The Red Sox are one of multiple teams showing interest in free-agent right-hander Zack Godley, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. Godley hit the market when the Tigers released him Monday.
It’s no surprise that the Red Sox are seeking pitching help, considering the issues facing their staff. The team’s rotation won’t have ace Chris Sale, who’s recovering from Tommy John surgery, while de facto No. 1 starter Eduardo Rodriguez is questionable for Opening Day as a result of a positive COVID-19 test. At the moment, then, the club is perilously low on proven starters after Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez, who each come with plenty of question marks in their own right.
Of course, Godley’s also no sure bet to produce these days. The 30-year-old was a good source of innings with the Diamondbacks from 2017-18, during which he made 57 starts and tossed 333 1/3 frames of 4.10 ERA/3.63 FIP ball with 9.45 K/9, 3.62 BB/9 and a 51.6 percent groundball rate. However, Godley’s career went off the rails enough last year for the Diamondbacks to designate him for assignment in August.
Godley caught on with Toronto after the D-backs cut the cord, but the Blue Jays outrighted him after just six appearances in their uniform, leading him to elect free agency. Between the two teams, he ended 2019 with a grisly 5.97 ERA/5.20 FIP over 92 frames – most of which came in relief. Godley also saw his strikeout rate plummet to a personal-worst 6.85 per nine, while he posted a below-average 4.11 BB/9 at the same time.
I know he wasn’t good last year, but it’s either him for the 5th rotation spot or *checks notes* yikes
Regardless, at most you’re looking at what, 12 starts? Why not
Id still rather BOS rolled the dice with one of the kids
That’s just it. Look at “the kids” close to ready.. Tanner Houck, but he was used in relief most of 2019. Mata, hasn’t pitched above AA and anyway, is just 20YO. Everyone else is at A ball or lower. The really best pitching prospect is Song and he’s attending Naval flight school.
I would guess that teams are reluctant to start the clock on youngsters in the minors in such a short season. No point losing a year of control for 60 games.
Pinballwizard1969 called it in the comment section when the Tigers released him! Lmaooo
As a RS fan i am fine with dumpster diving
As of now what is left other than the dumpsters?
Yeah because we are a low market team. I have been a Red Sox fan since 1967 but have never been so disgusted and ashamed to be a Sox fan and I could care less if MLB gets off the ground with this sham of a 60 game season. I think I’d rather see the season not get off so the Sox can’t re-set their cap and we get to watch Mr Bloom DUMPSTER DIVE for another off season. And once JD leaves { which John Henry WANTS} the Sox will be a real joke. Devers will be the next to leave town.
That’s the spirit Randy!
How can you not understand what’s going on this year. Have you not kept up with your team? Are you not understanding the financial implications of repeater tax? Seriously?
All that ranting and raving and you can’t see me we brought in the best GM for the job and that Dombrowski could never have gotten this done it’s not in his nature?
Most of us stopped thinking like that in 2004
The only thing I disagree with this offseason was tendering JBJ a contract. He’s not worth more than 10 mil, yet they give him the contract because they think they can deal him. Had he not been tendered (and yes I’m assuming we also traded Betts and Price) We have Verdugo, Benintendi, and Pillar in the OF with JD being the 4th as it’s been, and an extra 11 mil to save or spend on… oh I don’t know… a pitcher?
Lol if the Redsox aren’t contending then nobody should get to play ball. Right?
Since ‘67 and you think this is the worst you’ve seen? Seriously, there’s a ton of bad seasons to look at between ‘67 and ‘20 that showcase more abysmal rotations (and lineups)… Think about it..
Good thing they didn’t let Nate go too. I think Nate will have a great yr! The rest of the rotation I’m closing my eyes.
60 games, maybe 12 starts, not a chance in hell Evo stays healthy
Another chance to be cheap, they are always taking these now
At this point it’s not like there’s tons of other expensive options. Who else is out there, Cashner, Buchholz?
Its pretty much reclamation projects only now or fill out the open spots in the rotation with random relief pitchers that they already have on hand.
It’s funny, those two guys you mention were 3 years ago, “who else is out there” types.
Wouldn’t mind seeing Buchholz in Boston again. He has 10 game stretches as recently as 2018 where he is a legitimate ace, and that’s all we need
Vargas wouldn’t be a bad option either. He’s certainly past his prime, but he can eat innings and deliver serviceable 4/5 numbers at this point. He could reduce the workload of an already taxed bullpen
A half season of Buchholz would t be that bad.. When he’s ON he’s usually half of a season good, the first half.. Plus I trust him more than the handful of openers/long relievers they want to use to takeover from 2nd/3rd inning..
Man, I have absolutely no idea who this guy is.
Sad times for the only team in any sport I come close to actually “hating”. I’ll shed no tears over that, however.
Because, of course, red sox suck.
As a Sox fan, I agree..
They need another arm. Go for it. Be glad Boras isn’t his agent
As a Red Sox fan living in Phoenix, I can confidently say stick with Weber and Johnson. Hope that E Rod will only miss a couple starts, and let the kids have every fifth day.
Johnson sucks I prefer to give Godley a chance to eat up the innings
Johnson isn’t an above average pitcher, but if we give him a shot this season and proves his worth, we can have him stick around for another 3 years via arbitration. Yes, he had poor stats in 2019, but he was on and off the IL all season, and quite frequently asked to pitch in games that the score was already decided. He’s had 170 career innings to prove himself.
Godley would likely cost a little more than Johnson, we’d get one less year out of him if he proves his worth, and was literally just released by THE worst team in baseball. He’s tossed over 500 innings of slightly better baseball than Johnson over his career.. So while you say Johnson sucks, wouldn’t you rather just stick with what you have? We’ve got to pay him either way.
Boston DFA’d Hector Velazquez over the winter and as of right now, he would be the #3 SP in the pathetic rotation IMO. No idea why he was DFA’d. Has 3 pitches, Johnson has 4, but only his curve is fair at best.
Very short sighted on the part of the Sox to DFA Velazquez, then protect multiple other guys then, such as Reyes.. A guy who will never be able to get outs vs advanced miLB hitters with his mediocre junk and 88-90mph fb and Kyle Hart, same thing hanging around Pawtucket who only advantage is both will have 3 options. Just total incompetance when team looking at guy like Godfrey, not near as good as velazquez whom they dumped.
We’ve seen enough of Hector Velazquez. We’ve had him 3 years. We know exactly what he’s got. There’s 10 other guys to look at to see what they have. Velasquez was fine during his time but bye-bye.
Velazquez lasted longer than he really should have. He’s a junk ball pitcher who had more and more issues getting his stuff by MLB bats. Watching him on the mound was nail biting (but I liked his compete level and that he kept quiet, did his work etc).
Rodriguez is good but I don’t see him doing more than he has already; is it me or does it seem like he’s blasé about the game and seems to find soreness quite a bit?
This dude has future Oakland Athletics reliever written all over him
Johnsilver – Velazquez was out of options and had:
Sale
Price
Eovaldi
Rodriguez
Pérez
Workman
Barnes
Taylor
Hernandez
Walden
Hembree
Brasier
12 better pitchers ahead of him…..hindsight is always 2020.
I owed Apple @ $100 now $380
Amazon @ $150 now $3043
Wish I never sold them…….
but the thing is most of those guys cant start. Velasquez’s value was he could function in a swing capacity. sure he wasnt going to throw CG SHOs, but he could give you a handfull of innings as a short starter at the very least.
RS had five starters when they let him go…. that is why they let him go! Do you KNOW what will happen in the future…..no….neither did they. At the time he was not going to make the 25 man and his 40 man spot went to someone they thought had more up side.
If I knew the future I would be a Trillionaire with a T!
He was a 3 to 4 inning guy; had some longer outings but once through an opposing lineup his effectiveness takes a massive nose-dive.. Plus, He put way too many ducks on the pond during a time when baseballs were/are flying out of ballparks at an all-time rate..
Sox seem to have options but dont seem to want to persue them. Ill always go back to Jason Vargas being likely available for crumbs, but someone like Chase Anderson wouldn’t be expensive, and TOR has added enough vet arms to make him expendable. as also mentioned, guys like Buchholz and Cashner are familiar with BOS and would also be cheap. give them prorated league minimum and you can probably cut them when you get one of your arms back off the IL.
RS are looking for the next Braiser who is on the younger side to incorporate on the team or flip for prospects…,,,,Buchholz, Cashner, Varges……do not fit in that plan
This was always going to be a”bridge year”…loosing year to transition to the championship run. There is no need to compete this year. It was always about getting trade chips. Ever decision they made was to that end….Even keeping JBJ was in hopes of trading him for something of value….
4WSsince04, Thumbs up to all your posts on this thread !! Finally a guy who has a clue. Good job buddy. I don’t see how the other Red Sox fans don’t understand this. It’s all about a gap-year, lame duck season. Thank you for explaining it so well.
I almost want to comment to every other guy and say, don’t you just get it? Jackie Bradley jr? It’s a one-year deal, he’s a free agent in the offseason. 11-million to keep things consistent out there, no problem. Some people saying that JD Martinez is our fourth outfielder? Are you kidding me !! Fourth outfielders play 50 to 100 games giving guys days off. That is not JD Martinez, trust me.
Exactly