Headlines

  • Brewers To Promote Jacob Misiorowski
  • Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony
  • Craig Kimbrel Elects Free Agency
  • Marlins Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Strain
  • White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor
  • Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Red Sox Face Decision On Tyler Thornburg

By Jeff Todd | July 8, 2019 at 4:46pm CDT

The Red Sox announced today that they have recalled the rehabilitation assignment of righty Tyler Thornburg. While the reliever remains on the injured list for the time being, the move begins a two-day period within which the club will have to decide whether to activate him or instead remove him from the MLB roster, as Alex Speier of the Boston Globe notes on Twitter.

Thornburg has been working back from a hip impingement since late May — the latest in a line of health issues that have significantly limited him since he came to Boston in the 2016-17 offseason. He has averaged 94.1 mph on his average fastball this year in the majors, but little else has gone according to plan.

Despite the return to a velocity level that sits just over his career average, Thornburg managed only an 8.6% swinging-strike rate over his 18 2/3 innings. He did record 22 strikeouts, but also handed over ten walks and gave up four long balls. If anything, it might be surprising the ball didn’t leave the yard more often. Opposing hitters tagged Thornburg to the tune of a 92.4 mph average exit velocity, 56.6% hard-contact rate, and 20.4 degree average launch angle.

In all, Thornburg coughed up 7.71 earned per nine in the majors. And his rehab showing at Triple-A hasn’t been any more promising. In 10 2/3 frames there, he was ambushed for a whopping 15 earned runs and five long balls.

It’s possible that the Sox will give Thornburg one more shot to make good at the MLB level. Odds are they’ll decide it’s time to cut bait, even with a relief unit that’s in need of supplementation. Other organizations will surely like to see if they can help the veteran get back to what once made him a quality reliever, though it’s hard to imagine any taking on the remainder of his $1.75MM salary.

Tendering Thornburg in his final season of arb eligibility has proven a regrettable decision for the Red Sox, though it’s understandable the organization sought to recoup some value. Despite turning in questionable results when he was able to pitch in 2018, Thornburg evidently showed enough for the club to think he could rediscover his form. Indeed, over the winter, the club even cited him as a possible member of the late-inning mix.

Share 0 Retweet 8 Send via email0

Boston Red Sox Tyler Thornburg

Nationals Nearing Deal With Brad Boxberger
Main
What’s Wrong With Robinson Cano?
View Comments (24)
Post a Comment

24 Comments

  1. joshua.barron1

    6 years ago

    I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but he’s been useless. That trade hurts so bad. Still. Cut our losses and move on

    1
    Reply
    • mcmillankmm

      6 years ago

      Hurts a little less after seeing Shaw sent down to AAA

      Reply
  2. gomerhodge71

    6 years ago

    They may keep him to save face. One of the most ridiculous, pointless trades they’ve made in the past 20 years.

    1
    Reply
    • B-Strong

      6 years ago

      Shedding an extra 3rd baseman for what was supposed to be a very good bullpen arm isn’t pointless. They were committed to giving Devers the starting 3B job and had both Holt and Nunez that could fill in. Shaw was the odd man out. The trade just didn’t work out for Boston. It happens.

      5
      Reply
      • deweybelongsinthehall

        6 years ago

        I’ve said it before, the issue to me wasn’t Shaw but the other three minor leaguers that could have been used to supplement other trades. Brewers already won this trade even if Shaw becomes Will Middlebrooks 2.0.

        1
        Reply
    • Ketch

      6 years ago

      Saving face isn’t a high priority with this team, as Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval can attest…

      1
      Reply
    • butch779988

      6 years ago

      It made perfect sense at the time with both Moncada and Devers on the way. He was lights out the year b4 for the Brewers. Just didn’t work out.

      1
      Reply
    • craig breslow

      6 years ago

      It isn’t ridiculous, pointless deal when you’re trading for a high-quality reliever whose issues are due to a serious injury.

      Reply
  3. DarkSide830

    6 years ago

    i know the Shields and Shelby Miller trades look pretty bad now, but things webt south on this trade even quicker.

    Reply
  4. soxx

    6 years ago

    that was a horrible trade he sucks

    Reply
    • dlevin11

      6 years ago

      Another pointless trade for Sox was the Carson Smith trade

      Reply
      • B-Strong

        6 years ago

        That trade wasn’t “pointless”. Neither was the Shaw trade. Both served a purpose to upgrade the bullpen. The problem is that both blew up in Boston’s face. Miley was pretty crap in Seattle so that one doesn’t sting like the Shaw trade.

        2
        Reply
        • craig breslow

          6 years ago

          Both guys got hurt. Thornburg’s was completely out of the blue. Smith’s motion made him seem injury prone, but he was coming off a great year and Miley was a sixth starter.

          Reply
      • Ketch

        6 years ago

        I’ll be fair to Dombrowski. Not his fault either pitcher got hurt. Frankly it was nice to see him concerned about the bullpen. Ah those were the days….

        1
        Reply
  5. dlevin11

    6 years ago

    Just try to get Shane Greene and Matthew Boyd from Tigers

    Reply
    • Ketch

      6 years ago

      Sure. Just have DD fill out the forms and have them shipped overnight…

      Reply
  6. qbass187

    6 years ago

    Probably not that hard of a decision at this point…

    Reply
  7. stan lee the manly

    6 years ago

    I think the Nationals are already knocking

    Reply
  8. AtlSoxFan

    6 years ago

    If a trade is close, activate him and include him in the swap. Have the trading team absorb his salary instead of sending money to boston o the player being acquired.

    The potential he becomes of any value what-so-ever with no net cost on the acquiring squad (other than a roster spot which, be honest, on a selling team isn’t a consideration) is a slight sweetener on the trade, sort of throwing in a low a ballplayer.

    Reply
  9. whyhayzee

    6 years ago

    He has averaged 94.1 mph on his average fastball this year.

    I wonder what he’s averaged on his above average fastball this year. If he’s had one at all.

    Reply
    • jorge78

      6 years ago

      He hasn’t had one…..

      Reply
  10. craig breslow

    6 years ago

    The trade may seem bad, but the Sox can’t really be faulted. When acquired, Thornburg was considered a top-flight setup man who looked destined to be a quality closer. After thoracic outlet he just hasn’t been the same.

    Reply
  11. GMB 883

    6 years ago

    True that.

    Reply
  12. HalosFan8

    6 years ago

    Jeff, Can you elaborate on the rules of being recalled from a rehab assignment? I can’t tell if it’s a seldom used roster move or if it’s a special rule since teams are on the all star break.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Brewers To Promote Jacob Misiorowski

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Craig Kimbrel Elects Free Agency

    Marlins Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Strain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

    Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

    Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

    Recent

    Blue Jays To Promote Will Robertson

    Casey Lawrence Elects Free Agency

    Diamondbacks Outright Aramis Garcia; Scott McGough Elects Free Agency

    Pirates Re-Sign Tanner Rainey To Minor League Deal

    Giants Place Matt Chapman On 10-Day Injured List

    Mariners’ Bryce Miller Out Four To Six Weeks With Elbow Inflammation

    Roberts: Chance Of Ohtani Pitching Before All-Star Break Is “North Of Zero”

    Diamondbacks Place Justin Martínez On IL With UCL Sprain

    Orioles Select Luis Vázquez

    Rangers To Sign Craig Kimbrel To Minor League Deal

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version