The Red Sox announced that they’ve avoided arbitration with right-hander Tyler Thornburg by agreeing to a one-year deal for the 2018 season. Terms of the contract weren’t disclosed, though Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal reports (via Twitter) that Thornburg will be paid $2.05MM. That matches the rate at which he was paid in 2017, which is common for arbitration-eligible players who miss an entire season due to injury, as was the case with Thornburg in 2017 (thoracic outlet syndrome).
Thornburg, 29 was Boston’s biggest bullpen acquisition last winter but was unable to take the mound due to shoulder issues that eventually led to his TOS diagnosis and subsequent surgery. Thus far, it’s been a particularly painful trade for the Sox, who sent Travis Shaw and prospects Mauricio Dubon and Josh Pennington to Milwaukee to acquire Thornburg’s three arbitration seasons.
The Sox still have time to extract some value from the contract if Thornburg is healthy, of course. He was a wipeout reliever for the Brewers back in 2016, tossing 67 innings of 2.15 ERA ball with 12.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and 0.81 HR/9 with a fastball that averaged just over 94 mph. If he’s able to approximate that level of performance, Thornburg would deepen Boston’s setup corps and help to fortify the bridge to Craig Kimbrel at the end of the game. He’ll be joined by Carson Smith, Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes as right-handed setup options for rookie manager Alex Cora.
With Thornburg’s case out of the way, the Sox still have a hefty 12 players eligible for arbitration. Kelly, Smith, Mookie Betts, Drew Pomeranz, Xander Bogaerts, Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley, Sandy Leon, Steven Wright, Brandon Workman, Christian Vazquez and Eduardo Rodriguez are all eligible for arbitration this winter as well.
Nice trade dave
Yes, he was fully aware that Thornburg was going to blow out his arm, and that Travis Shaw was going to hit 31% better than he did in 2016.
Hindsight is 20/20 good sir
Even at the time of the trade the opinion was the Sox gave up too much. A reliever just isn’t worth that package of players, particularly a reliever that doesn’t have much of a track record of success.
Actually I remember reading that there was concern about his delivery, not that it really means anything, injuries can befall any player.
I’m a brewers fan, and I thought this trade would favor Boston. After watching Thornburg transition to the pen from being a starter, I thought he would be an all star level closer. And he still can be. His release and his stuff are filthy and he still should be good. Plus both Shaw and Dubon have been performing better than advertised
I’m a Brewers fan too. Shaw’s numbers last season aren’t out of line with his minor league performances and a significant improvement from year one to year two should not have been unexpected. Dubon, if anything, has under preformed his previous minor league stats. Plus the Brewers got two more prospects. All for a pitcher who had one really good year, but was beginning to wear down in late August/September.
Shaw was already a good-going-on-very-good player who should not have been dealt, at least so cheaply. There were reports that John Farrell didn’t like Shaw’s “attitude” and would bench him any time he pulled an 0-for-3, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Farrell pushed Dombrowski to pull the trigger and get what he could for Shaw.
Monday morning quarterback
Well, it is Monday.
Let’s not forgot that Shaw was abysmal in the second half of 2016, and there was a lot of worry that he was a first-half wonder.
Yeah so far Dave got worked bad in that trade…took your shoes off took!
Has there been a pitcher that’s come back from thoracic outlet syndrome and be the pitcher they were before? It seems it’s what tommy john was for pitchers a few years ago.
Chris Young… but even he’d be considered a stretch since he’s always depended on being a giant with deception than a pitcher with ‘stuff’. I’m sure there’s exceptions, but it’s ended more careers than not.
Chris Young is kind of the only one, except then he was awful again and he isn’t a power pitcher. But, yeah, TOS is just still in its infancy it terms of treatment and the results prove it: Jaime Garcia has been okay since having his. But the list of pitchers who didn’t – or haven’t recovered – is scary: Tyson Ross, Beckett, Lowry, Carpenter, Marcum. – none of them ever recovered at all. Matt Harrison had a couple decent years after his surgery. Phil Hughes and Luke Hochevar haven’t recovered. Clayton Richard is a junkballing starter now, it might be too early to say this but it looks like Matt Harvey and Kyle Zimmer are done too. It’s a tricky injury that deals with a lot of moving parts, and I think teams are still far from a solution.
Jamie Garcia.
Let’s see what happens. Last year it was Oh man what a bad trade getting Drew Pomorantz since he had arm issues and now look at that deal. Looks great for the Sox. Pomorantz had a nice year and the #1 pitching prospect had TJ surgery (can’t think of his name). Thornburg might have a great year and Shaw might struggle or get hurt. You never know in these deals how things will pan out over 2 or 3 years. Carson Smith is pitching again. Maybe he and Thornburg will be the 7th and 8th inning guys this year. Hard to predict. Most of DD’s major trades are working pretty well (Kimbrell, Sale etc…). Let’s see what he does this off season.
Amen2 that GMB!! His name is Anderson Espinoza!! For me if the Redsox add Santana at 1b! Cozart or Nunéz at 2b will be fine!! Go Sox Go
I believe Kenny Rogers had TOS.
I think the Red Sox should resign Nunez and move him to first base after Pedroia comes back. The whole thing about needing a home run hitter is overblown, y’all realize they won 93 games, right? And that was with Pedey hurt and down years from the previous by HanRam and Mookie. If the Red Sox pay full price for anyone, it’ll be too much. Watch Santana fall apart like Victor Martinez. Speaking of Martinez, does anyone believe J.D. can catch lightning in a bottle again?
Assuming they are healthy, EVERYONE in the lineup (except Vazquez) will be capable of hitting 20 homeruns.
Why you think Santana will fall apart?and yes we need a guy wt power!!168hr please!!Os have Machado – Davis! Tampa Longoria Morrison! Toronto Donalson Morales and The Yanks have Sanchez and yes The Judge