As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Casas to undergo testing:
The Red Sox suffered a huge blow over the weekend as the club placed first baseman Triston Casas on the 10-day injured list due to a left rib strain. The 24-year-old is reportedly set to undergo an MRI in Boston today to determine the extent of his injury as well as a potential timetable for his return, but manager Alex Cora already told reporters yesterday that he was “concerned” that the youngster may be facing a lengthy absence.
If Casas does end up missing considerable time, it would put Boston’s offense in a difficult position. While certain key offensive pieces like Vaughn Grissom, Rafael Devers, and Tyler O’Neill could be returning to the lineup in the coming days, Casas has gotten out to a .244/.344/.513 start (137 wRC+) and swatted six homers in 90 plate appearances. Bobby Dalbec is perhaps the most likely candidates to take over at first base for the Red Sox in the short-term, though it’s possible the club makes additional roster moves to supplement their waning positional depth in the coming days.
2. Mendick to be selected:
Reporting last night indicated that the White Sox are expected to make a change to their bench mix ahead of this evening’s game against the Twins in Minnesota, with veteran infielder Danny Mendick joining the big league roster. Infielder Lenyn Sosa is set to be optioned out to make room for Mendick on the active roster, but an additional corresponding move will be necessary to clear space on the club’s 40-man.
Mendick, 30, was a 22nd-round pick by the White Sox in 2015 and spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the club before departing for the Mets in free agency last year. He returned this winter on a minor league deal and figures to offer Chicago some versatility off the bench in spite of a meager .242/.298/.354 slash line for his career.
3. White to join the Giants:
Right-hander Mitch White is slated to join the active roster in San Francisco prior to the Giants’ game against the Mets at Oracle Park this evening, as noted by Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. White is already on the club’s 40-man roster, but the Giants will need to make an active roster move to accommodate the righty prior to tonight’s game.
White’s arrival comes on the heels of the Giants making a cash deal with the Blue Jays over the weekend to acquire the 29-year-old. It’s a homecoming for White in more ways than one, as the Bay Area native will return to the NL West after pitching for the Dodgers in parts of three seasons from 2020 to 2022. He posted a solid 3.58 ERA and 3.87 FIP during his time with L.A. but struggled badly upon joining the Blue Jays, with a 7.26 ERA in 65 2/3 innings despite a decent 4.10 FIP.
Dalbec isn’t a major league 1B.
Thank you Captain Obvious. What gave it away the 18so in 30abs or the -44OPS?
Why do you feel the need to be so rude and arrogant here? Someone makes a reasonable comment and you have to belittle them? You are hopefully better than that!
“reasonable comment”
Is it though? Or is it just another ‘full throttle’ comment.
For once I’d like to hear: “Red Sox pitching staff is leading MLB in ERA” or “Red Sox looked great during their 3 game sweep on the road” or “Red Sox have a better record than both 2023 World Series teams”.
Red Sox are doing great right now. But instead of positivity, we have constant whining by Red Sox fans here, void of any actual discussion about baseball. There is a large group of Red Sox fans that come here that are easily have the most miserable fans in all of sports. If you hate something so much just stop watching.
Who cares what you would like to hear? And you are the one whining and being miserable.
“Who cares”
Obviously you and Trot. Just sayin.
I’ll get 10 more just like yours, because you all have 5 accounts. Or maybe you just logged on today to make this one comment.
Grow up, APBA.
Hey APBA:
I paid to be here. I support this website and enjoy reading the stories that actual writers work hard on and publish.
I don’t care at all what you say about my comments and you don’t frighten me in the least. You aren’t an actual writer. You’re some guy posting under actual stories just like me.
Bobby Dalbec stinks. Period.
Sometimes all it takes is a simple comment to spark great dialogue. In some ways, this just happened on this thread.
Given that Bobby Dalbec isn’t here to defend himself, I’ll do it for him: Mike Greenwell stinks. Exclamation point!
Dalbec’s bat hasn’t come around yet over an up and down start to the mlb season, mixed in with partial games.
That’s true. But, there’s a jump between milb and mlb at bats, and, not every guy does well with irregular at bats making that adjustment.
Tell me Mike, exactly what about Bobby’s defense do you find lacking? The perfect fielding percentage? The zero errors in 74+ defensive innings? The 2 double plays and 12 assists?
What about that defense is so bad? Not everyone choses to commit regular costly errors like casas, preferring manicures, nail polish jobs, and sunbathing on the field over working on their fundamentals
Have to say 1 thing positive regarding Dalbec and that is his glove, which he showed again yesterday a couple of times at 3b on plays its doubtful Devers would have made cleanly/at all. 1 ended up saving a run when the score was still 5-1.
Never was a Dalbec fan when he was a prospect, even when a few Sox prospect sites were annointing him as this upcoming star, with obvious to anyone who could see the obvious holes in his swing that would be exploited. Still, only reason can see him on the 26 man right now is Devers has shoulder and lat issues all season, missing half of the games so far, now Casas out for mininum 10 games. 1b at AAA is a defensively challenged kid, who is worse than is Dalbec at pitch selection (kavalas) and when short stuff Pablo Reyes ends up playing a game at 1b? That tells everyone how bad it is depth wise.
Putting up with his 50%k rate for another couple of weeks might be tough, we’ll just have to get used to it. Don’t see any trades coming when their is only 3 healthy (sort of) starters with no depth at AA and that should take 1st priority acquisition wise.
Love the mute button
Actually, Dalbec is a major league first baseman, just not a major league hitter.
APBA is just not worth your time to respond too. This is someone who just questioned someone’s relevance to the subject and then goes on to post drivel that has absolutely nothing to do with the content. He doesn’t want to talk baseball, he just wants to come on this site and be a little..snitch. =) You know how you want to say something else but you’re on a censored site?
I posted one sentence and APBA lost his mind.
Kind of says it all about what he’s doing here.
Brandon Belt needs a job.
Looks like Cron will be back soon, probably at a higher cost.
My bet is Westbrook or Sogard are up from Worcester by Tuesday. Or possibly a Brandon Belt signing. But, I hope any Cron reunion is dead.
Problem with signing Belt is by the time he’s ready Casas would probably be back
Casas is getting more tests today and Cora is concerned it will be a lengthy absence.
Rib injuries can cause long delays. Belt would only be signed if its a worst case scenario for Casas.
What do you think about 1B Jared Walsh that was DFA’d by the Rangers? He might be worth a shot if they can get him at minimum salary.
Walsh wasnt on the radar, but everything I see, I like. Good defender to boot. Certainly an upgrade over Dalbec.
Also, curious about Kavadas in Worcester. He’s tearing the cover off the ball in Worcester right now. He has power, but strikes out a lot. But, we both know how Triple A numbers frequently dont translate to majors.
Last good year for Walsh was 2021.
IRT Kavadas, I think it depends on the injury. If he is out for several months, I’d look to trade for JD Davis. Even if Casas returned quicker, JD is a pretty reasonable RH backup for Devers and Casas. He won’t go to waste.
If it is more like a month, I’d close my eyes and give Kavadas a shot. He has prodigious power, so long as the 200 Ks don’t bother you. And he will take a walk.
And there is something to be said about occasionally forcing a prospect into a starting role.
“so long as the 200 Ks don’t bother you”
Oh it bothers me, lol. But choices are this point are limited, and his obp would help (provided his Triple a translates to majors)
IMO for 1B
———–
Short term: Kavadas or Walsh
Long term: Belt
Just no more Dalbec, he needs a fresh start somewhere else.
Seemed like he hammered Sox pitching when the Angels were in Fenway last season
So far dalbec has provided 13 games, 74.1 innings split between 3b and 1b, NO errors, and, a perfect 1.000 fld pct. Add on 12 assists and 2 DPs.
You don’t get much better defense than that for a cheap price.
The bat hasn’t played much… except his last game which was 1 for 3 plus a walk, a .500 obp.
I’d give him a bit more time to see if the bat may pick up with regular mlb-level at bats, something the up and down and partial game appearances didn’t give.
You aren’t going to improve on that defensive line are you? Not by much, at least without selling off most of the farm.
No way a 1.000 fld pct justifies a .188 OPS.
His hitting may will up, but his fielding isnt stay at 1.000 either.
Maybe. But his ability to cover 3B has been invaluable so far this season given Devers own issues
Apba – I’d say you’re focused on too small of a sample, especially when the next guy ‘raking in AAA’ also carries a high K rate and holes in his swing, the same issues dalbec has in his profile.
Let’s be fair here, this is still a deeply flawed roster trying to recover from the bloom years of neglect.
There’s nothing to say that some *regular* plate appearances can’t help with things. A smattering of irregular ABs before being sent down mean nothing.
Neither do a couple handfuls of *regular* PAs since being back up.
Does the last game against PIT going 1-3 with a walk mean he’s come around? No, not any more than what preceeded it.
But, for a team leading the league in unearned runs, I think the infield best defensive player right now deserves a shot to see what can be built upon.
Big performance from Mitchell Parker yesterday, against Houston.
7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 8 K
FIP: 0.92
xFIP: 1.89
Still don’t quite understand why Boston hasn’t signed Brandon Belt. He’s a clutch hitter; drives in the runners, and has great Fenway splits.
Because he will cost more than 37 cents.
DBH – Beat me to it! LOL!!
We might want to wait on the results of Casas’ tests.
Define clutch and prove he is
Define clutch and prove he isn’t.
Failed to mention Mendick is second in AAA with 8 homers and third in RBI with 20. Should have been on team from day one.
Is George (BOOMER) Scott still kicking?
He’s farming potatoes on Long Island with the Yastrzemski family.
Olm – Speaking of kicking, what is up with my man Brasier? I think you need to have a talk with him, build up his confidence or something. Tell him at least he’s not Ort.
Oh boy… yup I’ve been following…. Between you / me/ whyhazee/ icon/ Joe Brady/ Dbh69/ but that’s it…. While he was in town he confided in me… he misses Boston and his fans( fan)… trying to ( doing good job) get released so AB can really straighten him out… I’ll keep you all posted… p.s just got a text from him!!! Said he played 1B in tee ball… plot thickens…
maybe he needs to add another pitch… again
Time to bring Jack Clark back to finally make good on that contract
Rsox – Little known fact, Dwight Evans was the primary 1B in 1987.
How about that!
How is he NOT in the HOF… especially nowadays…
Vaughn Grissom was the headliner for Chris Sale, whose 25 innings is the most that Sale has thrown in 5 years. Pablo Reyes and Enmanuel Valdez both have a .450 OPS. Any talk of keeping Grissom down is f***ing disgraceful and should be a firable offense
Any talk of keeping Grissom down is f***ing disgraceful
========================
Grissom is on the IL.
@ JoeBrady
mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/al-east-notes-grissom-w…
Despite the obvious need at the big league level, however, the Red Sox don’t seem inclined to rush Grissom back to the majors; manager Alex Cora recently indicated that the youngster won’t join the club ahead of their next trip, which begins on Friday.
^^^^Alex Cora’s Talk of keeping Grissom down is f***ing disgraceful
16 for 20: If you rush someone back from injury, they may get injured again.
Grissom missed most of camp and has 5 games in Worcester where he has a .572 OPS. They are not rushing him back because he needs some time in AAA to get back in game shape. Maybe they call him up the beginning of the next homestand against the Cubs.
16 – Grissom is injured, that’s the only reason he’s not starting for the Red Sox.
Guaranteed he will be a starter, probably at 2B, when he is healthy.
Grissom has been injured for a long time, has tons of rust to shake off, and, is NOT a great defender in his experience to date.
If you compare his prior results to what the sox are running out now, you won’t see a clear upgrade by much.
Makes more sense to let the guys in the minors work with him a bit, get his endurance built up a bit, then bring him back.
Rushing it only makes it likely he hurts himself, and does nobody any good.
WHITE SOX (the real Chicago- not the northside) are the sleeper team this season. Most underrated team in MLB. Also the most underrated and most groundbreaking stadium in all of MLB- copied by Baltimore, copied by Arizona, copied by the Yankees, copied by the Twins, copied by the Atlanta, etc. The hard contact rate says it all and they will be in the thick of the playoffs this season.
Heard it here first.
You must be on good meds! No chance.
Don’t like your tone.
They’ll need to win 15 straight games to get back to .500. That hole has already been dug deep.
Oh that is so cold. Soooo cold…
That was a heck of an execution of that rundown where they allowed the runner to advance from 3rd and score, all while the guy they thought they caught between 1st and 2nd…. also wound up safe.
Yep, the white Sox are sleepers alright. Asleep at the wheel that is.
Casas gone for 2-3 months is what I’m hearing. Dalbec to 1B?
They should put Devers at first. Dalbec is a much better 3b than Devers.
Who isn’t a better 3B than Devers?
Well I to am from Chicago and while the end of your statement might come true… the beginning about stadium is???? I would rather go to my old little league field in stickney than whatever the hell they call Cominsky now….
There’s a reason the Guaranteed Rats Arrow is pointing down….
Yes, Rats.
Olm – but the question is, would you rather be in Cominsky watching them play the red sox, OR, be in the coliseum in Oakland, where you *would* get to see brasier make a 1-inning appearance in a game against the As, but, you’ve got to both *be* in oakland, AND, need to hang out in the coliseum…
Hmmm.. that’s tough….. is Brais pitching to any of the following in the 9th??? Bill North…. Terry Stienbach… or Sal Bando??? I watched one game from Olympic stadium in Montreal… also one in Cleveland ( mistake by the lake) is Oakland worse than Montreal?? ( my worse all time) funny I’ve been to more stadiums torn down than still upright!! Oh and Carney Landsford is on deck….