in the majors with 14 starts and 72 innings last year, posting a 6.50 ERA (with a more encouraging 4.34 FIP), and has recorded strong results in the minors this season (2.21 ERA, 8.85 K/9, 2.21 BB/9 in 20 1/3 frames).
- As expected, the Indians have demoted righty Danny Salazar to the bullpen, the Associated Press was among those to report. Salazar will serve as a relief option for the Tribe beginning Wednesday, but he could start again as early as next week, according to Terry Francona. The manager indicated that Cleveland is placing Salazar in the bullpen to help him regain his confidence. Home runs and walks have been the key contributors to Salazar’s 5.50 ERA, up nearly two full runs from the combined 3.72 mark he put up in 484 1/3 innings from 2013-16. On the positive side, the hard-throwing 27-year-old is second to Chris Sale among starters in K/9 (12.45) and ranks behind only Sale and Max Scherzer in swinging-strike rate (15.4 percent).
- It looks as though the Red Sox are targeting next weekend for third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s activation from the DL, writes Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com. Upon his return, Sandoval – unavailable since late April because of a right knee sprain – will provide a much-needed option at third for a team that’s dealing with significant injuries to Marco Hernandez and Brock Holt. Boston’s third basemen have been utterly inept this year, having slashed a paltry .231/.281/.316 in 243 plate appearances. Sandoval didn’t look like part of the solution prior to his injury, though, with a .213/.269/.377 showing in 67 trips to the plate.
Marrero should get the majority of playing time even when Sandoval comes back. The defense at third base was a huge distraction before marrero was brought up and the Sox have won six in a row with him. Sandoval may hit a little better but his defense is a huge liability. Marrero can fill the hole for a few months until devers is ready
agreed.
Rutledge should get the majority of playing time
He’s not a good fielder at 3rd
Exactly Marrero and Rutledge thru the end of August and Devers call up in September
Shoulder issues are no joke
Don’t I know it. Seven surgeries on mine.
Marrero and Sandoval will platoon at 3rd and Morland and Travis will platoon at 1st and there is no need to rush out to trade for a starter after what Johnson showed us what he is capable of the other night. A rotation of Sale Porcello Rodregez Pomerantz and Johnson isn’t bad. They should focus on the bullpen before worrying about the rotation. I am not saying that trading for another front line starter is a bad thing, I am just saying getting a top bullpen arm would be better. Having another bullpen arm to pair with the ones we already have and to once Smith and Thornburg return(whenever that is) our bullpen will be much better. I think we should try to go after someone like Filipe Rivero or Hunter Strickland to cement the bullpen before worrying about the rotation. Because our starters for the most part have done a good job, it is when we turn to the bullpen that things start to fall apart so if we can get talent to help us get from when we take our starter out to Kimbral we will be good. But also do not go out and over pay for a player. I would much rather have Devers and Travis and Johnson so if they ask for one of them or one of the young players we already have up with the Red Sox then don’t do the deal
Our bullpen is fine as it is, plus Thornburg and Smith are coming back at some point. No need to give up more prospects for another reliever when we’ve given up so many recently
Smith is coming sometime. Thornburg isnt even close at this point. Who knows if he’ll even pitch this year.
Given that the MLB record for doubles is 67 in a year and no one has hit 60 doubles since 1936, I think it’s going to be difficult to find a 60-80 doubles per year player on the free agent market 😉
I think you let Johnson get a few more starts before trading to grab a starter. I also like to see Owens. He has improved his numbers in AAA. While walks are still up I think taking a few mph off his fastball van help his control. Owen’s needs to learn to be know as a strike thrower who hits corners. Then he can reach back for more to get swings and misses. Batters tend to swing more often once a pitcher demonstrates he will be throwing strikes forcing batters to swing not to allow themselves taking strikes to get into pitchers counts. Lastly, if Sox are going to add a piece I think they need a bat. I love Osuna. Reaching, but if 3B continues yo falter why not let M ookie take infield at 3B for a while. Sandavol struggles move Moonie to 3B and Young or Swihart to left. They also need to get Travis more than 1 game while up with Boston. He can be a trade piece that gets the bat needed. Personally I like a future team with M ookie at 3B and Devers at 1st. or Blake to 3rd or 1st. The team needs a 30 HR guy who or a werll above 300 hitter who drives gaps and will hit 60 to 80 doubles a year.
Come to think of it, my team could also use a 30 HR guy who hits 60 to 80 doubles a year!
Lol.
I’m pretty sure that after yesterday’s start by Brian Johnson, he would get a shot before the Sox try to make any trades.
Johnson has had two solid showings at the MLB level this year and deserves an opportunity to crack the rotation should the Sox need another arm.
I just don’t see the twins trading Ervin Santana while still in the thick of the race. The off-season is more likely when they have time to replace him and prospects such as Gonsalves and Romero are closer to MLB ready. I believe they’re a lot more likely to add a rotation depth piece then trade one away right now.
Only if it’s a mediocre depth piece. I can see the Twins hanging onto Santana after the deadline, but I doubt they’d compromise their future for a high-end rotation piece. That just seems silly
Yes I agree. If there is any additions it’s of the minor variety with a #5 type guy
I am confused. Straily and his nearly 4.00 ERA would have a high asking price? Why? He is not particularly young and he is not particularly good. He is a #5 starter, a number 4 on his best day. So why would there be a high asking price?
cost 500k… arbitration til 2021… 1.184 whip last year… 1.057 whip this year leads the league in hits per 9.
so I would guess its cause get a 4/5 who keeps people off base for 3 cheap years. If you’re a team with a good offense the idea of that in your 4/5 going up other 4/5’s is probably pretty attractive. Your odds of a 3run HR are much better than theirs and that will win you back of rotation games.
I’m guessing high asking price here is way behind the curve of Q, YU, Grey, Cole etc… and is one legit prospect instead of a couple and not someone’s #1 guy.
Because reliably mediocre starting pitchers are really hard to find.
Matt Harvey is probably not on the market but if he were what would it take from the Red Sox to get him?
They are lefty dominant with Sale, Price, Pomerantz, along with their two top AAA pitching prospects—Brian Johnson and Henry Owens and Jalen Beeks at AA and Buddy Groom at A.
Porcello is really the only quality R Hander.
The Red Sox do not need to make a trade, they need their health. If they do consider a trade they most certainly do NOT need to go for another Lefty in the rotation. Sale, Price, E-Rod, Pomeranz are all lefties, Wright is done-zo, which leaves Porcello as our only right hander left in the rotation.
If they do make a trade, as a fan I’d love to see them try to swing a trade for Cole. But if I am playing GM, we eventually have to pay for these players sooner or later. The Sox have a lot of money invested in players like Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, and David Price. They’ll get some breathing space with Craig coming off the books, but if we’re gonna try to retain the majority of Bogaerts, Betts, Benintendi, Sale, and another controllable guy like Cole, then there needs to be space to do so.
The real reason why I am so caught up with paying for these guys in the not-so-distant future (roughly three seasons) is because to get a guy like Cole would take what’s remaining in the Sox system. This could be a major detriment to the future of the team since they are prohibited from signing international players this year due to the sanctions from last year. Assuming they’re a good team for the next three years, they’d have a lowly draft pick, so we wouldn’t see another Benintendi for a while. Most of all, there’s exactly a zero percent chance that the Red Sox retain all of the players they would like to without BLOWING past the luxury tax threshold.
The Sox are in as close to an ideal spot as they possibly can be in right now. If they were completely healthy, then they would be. Even without a true middle of the order bat that Ortiz was, you will not find a more well rounded roster. A lot of teams try to add offense by sacrificing defense by throwing a player in a corner outfield spot (Schwarber, Hanram 2 years ago) but the Sox have only one weakness, third base, and help is on the way in the form of Devers. Moreland is a placeholder for the eventual rise of Travis who has drawn comparisons to Goldschmidt, but I hear his defense is garbage. Luckily, the AL has a DH spot, so Hanram should sack up and play the field and he was actually a good first basemen last year.
What the Sox need is Thornburg and Smith back. You could make the argument that there would only be right handers in the Sox pen with Barnes, Hembree, Kelly, Thornburg, Smith, and Kimbrel, with the only exceptions being Scott and Abad to which neither are reliable arms. I would make the argument that both Smith and Thornburg are successful against both lefties and righties, so there really is not a need for a specialist if you have three guys (adding Kimbrel into that mix) that can get anyone out. I am only concerned that these guys have all had experience as closers, and closers put in non-save situations are historically not as productive.
I also like having most of the high ceiling talent in the lower levels of the minors right now. With any prospect there is uncertainty (see Trey Ball, I wanted Austin Meadows with that pick but here we are) and more time in the minors creates more uncertainty, but we do not need any of these players right now, nor do we need them creating pressure to “make room” for them when we have a solid roster as is.
I wish the MLB would allow for the trading of draft picks. That would make trade talks a lot more interesting, and I think it is an easy solution to increase baseball’s popularity (instead of a signal for a free pass, eww). The MLB should also move the draft into the off-season for the obvious reason of making baseball at least a small priority during football and basketball season. It is hard to predict the effect moving the draft to winter would have on the winter meetings, but this could make the winter meetings more of a policy meeting than the big trades we see today. Draft day would be the day for trading, and hopefully they can trade draft picks!! It would also afford the fans more time to follow top draft prospects. The College World Series is already almost here and I for one could probably only point out like 5 guys.
Sorry for the rant, I just really like baseball. Feel free to comment. Hopefully Manfred reads MLBTR for suggestions
As much as I’d like to see it, there is 0% possibility that the Sox would be able to sign Betts, Bogarts, Beninteni, and Sale to contracts after their Arb/Extension runs out. Sale is going to get Price level money when he hits the open market in a couple years. If Betts puts up another MVP caliber year, he’s going to get paid, and if Bogarts just stays the course, he’s going to get paid as well.
With Prices massive contract, they could sign maybe one of those guys, but if it was Sale, then they’d have damn near 60m a year wrapped up in 2 pitchers. 80m a year between those two and Porcello. This is one reason why the skyrocketing salaries are irking me. You can’t have long term competitive teams unless you keep hitting the jackpot on prospects. You just can’t afford to load up a team of superstars these days because you’d be way over that soft cap.
Yes it’s so annoying that poor teams like the Red Sox can’t load up on superstars anymore…