The Red Sox officially announced their deal with right-hander Lucas Giolito, with fellow righty Mauricio Llovera designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Llovera, 28 in April, was just acquired from the Giants in a cash deal in July. He went on to toss 29 2/3 innings over 25 appearances after coming to Boston, with a 5.46 earned run average in that time. He had spent time with the Phillies and Giants and now has 59 innings of MLB experience with a 5.80 ERA.
He has fared much better in the minors, with a 2.82 ERA at the Triple-A level in 92 2/3 innings over the past three years. He has struck out 25.9% of Triple-A hitters faced while giving out walks to 8.8% of them. It’s also perhaps worth pointing out that a decent chunk of that came in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League while he was in the Giants’ system.
The Sox will now have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers, though he would be eligible to elect free agency in the latter scenario since he has a previous career outright. His strong Triple-A results could lead to another club putting in a claim but Llovera is out of options, which will limit his appeal as a depth arm.
Where’s the “LOVE”?
shortstop – I called it! Just yesterday I reiterated he would be let go to make way for Rusney’s younger cheaper cousin.
Him & Ort can go play horseshoes or shuffleboard now in peace.
Ignorant – I think they are more pickleballs type of guys.
Fever, what’s that new craze at the summer cookouts, “Cornhole” or something? Maybe they’re Cornhole aficionados.
Ignorant – I am The Great Cornholio! Hahaha!
He’s an absolute genius. That’s why he posts 300 times a day.
All too often people tend to assume recent injuries will continue to happen going forward. Fact is, we simply don’t know that. Now that Chris is with a new organization, perhaps he will be on a better conditioning regime that will allow him to stay healthy more, I think we all agree he is grotesquely thin, putting on some weight should certainly help.
I think this trade could go either way. He could continue to be impacted by injuries, or he could continue to pitch as well as he did at the end of last season. As of right now, the trade heavily favors Atlanta. They are getting what could be at least a #3 starting pitcher for just $10M and if he performs well the 2025 option would be a steal.
Grissom has potential, but the Braves obviously felt OF was in his future because he’s been a poor defensive middle infielder. But he’s so young he could improve.
I think more moves are coming, THIS is why I kept telling people to stop being so impatient.
Where’s the “YOVE”?
Llovera is forever giant
Sox fans hoping their avocado comes with a better prize in the middle
Ignorant – I am The Great Cornholio! Hahaha!
“He has fared much better in the minors, with a 2.82 ERA at the Triple-A level”
Wooooow you mean to tell me he was better against weaker opponents?? Y’don’t say?
Listen bub, if every team just promotes all their AAA batters up to MLB, he’ll be fine.
I did a double-take because I can’t recall watching him pitch. Then again, I pretty much stopped watching live later in the season and just saw key innings afterwards. Warning to ownership: I doubt I was the only one doing that ..
Dewey, for the first time in 30 years I shut off the Yankees for the second half of the season last year. I also canceled mlbTV for this year.I know Hal spends money, but the product they keep putting on the field isn’t worthy of my money or time any longer. I consider myself a dedicated fan, but I’m not going to continue to support rewarding ineptitude and terrible job performance.
dewey – You missed some fun times! Cora would bring in Llovera with a late inning lead, then leave him in until he blew the game, then after the Sox were hopelessly behind Cora would bring in somebody good like Schreiber.
Cora loved to use Llovera and Bearclaw to stick it to his arch nemesis Bloom.
Fpg do you suppose that relationship went south the trade deadline bloom shipped out vazquez?..granted bloom did fine on that deal but in general
Pool – Yes Cora wasn’t happy about that trade, and all the reports of them not getting along started leaking shortly after that trade deadline.
I think the main issue between the two is that Cora felt Bloom didn’t provide enough quality pitchers, and it made Cora look bad.
Always Right – Of course, I enjoy teaching! Here is one source:
baseball-reference.com/players/l/llovema01.shtml
Fever Pitch………. Cora looks bad all by himself by the way he handles the pitching staff.
Clipper: I hear you, different teams .last season was the first year in 25 years I didn’t go to a Sox game.
A parody account? You must be famous or something, FPG.
Dewey. I haven’t watched a game in years. I listen occasionally and spend zero money on their merchandise. I’m a fan of the red Sox, but not of funding their BS.
Cooper – Very, very true! I just hope Bailey and Breslow have more say than Cora when it comes to all things pitching.
B Dog – I feel you, it’s just not worth it to spend money following the current team. Maybe that will change if Bello, Casas and Duran continue to develop.
But I really miss the days when Pedro, Manny, Ortiz, Damon, Mookie, Sale, Schilling, Papelbon and Uehara were must see events.
I’ll be there for the reunion and relive the memories, that’s all we’ve got right now.
YBC – Yeah a few days ago I mentioned that I had a couple people create parody accounts in 2021, and apparently that gave somebody the idea. I’m fine with it, I have a sense of humour as long as they don’t get nasty.
Tang – The only games I watch on TV are free, either MLB.TV or ESPN or Fox. I refuse to pay for Apple TV just to watch the Friday night games …. or Peacock for the Sunday morning games.
When you post 300 times a day for years saying nothing but drivel, people notice.
Fever – Keep the 300 times a day coming. It sure beats reading ignorant comments like those made by Icon and so many of the other Trolls. I guess you should be honored that somebody cares so deeply about you that they mock your name. I have fans that try to connect the dots between names as if it were a game and they win something if they get it right. Over time, all the ignorant people posting stop being idiots and move on and then conversations can be returned to normal.
Don’t stop doing what you are doing. I don’t always agree but I know the opinion comes from a passion for the Red Sox and substantiated sources unlike most people.
Always Right – I don’t see a post from you thanking me for providing the source you requested. If you’re gonna impersonate me, you’ll need to be polite and nice like me as well.
TF – I don’t know an “Icon”, sounds like somebody who is full of themself. I have never seen their posts, but if I muted them when they had a different name then I wouldn’t see their posts no matter how many times they change their name.
300 posts a day? Sounds like this “Icon” is either delusional or doesn’t know how to count very well (probably both). I post a fraction of that amount. Sounds like he’s one of those types that is trying to silence me because he doesn’t like what I post. You know what that means …. I will be posting even more now! Hahaha!!
Thank you for the kind words, I always appreciate the time and effort you put into your posts. They remind me of the articles in the old Baseball Digest, did you ever read them? They were great, just like your posts.
How is me stating the number or times he posts Ignorant?
It actually seems pretty factual.
Speaking of that, you probably should either get a job or nap more yourself
Keep the 300 times a day coming. It sure beats reading ignorant comments like those made by Icon and so many of the other Trolls. I guess you should be honored that somebody cares so deeply about you that they mock your name. I have fans that try to connect the dots between names as if it were a game and they win something if they get it right. Over time, all the ignorant people posting stop being idiots and move on and then conversations can be returned to normal.
Don’t stop doing what you are doing. I don’t always agree but I know the opinion comes from a passion for the Red Sox and substantiated sources unlike most people.
How the hell Jacques outlasted this guy I have no idea
Jacques is left handed, and the Red Sox have very few of them.
He’s Javier Lopez born 20 years to La tree. Besides, he possesses reverse splits (not that it matters each side hits over .300 against him).
Apparently bad lefties are hard to find so they have value!!
APPARENTLY!! AHAHAHAHA
OH, THAT WAS A GOOD ONE!!
In protest for failing to sign Yama, I will be following games next season exclusively with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on my AM transistor radio.
Like yourself, I will not attending any games next year while the product their selling is AAA at best. Also cancel MLB Network. After watching so many blown games late by Cora using the wrong relief pitchers plus just looking at the non chemistry the team has because Cora couldn’t manage peewee team.
Cora doesn’t have the balls to move Devers , rest of the team lacks any type of defence also.
This all starts at the top with Cora and coaches.
Bledsoe needs to watch the games from the last few years to understand what’s wrong with the team.
YBC – Oh my goodness gracious, Roger Clemens is in George’s box and he is high, he is far, he is gone! Oh wait a minute, he’s out.
“Somebody help me!” – by the third game of the season listening to those two. Lol.
YBC – I think I scared myself by picturing both of them as one person.
No biggie, just a mop-up guy, 13th pitcher dude. Hopefully Brez isnt done! Fingers crossed.
The question is are his replacements (Criswell) that much better? Not so sure yet.
Wednesdays must be garbage day. Need to note that on my calendar!!!.
TF – It’s time to celebrate! No more Llovera!!!
Jacque Jones lives another day
Can Breslow simply say he does not believe that, given the core he inherited and the budget limitations, he can legitimately compete this year? Therefore, this year is all about seeing how Mayer, Teel, and Rafaela develop (and, to a lesser extent, Abreu, Duran, Anthony, and Yorke). If at least two of the three show that they are solid everyday players, and if Grissom and Casas look like above average regulars too, then he’ll consider good free agent starters (or perhaps a trade of prospects for a starter) next winter. In the meantime, he’s settling for mediocrity in order not to block prospects or waste money on what he fully expects to be a .500 team? In that spirit, he’s going to cut Kenley loose for prospects rather than waste a good salary when he can instead learn this whether Kutter (or someone else controllable on the roster) can close. Could fans tolerate that level of honesty rather than the “full bore” nonsense? Brayan, Tristan (unless Breslow receives a godfather offer of a quality young starting pitcher), Masataka, and Raffy are the studs to root for this year, or as close to it as the Sox will have. Roll the truck to Florida, enjoy watching the kids develop this summer, and wait until 2025 for your playoff dreams to come true?
Hi Aard, yes if the nauseating Devers, Story and Masataka contracts could be jettisoned. In which case I would patiently sit through a 100+ loss season seeing how the youngsters develop..
Hi Baseballteam, agreed that moving Devers’ glove would be nice, but I question what they could get for him. Trade Casas, who has market value, and move Devers to first?
With Story, it feels like there’s no place to go but up, so why not let him play this season in the hope that he can raise his trade value or maybe even change our minds? It also gives Mayer time to grow into the position.
For Masataka, I’d like to see a second season. The difference between first and second half last year seemed pretty stark. Maybe it’s just a case of adjusting to a change of continents? Even so, he seems like, at best, a good DH. Still, if you trade Devers, then there’s room for a good DH.
Funny vision of baseballteam commenter actually being a whole baseball team speaking out loud in unison. Like a Greek chorus. Beware the Ides of March! And the Phillies of October!
Aard – Devers would be a worse 1B than 3B because he has such limited range, an erratic arm where double plays hit to him might bounce back off the green monster and if he scoops throws like grounders …. OUCH.
Good call on Story. Can’t trade his bad contract unless he improves very much like Price in 2019. The problem with this GM and Bloom is that they don’t get why a buy down is finanical suicide so I wouldn’t put it past Breslow to dump Story with a buy down too!! He’s not the smart man his resume says he is!!
The only way to play Yoshi is to trade Devers and then I would love to see him hit 2nd in the order so the speedster gets on steals second and Yoshi drives him in. That would be an ideal use of Yoshi so CORA will NEVER think of it.
I want to trade Devers for Arenado since the AAVs are close. Arenado’s has been bought down in recent years so we could throw in a guy like B Jordan to even things out and shorten the rope around the GM’s throat with the Devers deal. Arenado jumps the defense 20 places at a minimum over Devers. Even in a bad year, Arenado makes 1/3 the official errors that Devers will make and if you count “misplay” (balls Arenado will catch that Devers wouldn’t but would not get an error, the pitching staff could give up 30 to 40 less hits.).
I say don’t trade Casas. The team needs power hitters at the two corner positions and at least one corner outfield position and the DH. With Casas at 1B, Devers at DH, Anthony making the MLB in 2024 in LF all we need is a power hitting 3B if Devers is moving to DH. If we can’t get Arenado the next best defender at 3B is Chapman. He’s available.
Losing the $29M of Devers for a much shorter term Arenado would be a great upgrade. Losing the Story $23.3 would be great but unlikely. That leaves Yoshida’s $18MM a year as a redundant part to Devers as the best quality player we can put in a deal to get a #1 SP. Throw in some over-rated prospects like Mayer and Yorke and you might get a very good SP. That way, if Giolito returns to his old form he can be the #2 with Bello, Houck and Crawford 3 to 5. Plus depth from Pivetta and Whitlock. Then we just need good lefty relievers.
Devers would be a worse 1B than 3B because he has such limited range, an erratic arm where double plays hit to him might bounce back off the green monster and if he scoops throws like grounders …. OUCH.
Good call on Story. Can’t trade his bad contract unless he improves very much like Price in 2019. The problem with this GM and Bloom is that they don’t get why a buy down is finanical suicide so I wouldn’t put it past Breslow to dump Story with a buy down too!! He’s not the smart man his resume says he is!!
The only way to play Yoshi is to trade Devers and then I would love to see him hit 2nd in the order so the speedster gets on steals second and Yoshi drives him in. That would be an ideal use of Yoshi so CORA will NEVER think of it.
I want to trade Devers for Arenado since the AAVs are close. Arenado’s has been bought down in recent years so we could throw in a guy like B Jordan to even things out and shorten the rope around the GM’s throat with the Devers deal. Arenado jumps the defense 20 places at a minimum over Devers. Even in a bad year, Arenado makes 1/3 the official errors that Devers will make and if you count “misplay” (balls Arenado will catch that Devers wouldn’t but would not get an error, the pitching staff could give up 30 to 40 less hits.).
I say don’t trade Casas. The team needs power hitters at the two corner positions and at least one corner outfield position and the DH. With Casas at 1B, Devers at DH, Anthony making the MLB in 2024 in LF all we need is a power hitting 3B if Devers is moving to DH. If we can’t get Arenado the next best defender at 3B is Chapman. He’s available.
Losing the $29M of Devers for a much shorter term Arenado would be a great upgrade. Losing the Story $23.3 would be great but unlikely. That leaves Yoshida’s $18MM a year as a redundant part to Devers as the best quality player we can put in a deal to get a #1 SP. Throw in some over-rated prospects like Mayer and Yorke and you might get a very good SP. That way, if Giolito returns to his old form he can be the #2 with Bello, Houck and Crawford 3 to 5. Plus depth from Pivetta and Whitlock. Then we just need good lefty relievers.
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Apparently bad lefties are hard to find so they have value!!
Not saying I disagree with you but as long as Cora is the manager I don’t see Devers being moved off third. Ownership already said Cora is coming back so at least this year I don’t think Breslow has the authority to fire Cora. I also can’t see either St. Louis trading Arenado for Devers or Arenado waving his no trade to go to Boston. Remember Walkers natural position is third and they didn’t try and move Arenado to accommodate him if they did move Arenado Walker would probably slide back to his natural third base position. I see no position change for Devers until Cora is gone.
YBC – I think I scared myself by picturing both of them as one person.
Yes Cora wasn’t happy about that trade, and all the reports of them not getting along started leaking shortly after that trade deadline.
I think the main issue between the two is that Cora felt Bloom didn’t provide enough quality pitchers, and it made Cora look bad.
Anyone sign Brais yet??
olmtiant – He’d look great in a Yard Goats uni!!
People might be praising this but is Cooper Criswell a better pitcher? Max Castillo? I’m not so sure. It just seems like we are throwing crap at a wall to see what sticks, which is the same thing Craig Bloom did.
I don’t see anything wrong with signing a few pitchers they think have potential and putting them in the minors to work with them to see if they can turn into a valuable player.
Does Llovera speak Latin? That would make him the Latin Llovera
Troll – Yes, even some bad lefties have some value.
Why do you present false information as fact? You think we are all too dumb to look up basic stats? You think we all work for the idiotic Red Sox front office?
He gave up 27 homers in each of 2018 and 2021.
But that’s besides the point, he has flat-out SUCKED for the past two seasons.
Breslow and Bailey think they can fix him? If they can, great.
If not? Then the Sox have wasted $38.5M over the next two years on a guy that has had a 4.89 ERA and 1.37 WHIP the past two seasons, nearly all of which was in the weak-ass AL Central.
And BTW, career vs:
Bal – 5.19 ERA and 1.50 WHIP
NYY – 4.85 ERA and 1.50 WHIP
Tor – 5.40 ERA and 1.408 WHIP
This is a helluva stupid gamble the Sox are taking and is not a good reflection on Breslow at all.
Fever – I’d take Valentine before Cora so my expectations for the next manager is like laying the stick on the ground and trying to jump over it!!!
Any great manager like Dusty would be greatly appreciated but a bad one is still a huge improvement.
olmtiant – He’d look great in a Yard Goats uni!!
Bet you didn’t know Grissom’s first MLB hit was a homerun …. that left Fenway Park …. off Darwinzon Hernandez.
Yes I’m a fountain of knowledge.
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