The Red Sox announced Tuesday that they’ve acquired right-hander Dylan Covey from the Rays. Covey is not on the 40-man roster but has been added to Boston’s 60-man player pool. In a corresponding move, left-hander Bobby Poyner was dropped from the 60-man pool but will remain in the organization, the club further announced.
It’s a straight depth pickup for the Red Sox, who since last season ended lost Chris Sale to Tommy John surgery, traded David Price to the Dodgers and seen March signee Collin McHugh opt out of the 2020 season. Meanwhile, expected Opening Day starter Eduardo Rodriguez is currently working back from a bout with the coronavirus, which he said made him “feel 100 years old” and question whether he’d be ready to open the season. With so much uncertainty on the staff, the Sox have brought in both Zack Godley and Covey to add some options.
Covey, 28, has pitched 250 1/3 innings in the big leagues but has never cemented himself as a consistent contributor. He got out to a sharp start with the ChiSox in 2018, tossing 40 1/3 innings with a 2.90 ERA and a 35-to-16 K/BB ratio, but his results quickly went south and haven’t rebounded since despite several opportunities. All told, he has a career 6.54 ERA and 5.56 FIP in the big leagues.
That said, there’s still clearly some intrigue surrounding the righty. Covey was a first-round pick of the Brewers back in 2011 but didn’t sign, and he went in the fourth round to the A’s three years later. The Sox stuck with him for three years before cutting ties, and Covey lasted all of 12 days as a free agent this offseason before the Rays scooped him up. His deal with the Rays also contained a clause that allowed him to opt out if a 40-man opportunity arose with another club, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (hence today’s move), so it seems the Red Sox could soon select Covey to the big league roster.
yikes. talk about dumpster diving. Poyner is much better imo
Now they have both
Idk about Poyner… he had a solid run a couple years back but overall his stuff just isn’t that impressive and he hasn’t even really replicated his success in the majors in AAA since then. He was a good story and who knows maybe next year (he’s ineligible now after being on then removed from the 60-man player pool) he’ll resurface and have another crack at it. But all in all, I think Poyner may have given all he had to give back when he made the team out of camp a couple seasons back.
I realize the Rays may have a space problem but to trade him to a division rival suggests either they have no respect for Boston this year or conversely feel threatened and thought if he pitched for the Sox, the Rays chances of making the playoffs improve. I’m guessing the latter.
They didnt shoot Poyner…lol. He’s still in the organization.
I realize someone needs to start games but not a great track record so far. Hope they see something they can improve.
Boston Red Sox 2020 World Champions
I’ll take that bet and you name any amount you want up to a gazillion dollars. Can’t wait to get paid !!
Good work Gary.
Thanks. I had to be quick. Didn’t want to wait for him to change his mind !!
Can you imagine? I’ve already been down to the dealership and picked out my car. Talked to the wife about a new house and new furniture. This is going to be great. I really got him !!
Didn’t Covey write, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pitchers?”
Yep and “The One Minute Manager”, “The One Minute Supervisor” and ” The One Minute Lover”.
I actually Googled that and I got a bunch of links about articles for tips on pitching sales lol.
At least their first game isn’t against Cole n The Evil Empire!
Perhaps memories of Covey gem to beat Sale in Fenway few years ago.
Pretty sure this is the guy who gave up the home run that went over the bleachers in left to Judge.
Covey’s 2nd career game. That was right after the Castro 3 run bomb.
I suspect this won’t be their last addition to pitching depth, but still…yuck.
Who did the rays get?
Yeah was wondering the same thing… it said trade so I’m assuming someone went back to the Rays in the swap… But given that only players from teams ’60-man player pools’ can be traded… I wouldn’t be surprised if it winds up being a ‘player to be named later’ and doesn’t end up being completed/announced until after this season’s over. Otherwise the Sox would have to add that player to their 60-man pool, then the Rays would have to carry him on theirs as well (or they could option him off of it… But given the hassle… my guess is it becomes a ‘player to be named’
Maybe just a trade for cash considerations?
Wow tells you how dire the Sox pitching situation is that they’re trading for a guy who had a 7.98 ERA last year!! But beyond how poorly he has pitched in the majors the last 3 seasons… I actually don’t hate this deal for the Red Sox. I mean it’s no secret that their pitching staff is really quite horrible at the moment, and despite getting hammered in the majors thus far… he does actually have a decent track record in the minors. So who knows… maybe the Sox can zero in on some adjustments they think he could make and he could find something that at one point made him a promising prospect. For one thing… maybe a full time move to the bullpen could help him out?
This looks like a typical Bloom move all day long.
Probably be the Opening Day started against the O’s Tom Millone, a minor league free agent…..expansion team baseball….
Wow, Covey’s got some brutal statistics in his three MLB seasons.
Well, Bloom just made a trade with his former Front Office. This trade will work out guaranteed. Lol.
Well, Bloom just made a trade with his former Front Office. This trade will work out guaranteed. Lol.
Bloom at rate is scouting the little leagues. I think that this pick up is stupid because it telling your team that your pitching is pathetic. Godley has had some success. Covey has been a dumpster fire.
BREAKING NEWS:
The Red Sox will be battling the Orioles for last place in the AL East this season
Who are you? Above you said they would be the 2020 World Series champions? Just bored and writing crazy stuff? Okay suit yourself. Don’t hurt yourself swinging on that crazy pendulum of yours.
Pretty sure the post about them being WS champs was sarcasm. Nobody in their right mind thinks getting Covey would put any team over the top.
No flamethrower, I’m pretty sure he was very serious. I mean his exact words were “Boston Red Sox 2020 World Series champions.” That’s conviction. That’s extremely serious. He’s as serious as a guy who’s REALLY serious.
He could get someone better but this is clearly a reset year….and who cares who wins a 60 game season…if it even happens ??
That’s exactly what some of us have been saying for months. Let’s just enjoy baseball if it does happen. Let’s see a few young guys and watch is Xander Bogaerts hit 320.
He has talent; problem is he can’t get out of his own head. Unfortunately, he was drafted 6 years ago, so I’m not sure he’s really going to bloom at this point. Maybe he’s a change-of-scenery guy, but I think this is just a desperation move by the Red Sox.
“Desparation” move by the Red Sox ????
Read this out loud 4 times to yourself.
KEEP… PAYROLL… LOW.
Then read Madjob33 two inches above your post here.
Thank you.
As a long time Red Sox fan, the tears of all the commenters on here are sweet.
Yes, the Red Sox have a bad pitching staff in this shortened joke of a year. Oh no, what will we do? Seriously, get more worked up about it.
It’s good to be on top and have haters.
Dylan Covey WOW !!!!! We’re Back Baby!!!! Great Pickup Bloom!!!!
Boy is this going to be a long year and cheap ownership with. a Rube Goldberg type cheap fix operation!!!!