Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was a recent guest on WEEI’s Hot Stove Show, and WEEI’s John Tomase has transcribed some of the highlights from his talk (while also providing a link to the full audio). Regarding Jackie Bradley and Rusney Castillo, Dombrowski said that as it stands right now, “there’s no question” that the duo will enter next season as starters in the Boston outfield. “Jackie’s one of the best defensive outfielders I’ve ever seen,” said Dombrowski. “So that’s a plus, and Castillo’s got the all-around game.” Dombrowski noted that each has strides to make to reach his potential, however, and I’ll point out that we, of course, cannot rule out the fact that one of the two is traded this winter. (Boston has, after all, recently been linked to free agent Alex Gordon.) Speaking about Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, Dombrowski stopped short of putting the “untouchable” label on either, though he did so as a means of saying he doesn’t consider any player untouchable. “If you have Miguel Cabrera, somebody may offer you two Miguel Cabreras,” said Dombrowski. “Probably not going to happen, probably never will happen, but unless you listen, you don’t know.” He went on to say he’d be “very surprised” if Bogaerts and Betts aren’t in the team’s lineup next season. Dombrowski also discussed exercising Clay Buchholz’s option, the perils of signing an ace in free agency and revealed that Matt Barnes will head to camp as a reliever next year. His full comments are well worth a read for Boston fans.
Here’s more from the division…
- Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald writes that while there’s been speculation that the Red Sox could trade Clay Buchholz now that they’ve exercised his $13MM option, the team might be wise to hold off on that front. Lauber notes that many in the industry believe Dombrowski will make a run at David Price, and while dealing Buchholz would free up some 2016 money for Price or another ace, the uncertainty throughout the rest of the rotation should give Boston pause when listening to offers on Buchholz. While Buchholz can’t be relied upon for 30+ starts and 200+ innings, it’s reasonable enough pencil him in for 100+ innings as a high-quality No. 2 starter based on his 2013 and 2015 performances.
- Brett Gardner’s woeful second half of the season was caused in part by a wrist injury suffered early in the year, Yankees hitting coach Alan Cockrell believes (via the Journal News’ Chad Jennings). Cockrell said that Gardner was hit on the wrist early in the season, and the pain bothered him on and off throughout the season. While it might seem odd to blame an April HBP for Gardner’s struggles in August and September, Cockrell explained that players are only allowed to receive three cortisone injections over the course of a given season. Gardner received his three cortisone shots, which alleviated the pain considerably, at unspecified intervals prior to Aug. 1. When he could no longer receive that treatment, Jennings notes that his production plummeted to .203/.288/.290 over the season’s final two months.
- The Orioles have scouted Korean first baseman Byung-ho Park and are believed to hold interest in signing him, reports MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko. Park was posted by Korea’s Nexen Heroes on Monday, and teams have until Friday to submit blind bids on the 29-year-old, who has bashed 105 home runs over the past two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. Unlike the posting agreement with Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball where multiple teams can negotiate with a player, though (assuming there are multiple winning bids of the maximum $20MM), only the winning team can negotiate with Park. That might make it difficult for Baltimore to bid heavily on Park at this time, as the team may still have hopes of being able to work out a deal with Chris Davis. Of course, Park could still be slotted at DH if the Orioles were to somehow win the bidding and still re-sign Davis, though that level of spending seems highly unlikely. I’d imagine that if the O’s win the bidding on Park, it’s a clear signal that Davis will sign elsewhere (though that’s the wide expectation regardless of the Park outcome).
- Kubatko also reports that there’s been little in the way of traction between the Orioles and Darren O’Day in talks of a new contract. Baltimore has exclusive negotiation rights with O’Day through Friday, after which he, like all other free agents, will be free to sign with any club. Kubatko was told that “all is quiet” right now after talks have failed to progress much, and he speculates that O’Day could possibly receive four-year offers in free agency.
I hope DD holds onto Bogaerts, Betts, and E-Rod. Other than that, the roster should be fair game. If Bradley is a piece that sets a package for an ace over the top, then deal him. If you can find some poor sap to view Castillo and his cash as a positive, take the deal. I would rather sign a Dexter Fowler or Parra type to cover for a year while Margot, Benintendi or whoever gets the reps needed in the minors.
Betts and Bogaerts combined for a 9.2 WAR (4.8 and 4.3), so I think really can’t even conceive of a ridiculous enough offer that would get DD to even listen on either of them.
I can. Gray for Bogaerts. I know it will never happen but that is a trade I could see DD jumping on. Never say never, especially in baseball.
The Red Sox do not need to sign outfielders, they need pitching. Betts-Bradley-Castillo is their OF, along with Holt & Brentz, with Allen Craig if he gets fixed. That is a strong group. Their pitching is what sunk their year last year, so other than giving Hanley away to whoever wants him, they need to focus on the rich SP FA market, not the trade one, this offseason.
If it is Price, sure. Cueto? Maybe. Other than that I wouldn’t touch FA, the trade market should be explored because of all the chips we have, and Bradley could help with that.
If Allen Craig and Bryce Brentz are part of your master plan it is best to go back to the drawing board. The Red Sox are far from settled in the outfield and could stand to sign a veteran 4th type who could start in the event that Bradley or Castillo falter. Brentz and Craig slugged .382 and and .350 in AAA last season. That screams DFA candidate, not insurance policy.
I wouldn’t use the term “all but settled”, as they do have their starting outfield set. And Holt is more than capable of filling in in the outfield. With that being said, they do lack depth and i would like to be able to utilize Holt to his full potential as an everyday utility man. Also, if Hanley and or sandavol is not dealt, that leaves Shaw without an everyday spot. With his having experience in the corner outfield and all of betts, bradley, holt and Castillo having the ability to play centerfield, Shaw could be used out there as a depth option as well. Therefore, signing depth should be on this off season list, but not higher than starting pitching and bullpen help on the priority list.
You know who doesn’t really need to be on the Red Sox anymore? Dustin Pedroia. Unfortunately with 6 years and $84M left on his deal, Boston would have to eat $20-30M to move him. Betts can then take over his natural position at 2B or go to LF, and they can keep Bradley and Castillo and even go after Gordon. Moncada and Benintendi are coming soon too, so thats yet another 2B and CF Boston has in the pipeline. They really are stacked at those two positions! Can’t wait to see how they figure it out. Pedroia & Bradley might both be gone within the next couple of years.
Has Gardner had a wrist injury every year? Because his second half swoons are an annual event.
I hope they shop him around this offseason or even at the deadline next year. I mean he’s solid, but the Yankees are so landlocked right now, that dumping one contract could be like a falling domino and lead the way for the young talent they have in the minors. Highly unlikely, but the Yankees could try to teach bird either corner outfield spots just to keep his bat constant in the lineup.
Excuse me, but WHY is JBJ automatically being handed a starting job? Are we just ignoring his terrible 2014 season based off the wishful thinking that his one hot month is suddenly a norm for him?
I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t some form of lip service from DD, and they end up putting him in a trade package for someone else this off season.
It *is* too early to officially pencil him in starter, that much is true. But while it’s unlikely he’s going to be maintain a stretch that ridiculously hot over the course of a full season, he has pretty obvious upside and it isn’t unreasonable to think he’s capable of significantly better production than his 2014 season. Heck, if he can just harness half of his potential and hit enough to be considered passable (say .250/.320/.380?), then barring an unexpected breakout/rebound by someone else, his excellent defense should be enough to keep him in the starting lineup on a pretty regular basis for most of next season, right? Maybe they look for something better if they find themselves seriously contending midway through the year, but that’s no more a given than the security of his starting job should be at this point. A lot can change over the winter, but right now, he just seems like the most sensible bridge to all that OF talent that’s supposed to be on the way.