In an interesting look back at recent history, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com explores the Red Sox’ decision-making process on finding a big bat over the just-concluded offseason. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says the organization zeroed in from the outset on J.D. Martinez, despite knowing it could take a big salary to get a deal done. Giancarlo Stanton’s no-trade rights mostly took him out of consideration, says Dombrowski, while Marcell Ozuna came with too high a prospect price tag — reflecting his value as an outfielder, not just a DH, which was the Sox’ primary need.
Here’s more from the AL East:
- Red Sox top prospects Jay Groome and Michael Chavis will open the season on the disabled list, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Groome, 19, is dealing with a mild flexor strain that is similar to the injury that hampered him in 2017, though farm director Ben Crockett tells Speier that the injury isn’t serious in nature, calling it “pretty mild overall” and noting that Groome has already been symptom-free for “several days.” Chavis, 22, is dealing with an oblique strain that he suffered back in February. He’s begun swinging a bat, however, and could get into extended spring games next week.
- Alex Cobb is nearing readiness to join the Orioles, Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun writes. It seems likely he’ll take the ball on Monday, though that won’t be finalized until the weekend. Baltimore skipper Buck Showalter said the club is mostly allowing Cobb to drive the process while understandably preferring to “err on the side of caution.” Trusting the veteran hurler but maintaining a conservative approach seems wise given Cobb’s health history and the team’s $57MM investment.
- Orioles fans will certainly also want to check out this lengthy chat between righty Kevin Gausman and the Sun’s Jon Meoli. The talented 27-year-old has not quite turned the corner to being a front-line starter, despite showing hints of it at times. He’s now entering an important season in which he’ll try to bounce back from a messy 2017 showing in advance of his final two arb-eligible campaigns. Likewise, VP of baseball ops Brady Anderson recently joined the podcast of MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. He discussed how his history as a player helped spur his current career, as he began his post-playing involvement in the game by helping his former teammates. Though he’s hardly the only former player with a prominent executive role, Anderson is somewhat unusual in that he still gets down on the field quite a bit.
- Aaron Hicks is confident that he can return to the active roster in time for the Yankees’ upcoming series against the Red Sox, which begins next Tuesday, writes MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Beyond that, while recently claimed Trayce Thompson is initially reporting to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, skipper Aaron Boone tells Hoch that the optional assignment “doesn’t mean he won’t become an option very soon.”
Brady Andersons link takes you to a milb player page…i assume he is not the VP of baseball ops
This would be the correct link:
baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderbr01.shtml
Who’s “Jay” Groome?
The Red Sox drafted a J A S O N Groome in the 1st round out of Barnegat, N.J.
Google: Jason Groome Barnegat, N.J.
He probably started going by his nickname (assuming it’s Jay) after he was drafted.
I don’t think you Googled before you replied.
When you Google both names pop up. Even his Wikipedia page has his name as Jay Groome and then lists his full name as Jason Joseph Groome.
Baseball-reference and fangraphs also refer to him as Jay as well. So there’s that. Got a lot of work to do to fix that internet man. Get at it.
Not to mention milb.com… and mlb.com.
And probably his mom…
When I Google that, the first hit is his father Jason Groome.
Jason Groome was his name everywhere and always through Draft day and then at that top hit – at least for me – is that incident with his father a month later. Groome – the pitcher – hardly pitched and disappeared from public view and when he reappeared in prospect lists months later his first name was changed to “Jay”
You think he was abducted by aliens and replaced with this “Jay” guy?
“ . . . that incident with his father a month later.”
OK, methinks I see where Casey is going with this. There was some incident involving his father who shares the same first name, and the player chose to change his name thereafter. Post hoc ergo prompter hoc. Not saying I buy it but it’s a theory. Now will Casey tell us what that incident was about or is he counting on more’n one or two of us searching for it?
In an relatively local news article (pressofaltlanticcity) they referred to him a Jay at the time of “the incident” involving his father. Seems to me like the kid being called Jay was quite common already.
pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/father-of-b…
Why does his first name matter?
Exactly
…propter hoc. With all the Latin American players in mlb, you should be more careful with your American Latin. ;)
Tell baseball-reference as that’s how he is listed there. Can’t blame Jeff or this site for relying on a usually reliable (and completely legitimate) source. Appears to the same player, though. Perhaps he wanted to shorten his “signing” time by a couple?
I don’t know Casey, but he can do better.
I hate those prospect debuts in MLB with the family in the stands. In the case of Jason Groome though……
Will dad appear via closed circuit TV on the scoreboard to be interviewed by the roving reporter?
Believe it or not, people had a tendency to call people by the name they want to go by. Mitch Trubisky to Mitchel Trubisky, Mike Stanton to Giancarlo Stanton, BJ Upton to Melvin Upton Jr.
Jason Groome was interviewed by Philly media and pushed on the Phillies to draft him. I saw TV interviews on the cable network that televises the Phillies. He had no issue with being called “Jason” Groome. He was written up extensively a year and a half before the draft.
I don’t think this name change came from the pitcher Jason Groome.
He calls himself Jay on twitter. twitter.com/jaygroome55?lang=en
But I am so sure you are right /s (SMDH)
All these late fa signings have really done a toll on player options with all the 25 and 40 man roster adjustments.
Personally I am devastated that the baseball world refers to Charles Cobb Blackmon as Charlie. I may never get over it, and don’t even get me started on Michael Nelson Trout, the Millville Missile.
Casey you’re not funny at all dude. Get a new hobby
I’m curious if Hosmer was ever a consideration for the Red Sox. I know a lot of people thought he’d be the big bat at first for the Sox and Hanley would slip into DH. Personally I was against that though process but there’s a reason DD runs a baseball team and I speculate so I’d be curious about his thought process.
I’m pretty sure its his long lost boy friend, Manti Te’o set him up with.
Anybody watching today’s game? I realize the rule but it needs to be changed. You’re out before the first baseman catches the ball. Why have replays of you don’t have to even catch the ball? In the glove should start when the ball touches any part of the glove. Umps used to listen for the sound of contact. The ball clearly had not touched the glove when JBJ touched the bag. I guess the idea is to now wear the largest sized glove you can handle the ball with.
Is it really that difficult to google Jason Groome police?