Red Sox third base prospect Rafael Devers is making a case for a promotion in Double-A, but the team still isn’t ready to summon the 20-year-old to the majors, writes Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. Devers, Baseball America’s 14th-ranked prospect, has slashed .289/.346/.550 with 14 home runs in 272 plate appearances this year and impressed Red Sox vice president of player development Ben Crockett along the way. “It’s been a really positive year,” Crockett said of Devers. “He’s learned a lot. Playing with older teammates, more experienced guys, it’s a different life experience. I think it’s been great for him. The staff, with manager Carlos Febles, has done a great job being consistent with him. He’s a great worker. He’s passionate and cares about what he’s doing.” Crockett’s glowing review aside, the Red Sox are hesitant to call up a prospect unless they know he’ll play every day, notes Mastrodonato, who suggests they’ll look to acquire a veteran third baseman by the trade deadline. Whether help comes in the form of a veteran or Devers, Boston is in serious need of aid at the hot corner. The club’s third basemen rank last in the majors in wRC+ (a pitiful 44) and fWAR (minus-1.3).
More from the American League:
- The Mariners have battled through a spate of injuries to post a 39-38 record and plant themselves firmly in the playoff hunt, and now a significant reinforcement is on the way. Left-hander Drew Smyly, out all season with an elbow injury, is targeting a return for the Mariners’ July 17-19 series against AL West rival Houston, relays Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune. Smyly threw a two-inning sim game Saturday, and the plan is for him to do the same on June 28 and then embark on a three-start rehab assignment in early July. The 28-year-old hasn’t yet pitched for the Mariners, who acquired him in an offseason trade with Tampa Bay.
- Just over a month after his mid-May demotion to Triple-A, Rays southpaw Blake Snell will return to the team’s rotation Wednesday, reports Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). He’ll take over for Erasmo Ramirez, who will return to the bullpen amid a rough June in which he has posted a 7.65 ERA in 20 innings. Snell, who logged a 4.71 ERA, 7.29 K/9 and 5.36 BB/9 in 42 innings before heading to the minors, earned his way back with a 2.66 ERA, 12.48 K/9 and a 3.07 BB/9 in 44 Triple-A frames.
- Meanwhile, the White Sox will also get back a notable lefty in Carlos Rodon, who will make his 2017 debut during the upcoming week, tweets Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com. Rodon, who just completed a four-start rehab assignment, hasn’t pitched in the majors this year on account of shoulder bursitis. The 24-year-old combined to rack up strong numbers from 2015-16, when he notched a 3.90 ERA, 9.08 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and a 45.3 percent ground-ball rate over 304 1/3 innings.
- Earlier this month, there was some positive news on Tyler Skaggs’ recovery from an oblique strain, but the Angels left-hander has suffered a setback, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (Twitter links). Skaggs didn’t make his scheduled rehab start on Saturday because of “general soreness” in his oblique. Angels manager Mike Scioscia called the latest update on Skaggs “disturbing” and “frustrating.” Skaggs’ most recent start for the Halos was on April 28.
angelsfan4life
Skaggs is hurt? In other news water is wet. Gerry Brown is a complete jackass. And ABC and ESPN are completely full of crap.
dodgerfan711
I like your views on all of those.
arc89
meanwhile fox news is shoving fake facts down their brain dead sheep so they will support their messiah.
angelsfan4life
So Arc89 you are mad at Fox News for doing the exact same thing ABC NEWS did for that jackass Obama? Oh that’s right since he is half black, he did nothing wrong. Lol
GareBear
How about we look at both, along with more reputable sources such as NY Times, The Huffington Post, People, and other news sources so we get a balanced flow of information and form our own opinions based on a collective of information. That way no single source can brain wash us.
JKB 2
What does that have to do with baseball arc89?
jaysfan1994
Obama was a terrible president but I bet it’s 100% a different reason then you suspect, he deported the most undocumented immigrants in US history for example and I bet you never knew that. Blame Clinton for deregulating media corporations in the 90’s for your biased news coverage. Both Fox News and all the other news sources lie to you, its in their corporate interest for you to hear what they want you to hear.
But anyways, keep defending daddy trump who lies so much about everything it’s incredible anyone still thinks he’s a credible person.
jaysfan1994
Seriously anyone still defending trump at this point is a serious partisan in the manner. You’ve voted republican way too long to understand both parties suck including your side.
thegreatcerealfamine
Worry about your prime minister jaysfan1994!! I bet you miss the mayor..lol
thekid9
Go away. Period. Just go away.
NickinAtl
I like how arc added his iq at the end if his user name
ayrbhoy
And umpires cant agree on a strike zone
champions67
And mike trout is the best player in the world
bastros88
oh now I disagree with you, Jeremy Guthrie is the best player in the world
mannyl101
Agree 100%
whereslou
I want to know how Angel Hernandez became a crew chief it is s toss up if he or CB Buckner is the worst ump in bb. The way he handled the appeal today shows he is not smart enough to be a CC.
Close play at home Seattle appeals. Seattle player called out at home. Looked like he got in just before tag on replay. Live I thought he was out 1 angle looked safe. Hernandez comes out gives the safe sign. Astros come out to make a pitching change. Then announcers say they just called Cano out who hit a double. Break for commercial. Come back and NY had said the play stood. Both teams knew he was safe not sure what NY was looking at. The idiot Hernandez should have given the out sign not the safe sign. I know supposedly it is supposed to mean the call stands but most Umps will give the correct signal. We had Buckner last series and Hernandez this series. I don’t understand how those two are still around let alone do play off games.
ayrbhoy
Gaviglio and Moore’s recent success soon gives the Mariners 6 pitchers for 5 spots- really looking forward to seeing a fully healthy squad take on a difficult Aug. schedule. I don’t think we’re making any deals for a SP during this transfer window unless it’s depth to combat injury to our starters
marinersfan1977
Transfer window? LOL. A soccer fan chiming in about baseball.
hawkny11
If Detroit is ready to trade Jose Iglesais, the Red sox should re-acquire him. He can play superb defense at SS and hit a respectable .280-.300 with the bat. His presence would make it feasible to play Xander Bogaerts at 3B, a position his size and eye/hand coordination is better suited for.
boony19
Bogaerts is not moving from SS, tried it once and it messed him up
mikeyank55
It fits Trader Dave’s logic. Jose is one of his guys from DET and Bogaerts will just have to adjust to the situation. If not, he will be flipped before the end of the season.
halos101
iglesias hasn’t had a decent offensive season since 2015. His OBP is . 273, which is not good at all
hawkny11
He hit .255 in 2016, playing with a nagging injury. In 2015 and 2014 Iggy hit .300+. Not too shabby for a superb defensive SS. Bogaerts played 3B in the World Tournament without problem. Xander is not a good defensive SS, average at best. So, like the Yank’s A-Rod did, he could adjust, if asked to do so.
Bruin1012
First of all according to defensive metrics Xander is an above average defensive shortstop. Jose Iglesias is a great defender but terrible offensively. In 2015 when he hit .300 he was still a negative WAR offensive player his WRC was 97 so less then average. The Red Sox don’t need to trade for him they have there shortstop. My guess is they will try and trade for Trade Frazier at the deadline he is adequate defensively and should hit a lot of homers in Fenway plus benefit from more protection in the lineup.
themayor
Snell didn’t have the control issues until his first MLB call up, hope he can get it under control. Could be a top of the rotation guy if so.
bradthebluefish
Right!? Definitely eyeing Snell for fantasy baseball.
mikeyank55
Devers is being brought up. According to Trader Dave it will give the team a chance to showcase him for a trade before the all-star game.
roenickstein
Almost gotta believe the opposite. His value is at its highest point right now. If you bring him up to the big leagues, it will/could expose his weaknesses.
hawkny11
Surely you jest…
mchaney317 2
This article might as well be renamed to “Rafael Devers and a Bunch of Stuff About Lefties” hahaha
giants51
Don’t rush him Boston……. give him the time to develop