January 9: Travis cleared outright waivers and will remain in the organization, Cotillo tweets. He’ll presumably be assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket and be in Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.
January 2: The Red Sox have designated first baseman Sam Travis for assignment, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. The move opens up roster space for newly added catcher Kevin Plawecki.
This could put an end to what has been a disappointing Red Sox tenure for Travis. Now 26 years old, Travis was a second-round pick of the Red Sox in 2014 who quickly became one of their best prospects. Travis was an extremely productive low-minors hitter in the organization the first couple years after Boston drafted him, but his Triple-A and major league numbers have been less than stellar so far.
Travis debuted in Triple-A back in 2016, and since then, he has batted .267/.339/.392 with 27 home runs in 1,198 plate appearances. He appeared in the majors in each of the previous three seasons, combining for a .230/.288/.371 line and seven home runs over the life of 278 trips to the plate.
Rangers better get on this
jk
Nice save
ha
I’m at a loss of words.
Did not see this coming.
Why not?
Bloom signed the garbage man peraza at $3m +incentives who was worth -.9 war and never did anything in his career.
Why keep the cheaper younger option who had similar pedigree and production that posted -.8war?
Reality is they wanted the roster spot.
Question remains, why even sign peraza?
Probably because Peraza has a better prospect pedigree, has a better MLB track record even including his very poor 2019, and because he plays multiple positions at least at a league average level. Travis had none of those things.
Peraza’s very poor 2019 also happened in 2017 and 2015.
In 2018 he also graded poorly and below average with an ops+ of 98, .288/.328/.416 not only nothing to write home about but not even desirable.
The best showing peraza ever had came in a 72 game 2016, not even a full season, when a whopping 102 ops+ came with an unsustainable .324/.352/.411 which never happened before, or since, and was buoyed by a short spurt of lucky babip as shown by every other year of his career.
Peraza is useless as an everyday player, and, overpaid at a 3m plus incentives contract
If you get .260, positional versatility, and 20+ stolen bases outta this guy $3 mil is a steal. And those are all things that are very doable for him.
To get 20+ stolen bases, Peraza has to play. If he plays that much regardless of the reason, it means the team is battling Toronto and Baltimore instead of New York and Tampa.
Forget his pedigree…I’ll take Holt anyday…that’s the crime.
Peraza’s not an everyday player. He’s good for utility purposes: pinch running, playing any infield position on short notice, and other things Sam Travis can’t do.
If they send Bradley in a trade Peraza is the starting CF. And he’s a much cheaper option. But even as a utility guy he adds speed and versatility. $3 mil is still worth it for him.
Peraza is Holt.
Peraza is no holt.
Peraza in his single best year barely graded as an average replacement level player, one year of 5.
Typically, peraza is right around a low 60s ops+, or in other words, Sam travis at 6 or 8 times the cost
Travis plays first, Peraza can play any outfield spot, 2b, 3b and SS. How can you possibly compare him to Sam Travis?
Because they both have trouble hitting their way out of a wet paper bag.
We have hernandez and lin at the same production as peraza already. If the name of the game is payroll savings, shift peraza’s money elsewhere, like the bullpen, and dump travis as the league minimum bench piece with similar roster plugging depth of a warm body in favor of a useful arm
@AltSoxFan
“Average” and “replacement level” are different things, you can’t be both.
If you’re a league average player (as Peraza was in 2018) you’re above replacement level (2.6 bWAR in his case).
Replacement level players are way below average.
Just like peraza the other years he played with an ops around 60?
I’d consider 2017, like 2019, to be replacement player level production.
2015 was a cup of tea, if miserable. 2016 wasnt even half a season and it was carried by unsustainable trends.
Even 2018 was not league average, although it was close.
When your single best year of 5 is that you were “almost but not quite league average” combined with a couple of full campaigns where you were clearly down near replacement level at best…
You do not get high marks
The point is comparing Peraza and Travis is useless because they don’t even play the same position. Travis isn’t versatile and didn’t hit, Peraza is fast and can play almost any position. Of course Peraza is worth more…
You said he was average and replacement level in his best season. You can’t be both.
2.6 WAR is average, not replacement level. I was only trying to help out with the misunderstanding when using the two terms interchangeably.
Peraza should be so fortunate to be favorably compared to Holt who clearly outperformed expectations.
Peraza is not replacing Travis…he is replacing Holt… And that’s the real problem.
Peraza still still has some promise. Plus the Red Sox only had 1 catcher on their 40 man prior to this signing.
Looks like Sox looking for Casas or Dalbec to play 1st Base this year as well
Maybe Dalbec since he’s on the 40 man. Not sure about Casas though. He only played two games in A+ ball. I might be wrong though.
dlevin, where does chavis play?
Why not indeed. I don’t know why Travis hung around this long. He obviously couldn’t hit well enough to play first.
Agreed. The only moves Bloom has made has been for negative WAR players. He’s supposed to be cleaning this team up right now, not standing pat.
The lumberjack
What’s a “Sam Travis?”
this guy will shine with an extended shot
I think you said the same thing about Bryce Brentz, who was 30 and a minor Leaguer for life. He kept getting shots but was terrible in the majors.
please look at his numbers again and think again that he either
A. got more than a few very short shots and
B. was terrible when he did get his shots.
I see your point and it’s a good one. Sox see it differently. Cut him loose he’s 26. Let’s take a flyer on someone 22.
I don’t know about shine, but his track record before AAA was good. He is only 26 and has a solid hit tool to work with. I never understand teams DFA a guy like Travis to sign a back up C who stinks. If Plawecki has to start more then 40 games for Boston. They will be in big trouble. As a Phillies fan I have watched him(Mets) He stinks.
After dumping swihart to put leon on the roster, there wasn’t a backup ready to plug in after trading away leon to save less salary than they pissed away on peraza.
Leon was no great bat, but he did frame well.
Would sox have been better off with leon/travis than plawecki/peraza? We won’t ever know.
But it does appear to be change for the sake of change, not to save money (leon/travis would’ve been cheaper).
Leon outside of one season was horrible at the plate although he was the team’s best hunter, a forgotten art. His magic was on defense where he not only framed well but also was good at stopping balls in the dirt and in keeping runners from stealing on a staff that mostly doesn’t hold runners well.
“Dumping Swihart” seriously? He was even worse than Leon.
He definitely won’t shine. He has done nothing, both in AAA and with the Red Sox.
Royals
I was thinking my beer league soft ball team?
But that would be 2 roster spots for players who basically only play 1B however. Now if it’s a contest on who’s more desirable between Travis or O’hearn, I’d rather have Travis based mostly on pedigree plus I feel he has the higher ceiling. And though I’d be supportive of KC taking a flyer of ST, I don’t see it happening.
You never know though…
The great Sam Travis? No way!!!
Don’t confuse him with Refsnyder !!!
Pirates, GO
Why? So he can steal ABs from Jose Osuna, who looks better the more playing time he gets?
You’re right. Cherington drafted him.
Farhan!! Better jump on this buddy!!!
Wow think there is a couple of teams that could use a possible Justin Smoak 2.0 Toronto, Texas, Milwaukee, Washington, Miami, Minnesota,
Travis does not have Smoak’s power. Good at slashing balls oppo to RF and that’s about it. Smoak has big lefty pull pop. Not equivalent
Not to bash Travis, he’s an ok hitter, but Justin Smoak he is not, nor will he ever be. He has exactly 7 career home runs, and is only a passible average fielder at a position where power is king.
Wish him well in his future endeavors.
Ok well I guess I see what you guys are saying and that I missed on my thought process. So who do you think a team should take a chance on Bird or Travis? I would try Bird first
Glad to see Bloom getting rid of these overrated AAA players that the former administration seemed to covet so highly. Let’s turn 40% of this roster around like Tampa did so effectively under Bloom & company.
Finally someone who gets it.
And I’m a Yankee fan
I guess I still don’t get it because if the farm is supposedly that weak, who’s getting his 40 man spot. Don’t say KP who replaced Leon regardless of the timing. My main issue is why not have kept him and given him a real shot at first? Sorry everyone but his lack of power at a traditional power spot doesn’t concern me as the game is played differently today and overall, team power is not the team’s biggest problem.
I remember seeing Travis name in many trade rumors in the past.
Teams should be lining up for him… what a quick trigger, the guy has barely had a chance to play and he’s still only 25
Bryce Brentz 2.0 …we held on to that guy way too long. Everyone said all he needs is a shot. Hit 30 home runs one season in the minors. I think he had 1 career Major League home run. True baseball man realizes Talent so time to cut this guy now.
“Bryce Brentz 2.0” Wouldn’t that make Travis “Billy Jo Robidoux 3.0”?
Yes but as a Rangers fan can he play 3rd, CF or 1st base?…?
Maybe he is a future ALLSTAR catcher
Anybody can play 1B, just ask Billy Beane.
Excellent. But don’t you have to be a former catcher who’s washed up?
As a Sox fan bye bye Sam anyone could replace u not winning a BT or FB job so byeeeeeeeee
Invite to spring……..(maybe he shines)
Invitee
There has to be a trade lined up.
Because of what exactly? His stellar track record? That doesn’t exist. His stellar AAA numbers? Those don’t exist. The lack of better 1B options on the FA market? Nope, try again. The number of teams needing a 1B only bench bat that doesn’t hit that well? Well that would be zero.
Unless the trade is with the Nippon Ham Fighters or the Sugarland Skeeters, I just don’t see it happening.
Well as of right now the Red Sox right side of the infield is Jose Peraza and Michael Chavis so, and this is purely speculation, Mr. Corey Seager could be discussed in mookie talks to play 2b. I’d imagine Peraza wasn’t brought in to play 2b every day. As for Chavis I imagine there’s someone who’d take him for cheap but certainly wouldn’t be a guy who’d be making an impact in the bigs.
Trade to acquire a decent player on the right side of the infield
The Nippon Ham Fighters have offered a bowl of ramen for Sam Travis. The Red Sox are trying to get them to throw in a California roll.
no loss here…Travis is just another typical Boston overrated prospect…and yes I’m a Red Sox fan…
Not sure I agree there. He was never much of a heralded prospect. It was clear after AA ball he wouldn’t become an everyday offensive player.
no he was a pretty well regarded prospect in the past
I don’t know if he was al that well regarded as much as he was towards the top in a thin Sox system. Not as hard to be a top 10 guy in a 25-30th ranked system.
Lots of overrated prospects like Vazquez, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi, Bradley, Betts, Barnes, Workman, Moncada, Margot and others that are current major leaguers. Like all organizations some don’t become what we hope but Boston is as good as anyone delivering talent from the minors with rarely a top 10 pick and not a top 5 in a long time. Any Sox fan knows that.
Half of these guys were international free agents and not draft picks. They have done well there (Devers, Boggie, Moncada, etc).
Their draft history over the last 5 years has produced two MLB players in Benny & Barnes. That is it. Take a look at Tampa or the Braves and that’s the model we are looking for here.
Orioles, Tigers , Marlins?? , whatever you know the drill …
Kevin Pawlicki replacing Sam Travis on a MLB roster…..kind of like Brussel sprouts replacing spinach on the dinner menu……
I like both!
Kodo fish and asparagus, or vanilla paste?
Kodo fish!
wow. a highly touted bosox prospect that didn’t pan out. You don’t see 5 of those every year.
You’re right. Usually they’re winning World Chapionships.
Well, except for those 86 years they didn’t. Probably most of your life. Win 4 in 100 years and get all uppity and entitled. Still no dynasty. Ever. Not last century. Not this century. Never. (Only the Giants have had a dynasty this century.)
As a fellow Yankee fan I’m embarrassed by this. Give credit where credits due. The Sox have been damn good the last 15 years. Maybe not repeat championships but 4 in that timeframe is impressive
You have to consider the source. Whyhazy is CONSTANTLY trashing the Yankees. In Yankee’s articles, outside Yankee’s articles. Everywhere. He is the biggest HATER on MLBTR. AND he calls Yankees fans entitled. And now here he is all entitled, strutting over Boston WS titles, when he would criticize any Yankee fan for doing the same, when they don’t? I never see Yankees fans strutting over WS victories. Never. Sorry. Give me a break. You don’t know this situation. (I’m not saying 4 in 15 is not impressive. I have uttered those very words here on MLBTR. I am just putting this particular commenter in his place based on his own words and actions.) If you knew WayHazy you would feel differently. If you are a Yankee fan. Learn more about what you’re stepping into before you take a stand.
Or how about you be the bigger man and represent yourself well instead of stooping to his level.
I see his garbage shat all over posts on this site, trust me,its unavoidable.
I generally like your posts, just don’t agree with this one. Don’t take the bait
Fair enough, but I have seen in other cases that applying pushback causes some haters to back off. I admit it hasn’t worked with Wayhazy. He’s rabid. I’ll take your advice, though. Frankly, other than my concerns with Ortiz and his PED use I have never been anything but magnanimous toward the Sox, their recent success and their players. With your reminder I’ll return to form. Hopefully Wayhazy will reconsider his behavior as well.
Kudos. Btw, that’s my one pet peeve. God forbid anyone remembers that Ortiz has a PED shadow over him
How about these recent Red Sox prospects in the majors… Vazquez, Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi, Bradley, Betts, Workman, Barnes, Moncada, Margot. Their minors have been really good and resulted in a homegrown core for a championship, most teams want that kind of system.
Probably would have helped Travis to be more versatile. Few teams want a first baseman with no power (visions of Carlos Quintana appear).
Soon to be an Amazing A!!!!!
Betts and Price to the Dodgers would be a fine move. Bottomless pit of money out there.
Article on mlb.com says that’s on the table…
100% he gets claimed? That’d be an easy chat poll.
Almost no chance he gets claimed as a team would be forced to keep him on roster.
He’ll sign a minor league with invite deal eventually – maybe back with the Red Sox even
Small first basemen that can’t hit do not have much value. Case closed.
His Dad was my P.E teacher in high school
Sounds like Travis Shaw “part deux”. Once a great prospect, now a discard. He’ll probably be an all-star for his next MLB team!
Good
Chaim Bloom’s biggest move to date….might be his biggest Move for the entire off season. Yes. Sambo is back!!!!!
You don’t say …