The Red Sox have placed star third baseman Rafael Devers on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring inflammation, per the team. In terms of corresponding moves, outfielder Jaylin Davis was promoted from Triple-A, and Enrique Hernandez was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Devers, still just 25 years old is putting together another All-Star campaign. To this point, he has hit an undeniable .324/.379/.602 with 22 home runs in 380 plate appearances. With those kinds of numbers, the Red Sox won’t want to be long without their superstar at the hot corner. At 48-46, Boston doesn’t have a whole lot of wiggle room either – not in the crowded AL East.
Kiké Hernandez has already missed 39 games, and he recently was pulled from a rehab assignment. Moving him to the 60-day injured list at this stage doesn’t mean a whole lot, though it does open the spot on the 40-man for the Davis promotion.
Davis, 28, is 2-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts on the year for Boston. This is his fourth season of big league action, the first three coming with the Giants. All in all, he’s had just 72 plate appearances in the Majors. The Red Sox claimed him off waivers from the Giants at the end of April. In Triple-A between the two clubs this season, David is slashing .247/.336/.404 across 268 plate appearances.
In terms of filling in for Devers, there’s little the Red Sox can do to fill that void. Jeter Downs could be given an opportunity for some significant run here in the Majors. Downs, of course, is most noteworthy for being a prime piece in the Mookie Betts deal. That makes him a complicated player for the Red Sox organization, but this might be a small-sample opportunity to let him play through some early ups and downs.
Last 24 hours is quite possibly as bad as it could get for Boston
That was a horrible game last night for Red Sox fans, but it was but one game. The loss of Devers for at least 10 games is more of a blow.
It was one game BUT we lost two really bad games against the Yankees previously, blown saves in at least 10 other games and are sitting fourth in a division where we haven’t won a single series. Yesterday was one game, but one game manifested in a myriad of problems.
It’s time to sell at the deadline, reboot, and be ready for next year. If they don’t sell, it only hurts us in the future because things aren’t going our way this season for a load of different reasons (not just one). Not selling is a missed opportunity.
Chuck: That’s unfounded BS. More like bad pitching is to blame.
It’s time to can Cora.
How about the fact that our offense is also non-existent?
milt – Ain’t gonna happen. Henry went on record as saying this is a “building year” and when it comes to making winning a non-priority, there’s nobody better for the job than Cora.
pwndroia – You’re absolutely right about the three consecutive losses from last Saturday thru yesterday.
In fact, during those three games the Red Sox were outscored by an amazing 47 runs. That is the worst 3-consecutive-game run differential in MLB going all the way back to 1894. That is not a typo, 1894!!!
I still think Cora is great for the postseason, when he gets there. He isn’t a bad manager all the time but he doesn’t manage regular season games well and day to day decisions.
pwndroia – As talked about a lot last October, Cora made several mistakes last postseason. The 2018 team was obviously a juggernaut, so much talent.
I totally agree with you on the regular season.
Sell off at this point. Look for upper level prospects and a lot of payroll coming off. Just retool for next year.
this could be a crazy deadline if Soto, Ohtani, and Devers all get traded
In all probability none of them are.
It’ll be Xander not Devers.
Actual MLBTR headline: “Angels Not Planning To Move Ohtani”
This weekend keeps getting better for Boston.
Bye bye Boston. The playoffs bid you adieu. Sale pinkie fracture, Eovaldi dumpster fire start Friday (9er 2.2ip) and IL for Devers their most productive bat.
It ain’t over til it’s over Yogi said but if he were alive he be at the OTB betting against them.
Thought they also had the prospects to get Soto but they need to reevaluate what direction they go before August 2nd.
9er yikes
Why Soto? That would not be a logical move. You had me until you said that.
pwndroia – I completely agree. Henry does NOT want anymore huge contracts, I doubt we will be seeing the Sox give anyone a contract approaching $200M so there’s zero chance of them giving a contract approaching $500M.
… was hoping that read ’10-year deal.’
After this news I too need to be added to the 10 day IL
Ugh, time to become sellers
I was thinking losing Sale was the final nail in the coffin for Boston’s 2022 season, but now losing Raffy until the trade deadline has probably sealed their fate as deadline sellers. They had one final chance to get on a hot streak prior to the trade deadline, but after their last 3 games where they lost by a combined score of 55-8 and Devers on the shelf, this team is dead and buried. Time to trade off a lot of veterans (JDM, Nate, Hill, Kiké, Diekman, Sawamura, Strahm and Wacha) and see what they can get in return. I really hope they hold on to Xander and really try to extend him but I’m not sure that will happen. The Sox seem to be a rudderless ship right now. What needs to happen is a sizable decrease in annual revenues; that’s the only thing that will get the owners’ attention. Boston fans expect a winner and won’t have the patience for a 4-5 year rebuild. Plus, none of their top prospects have produced in the majors yet (Bello, Duran, Downs and I guess we can still include Dalbec), so their dream of building this team through the farm system is not off to a good start. With the exception of Bello, their top prospects haven’t been called up yet (Casas, Mayer, Yorke, Mata & Rafaela) but most of these prospects still need to spend 2023 in the minors so this team will be a complete dumpster fire in 2023 unless Bloom has a massive offseason which seems highly unlikely. The Sox may very well finish in last place in the AL East this year and next year as well. Something drastic needs to be done to prevent this; the Boston fans will revolt if they march out a non-competitive team next season with a low payroll as well. Devers absolutely needs to be extended and Xander should be too. If they really want Story to play SS next year, move X to 2nd base of maybe even LF. He’s athletic enough to play the OF and he’d add significant power to one of the least productive OFs in all of baseball. It’s shameful this team is as bad as they are right now and all signs point to them getting much worse in the short term anyways.
I think you are overanalyzing this. We sell but not everything. We’ve seen a rebuild in one year before- remember 2012 and 2013? It can happen. Rule this season out but 2023 hasn’t even started yet.
Bogaerts probably won’t accept a move. Remember when we put him at 3B? He declined terribly then.
That was 2014,in his rookie year. Things might’ve changed. Regardless, he cannot play SS simply because he does not want to play 3B.
Dorothy:
Why in the world would 2023 be such a bad year? Youre making all negative assumptions. Casas wont be ready to play in 2023? None of the young pitchers, who aren’t presently doing good, cant figure it out between now and next year? If the Red Sox trade off multiple players before the deadline, none of the players received, in return, will help next year? Red Sox have 80-100Mill in Cap space, but wont bring in any new players that will help them? Sale and Paxton cant make a come back in 2023? —- Lots of variables. No one has the answers, except you.
MudyChicken21 hours ago
Dorothy:
Why in the world would 2023 be such a bad year?
===========================
It’s an interesting question.
C-
1B-Casas/Dalbec
2B-Story
SS-
3B-Devers
LF-Verdugo
CF-Duran
RF-JBJ/Ref
BN-Arroyo
BN-Cordero
SP-Sale
SP-Paxton
SP-Pivetta
SP-Crawford
SP-Winckowski
CL-Houck
RP-Whitlock
RP-Sawamura
RP-Davis
RP-Diekman
RP-Schreiber
RP-Bello?
RP-
That’s not good, but it is also a solid base, and we would have ~$67M to spend. A trade for Murphy and Correa won’t set you back much in terms of prospects, and would leave us with ~ $28M left. We would need at least one high-quality RP.
Joe – I give you props for admitting that list isn’t good.
Not counting Sale (obvious injury concerns) or Paxton (probably won’t have his options picked up) or Devers (will likely be traded after contract negotiations fail) which of those players do you view as solid?
I’ll be my usual optimistic self by assuming Schreiber and Whitlock and Houck will continue to shine, and Pivetta will revert back to the pitcher we know and love.
Sawamura’s $3.6M option likely won’t be picked up.
Story hasn’t shown he can hit based on his 2022 numbers thus far.
So who will have at least an .850 OPS or an ERA under 4?
Are you that certain Casas will be a star?
Yes, I do believe Bloom will dip into the free agent market to fill some holes. But I don’t see them signing any big names, hope I’m wrong.
“67M to spend”
Projected Tax Payroll $107M.
Competitive Tax Threshold $233M.
I was being conservative with my 80-100M to spend. How do you get 67M?
Here’s my possible list:
C: Wong/Hernandez, plus vet brought in of low status.
1B: Casas
2B: Story
SS: Trea Turner (wishful thinking) 37M/per
3B: Devers
LF: Verdugo
CF: Durran
RF: Brandon Nimmo (FA) 22M/per
DH: Multiple Players, not that important
SP Carlos Rondon (FA) 25M/per
SP Chris Sale
SP James Paxton
SP Nick Pivetta
SP Jay Groome
SP Young controllable pitcher acquired thru trade
RP Houck
RP Whitlock
RP Swarmura
RP Schreiber
RP Barnes
RP Strahm
Bench: JBJ, Utility Inf not named Arroyo, Dalbec
SPs in minors: Winckowski, Seabold, Bello, Crawford, Hernandez, Murphy
RPs in minors: Bazardo, German, Bracho
4 Free Agents acquired: Turner 37M, Nimmo 22M, Rondon 25M, Vet Catcher 4M = 88 Million
According to Spotrac: Threshold 233M minus 108M = 125M Available.
-Trea Turner is wishful thinking, but Red Sox need to make a splash to show fans good faith. And he is the one I’d go after.
-Nimmo and Rondon are names I like, they can be replace with several other FAs available.
-My list only has the 6th starter coming back in deadline trade, very conservative assuming Red Sox have Bogaerts, Martinez, Vazquez, Refsnyder, and Eovoldi to offer.
– Dont have to trade all the players on list. Bogaerts, Martinez and Eovoldi can be tendered to acquire a draft pick, if return isn’t decent.
—————-
That team can and will contend. To list only players under contract and say we’re in bad shape is misleading. They have money and tradeable players, not available in recent years.
Bloom only wants either injured players or players from the sale rack after bad yrs. Ex Diekman, Robles, Big Fudge, Schwartz, how’s this working for you?
How do you figure that? Bloom has had very little salary cap space, since taking over. We know nothing about Bloom when he has money to spend.
After the bad breakup with Dombrowski people were warned there was going to be some lean years ahead. Even with that, last season a couple games away from World Series and this season leading and still in Wild Card.
Bello has pitched a total of 8 innings and Downs has a total of 29 AB. Too soon to evaluate until they have more time.
One problem is even they sell off the players you listed some are either on the IL or battling injuries.,coming off injuries. . They’d be selling low on almost everybody.
Wouldn’t be the first time Red Sox went from last to winning world series.
“selling low on almost everybody”
Bogaerts?
Vazquez?
Refsnyder?
JD Martinez will be back tomorrow, 10 days to prove he’s healthy.
Get what you can for Wacha.
MudyChicken,
I also stated “players you listed”. That comment was based on his list.
JD should have never made a cross country flight for the all star game since he was already having back issues. Even so, he’s battled injuries this season and his numbers are below his average..
It’s not up to the Sox if they trade Bogaerts, it’s up to him.. Trading him for 2 months of service is selling low for me. Even if he agreed to a trade. If they weren’t willing to even come close to what he’s asking then they should have traded him earlier. or at least tried.
Wacha is going to have much less of a chance to prove he’s healthy than JD. As for Vazquez, if I’m going to commit to younger pitchers then I want him around. Doesn’t mean they couldn’t get him back but they would need to make sure he knew that. That’s considering they even want him back. . .
I just don’t understand the ‘almost everybody’ part. Bogaerts, Vazquez and Martinez will still bring a nice haul. If Im GM, I dont try to trade Wacha, or take what I can get. Its like at work when someone says “I can’t do A, B and C because I need . . .” Then you do D, E and F and keep moving forward. Get what you can done, and worry about the rest later.
In regards to Vazquez, he’s an FA at the end of the season. He is not a good pitch framer, however he brings a good bat (for a catcher) and arm to second. But, Im afraid he’ll ask for far too much due to the very good season he’s having. His career OPS+ is 85 and he has an OPS+ of 110. There is a very good chance he reverts to the 85 after he signs for very good money. Not to mention, we have two decent catchers waiting in the wings (Wong and Hernandez).
yewed – You know what the difference was the last couple times they went from last to winning a World Series? They had a brand new manager.
In fact, three of their last four World Champion teams were managed by a brand new manager.
I’m certain that’s what it will take to win another championship, a managerial change. But championships also require talent. Without JD, Devers, Xander, and Sale there’s really no talented star player left unless Casas has a breakout season or Bloom acquires a star player. But acquiring a star player requires money, something Bloom/Henry seem unwilling to spend if the player’s contract approaches $200M or $30M annually.
They also either had a newer GM or a GM that was fired shortly after winning. Or president of baseball operations in Dombrowski’s case.
The front office has said they’re not a fan of paying players a bunch of money when they get older. Like they have in the past and are currently doing. One of the reasons they didn’t sign Bogaerts. to a new deal.
I agree you need those types of players. but If they have no plans on giving Devers a 300 million contract then he should be traded. Makes no sense to keep him then try to trade him next year at the deadline for less.
Can Duran be sent to A ball and be taught to hustle?
Can Dalbac be sent to Portland to learn how to hit please, maybe even Salem Single A. He is awful.
How bout just how to catch a ball?
Nail in the coffin
Hamstring injury or rest until we can trade him. Just wondering.
People keep saying they need to sell but what are they selling?
Boegarts – great hitter for average but has shown no power this year
JDM – also lost power, out of action with a bad back, can’t play the field
Eovaldi – spent significant time on the IL and just got blown up by Toronto
Vazquez – good pickup for catcher needy team but crowded market with Contreras and Murphy
Hill/Wacha – both hurt and not likely to show much before deadline
Diekman/JBJ – mostly awful this year
Sox will be lucky to come out of the deadline with a backend starter and mediocre outfielder like Verdugo even if they do sell.
Wow you wasted all that time making that list? lol.
MudyChicken22 hours ago
Wow you wasted all that time making that list? lol.
============================
Like it or not, the list is legit. I think they have some talent, but look at what Schwarber went for last year. These GMs get skittish without guarantees. I’m not sure anyone but Bloom made a legit offer.
Eovaldi has two starts, JB maybe 10 games to show something. Hill & Wacha won’t like be back. I doubt anyone wants Diekman of JBJ regardless of health.
JoeB
Schwarber was on the DL last year, when traded. Completely different circumstance. Look at what Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo got in return. Much closer OPS+ numbers to Bogaerts and Martinez.
“List is legit” Only if you want to look strictly at the negative.
-Bogaerts: having 3rd best OPS+ (130) number of his career, best OBP of his career(.387) plus playing best defense of his career (Rtot 4) — Dont see how you only bring up Slugging with those other numbers.
-Vazquez: The name Murphy was brought up. If they’re talking about Tom Murphy, Hes out for the season, but somehow hes going to hurt Vazquez’s market?
-JD Martinez: He is injured, and running out of time.
-Rest of the names are just fodder, none of them are being traded. Names that should be there instead are Refsnyder and Sawamura.
Bogaerts, Vazquez and possibly Martinez will bring quite a bit more than “a bad end starter” but you believe what you want to.
You’re in denial if you don’t think teams want Bogaerts, JDM, and Eovaldi. They’re absolutely trade pieces.
You are not getting great players for two month rentals here. The Red Sox were fleeced on the David Wells trade years ago too.
Al – It is definitely possible. Let’s say a team like Seattle (which has the longest active postseason drought in sports) was just a shortstop or DH away from making a real run at a championship, absolutely they would overpay in prospects for a player that could put them over the top.
So would the Yankees, a team that is trying to end a WS drought since 2009.
So would the Jays, who haven’t been in a WS since 1993.
Granted, it’s unlikely we will see the Sox trade with a divisional rival, but you get my point.
Don’t you remember how much the Cubs gave up for a 3-month rental of Chapman?
Ugly loss last night. This season is on Bloom. He signed and depended on Wacha who is hurt, Hill, 44 years old, depending on Dalbac, not signing Schwarber who wanted to stay or any first baseman, not picking up a closer, counting on Barnes, weakening a lousy bullpen by taking Whitlock out of it and putting him into the rotation, signing Story who was awful in the beginning of the season, insulting Boggarts with that contract extension, trading Renfro for Single A prospects and getting Jackie Bradley Junior back who cannot hit and is overpaid. JBJs contract is God awful. Paxton was paid 11 million to rehab this season with no guarantees he pitches this year. That money could have been used elsewhere to help the immediate team now.
Tell me what he has done right this season. Are you kidding me.
Maybe Bloom fielded a team that is a house of cards so he could sell off the assets at the trade deadline for prospects to build up the farm system and also get a better draft pick. Maybe he got the exact result he wanted. You already see how he traded JBJ for prospects which is not a win-now move. If we can see it is a flawed team, do you really think he can’t? They had a chance to compete if everything went right, but everything did not go right. I doubt Bogaerts will be worth what Boras wants for him.
traded Renfroe for JBJ and prospects
Another great Bloom trade
suit – While I agree that in a way Bloom was buying prospects with the JBJ trade, I think he also expected Jackie’s homecoming to lead into a rebound season. And he HAS performed incredibly well at Fenway.
I bet few people here realize Jackie has a .290 BA and .781 OPS at Fenway. If he was used the way I had expected him to be used, starting most home games and riding the bench on the road with Hernandez and Verdugo and a combination of JD/Duran covering the outfield, JBJ would be a lot more valuable.
With an unfathomable road slash of .129/.196/.167 there is no way in hell he should be starting games on the road.
He didn’t have to give up Renfroe in that deal. He could have offered a lobster roll for Bradley and those minor leaguers and Milwaukee would have jumped at the offer.
Fever: Wow. I had no idea JBJ had such a crazy home/road split. I guess he can only hit at Fenway.
AL3418 hours ago
Another great Bloom trade
====================================
About time you admitted it. But just for fun, if I could ensure that you didn’t have access to a PC to look it up, I’d make a modest wager that you couldn’t name either prospect we got back.
There are never any guarantees, but both prospects look pretty good to me.
With an unfathomable road slash of .129/.196/.167 there is no way in hell he should be starting games on the road.
===========================
It’s mostly an illusion based on BABIP. If his road OPS and his home OPS were .300 each, his splits would be .684 & .625. Everyone hits better at Fenway, but his splits shouldn’t be this extreme. His K/W is actually better on the road, but his power has completely disappeared.
Alex Binelas and David Hamilton were obtained for Hunter Renfroe. We’ll see if any of them make it. Don’t get your hopes high my friend. Remember that prospects are prospects and that is it. Cheaper salaries and major league minimum pro rated. Impressed with any of the pitchers or full time players that have come up from Worcester? I’m not. Plus he put them up against the best competition in the league which should shatter some confidence.
Joe – Serious question here, how many Sox games do you actually watch? Or do you just follow the stats on Fangraphs?
Because it’s common knowledge most LHB fare better on the road than in Fenway, primarily because of Fenway’s deep right field. The great LHB’s are able to go oppo though, which is what makes them great.
The announcers talk all the time about Verdugo doing so much better on the road, as his .594H/.794R splits will attest.
Even RHB such as JD Martinez have been road numbers than home numbers.
It’s not time to sell its definitely time to buy. You should buy the rentals with the idea of extending them in mind. It’s contrarian thinking and it would work. Get some star who is struggling and see if they can turn it around.
SELL Mortimer! SELL!
Like everybody…
2023 lazer focused
Didn’t Bloom also pick up Shaw and was counting on him at first base too. Wasn’t he another bargain basement guy signed at the trade deadline last year. They were counting on him to platoon at first base and that bombed along with Dalbac. Schwarber was the guy who should have been signed. Once you get past our top 4 players in the order there are major holes in that lineup with Dalbac, JBJ, Cordero, Downs. Players needed to be picked up before the whole thing crashed like the last two series.
Casas was suppose to be at 1B, platooning with Dalbac. Every other name you mentioned was a stopgap. Casas’s injury and Dalbac’s regression were difficult to predict.
As far as Schwarber, did you forget he was horrendous at 1B last season. he played 9 games at 1B and has a -4 OOA (Out Above Average) and -6 RTot. Its really bad to have those numbers accumulated in 9 games. He would not have helped there this season.
Listen my friend. I have been a Red Dox fan since the 1977 season and I am sure that I am older than you. I respect your opinion and views. I loved the players and team after frustration with the NY Mets and the dumping of Tom Seaver. I am tired of them dumping and trading their best players because they do not want to pay them. I saw this with Fred Lynn, Rick Burleson, Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant. I respected the players who came back but the return was low for them, Jim Dorsey, Joe Rudi and Carney Lansford. Landlord was good and they traded him for Tony Double Play Armas. Hell, I like Johnny Damon and we let him go after 2005 then traded for Coco Crisp who was nowhere near Damon. I loved Mookie Betts and they should have payed him not trade him to the Dodgers for decent players but not great ones. Schwarber embraced the city and wanted to stay. I thought they would take him as a future DH if JD Martinez left. I was wrong, Dalbac is a streaky hitter who like Story killed this team at the beginning of the season. You need guaranteed production at first base. We do not have that with him. He still has not come back and I doubt he is ever going to be great. Depending on two rookies like Casas and Dalbac is crazy. Schwarber was established, the other two are not. Insulting Boggarts with that “Lowball” off recess a disgrace. This is who Bloom is. This might be okay in Tampa where you barely get 7,000 fans a game but Boston gets over 30,000 a game and is not a small market like Tampa. I don t know about you but I will be upset if they trade Boggarts and Devers away.
I know we do not see eye to eye but One thing I forget to add is that Dalbac should be in the minor leagues not on the major league roster. He needs hitting instructions and should not be anywhere near a major league diamond until he learns how to hit again.