The Red Sox announced this morning that left-hander Bobby Poyner has been placed on the 10-day DL due to a strained left hamstring incurred in last night’s game. He’ll be replaced on the 25-man roster by righty Marcus Walden, who’s been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket for his second stint with the Red Sox in the young season. Poyner, 25, surprised many by forcing his way onto the Opening Day roster with a terrific Spring Training effort, and he’s done nothing to make that decision look questionable through his first seven innings. The former 14th-rounder has allowed just a run on eight hits and a walk with eight strikeouts through those seven frames in his MLB debut, and his absence will leave Brian Johnson as the lone southpaw in Boston’s bullpen. As for Walden, the 29-year-old made his big league debut with five innings of two-run ball spread across three relief appearances earlier this season. Just three years ago, Walden was pitching on the independent circuit in search of a return to affiliated ball.
More from the AL East…
- Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal spoke to multiple Rays officials and players about the team’s unconventional pitching staff in 2018. Tampa Bay opened the year with just three starters in its rotation and a plan to patch together the would-be fourth and fifth spots in their rotation with an ongoing series of bullpen days. While some have questioned the wisdom of the decision, Diamond notes that the bullpen days thus far haven’t been the team’s downfall; rather, shaky performances from Chris Archer, Blake Snell and Jake Faria have hampered the Rays’ results. “If we occupy the wake of both the Yankees and Boston and our behavior is aligned with theirs, we’re never going to step out and pass them — ever,” one anonymous official tells Diamond. GM Erik Neander, meanwhile, acknowledges that his team’s plan may not pan out but assures that quite a bit of thinking went into the matter. As for the Rays’ players, Chris Archer and rookie left-hander Ryan Yarbrough were among those to voice their support of the system to Diamond.
- Orioles center fielder Adam Jones sat down with Bill Ladson of MLB.com for a Q&A in which the two discussed his impending free agency and the possibility of a midseason trade if things don’t go well in Baltimore. Asked what it would take for him to stay in Baltimore, Jones suggests his focus in free agency will be winning in the long term. Baltimore’s offseason signings of Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb to multi-year deals “showed that we are going to make a commitment to pitching,” Jones noted in praising the front office. The longtime O’s cornerstone did note that his family lives on the West Coast, though he emphasized that he wasn’t so much voicing a preference to head west as acknowledging that he has alternatives if things don’t work out in Baltimore. Regarding a potential trade, Jones pointed out that he has 10-and-5 rights which would allow him to the right to refuse any deal and said it’d have to be a decision he made with his wife. Jones adds that he hopes to play until age 40, and he also talks with Ladson about his love for the city of Baltimore, his post-playing plans and the times in which he’s had to deal with racism throughout his career. The conversation is well worth a full read.
Kraycik
Orioles need to keep Adam Jones.
Deal Manny & Scoops and they can free up money and get the prospects they need to build a young winning team.
But the the O’s will let all three go to free agency and then get 3 Matt Hobgoods in return in the draft. Fans can wait 5- years until those picks are DFA’d
Yep- that sounds like the O’s
dimitrios in la
I am a diehard Adam Jones fan. While he has lost a step or two in centerfield (and therefore should perhaps move to a corner spot sometime soon, if not already) he is the heart and soul of a predominately winning tradition in Baltimore over the last six years. He and buckshot Walter — more than anyone — have truly transformed the culture there, and Orioles fans should be forever grateful to him.
petfoodfella
Winning tradition? Where?
camdenyards46
Over the last six years:
2012- ALDS, 93 wins
2013- 85 wins
2014- Division Title, ALCS, 96 wins
2015- 81 wins
2016- WC Game, 89 wins
2017- 75 wins
Winning percentage over that span:
.534
That looks like winning to me
ellisburks
But what have they won?
its_happening
The only thing stopped Baltimore is the Chris Davis contract. Jones will need to move to the corners and DH as he gets older. Davis will be DH’ing eventually. It will be tough.
papa fraunch
Red Sox should trade for Machado. Do you think Brock Holt and maybe a fringe prospect or two would be enough?
higgy2020
Hahhahahahahahahahahaha ya
papa fraunch
Machado hit only like .250 last year and is a free agent next year
mvpetro
I can’t tell if you’re serious or not. With that logic the yankees should have traded for him with a packaged centered on Rob Refsynder last year.
mstrchef13
He hit .259 (the worst BA of his career) with 33 HRs and his usual gold glove caliber defense, who is now playing a more valuable position. C’mon, man. If you’re going to troll, all I ask is that you be an educated troll.
casmith12
Even for a half season rental, it’ll cost a whole lot more than Holt and a fringe prospect, regardless if Machado hit
.250 last season. The O’s would quickly hang up the phone if they got that offer.
petfoodfella
He’s a career .280 hitter, let’s not act like he’s the 2nd coming of Joe DiMaggio.
natesp4
Not a chance. Fringe Prospect will be better than Machado by 2020.
mgrap84
Haha no where near even close
RedSox4Life4ever
Where would he even play? Bogaerts will be back at short once he’s healthy. The only spot would be 3rd and that’s only if Devers falters (offensively and/or defensively) by the trade deadline.
Flapjax55
I’m a RedSox fan for life too. Machado would start over either Bogaerts or Devers in the blink of an eye. Please don’t be a homer. Makes us all look bad.
RedSox4Life4ever
I’m just stating there’s no clear need for Machado right now, and there may not be one at all. Would it be nice to have him? Yes, but that would be a luxury. I think when the trading deadline approaches there will be other needs that will need to be filled, not pursuing a luxury like Machado.
bitterpadresfan
Adam Jones is getting older. The Orioles will probably have to compete with Giants to sign him.
RunDMC
LOL – I was thinking this is McCutchen all over again.
camdenyards46
As on orioles fan, I hope we resign him. He is our “team captain” and a good leader
Kraycik
Deal Manny to an NL contender, or a wannabe contender for this year. He’s a rental, but may be able to draw 2 top 10 prospects. Preferably with Major League experience.
Scoops would look good playing for either Boston or NYY. Considering he has 2-years of team control, I’d want at least 2-arms and a solid position player. Each ranked in the top 20 of their system.
2012orioles
I’ll for sure miss jonesy if he leaves. If he’s about winning idk how he’d stay. I guess it depends on what happens with Machado.