The Red Sox will activate second baseman Dustin Pedroia from the disabled list on Friday, manager Alex Cora told reporters this afternoon (Twitter link via Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe). While the team didn’t announce a corresponding move, Abraham notes that neither Eduardo Nunez nor Brock Holt seems to be in danger of losing his roster spot to clear way for Pedroia, based on Cora’s comments.
Pedroia, 34, has yet to take the field for the Sox this season thanks to offseason surgery to address a cartilage issue in his left knee. In his absence, Nunez has shouldered the bulk of the workload at second base, though he’s posted a disappointing .243/.261/.361 slash through 177 trips to the plate. As a whole, Boston second basemen are slashing just .241/.269/.361, so Pedroia’s return will be a welcome one, should he be able to manage anything even close to his recent levels of production at the big league level.
[Related: Boston Red Sox depth chart]
While Pedroia, of course, isn’t the superstar that he was early in his career when he won American Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors in successive seasons (2007-08), he’s remained a productive player throughout his early 30s, slashing .296/.360/.415 in 2195 plate appearances across the past four seasons. Last year, he slashed a roughly league-average .293/.369/.392 in 463 PAs.
It’s certainly possible that there’ll be some rust to be shaken off, as Pedroia went 1-for-14 with three walks in a minor league rehab assignment with the Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket. Results aside, however, Pedroia has played consecutive days at second base on two occasions now and has clearly shown enough that the organization feels him capable of stepping back into the big league lineup. Off days may be more frequent for him early on as he eases back into the rigors of an everyday schedule, but provided his knee is indeed healthy, he should provide a notable boost to an already dangerous lineup once he gets back up to speed.
Now its really time to DFA Swihart.
They’re gonna get zippo for Swihart now. Hindsight’s 20/20, but man should they have pulled that trigger a year ago, or what. Dude never really hit in the minors either. I do wonder how he ever scored so high on prospect lists.
Eh, I’m not really sure they were ever going to be able to move Swihart outside of him being one of several pieces traded in a big move. Like maybe in some theoretical Cliff Lee deal in 2013 or instead of a different minor piece for Kimbrel or Sale. I just hope he winds up somewhere where he can get playing time so he can have a chance at being a ML regular. Just never been able to get enough of a chance in Boston to show whether or not he’s really viable.
There’s plenty of playing time available in Chicago, don’t worry.
In the minors (before he got called up) he hit for a good average, didn’t strike out much, drew walks, swiped some bags, and hit for some power. He basically looked like what JT Realmuto is now. Before he got called (without doing all the math) he was probably somewhere around a .290/.340/.430 hitter with 20+HR/10+SB potential (as a C). That’s why he was so high on prospect lists. How you say he never really hit is beyond me.
Blake Swihart has only 27 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 1,716 minor league plate appearances (to go with a .269/.328/.398/.727 line)
Any early projection of 20+ home runs in season seems overly optimistic.
If Swihart had J.T. Realmuto’s defensive skills he might have developed into an similarly valuable catcher. He doesn’t and he didn’t.
No one can blame Swihart for being overhyped.
We missed you Dustin! Wonder what corresponding roster move is coming… has to be a swihart trade right?
Looks like Swihart’s price tag just became a lot more affordable
Last call for Blake Swihart offers. No way can they justify keeping him on the roster once Pedroia is activated.
While Swihart’s value seems like little to none right now, we have to remember Pedroia and Nunez both have knee issues so he was insurance. They could have traded him after the great spring instead of Marrero but they apparently valued his versatility more than any received offer. Just an explanation. Imagine if there was an injury just after being traded. The team would have gotten killed right here.
Swihart, Vazquez, Steven Wright, and Brian Johnson to MIA for JT Realmuto. BOS gets one of the best Cs in the business, and MIA gets a four pack of serviceable bodies.
Miami isn’t looking for other teams castaways.
Yeah I’m sure no other team has offered more than that for Realmuto yet
Lol, four AAAA players for a big league all star. Pretty sure that’s not how baseball works unless you meant that as a joke
Or ziegler, chen and tazawa for betts and swihart
Miami’s not taking Boston’s castoffs for an All Star player who they can extract much much more for once we get further into this season.
Just remember Casey Mcgehee was someone else’s throw away and so was Santana of the twins I can keep going
Beauty !
While I agree the suggested offer isn’t close to fair, it’s not “four AAA” players as stated. Wright was a past all star and if healthy can save a bullpen as a #5 starter. Vazquez is solid defensive, etc. For some reason I’m not a Realmuto fan and would prefer to keep Vazquez and use the others for a dependable reliever.
They are 4 “AAAA” players. Which means better than minor leagues but not quite Major league starters. Wright is trash and defensive catchers are a dime a dozen. It’s about finding a catcher that can hit and play defense
Don’t agree. controlling the running game, framing, preventing wild pitches. etc. will always be important. Yankees have an amazing talent in Sanchez but his defense lapses are still headline news. Would love an offensively gifted catcher like that. Don’t misconstrue what I’m saying. Realmuto is not Sanchez. Also if he’s healthy (big if), most teams would gladly take Wright. His value remains his past ability to provide innings. In today’s game, such can’t be understated. Many teams bullpens will be burnt by August.
They’d have to throw in Hector Velazquez and that would be idiotic.
Ever think they traded Marrero because other teams were willing to trade more for him than Swihart? If you cant trust a player in the field, why would you trade for him?
Deven Marrero was a castoff when drafted some of us were hopping mad about in 2012..
As for what Jeter has been taking back in trades? one cannot tell, it’s not like he got anything useful back from his old NYY crew for Stanton now is it?
They would have if they were able to trade him to anywhere but NY. But once he said he would only go there, of course what trade value he had evaporated and the Marlins were forced to take nothing in return.
Jeter is not in charge of trades in Miami! Michael Hill is the GM there.
I feel like previous managers have had a hard time getting Pedroia to accept rest days, which certainly hasn’t helped him avoid injuries in recent years. Cora’s been pretty rigid about resting players at scheduled intervals, and hopefully his status as a former teammate makes that easier for Dustin to swallow.
Little People Big World
So with what they are paying Nunez, they would get rid of him. Mmmm nope.
They’ll probably make the wrong move and DFA Swihart (no trade value), but what the Sox should do is trade Hanley Ramirez and his unwanted $22 million 2019 vesting option.. Moreland should be full time first baseman, and DH/LF should be split between JD Martinez and Benintendi, both of whom should also play full time.
By the way, if you think you’d miss $22 million Ramirez, he’s been batting .136 since May 11th, and 0 for his last 17 at bats.
So what team will trade for Hanley Ramirez with his $22 million salary, vesting option for 2019, defensive limitations and .136 batting average since May 11?
You’re right muskie73, who would value Hanley at the whopping sum of $22 million/year. YIKES!!!
Wow, Boston throws around money around and never is brought to task for its financial failures like other teams are. See Panda, Rusney etc. now the call is to eat Hanley’s financials too! YIKES!!!
And yet some of their fans bellyache every chance they get about the Yankees finances.
And what about the PRICE that they paid for PRICE.
All time record for wasted resources when it is over.
Calm down little socklets—A Rod won one more WS than PRICE ever will.
None of the above financials is DD. Price is on him and time will tell how that turns out. The team is stuck with Hanley this year but sometimes the best moves are the ones never made…
You mean A-roid?
Time will tell with price? Are you kidding, The early years of a long term contract pitcher are for performance. The end few years are for PAST performance.
This guy has been a terrible investment for the first part of the contract. With High Mileage on his shoulder and elbow (especially) the back end spells complete disaster.
Coupled with PRICE’s abysmal post season record this is the worst contract in history.
So Dewey—so cute of you to add a
Comment about Alex. The only difference between him and Papi is that Papi was protected and not fully exposed because he was juicing right along. And while we are at it, how about Manny the Cheater. He actually was exposed for three teams and the Sox tried in vain to protect the lowlife.
Hit the nail right on the head with ‘unwanted $22 million 2019 vesting option’. Nobody wants that, so how are they meant to trade him, nobody wants the contract and the option seems likely to vest. The only way the red sox could prevent the option vesting is to use him as a pinch hitter, possibly starting occasionally to rest JD, moreland or one of the outfielders
tomrogic, you’re right, no one else wants Hanley’s ugly vesting option either, and the only way to limit the rest of his plate appearances this year is, as you suggest, pinch hit and sub.
The whole thing sounds like a waste of Ramirez, but in the long run, it’s the right move.
That would be an eruption felt through the clubhouse straight up to the front office.
Yes, it would cause an eruption all right; a needed one. It’s about time Cora puts some sense into how he manages the lineup.
It’s a growing problem that will become a distraction if they don’t deal with it soon. Ramirez will disrupt the Clubhouse if he gets the Coco Crisp OAK treatment from a couple years ago. BOS will have to trade Ramirez for whatever and assume the rest of his 2018 salary in exchange for the receiving team taking full responsibility for that vesting option. That’s the only way out.
The only “receiving team” that might do something that stupid would be the Yanks. And I wish they would.
See you can’t take your mind off NY, truly sad. No team will take the Sox garbage anymore. So when Hanley vests for 2019 and Price carries a 5+ era I’m sure you’ll still be whining about the Bombers.
Steven, no need to be a testy; it’s just a little friendly competitiveness.
Steve, the quality of your ideas continue to plummet downward. The Yankees are NOT a dumb franchise. Dumb is your beloved Sox who will start WWIII if Hanley feels that they are taking AB’s away from him.
You know what will happen as you’ve seen it with him before: sulking, playing lousy defense, swinging at crazy pitches, getting “hurt” so he can go on the DL.
Cancer will spread like a wild fire.
You should wish for new meds. Combined with bed rest you may return to a rational state. Good luck.
mikeyank55, you’re probably right about Hanley’s behavior. And thank you so much for your concern with my mental health !
The Red Sox could easily justify curbing Hanley’s PA’s. A straight up platoon with Moreland would make sense, both competitively and financially. And I hate the Sox, so I want to see it vest, but there’s easily a scenario that it won’t
Cool, no biggie.
mikeyank55, Regarding Hanley Ramirez, I took my meds and had a great night sleep. Now, in my rational state, I would like to say “I told you so”, but that would be stooping to your level.
Hey, now the “not dumb” Yankee franchise will probably try to pick up the problem boy ! Good luck.
Trade Pedroia
Why would they trade their leader and who would take the 34 year old with $40 million left on Pedroia’s contract after the $16 million he’s getting this year ?
If you’re being facetious because of the Ramirez post, I think it’s misplaced. Ramirez needs to be shut down. If not, how are the Sox going to pay rising contracts like Bogaerts’, Betts’, Benintendi’s next year ? And with Hanley’s contract off the books, Rusney Castillo can come back and we’d have a hitting centerfielder.
Sounds like a Mikeyank 55 comment…
Yes Mikeyank the clown literally brings nothing constructive to any conversation just crawls out from under his bridge in Mets and Red Sox conversations.
LOL. I refrained myself as I was about to suggest ge crawl back under his rock…
Hey deweybelongsinthehall,
Tah Dah !
Why wouldnt the let him stay in AAA until he started hitting? He had no ST and most everyone says you need 50 AB to be ready
Swihart DFA seems to be the move-DD has worked the phones and there are no takers-someone will take a flier on him after he clears waivers- or he’ll end up in Pawtucket but I doubt it-no options left is the dilemma
Swihart has no chance to pass waivers. The White Sox are ready to pounce as soon as he is waived.
Pedey has to perform upon return from the DL or he may be the next to be axed from the Red Sox’s active roster. The message here, to all but Mookie and DJ is to perform or leave…. the FO is not fooling around. I like that…
Swihart will get an opportunity to rebuild his value to the Red Sox or any other team soon. He just has to be ready when his time comes or he too will be axed.