Despite what has been a wildly disappointing season to this point, the Red Sox aren’t likely to completely blow up their roster again, writes Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports in his latest 10 Degrees column. For all of Boston’s 2015 woes, the team will still have Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts up the middle in 2015, and the departure of Mike Napoli via free agency could allow Hanley Ramirez to move over to first base with Rusney Castillo getting an everyday outfield role. Blake Swihart, too, has shown promise this month and gives the team another building block. Passan hears that the team has no designs on trying to dump either Ramirez or Pablo Sandoval to another club.
A few more notes from around the AL…
- Nick Castellanos isn’t hitting well in 2015, but manager Brad Ausmus tells MLB.com’s Jason Beck that the Tigers will remain patient with the young third baseman. The team has a plan on how to handle Castellanos’ struggles, and while Ausmus wouldn’t elaborate, there’s no talk of sending him to Triple-A or reducing his playing time dramatically. The 23-year-old Castellanos is hitting just .217/.267/.328 in 255 plate appearances this year.
- Angels right-hander Jered Weaver hit the DL last night due to hip inflammation, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, and he’ll undergo an MRI to determine if there is anything more severe at play. Weaver said he’s felt a sharp pain in his hip on and off as of late, and DiGiovanna notes that there’s always some concern with this type of injury that the MRI will reveal a tear and necessitate surgery. The Halos did position themselves to be able to replace an injury to one of their starters this winter by acquiring Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano.
- Cody Anderson is the Indians’ latest attempt to fix what has been a revolving door in the fifth spot of their rotation, writes Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com. The 24-year-old rookie made his big league debut Sunday and pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings against the Rays, limiting Tampa to six hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Manager Terry Francona was impressed not only by the results and Anderson’s poise on the mound, but his ability to hold runners and field his position. “I’m sure there’s a lot of guys in player development today that are really proud,” said Francona. “And, they should be, because he did a hell of a job.” For the time being, it seems that Anderson will have the opportunity to lock down that rotation spot, and I’d imagine his ability (or inability) to do so could impact Cleveland’s plans come July.
Don’t we think its a bit too soon to freak out about Sandoval? He’s hitting .270/.322/.410. Yes, his defense isn’t great, but he will most likely be the DH once Ortiz retires (I’m guessing after next season). He might not be the best investment ever, but I think writers are trying to make this season the calamity the 2012 season was and I dont really think its there.
Also, Mookie has been looking incredible as of that. Quietly top 10 in WAR in the AL this season
Well Panda needs solid defense to be valuable. His 105-110 WRC+ isn’t going to cut it as a full time DH making 19 million a year. I don’t know why the defensive metrics hate his work at 3B but he needs to turn it around for the investment to be worth it.
As for Mookie I’m glad someone else realizes he is having a sneaky good season and definitly isn’t busting as many red sox prospect haters claim.
Betts has been as good as can be expected. Just took him a couple of months to adjust to pitchers only pitching him away after figuring out (finally) that he cannot be jammed inside.
His small walk rate decline is nothing to worry about, opposition figured out that giving him a free pass is as good as a double with his speed. I am personally more impressed with him that Bogaerts and any kid they have brought up since Pedroia. He’s got ALL the tools it looks like to be a long term all star calibur player for them and hope they approach him after the season with a deal to lock up his pre FA years and at least 1-2 FA years.
His OPS has steadily declined each year since 2011. Now his defense is below average. He doesn’t switch hit anymore and has only mediocre power. Not too early to label as a bad signing.
Is he going to platoon with Hanley? It seems the future DH role is getting crowded and Papa Grandi hasn’t relinquished it yet.
As the author of the article states the Sox are looking good up the middle. Xander, Pedey, and Mookie all look like solid 3-5 WAR playerrs over the next few years. Of the three I think Betts has the highest floor as his baserunning and defense have been spectacular and the bat is heating up. Lets hope Xander grows into power with age.
However, the corner spots of the field need to be figured out. Not sure why all of a sudden the defensive metrics say Panda stinks but if he keeps it up he will need to be shifted to 1B with Hanley at DH. Holt should be playing almost every day and Rusney has too much potential to give up on. I think they need to get a lefty bat that can play 3B and corner OF.
Do you mean a starting capable lefty bat? If so, Alex Gordon will be a free agent after this year, assuming he doesn’t accept the option he has available to him.
It’s a little early to be giving up on both Panda and Rameriez (and I’m a Yankee fan and would enjoy nothing more that multiple years of Red Sox teeth-gnashing over underperformance). Trade Napoli, or let him go at the end of the season. That opens a spot, and Ortiz isn’t going to last forever, although with those vesting options, you might have him for a while. The problem with Panda is that he was never as good as the hype–his star power exceeds his actual performance.
The Tigers have had so few top prospects that when one reaches the majors, they have to be patient with him. Castellanos has always seemed to take an adjustment period to get used to each level, before he starts hitting, but he seems to be taking longer in the Bigs. He has improved his defense at third, at least.