The Red Sox have placed right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and first baseman Eric Hosmer on the injured list, with Eovaldi heading to the 15-day IL (retroactive to August 19) and Hosmer to the 10-day IL (retro August 21). Right-hander Josh Winckowski and first baseman Franchy Cordero were called up from Triple-A in corresponding moves, and Winckowski will start tonight’s game against the Blue Jays.
Eovaldi has been bothered by soreness in his neck and right shoulder, and an IL placement isn’t surprising given that he’d already been scratched from a start against the Pirates last Thursday and tonight’s start against Toronto. Officially, Eovaldi is now on the 15-day IL due to right shoulder inflammation, and he also missed a month due to back inflammation earlier this season.
Over the weekend, Eovaldi told reporters that his soreness was improving and that he hoped to avoid another IL trip altogether. This at least gives some hope that Eovaldi can return when first eligible, though he’ll now be out of action until September, leaving the Red Sox short a major arm at the front of their rotation.
Multiple injuries within the rotation allowed Winckowski to make 12 starts and pitch 60 2/3 innings in his first Major League season. The righty has only a 5.19 ERA, as his grounder-heavy, low-strikeout approach hasn’t yet found much consistent success against MLB batters.
Hosmer has been sidelined due to lower back inflammation. Since being acquired from the Padres at the trade deadline, Hosmer has hit .225/.311/.300 in his first 45 plate appearances with Boston, continuing the prolonged slump that has lasted for the veteran first baseman since he enjoyed a huge April. Cordero and Bobby Dalbec figure to get most of the first base time in Hosmer’s absence, with the versatile Christian Arroyo also perhaps factoring into the mix.
One name not yet involved is Triston Casas, as the Red Sox continued to hold off giving the top prospect his first taste of big league action. His development was slowed by a high ankle sprain that cost him two months of the season, but Casas has hit a solid (if not dominant) .258/.367/.458 over 270 PA with Triple-A Worcester. It seems likely that Casas will make his MLB debut before the season is out, though the question is when exactly the Sox will decide to take their first look at the 22-year-old.
Call casas up see what you’ve got in him so far. Pretty positive they aren’t making the playoffs. They have the toughest sos out of all the WC teams except I think the devil rays
They won’t bring Casas up till next year. Odds are good he breaks camp with them and plays next year. They might have 2-3 open spots next year for him to fill. They still believe they have a shot and giving up and putting young guys in the lineup does nothing for them.
They won’t bring him up until they can cut Hosmer, so he has to get healthy first.
Why cut Hosmer who having a down year is better than Franchy or Dalbec? I’d bring any kid up at this point. Better chance of being a lightning rod than being the reason why the team remains in last place at this point.
Hosmer isn’t going to be “cut” The Padres are paying pretty much the rest of his contract. He could be traded easily.
We don’t want franchy. Bring up Casas
Cora wants him
Oh man! I have liked Cora and he’s respected by the players. Question? Is he good for the Sox during this rebuild? It seems like there is a huge disconnect between the Pitching coaches and Cora. Even worse it seems like there’s a disconnect between the pitchers and the coaches. It’s either a player cohesion issue or bad recon by bullpen staff when this level of inconsistency rises up from who knows.
Happy birthday to Max Ferguson!
MLBTR, please don’t label Franchy as a first baseman. He’s a DH.
Hosmer needs to swallow his pride, open up to some trade ideas and start over with a non-contending team next season. Maybe he can refocus on the basics-outside of a stressful baseball team situation- and become a bit of a quality player again. no better place to give that a try than COL.
If only Hosmer had trade value.
Hosmer salary is being paid all but the league min. by the padres that being said for his salary he is a good back up player.
Not giving excuses but must been hard to play for the padres when just about from the time he signed his contract the talk was all about trading him.
I proposed this last year before the Fernando Ringworm Jr. controversy…
Buy him an ATV and a case of Jack Daniels.
Hope for a non-baseball injury.
That’s how you get out of a contract or bow out “gracefully.”
I stand corrected. It was nearly 3 years ago…
November 18, 2019
Trading Eric Hosmer, if the Padres are stuck with Wil Myers, not a completely bad idea. It seemed first base felt at home with ole Wil baby…
AJ Preller should buy them gifts of ATVs along with an accompanying case of Jack Daniels. Non-baseball injuries might be the Padres’ best option at this point.
If you wanted to undermine a player, and had no scruples, simply spike his Gatorade with some PEDs and drop a dime on him.
LOL. That said, at his cost, I don’t mind Hosmer if he hits down in the order. The problem is the team doesn’t have that deep lineup those championship teams had. Combine that with lousy defense (other than Story, catcher and Verdugo) and you have little chance. Next year the priorities have to be on defense first, then pitching, then hitting.
nailz#4life;
Eric Hosmer is 32 years-old and has a guaranteed contract through the 2025 season. Unless someone want to tear that up and give him a bigger and better contract, why in the world should he “open up to some trade ideas and start over with a non-contending team next season”?
doug. He’s already playing for a non contending team. Bosox will be non contending next year as well.
Doug: youtube.com/watch?v=22YWYAtcyEA
So little winer boy Hosmer has a bad back eh? Boo hiss! A likley story. Just another excuse.
Lots of players have gone on the IL with a bad back.
Do you call them a “little winer boy”?
And when you get back to elementary school next week, check the spelling of “winer”. Maybe your teacher can learn you spellcheck.
The last time Arroyo played 1B he got injured and missed the rest of the season. As the hottest hitter on the team just leave him at 2B. Play Hernandez at 1B in an absolute emergency
I was just going to say this. He needs to stay away from first. JD has been bad enough we’d see more benefit with Arroyo at DH than in the field anyway.
Why bring up Casas and start his clock? They’re not going to the post season unless they purchase tickets.
I doubt Hosmer is with this team next year. He just got here and he is hurt already. I question a guys heart when that happens. I was in a war with back spasms along with two herniated discs from an impacted mortar round and stayed on the line in Iraq.
I actually hope Bloom is gone as well next year. This team has way too many holes to file for an amateur like Bloom to fix. They are going to loose three starting pitchers to free agency; Wacha, Hill, and Eovaldi. I know everyone loves Wacha but seriously how many innings did he give us this year due to injury. Our starting pitchers do not go deep into games and that seriously strains the bullpen. The bullpen is a mess as well. They need a closer too. They need a starting caliber catcher not what they currently have. They need a Centerfielder, have to replace JD Martinez. They need a first baseman who can hit, enough of Dalbac already. I don’t have a good feeling about Boggarts staying.
The season could not end fast enough but I am not looking forward to an off season of Bloom.
Agreed too to bottom with your comments. With almost a whole roster to build, Bloom cannot have control.
AL34, Agreed top to bottom with your comments. With almost a whole roster to build, Bloom cannot have control.
At this point Bogaerts is playing himself into not opting out… any team that pays him more than he is making now is foolish… especially at SS.
Bogaerts and Devers have been underwhelming lately.
ain’t that the truth. Have to wonder how well Devers will age. Was his back problems the result of being around 250lbs, and not in the best shape? He’d best work his tail off this winter if he hopes to secure the type of contract he believes belies his ability
Good point. Devers swings so hard I’m guessing that is bad for his back too.
Casas has only 72 games @AAA level. He’s just 22 years old. It’s not as though he has dominated at that level to this point. One could make the case to keep a Hosmer/Dalbec platoon at 1B until at least mid season to give Casas more reps to hone his game before exposing him to major league pitching. What’s the rush? This team will probably not be in the hunt until 2024.
How is Casas hitting LH pitching? That was supposed to be a problem for him.
small sample size. zero homers, almost 50% K rate. Needs more time in the minors.
Thanks. I don’t know where to find that.
….and how is he a top 100 prospect if he can’t hit LH pitching?
He is still a kid. Power to all fields, Has improved as a hitter at each stop. Generally considered a good defender as well. The fact is he’s still learning. First full year at AAA. four years younger than most players at this level. They may bring him up before seasons end. With the big club going nowhere fast, I’m sure it would thrill him to no end. That said. he needs more seasoning and should probably start 23 in Worcester. If he tears it up, a mid season promotion isn’t a reach. Without question. he would be of interest to other clubs as a trade piece.