The Red Sox have designated righty Edward Mujica for assignment, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports. Mujica, 30, may be replaced in the pen with youngster Matt Barnes, per the report.
This move is likely destined to bring an end to Mujica’s tenure with Boston. He had signed a two-year, $9.5MM deal before last season. Unless the club can find a taker for some portion of that guaranteed money — which is split evenly over the deal’s two seasons — it will remain obligated for the full amount.
Mujica has struggled to a 4.03 ERA over 73 2/3 innings during his time with the Red Sox. He has struck out 6.2 and walked 2.1 batters per nine in that span, which is solid enough but falls well shy of the 9.2 K:BB ratio he put up in 2013. Mujica’s average fastball velocity is down over a full tick from that excellent campaign.
It remains to be seen what kind of interest Mujica will draw, and whether the Sox will be able to save some cash with his departure. There are always teams looking for pen depth, of course, and Mujica has a rather impressive pedigree. If no clubs are willing to take on obligations, then Mujica would presumably clear waivers and have a chance to elect free agency, where he should receive plenty of action.
Thank you! Hinojosa will hopefully take his spot. He actually looked really good in his only game, its obviously not a lot, but he’s done very well in the minors as well, and it couldn’t hurt for an extended look, he could become that new go-to-guy like Taz has been.
Has Hinojosa been down long enough to come back up now? I can’t keep track of all these roster moves.
Barnes was sent down on 4/26. I think as the article states this was to make room for him.
My comment was submitted before all the other info was added, so I had no idea about their plans if it does in fact become reality.
No, they’d have to wait til next Wednesday I believe.
Welp, I guess I got my Mujica and Uehara predictions all wrong
Mujica would flourish and Koji would falter?
That was my prediction, based on the latter part of 2014
Yeah, I though Mujica was on the way up too. But I didn’t see Koji faltering for the whole season. It’s good to see him doing well now. Mujica was essential done at the end of 2013. Risky move to sign him for so much in retrospect. Glad they finally pulled the trigger here though.
The next move I am waiting for the trigger to be pulled on is in the rotation. I think they will bring up either Johnson or Rodriguez (maybe both as an audition?) and move Masterson to the pen. Maybe in shorter spurts Masterson can regain the velocity he had as a reliever with the Red Sox as a rookie. I know Farrell doesn’t like having a long reliever role in the pen but with this group, until they right the ship, I think he needs it.
I like that idea, Joe.
Probably see Rodriguez before Johnson as he has more velocity. Personally I think Miley has head and shoulders been worse than any of the other starters. Maybe he hits the pen on a temp role.
From a numbers perspective Miley has clearly been the worst, as it always seems like he hits a wall at some point in a game that he can’t get through. For all the talk about Hamels and his interleague splits as a reason not to get him, Miley (another limited sample size) had poor results vs. the AL before coming to Boston too. Maybe they both should go to the pen. I’m guessing too that Buchholz gets DFA’d at some point too, a sad end to a promising Red Sox career. But when you have 8 years in the league and they’re still talking about your potential, maybe it’s time for a change. Whatever they decide to do must come soon, and a new pitching coach isn’t enough.
I think Masterson is a bullpen pitcher, period, because of the platoon splits. His velocity should play up in the ‘pen, like it does for most pitchers. It seems like a trade for a starter (Shark, maybe? ) and a call-up of one of the prospects, along with putting Maasterson and Kelly in the bullpen, could help fix Boston’s big problems in one fell swoop.
For all the talk about how the Red Sox rotation is underperforming its peripherals, the Red Sox bullpen has been much, much worse than its ERA would show. Breslow, Ogando, Tazawa and Ross (not to mention Mujica who just got DFA’d) have been really bad this year, but haven’t really suffered. So if you’re expecting a correction in the rotation, you have to expect a correction in the bullpen. It’s a really bad collection of talent that I’m not sure the Sox have the tools to fix.
It’ll work itself out once it starts being used more normally and less excessively. Barnes will fit in nicely, and there’s a few other pieces at AAA like Hinojosa, Hembree and Ramirez that could contribute if need be. It’s never going to be the Royals bullpen, but it’ll be perfectly servicable.
Wow, a voice of reason.
Bring up Barnes to take Mujica’s spot. Breslow has just been atrocious….look at Johnson or Rodriguez to bring up and slide into the left handed bullpen role. Give the future starters some experience in the majors so they will be ready to slot into the rotation next year. Not sure when Edwin Escobar is back off the DL, but he might be a valuable left handed piece as well.
Neither E-Rod or Johnson will come up as a bullpen arm unless it is in September. Those guys will come up as starters, if anything. Best case scenario, Masterson gets moved to the bullpen and E-Rod takes his spot in the rotation.
Layne is a reasonable replacement for Breslow (though also a soft-tosser).
Masterson to the pen makes sense to me. Eddy Rodriguez deserves to get a chance soon in the rotation.
Hamels, Harang, Giles, Pap and $ for ………? Goes a long way to solving Sox starting and bullpen issues. Would take Owens, Johnson, Margot, and Devers PLUS and no I’m not drunk.
LOL….I like the way you think, but thats alot to give up. That’s 4 of your top 7 prospects. I do like Giles though.
No fun.
No way the Red Sox make that trade.
Of course. Because they are all untouchable!
Or because Papelbon is a headache. Harang wouldn’t really be an upgrade over our 4th starter. Gilles is nice but the Sox really don’t need him. Cole Hameils is 31 and already signed to a big contract. Not much plus value. Those prospects are not untouchable at all. Just stupid to give up all that young talent.
Harang is an upgrade over almost everyone in that rotation. Worst rotation in baseball
Don’t see why Papelbon would be a headache returning to the team he started with.
Hamels’ contract isn’t all that big either.
Harang does not have the upside. If he came over with cole who else do you take out of the rotation? And sorry but I’d rather have Porcello and even Bucholz. Miley, Kelly also have more upside. Hameils would replace masterson who’s awful.
Papelbon is overpaid and not that great anymore. Do you not hear how often he says something stupid?
Yes he is. Prospects have value. With his vesting option that’s 125 million.
Who cares if they have upside? The Red Sox areally clearing going for it all this year and without question Hamels and Harang will help them. They have the Worst Rotation in Baseball. They very may well come in last again if they do nothing to improve that pitching.
I mean everyone should care about upside? Harang is not needed at all and really doesnt have all that much value. I mean thats a pretty poor and unrealistic trade idea.
Your bullpen is a headache. Pap would definitely help. Giles is a young fireballing set up man that strikes people out which you need desperately. Harang is better than your #1 starter and Hamels is only 31 with cost control. Plus the cash. I get not wanting to part with 4 good prospects, but as usual a Red Sox fan is undervaluing the return package and overvaluing the sacred prospects.
Not at all. Its just that Papelbon isnt that great and he tends to cause problems. (Look at what he said about Philly). We have a lot of young pitchers coming up that will probably see bullpen time. I dont want Hamels. Using the term “Only 31′ in regards to pitchers isnt that great. Harang is doing good but he is 36 and wouldnt get much in a trade. I think it would be stupid to trade four + top prospects when you really dont need too. Id rather give Johnson, Owens or ERod a shot.
I respect where you’re coming from. They are not going to be able to acquire the pitching they need, however, without giving something up. I would try the kids first also, but if that fails and they still think they can go deep into the postseason three of the top guys will be the price. Remember, they don’t need more #3s and 4s and more Breslows, they need top flight guys to make the run.
I agree moves need to be made. This deal just wouldnt make sense for the Red Sox. I think going after maybe two out Kazmar, Cueto, Leake would be better, and they would have to give up far less for rentals. I doubt Devers will be moved because of how young he is but I think Brian Johnson, Margot, and others will probably be moved (Unless Johnson gets a shot)
Bruinsfan sounds like the kind of guy who if you were rescuing him at sea, would negotiate the terms for entering your lifeboat. The Red Sox have shown they mean business and have gone to the mattresses. They’ve fired their pitching coach. What more can you expect? They’re turning this ship around. And Cherington, in case you forgot, is the best GM in baseball. And Tom Brady didn’t know a thing about any of it.
They’d be better off trying to acquire pieces individually from different teams, I don’t think they’re looking to shoot the farm in the foot all in one deal, particularly because Harang isn’t a great fit there with a rotation that has plenty of back end of the rotation options and nabbing both Giles and Pap would be unneeded, one would do.
With each turning page of the calendar, I feel that if the Red Sox don’t do a full turnaround, Mr. Farrell’s job could be in jeopardy. Multiple roster moves and releases are an omen. And Mr. Cherington probably shouldn’t get comfortable, either. Boston fans aren’t known for patience and they were promised big things for 2015.
I think Farrell has earned at least a little bit of slack in his time with the team, but there’s certainly reason to be a bit uneasy considering the pitching coach is already out the door.
Really Farrell has not earned even a little respect from me.
Im not a BoSox fan so I don’t really know the perspective of the fans there. My words are just an outside observation. It’s a shame Nieves took the fall here, though, it’s not as if he was given a very easy task with a can’t miss staff, seems to be more Mr. Ben Cherington’s fault than Nieves.
A team that finishes last should consider it a WONDERFUL improvement if they move up to 3rd.
He’s a bum!
Tigers always scraping the bottom of the barrel for relievers. Looks like he would be an upgrade over the “unbounded earned run sink” relievers (outside of Soria) they have currently. Not going to pay anything more than league minimum for him though.
I’m going to say the Cardinals bring him back. With Walden out and the bullpen being used heavily recently, I think it’d make some sense to bring in a familiar face to log some innings.
Barnes was excellent during the spring. The Red Sox had a big need for a quality power arm in the pen. Why he didn’t make the team in April is beyond me.
Cherington loaded the roster with mediocre veterans. Barnes has options. So Barnes was the one who got sent down. Sometimes roster status matters more than performance.
Honestly, it’s not excusable. If there is marginal difference between the two options, I understand that choice. Barnes deserved a spot in the pen from the beginning.
It frustrates me, but that’s the way this Front Office operates.
I guess it doesn’t make that much of a difference over one month, and perhaps it delays Barnes’ FA clock by a year, but Mujica has been a nightmare.
Agreed – I didn’t think Mujica would be this bad. Watching him pitch every night, I started to wonder how he was a ML reliever, let alone a Red Sox reliever.
Yes!!!! He was ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE before last nights game
Now it’s time to DFA Breslow!!!
Dave, get on the phone! The Tigers pen is still scary. Did you see Chamberlain yesterday?!
came here to say the same thing – even bad Mujica is better than most of their pen. Can’t hurt to take a flyer on