Xander Bogaerts will take a couple games off to rest a sore shoulder, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (via Twitter). The Red Sox do not believe he should have any problem being ready for opening day. Bogaerts might be the most important position player on the roster, as Boston doesn’t have a ready-made everyday replacement for him at short. Christian Arroyo started one game there last season, but he hasn’t regularly played the position since 2017. Same basic story for Marwin Gonzalez, who is best served filling in elsewhere around he diamond. Jeter Downs can handle short, but Boston isn’t likely to begin his ML career as an injury replacement. Jonathan Araúz isn’t a sure thing to make the roster, but he could be the guy he if makes the team. Kiké Hernandez might be the best option on the roster. He has played a little shortstop every season going back to 2014, though he generally sat behind Chris Taylor on the depth chart as the primary backup. Now, more from Boston…
- The Fenway Sports Group is reviewing the details of a private investment offer by RedBird Capital that would raise their valuation to roughly $7.35 billion, writes Michael Silverman of the Boston Globe. FSG would remain a private company led by the current leadership group of John Henry, Tom Werner, and Michael Gordon. Managing Partner and CEO of RedBird Capital Gerry Cardinale – along with Billy Beane of the A’s – was a primary driver behind the recent RedBall SPAC (special interest acquisition group), which would have taken the company public. In this case, the roughly $750MM investment certainly helps in the big picture sense, but the Red Sox themselves aren’t likely to see much of an impact. The Fenway Sports Group has a number of properties, and this opportunity has further-reaching implications beyond, say, the Red Sox payroll. By taking the private investment route, Cardinale and RedBird would become a significant stakeholder, while FSG would get a cash influx to further their broader growth plans. Both FSG and RedBird have noted interest in expanding their holdings within the sports entertainment sector.
- Expect Rule 5 pick Garrett Whitlock to open the season in the bullpen. The Red Sox like what they’ve seen so far, and if he doesn’t make the team, they’ll have to return him to the Yankees. The additions of versatile bench options on the offensive end should allow the Red Sox to carry an extra pitcher for much of this season, helping Whitlock’s chances of staying in Boston. In other bullpen news, Matt Barnes and Adam Ottavino are competing for the closer role, though Ryan Brasier could have a hand in closing games as well, writes the Athletic’s Chad Jennings. Hirokazu Sawamura will not pitch in that spot, despite having some experience in the role.
So does this mean MoneyBall II ends with Billy Beane once again not working with John Henry? I really can’t follow this!
I have no desire to follow it.
Barnes or Brasier closing? I may hafta shut off the games when they enter.
now what gives with them saying arguably the most qualified closer, Sawamura, isnt going to get a shot at that spot?
In 2013 Uehara was 4th on the closer depth chart in ST.
It’s 2021 now so why NOT him?
I should’ve mentioned they’ll try n slowly work him in? That would seem to make sense since it’s a culture shock at first.
I agree with Barnes. Truthfully, aside from his contract, I can’t figure out how he has been such a mainstay for so long. Sure, he has the “stuff”, but in the end, he’s a pretty average middle reliever. Like it doesn’t transfer to production. And once again they plan on potentially using him as the closer? I don’t get it. At least braiser has been dominant when he’s had his head on strait
The could have used a Brasier type when Panda was in the team.
Huh?
I don’t like the looks of this Tampa Bay North team, and I’m a Yankees fan.
Every time with this. Tampa Bay was in the World Series last season. They consistently churn out top pitching. What a stupid thing to use to try and get in a shot at the Sox. At least try and come up with some new material instead of recycling the same “insult” all offseason.
Funnier too is that the team that beat TB was Tampa Bay West.
Exactly. Rich Tampa Bay beat Poor Tampa Bay in the Series.
I want my team to be like Tampa Bay …..
It wasn’t rich TB versus poor TB, it was Boston West over poor TB.
Remember, no Mookie no win!!
In Boston, it’s the same thing, no Mookie no win!!
Maybe he was worth the money!!!!!!!
Ya think?
Idiot owners, sell the team to someone who has a sound mind and wants to compete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Ohhh KD. Dodgers aren’t modeled after the Red Sox. They are modeled after the Rays. Friedman brought that model. The only difference is a bigger budget. This is like the other day when you told me Sale or JD were the best player on the RS and not Xander who has an everyday impact. You really think Mookie can carry a team to a WS huh.
Count the rings with and without Mookie. It’s obvious. Friedman took 5 years of sitting on his hands and living off his predecessor before he stole Mookie from Bloom and won. He has no magic formula. It’s a myth.
DD has the formula. He proved it in Boston.
LA was only called Boston West in my comments because until they stole Mookie LAD was just another team that couldn’t win. Now, they’ll be Boston West for another 12 years!!! Friedman will be long gone before Mookie is.
Theodore – when the Dodgers play near Tampa’s payroll you will have a point. Other than the Rays ex-GM being in LA there is no comparison. Also would compare LA closer to 2017 Houston over comparing them to Boston.
I read that as a complement. Was I supposed to?
Tampa Bay Rays want to put the best product on the field that they can that way when they don’t sell any tickets or merchandise and have all winning seasons in a row MLB can’t deny them moving cities when the city fails to provide a new stadium. That’s the plan by Tampa owners weather they will admit it or not.
They sell plenty of merchandise, and their TV leadership is good. Ticket sales are the problem.
Whitlock I feel will be the biggest steal of that draft if he can stay healthy. probably the biggest steal since Brad Keller and perhaps he’s even better then him.
I saw Whitlock pitch for Trenton a couple of years ago. He was impressive.
Whitlock looks like a player worth hanging onto. With 12 position players and 14 pitchers, it should be much easier to keep him on the roster the entire year.
How so ? Big kid, Big fastball?
Kelly Gruber was a great rule 5 player. Roberto Clemente was the best.
… nice Kelly Gruber reference.
Jorge Bell wasnt a bad one either.
That would be amazing.
I think it means if the deal goes through Billy Beane has to sell his small ownership stake in the A’s and resign from being GM/President of the A’s.
It is called a Special-Purpose Acquisition Company NOT interest….
Basically a way to put lipstick on a Pig!
If the assets are not publicly traded, it might be hard to sell shares when you want out?!!
Leveraging assets on steroids.
The money printing made them do it.
How does he have a sore shoulder already??
There’s more info about it on MLB. Basically the story stated X wasn’t able to throw normally because of the pandemic. He ramped up his throwing too quickly and now has a sore shoulder because of it.
There is simply no way that anybody with “Jeter” anywhere in his name can be allowed to play shortstop for the Boston Red Sox…
He looked like his namesake out there today. 3 errors, he must be training with Devers!!!
Whitlock is tainted now from too much bean and chowda exposure.
Not sure if he could assimilate if he’s returned to the Yankees.
Several Closer types were available and Bloom passed on all of them. Either he knows something about Barnes the rest of us don’t or they are going to have to have big leads going into the 9th inning to win games
I heard they secretly installed a rubber backstop behind the plate so when runners get to third and Barnes bounces yet another ball past Vazquez they plan on tagging out the runner off the bounce!!!
I can’t think of another strategy for using a closer whose “out pitch” is a 12 to 6 curve ball that bounces past the catcher frequently.