It “seems inevitable” that Rays infielder/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo will lose his roster spot in the near future, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times observes. Although the Rays made a fairly expensive commitment to Tsutsugo prior to 2020, the former Nippon Professional Baseball standout hasn’t lived up to a two-year, $12MM guarantee. This season has been especially rough for the 29-year-old, who has batted a miserable .167/.244/.218 with zero home runs in 87 plate appearances. The Rays still owe Tsutsugo around $5.5MM, Topkin points out, but may decide to move on anyway. Tsutsugo could stay in the organization if they send him down, but he has an assignment clause in his contract and would have to sign off on a demotion. Otherwise, Tsutsugo could collect the remaining money he’s due and try his luck in free agency again.
- The Rangers announced that they have hired Baseball Savant creator Daren Willman as their Senior Director, Research & Development/Applications for Baseball Operations. Willman, who was the Director of Research & Development for MLB’s Baseball Operations Department, “will be responsible for the development and expansion of the Rangers’ baseball information systems,” the Rangers said. “He will oversee a team of developers in the continued growth and improvement of the organization’s information infrastructure.” Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels stated that he expects Willman to “have a significant impact on our organization.”
- The Red Sox own the majors’ best record (22-14) and a three-game lead in the American League East. But even if the Red Sox remain in contention around the July 30 trade deadline, the likelihood is that they’ll avoid farm system-altering deals that hurt them over the long haul, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic suggests (links: 1, 2). Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom hasn’t shown he’s willing to sacrifice future gains for short-term help, which could rule out dealing valuable prospects for certain pending free agents (e.g., Kris Bryant and Max Scherzer), writes McCaffrey.
- Having played three rehab games at the High-A level, Red Sox utilityman Danny Santana will make his 2021 Triple-A debut on Tuesday, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe was among those to report. Santana signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox in the offseason, but a foot infection cost him a chance to make their roster during the spring. Assuming Santana doesn’t suffer any setbacks, the Red Sox will have to make a decision on him soon because his deal includes an opt-out clause for this month.
Yoshi experiment ended up unfortunate, I am sad to see it end but it is for the best. He was given every chance, I wish him well.
Good timing tho. Tsu susutgo will be ready to go on tour with Genesis.
You know who would actually make a decent replacement at DH for the Rays … after he clears waivers? I eyeballed AL teams and …. there’s this “No. 5” guy …
socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2021/05/quo-vadis-albe…
If the Redsox need help at the trading deadline Bloom will need to tweak the team n not let the fans down in Boston since they will never forgive him.
So far Bloom has shown his ability in maneuvering trades that seem smart. If the team is a legitimate contender in July, I have trust in his evaluating for both the short term and the long view. DD proved it makes sense to go for it when you’re close and getting Eovaldi, Pearce and Kinsler was well worth the cost. it was resigning two of them for more than necessary was what contributed to their 2020 financial mess.
It wasn’t that bad. When you win it all you have to run it back with the same guys. They didn’t give them five years Deals, they gave them 1 or2 year deals. The cost of doing business. Fine with that even though team and pitching especially imploded the next season. You still have to run it back with a championship team.
Gary, it was cumulative. Houston was not really in it for Eovaldi and that was a big overpay. Pearce was one year and in retrospect deserved the same deal that Moreland was under. It was the Sale deal knowing he was breaking down that ended all hope if there ever was any of re-inking Betts.
Yes the Eovaldi deal and the Sale deal are kind of back Breakers. But I think they’ll get a return on both. Maybe not what the financials are but they’ll get a return.
The Red Sox are going to get a healthy Chris sale for free. I think they’ll be ok assuming the staff is still pitching out of its mind.
Duran and Downs will be good midseason call ups as well. They don’t need to overpay for anything to have a good shot at a wildcard in September.
Duran has played 7 AAA games and already has 3 HRs and is batting .286 with a .962 OPS. Yes, I think he will be ready.
I can not say the same for Downs.
RS8 – Outstanding comments. Downs is years from making the team. He has to go back to AA and actually successfully hit against AA pitchers that aren’t on the worst pitching staff in the league. Then, he needs to do the same at AAA. With his great ability to walk but his poor ability to hit the baseball between players he’s another JBJ at this point in his career except he has power and nowhere near as good a glove. Lots of work ahead for him. His unique name is great for publicity but he can’t use it to have a decent batting average. That actually takes skill not publicity.
I know the whole world now thinks OPS is the end all for evaluating hitters but when you break it down it still comes back to the TWO components of OBP. Ability to hit and ability to walk. He clearly has the later down pat but his ability to hit low level minor league pitching is below average for a first round pick or even a second through 10th round pick. More time in the minors will be the ONLY way he makes it to the majors, if he ever does.
First, the staff will likely not be pitching as good as they are now. Sale also will not be going deep in games until 2022.
I think about the roster with the assumption that no matter what Mookie has said since (don’t you kind of have to pay the lip service?), he was not going to re-up in Boston.
MafiaBass – They lost Mookie due to ownership’s ignorance of diversity. It’s just that simple. They blew smoke up everyone’s skirts about money problems and Mookie problems but they are a very strange group. They approve of a cheater like Cora and create such a negative situation for the face of the franchise that he want’s to leave. Who makes those types of errors? Not savvy business men. Racists do. They never confessed to knowing what Cora was doing with the replay room and they never admitted to have had issues with Mookie over the treatment of the minority players. They so lack integrity that all I can do is hope they sell and move on so maybe a group of owners the Red Sox fans could be proud of will take over the team and try to compete with the Yankees like this group did originally but this time do it without prejudice.
I guess the real question is does the real Chris Sale show up in June or July? No guarantees for sure.
That blurb about The Rangers is so bizarre. If it didn’t have the words Rangers, MLB, or baseball in it you would think it was talking about a defense weapons contractor.
Even baseball teams use computers. Shocking I know.
Well when The Texas Ranger’s advanced AI system takes over the planet you’ll regret your flippant comment.
lmao
I, for one, welcome our new Texas Rangers computer overlords.
No problem here with Blooms trades, even Betts, as I was glad to send Price anywhere. However, by the eye test, Boston would have around a 6 game lead on the rest of the East with Moreland, and Holt back, instead of maybe Marwin and Cordero. Dalbec needs a platoon partner, maybe even some triple A time, same with Cordero.
They got flexible guys for the long haul. I liked Holt and Moreland but Moreland tends to be a 1st half wonder, then he poops out. Holt poops out too if he plays too much. I agree both are good situational hitters and good postseason guys. I think Bloom is trying to bring the youngsters in gradually although Dalbec is getting to play a lot. I still think Cordero could be a solid keeper but patience is required. If the bottom of the order gets it going they will be a tough team to face. That’s been the hallmark of their best teams, top to bottom production. With very few of the new players producing yet, they’re doing well. We’ll see …
Would love to get Holt back. Cordero? I don’t see it but I’m trying to be patient.
He could end up being another Willy Mo. That would be sad. But the other player they got for Beni is also no slouch iirc
Moreland & Holt have combined for a 0.1 WAR this year. Marwin & Cordero have combined for a 0.2 WAR. I loved Moreland, but felt pretty good about giving Dalbec a full year. He’s better than his stats show.
Cordero, OTOH, while I don’t hate the guy, he obviously needs a full season of AAA. He has -0- barrels this year and is not a good defender.
Joe,
I’m trying not to be disrespectful but I couldn’t give a @#&@ about WAR and barrels. Placement for non home runs, integrity, under pressure performance, etc are what I look at. When healthy, Holt and Moreland have delivered and neither is over the hill.
If Dalbec isn’t sent down he should be competing with Chavis at first. with Marwin..
Cordero and Dalbec to Wooooster Farm and bring up Santana & Durran.
Maybe by the deadline Workman is with the MLB club and we can deal him back to the Phillies for a couple of good prospects
Big congrats to Daren Willman from someone who has enjoyed and benefited from his work for many years. About friggin time some front office took notice. The guy’s knowledge is worth millions to his organization. Well done!
The Rays ,Yoshi had all the chances to contribute and failed. We need to cut bat and bring up our young studs that are hitting the cover off the ball in Triple A!
No need to “cut bat,” he’s done that for some time. But of course I know what you meant.
Wander’s time is coming and we’re all waiting.
If Dalbec isn’t sent down he should be competing with Chavis at first. with Marwin..
Cordero and Dalbec to Wooooster Farm and bring up Santana & Durran.
A healthy Chris Sale is the best addition this team could make mid-season anyway. Offensively there is nothing they could trade for that is really any better than what they’ve got.
Rsox – Agreed and Houck will be the second best. Unfortunately they are likely to happen around July 1 which will be one month too late. June is a brutal month that will take all hopes (if there still will be any) of making the playoffs. By the end of June, it’s very likely that the Red Sox will be well below .500 since they play the Yankees with Voit 6 times, the Astros 6 times, the Blue Jays 4 times, TB 3 times, Atlanta 2 times for a total of 21 extremely difficult games and only 6 against KC that are easy wins. Compare that to May when there were 15 ‘easier’ games or April when there were 18 ‘easier’ games.
Couple that with a 5 = 6 record so far in May and a grossly inflated Road record that is bound to catch up with them soon (12-5) and by the end of June when help arrives, their season will need more than a defibrillator to jump start their ability to win over 50% of their remaining games. Sale, if healthy and Houck, if ready, could do it but it’s a very, very long shot that it happens. It’s far more likely by July Bloom will be selling off pieces again not buying or trading for pieces to compete in 2021.
The second half is going to be about marveling at how good Sale,Houck and Duran are and regretting the 2018 team wasn’t kept together now that Sale is back.
The utility player strategy isn’t a winning strategy and Bloom has no experience other than utility player strategy. A real GM is needed who can find ways to win through smart trades that impact the skill level of the MLB club and effective use of the WARCHEST of money the owners have compiled while DD and his predecessors provided them with winning teams.
Fans still have years of shaking their heads as to why Ownership destroyed a core group of players with such great talent and in their prime. Even without Mookie, Benny and Price the core group is still highly competitive, they just aren’t close to the 2018 team in talent. In a few years when Houck and Pivetta and Mata are pitching with Sale and Duran, Dalbec, Devers and others are in their prime years a new replenished version of the Red Sox will exist but all the years in between will have been lost to mediocrity for no reason other than greed and stupidity by the owners.