It’s still early in the season relative to the league’s non-waiver trade deadline at the end of July, so with the disclaimer that trade are still subject to change before then, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports that the Red Sox “have an eye on” adding a reliever and a right-handed hitter to complement the team. Drellich points out that these types of additions would not mean “mortgaging” the team’s already-thin farm system, as the addition of a righty-bat would likely be an infielder to balance out the club’s lefty-heavy group. He also cites some troubling statistics about the usage and performance of pinch-hitters for the club, signaling that a backup plan for Dustin Pedroia could help the team in matchup situations. The veteran was seen as likely to resume baseball activities shortly after returning to the DL on June 2nd, but still has yet to be cleared for such activities three weeks later.
Other news and notes from around a topheavy AL East division…
- Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun takes a look at the situation of Orioles outfielder Adam Jones, who’s enjoying one of his best calendar months in years. Per Meoli, Jones isn’t concerned about all the resulting trade chatter surrounding him. “I can’t let it bother me. I’m in a different part of my life to where I’m not anticipating a $150 million, $200 million, $300 million offer this offseason. I’m more just, ’Let me go be a pro, do what I do best,’ and that’s play the game hard and live with the result. All the other stuff, all the projections and this and that, that’s all whatever.” Notably, Jones is well aware that he “holds all the cards” in regards to where (or if) he’s traded, as the veteran’s been with the O’s long enough to qualify for ten-and-five rights.
- Speaking of the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com takes a look at what the club’s infield (and roster) could look like post-Machado, if and when the veteran is shipped to another club. Kubatko notes that where fellow infielder Tim Beckham plays will depend upon whether or not the O’s get a major-league ready shortstop as part of the return for their superstar (if the don’t, Beckham seems likely to take over the position). In addition to all this speculation, Kubatko adds that Danny Valencia could see time at third in that case, but has also played himself into potential trade-chip status.
- Young Blue Jays hurler Aaron Sanchez left last night’s game with a finger contusion, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports, noting that his departure throws a question mark into Toronto’s rotation. It’s not clear at this juncture whether Sanchez’ current finger issue is in any way related to the blister-related issues that limited him to just 36 innings last season, though reports of a contusion would seem to make that improbable. With so many moving parts on the Jays’ pitching staff, the Davidi wonders how the rotation alignment will shake out; there’s been some suggestion that Jaime Garcia could move to the bullpen with Marcus Stroman and Sam Gaviglio set to return from the DL and paternity list soon, respectively.
I feel like the red Sox are eyeing a hefty package for Blake and Jed
Sox have nothing to offer…. or put it this way, how many other contenders can offer a better package to the A’s.
Lowrie seems like a perfect fit for the Sox. With Pedroia maybe not coming back, and poor hitting from catcher and center (Bradley), the Red Sox would be interest in a good hitter that can play 2b. If Pedroia comes back, there is still talk of moving Martinez to left and Benintendi to center, with Lowrie as DH.
One of the Sox issues, is that they do not want to take on salary. My understanding is that if the A’s payed the rest of Lowrie’s contract, it does not go against Boston payroll.
Another issue for the Sox is that many of their top prospects have issues. But with these issues comes opportunity. Jay Groome had Tommy John surgery a month or so ago. I wonder if the Sox would trade Groome for a payed for Lowrie?
Absolutely not. That is a horrible idea
because?
Because Groome is so young with a lot of potential and you don’t trade that for Jed Lowrie a .280 hitting second baseman with average pop that is a free agent at the end of the year. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. Thank you for the laugh though
If JBJ continues to not produce and either another infielder is added to the mix. expect to see Holt in the outfield.
Not Blake and Jed but Canha was asked about by Boston, per Slusser. A’s looking for SPs in return. No idea who the A’s are looking at.
If I am the Orioles they should keep Jace Peterson and Steve Wilkerson
Keep them for the rest of the year
If the Orioles do anything instead of DFA’ing someone trade Valencia to a contender
He’s played well, but he needs to go to a contender and let them enjoy a hitter who can hit lefties!
Also as a side note I can’t believe I am saying this but Buck Showalter actually outmanaged someone last night with his bullpen work
And Roger McDowell has actually helped the O’s pitchers this year
Will wonders never cease?
Just wait until they put in Moylan. If that is outmanaging…
Well they had to get there to be in that position and Captain Showalter got them there.
I don’t see how Buck outmanaged anyone last night. Bringing Scott, whom I like, into a tie game when he has at best been inconsistent, then leaving Britton out there to twist in the wind is hardly managing your bullpen well. Considering how lucky he got when the Braves’ third base coach sent that runner in the ninth and that the game went 15 innings, Buck and you can’t rightfully say he “pushed the right buttons!”
Buc is a good manager, n this from a Redsox fan.
Buck is a good manager. He changed the culture in Baltimore. Have they been terrible since September? Oh yes. But he’s done a lot of good things here. I’m 49, born and raised in Baltimore but I’ve done a ton of traveling. Some of the most negative, entitled fans I’ve ever seen are here. It’s ridiculous.
Pente
Jed Lowrie would be a perfect fit for the Red Sox.
Who do they have to offer for him?
Nobody
Sox fans…
Absolutely nobody
What do you think a Jed Lowrie return is going to be? Any team could acquire him.
Scooter Gennett would also be a good fit, but whether or not CIN is serious about trading him is another matter. They SHOULD trade him, but with their history of getting little value back when trading veterans BOS may wanna package up some sketchy prospects – Reds aren’t picky.
I think the Red Sox should trade for Shakissme Olajuwami. Wouldn’t take much to acquire him, and he has the potential to break out.
Why am I being downvoted?
Well, we knew back in spring training because it was written in these very pages that Aaron Sanchez delivery issues and hand issues were not resolved and it was just hope and binder twine keeping things together.
We read written in these very blogs that there is so much torgue on his hand due to the whipsaw motion of his delivery that the torque actually schreds his hand.
We also heard that given Sanchez would be having future problems that it would be important for the Jays if they were going to really compete, not just say the words in interviews, they needed to acquire a true #1 starter because Sanchez was not going to be that pitcher.
That is why it is important not to listen to the Blue Jays and media RaRa. This organization doesn;t always accurately communicate things as they are. They are selling sizzle not steak.
If you want steak, always check in here. #Scouteyes
Do you and Casey run a baseball factory?
I hate to say it, but you are a fool. Not much point in saying it though, One could easily come to that conclusion by looking at the obscene amount of time you waste offering up nonsensical analysis of MLBTR articles as if you have some kind of inside knowledge into MLB organizations. Sorry friend, you are not a scout and never were. Your caregiver is just telling you that so you stop being fussy and spitting up your mush.
Lol. A fool who is usually, ohh about 97% accurate in the scouting calls made about the Blue Jays. The proof is out there in the blogs. The track record is phenominally accurate….
The difference between reading War stats and being a true intuitve based scout is having….. #Scoutseyes
Lmao hate to break it to you but I’ve been 98% accurate in my scouting analysis. Please don’t act so condescending, I’m the king make belief scout.
I bow to the master.
Jimmer has consistently discussed Sanchez’ hand issues returning.
Jimmer has consistently trolled these pages is what you mean.
The dead giveaway has been the lack of breaking balls (Curve) he has thrown this year. It’s his best pitch. Better than his running fastball. He hasn’t thrown that pitch because it gives him the most trouble with his hand, apparently.
When you piece certain comments by the experts together, it wasn’t hard to see this happening to Sanchez. True to form, media and team downplaying this.
I put more blame on MLB changing the baseballs to ensure more homeruns and offense errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I mean….yeah, lots of pitchers have complained about the new balls giving them finger issues. Even Stroman, but his finger issues are probably occurring off the field on Twitter.
Jimmer, I read what you’ve said. You were pretty much correct. I’ll hand it to ya.
Thanks trim for the +ive nod. My goal isn’t to sound arrogant or condesending as other have put it.
My goal is to show that analytics aren’t enough to judge a player or team or trade or any other scouting situation. Analytics look backward and especially when we are talking about amateur vs professional or Single A player vs AA players vs MLB level. Often those analytics will not transfer to the next level at all.
But when you combine that with intuitive based scouting, the accuracy becomes a thing to behold. Pat Gillick is in the hall of fame becuase of intuitive based scouting, not analytics as they pertain to scouting.
Don’t get me wrong analytics are great when it comes to pitching and hitting patterns and setting defenses but to scout what a player will do in the future from amateur or look at how a team is built by War is just plain wrong.
Inituitve scouting looks forward not backwards. Not always but often, the gut and spirit will know what the mind and stats will not know.
The best organizations over the long term use both. The Yankees Cashman is a genious at this. Know why the Yankees traded for Didi years ago? The analytics were okay, but what really happened is one of the 70+ yrs old time Yankees scouts went to Cashman and told him, “this guy can play”.
Yep. Analytics have a place in the game but too many people overuse analytics to prove a point like an addict handling pain medication.
Learn how to do the fundamentals and study the game of major league baseball. Know how to play situational baseball and know what your opponent is looking to accomplish with every pitch, at bat, etc. I’d rather see a guy hit first and work walks as he improves and learns the game. Pitchers it’s all about location, location, location; location and execution.
Had a chance to speak to Gillick a couple times. Good man, good baseball man. The 80’s and early 90’s the Jays organization was a well-oiled machine. Lose a pitcher? Next guy up. Lose a vet? Young guy up. They had so many guys ready to take over starting jobs during that time. It was a luxury the franchise has not seen in many, many years.
We don’t care about downvotes. Whatever. We love the game of baseball and every person on here sees the game different. It’s what makes this site intriguing.
Can we ( as in the Cardinals) trade Fowler for Jones?
The cardinals would definitely need to throw in good prospects. That contract is not good.
Don’t know why you got so many downvotes here. Fowler isn’t even with an earshot of batting over the Mendoza line and is owed over 50 million dollars on his deal. He has negative value.
I cant wait for the trade deadline because I would love to see what kind of depth players Boston can pick up without having to trade what little they have of value.
NYY fan I see chirping in with their Evil Empire attitude!
Yeh and your typical Sox jealousy regarding NY!
“NYY fan” is he though?
Seriously? Sorry guy, been a Sox fan my whole life. We just dont have anything of value in the system to give up for depth. And as far as “depth” goes for the outfield, we have Betts, JBJ, Benintendi, JDM, and Holt if need be. They dont need another guy taking up bench space for the outfield. Unless theyre going to try and package Swihart and Nunez for something which is absurdly laughable, they’ve already got depth there. Relief I understand but quality relievers are holding the highest prices in recent memory so its even more doubtful that they can get anything worth going after here unless they purge the farm even further. Like I said, I cant wait to see what kind of depth they pursue with what little they can actually offer.
As called on spring training. RedSox will win the ALEast but the Yankees will win the World Series. #Scoutseyes
With your track record please don’t make predictions about the Yanks.
The Red Sox have two needs, a lefty reliever and a right handed hitting infielder. With Pedroia still in question at 2B, and Devers having difficulty hitting lefty pitching, switch-hitter Jed Lowrie seems to me to be an ideal fit. As far as the lefty reliever, Pomeranz should be relegated to that role upon his return, with Wright keeping his starter spot.
Give Oakland Nunez and Swihart for Lowrie.