May 8: The Red Sox made the official announcement today. Pivetta and Gonzalez were both activated with Short designated for assignment and Uwasawa optioned.
May 7: The Red Sox will designate infielder Zack Short for assignment, reports Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe (X link). Boston also optioned right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa to Triple-A Worcester. The moves clear active roster spots for Romy Gonzalez and Nick Pivetta, each of whom will return from the injured list before tomorrow’s game in Atlanta.
Short is out of minor league options, so the Sox didn’t have the ability to send him to Worcester without taking him off the 40-man roster. That out-of-options status contributed to him landing in Boston in the first place. The Mets designated Short for assignment two weeks ago. Boston acquired him for cash on May 1.
The 28-year-old appeared twice for the Sox, going hitless with four strikeouts in seven at-bats. He has only tallied 19 plate appearances all season between New York and Boston. The majority of Short’s big league playing time came with the Tigers a year ago. In 253 trips to the plate, he hit .204/.292/.339 with an elevated 26.1% strikeout rate. Short drew a decent number of walks but didn’t make much of an impact when he put the ball in play.
Teams have nevertheless been intrigued by his ability to handle multiple spots on the infield. He has nearly 600 innings of career shortstop work and more than 200 frames at both second and third base. His defensive grades are mixed. Statcast has given him average marks for his second and third base work while rating him as a below-average shortstop. Defensive Runs Saved has been more favorable, crediting him with average shortstop defense and well above-average work at the keystone.
The Sox will trade Short or place him on waivers within the next few days. He has yet to clear waivers despite being designated for assignment by each of Detroit, New York and now Boston since the end of last season.
Pivetta will take the ball tomorrow, his first MLB start in a little more than a month. The right-hander suffered a flexor strain, but the Sox expressed confidence it was a mild issue that wouldn’t necessitate a long-term absence. He’ll rejoin a rotation that has been arguably the best in the majors in 2024. Pivetta, an impending free agent, was brilliant in his first two starts. He allowed only one run in 11 innings with 13 strikeouts and one walk.
His time here was Short…
He got Zacked
ExZackly.
Drew the short straw
Oh boy, here we go…. I guess you guys aren’t Short on jokes today, huh?
In the end, he was just…too Short…
He drew the Short straw.
Jinx
Short Red Sox tenure
Imagine if the Tigers didn’t sign Javier Baez. Zach Short would be playing SS and the Tigers would be far better off.
Depends what they did with the Cash.
What they dwouldve done withe the money they saved by NOT signing Baez is absolutely inconsequential. Zach Short would be a better hitter and slightly less defense but, the difference would close if Short played full time.
3 WAR for $67 million doesn’t do it for you?
I would have been happy to tell the Tiggers that a reflex player like Baez will go under fast after turning 30.
Give Meidroth a chance. Plays 3b/ss/2b, gets on somehow, either bb/or single and was always better option than Short. Just need to clear a 40 man spot.
Might as well give utility spot (finally) to someone this year with a history of getting on base.
John – I agree, and with the Sox not looking very good so far this year it’s not like his promotion could hurt.
Red Sox are now 7-14 against teams that currently have a winning record. That is downright pathetic, and they haven’t even played the Yankees or Phillies or Brewers or Dodgers yet.
The schedule continues to be brutal. Through June 19th the Red Sox will play only SEVEN games against teams that currently have a losing record ….. that’s right folks, the Chisox and Cards are the only easy games between now and June 19th.
I think there may be a lot less chest-puffing after June 19th.
Chest-puffing? The Red Sox playoff hopes are on life support… Which is basically where they were at the start of the year, so I guess an optimist might suggest that they haven’t yet gotten worse?
Not enough offense. The pitching has been pretty good.
TFF – I totally agree! It’s kinda cute how often some people here think the Sox are a great team because they beat up on the Angels (13-23) and Giants (16-21). Then inevitably as the season goes on and the Sox play teams that don’t suck, reality finally sets in for those casual fans.
What they also don’t realize, the starting pitching has been phenomenal and therefore is due for regression as new scouting reports are created throughout MLB. Tyler O’Neill isn’t going to continue hitting 9 homeruns every month, and as expected he’s sucked since the concussion.. And I doubt Connor Wong is gonna hit .346 all season.
There’s a lot of parity in the AL this year, especially with Houston crashing due to injuries and other teams like Detroit, Cleveland and KC improving. So the Red Sox *should* stay within 5 games of the WC for a while. As always time will tell, and injuries will be a huge factor for all teams.
Baseball isn’t usually that deterministic. If you can beat up on the weaker teams, you can usually hold your own against the stronger teams. But the construction of this roster (maybe the lack of depth or maybe Cora’s usage) seems to make them unusually vulnerable to the better teams in the league.
That won’t necessarily keep them out of the playoffs. There are plenty of weak teams around the league if you can continue to beat up on them. But it would definitely seem to indicate a short playoff run.
Some regression, sure, but scouting reports don’t take six weeks to write. Houck and Crawford are legitimately pitching like studs, and a couple of the others have made the necessary adjustments to succeed in more limited roles. I expect they will continue to be top ten in pitching, a playoff-worthy staff if thin on “ace” talent. That’s about the best possible outcome you could have hoped for going into the season.
The offense has also been a pleasant surprise, with the emergence of Abreu largely balancing the loss of Casas (if he is only out for half the season). Unfortunately they looked weak going in and weren’t improved by the injuries.
Within five games of the WC? LOL! Have our standards slipped THAT far?!? They were within five games of the WC last September 1, by which point they were very obviously out of contention. No prizes for being within five games, you gotta actually MAKE the playoffs for it to count. Or at the very least be in real contention into the final week.
There are only 6 teams in MLB with a winning record against teams >.500 (4 in the AL and 2 in the NL). The Red Sox can make the playoffs with a losing record against teams >.500, but they need to pick it up a bit.
Yup. Totally agree. But they need to come up with SOME wins against the better teams, and they need to really rock the rest of the league. Still believe it bodes ill for performance in the playoffs, even if they pull off a wild card berth.
TFF17: Agreed. I doubt they are going too far unless they pick up a bat to replace Casas.
TFF – Great post! There are so many factors that go into it …. how well/bad your team has been playing, how well/bad the other team has been playing, injuries on your team and their team, which starting pitchers are used, etc.
When you say “beat up” do you mean W/L or run differential?
For example, the Sox swept Oakland ….. BUT 2 of the 3 wins were by just one run, and one of them was in the 11th inning. So really, they could have easily lost 2 of 3 against Oakland.
Typically a good team plays .500 against other good teams and .750 against bad teams … that usually gets you around 95-100 wins.
With scouting reports I meant information from actually facing the pitcher. That’s often why, when a team faces a pitcher for the first time, they don’t do that well …. and then the second time on they do better against him. Familiarity often leads to more success, it’s one of the reasons why teams typically won’t use one of their projected SP’s against divisional rivals in ST. I don’t believe teams share scouting reports with other teams, therefore whenever a pitcher is facing a team for the first time that pitcher has an advantage.
I used 5 games as a threshold because in prior years that seems to be around the point where the Sox decide they are no longer in the race and therefore change their priorities.
Their run differential exceeds their current record, so I don’t think that is a problem in the grander scheme of things. Yes, they have some one-run wins but they also won one game by 17. For what it’s worth, run differential is usually the better predictor of future success.
Other teams will adjust – but the only way to adjust to good pitching is to swing aggressively early in the count. Think you’ll see more of that with Houck and Crawford, as with Kelenic last night,
It means they probably won’t run ERAs under 2, but then I doubt anybody knowledgable thought they would? If they keep pitching as they have been, they’ll still be on the outskirts of the CYA discussion.
That’s a ton of progress for one guy who wasn’t even considered a prospect until last spring and another who was on the verge of being deemed a failure as a starter.
TFF – As with most stats, they can be misleading unless we look beyond the numbers to the details.
That 17 run win is a perfect example. Let’s say that game is one of 5 they play, and they lose the 4 other games by a combined 10 runs. Does that overall run differential mean they are a good team? Nope, not when we learn the 17 runs were scored off the Cubs’ spot starter and worst relievers and position player pitching.
it reminds me of the 2004 ALCS Game 3 when the Sox lost by 11 runs. They were outscored in that series 42-31 going into Game 7 …. does that mean the Yankees were the better team? Not a chance.
@johnsilver
They weren’t giving Zack short the utility spot. They were giving him a temporary slot while waiting for more permanent players to come back from the IL. Why start the clock ticking and waste an option on a player that they don’t think is ready, yet? Did you really want to Meidroth to have 8 ab’s that badly?
No surprise. It was dumb to pick him up to begin with.
I like this club a lot but I expect us to be a .500 team soon enough. No veteran leadership and the pitching won’t hold up all season. Our young hitters are inexperienced and can’t win late in games.
The early glut wasn’t misleading because Casas was still in the lineup.
Yea the loss of Casas was really big. They can survive the loss of Story and Yoshida tough losses but livable. They can’t survive the loss of Casas. The black hole offensively at first is brutal. If Casas is in there it shifts Abreu down in the lineup he’s nit ready to be a cleanup hitter yet maybe ever. I think they should try Kavadas at first at the very least he should walk a lot and run into a few he has tremendous power.
Bruin- Not sure if u watch any woo-sox games. Know ur a big sox fan, have seen u post here over the years. if u do watch many of the aaa games. Kavada is a classic, bad pitcher quad A type player IMO, who really struggles vs velocity.
He’s got a decent eye at the plate, has a below average glove at 1b, limiting him to 1b/dh. That said.. Would his bat be better than say cooper/dalbec? Probably so, only he takes a 40 man spot and liklihood of him making any meaningful contribution (to me) is minimal.
There are a handful of guys at AAA who could possibly help, just my 2c he really is a low chancer at being 1. now if they wnt to cut bait quickly on cooper/smith and give him a try? Maybe go ahead.
Kavadas’ strikeout rate is a red flag. If AAA pitchers can punch you out 28% of the time, what will ML pitchers do? Maybe 35% to 40% (and that is *after* an extended adjustment period)? He is probably a .200 hitter in the majors, good power when he connects but far too little contact.
John watch a ton of minor league games so I’m very familiar with Kavadas. He has a good eye and big power. He’s going to strike out a lot but he doesn’t chase much. He is going to be rule 5 eligible and imo he’s a better option than Dom Smith to platoon with Cooper. I think he just might be our best option right now. Oh and by the way his defense has improved at first quite a bit he looks much better this year.
I’m not suggesting he’s a long term solution and he’s not in the same universe as Casas but first has been a black hole and if nothing else an idea can be determined whether he’s worth a precious 40 man spot this off-season or possibly even part of trade package once Casas gets back. I have no confidence at all in Dom Smith.
Kavadas hit zilch last year. He needs to stay in the minors for now.
Since when is Casas a big power hitter? Last time I checked, he was good for 20 homers a season. He hasn’t surpassed that. 20 homers is good but I don’t consider that to be on par with the better power hitters. One guy doesn’t cause a black hole either
Casas will be closer to 35 Hrs when he hits his prime and he makes a big difference lineup now
Kid name of Jim Rice only hit more than 25hr’s in the minors 1 time.. another power hitting kid, name of Buck baker boston had same time used to hit 30+ every year. how many remember him? maybe because he hit like 2HR total in his mlb career?
how many a young guy coming thru a system means squat. Why minors are for development.
Chaim’s Purse first base has been an absolute Black Hole for Boston since they lost Casas. Casas hit 6 homers in his first 90 plate appearances. That’s a 30 plus home run pace and it appeared he really hadn’t gotten hit yet. He started slow. Last year after his slow start from June 1st on he hit 18 homers in 330 plate appearances that is a 30 plus homer pace as well. The injury was devestating. You go from one of the best offensive first baseman in the game to the black hole it’s become.
We have only been without him so many games. I agree, he’s the best option but good teams overcome injuries and right now I can’t justify Casas as a reliable power hitter until he plays consistently. Otherwise, you’re Brandon Belt
I think you’re over-exaggeratong. One player can’t pull down a team that much.
Casas was a liability the first whole half of last year. We have only seen him for a month this year and he hasn’t slumped yet. But he’s not going to hit forever.
You act like no one else has any power on the team.
losing a player like Casas can make a big difference or a line up and not for nothing his second half was extremely encouraging as he showed the ability to adjust.
He has hit 35 home runs in 583 at bats which is roughly what a player gets in a full season.
He hit 24 last year.
Pretty sure that’s more 20 a season, you can check my math though if you want.
When did he hit 35 homeruns in a season? I’m talking one season. Last I checked, 24 is closer to 20 than it is 35.
I’m not denying the guy can hit. He’s great. But I’m denying that we are a “black hole” without him. Small sample size to say that and players are replaceable.
I’d much rather have Casas, believe me. But without him, I don’t believe we are a black hole.
Bobby Dalbec ops .377, Garrett Cooper since being a Red Sox .317 ops, and the big bopper of the three Dominic Smith .488 ops. This is pretty much the definition of a black hole offensively. Yes it’s a small sample size but it’s more plate appearances than Casas had.
Oh and Casas only struggled in April last year he didn’t suck for the whole first half that’s wrong. I could break down his ops and WRC plus by month but it’s apparently something you should do to educate yourself. Even as bad as Casas was in April he was still way better then the those then three. Casas loss was immense and it’s not arguable.
Bur it’s still a small sample size. You can’t depend on one guy to save the team. Good teams win despite injuries.
He almost lost his job last year. Stat-wise you aren’t wrong, but Sox should have shipped out Dalbec long ago and had a reasonable plan B. I would give Cooper more time. We have had him less than Casas, and a small sample size.
The problem with this team isn’t one hitter. They are inexperienced and streaky. We’ve been like that the past two years and not much has been done. They said yesterday we were 0 and 14 in come back games after the 7th inning… Casas can’t solve this on his own.
If you’re depending the fate of a team on one guy, that’s a problem.
And it’s ironic because everyone cried pitching earlier this year and said our offense would be great (and not just one guy), and the story has pivoted. In any case, I’d be wary to call Casas a king until he hits those 35 homeruns. He could get into a slump just like last year… things happen and one guy can’t solve it.
“veteran leadership” lol. This isn’t mighty ducks
Any way you call it, they’re highly inexperienced. 5 of our losses never would’ve happened if we had guys who could properly make plays and not cause errors. This team will shine down the stretch in one way, but lack in another. They’ve done that the past two years. But there’s no drive in these guys right now. No one is getting big hits when we need them
They’re 7th now, but will end up in the bottom three why again?
Atlanta isn’t a great opponent for a guy’s first start off the IL
oscar – The Red Sox are known for that sort of thing.
For instance, Justin Slaten’s first major league appearance and first ever batter he faced was JRod with runners on 1st and 3rd in a tie game in the bottom of the 10th.
Of course he promptly gave up the game-losing hit.
80 Wins…. Maybe.
And?
It amazes me that the Red Sox keep dealing with the Atlanta Braves in trades. They gave up Chris Sale who looks really good For Grissom who cannot hit period. I remember they traded Edgar Renteria for Andy Marte a 3rd baseman who was an utter bust with the Red Sox at the end of 2005 season. I remember they traded Jeff Reardon for a top pitching Double AA prospect Murphy who was another bust. Atlanta does not trade their best.
As a Sox fan, I am glad to be off Mr. Sale’s wild ride. He is a fantastic pitcher when healthy, he just was never healthy during his extension. He’s electric and I’m excited to see him pitch tonight. I knew that once he was traded, he’d stay healthy and put up numbers. I hope it continues because he seems like a great teammate and ball player.
Grissom reminds me of Verdugo, where their original team was happy to offer them in a deal. While the trades are of different magnitudes, their original teams were eager to part with them in a trade. I hope his attitude is better than Verdugo’s.
Also, why trade for a young, controlled MI when your farm system should have a ton of them coming up in the next few years? Yorke, Mayer, Romero, Zantello, Yorke etc. Bloom pretty much exclusively drafted highschool shortstops in the first round (yes, besides Teel).
Al – I wouldn’t worry about Grissom hitting, he just came off the IL last Friday and is still feeling sick from the flu. He has a lot of catching up to do considering he hadn’t played in any games before Friday and missed a huge amount of ST …. and facing two very good pitching staffs doesn’t help either. It’s probably safe to say they rushed him back.
Let’s give him at least a couple months to see if his hitting comes around.
Short will end up somewhere. He’s actually not horrible. Above average defender. I pull for these tweener guys. Too good for the minors. Not quite good enough for the majors. I hope he hangs in there. Liked him when he was with the Tigers.
The guy has a career of not hitting. I even read that his hitting was not even a strong suit in college. All he has is high OBP.
Red Sux gonna Red Sux
Sox and Sux sound alike! What a clever insult!
You get a pass because Clarence Thomas is my daddy
got anymore of these zingers to hit us with?
Once again Zack got short changed.
Traded for Terrance Long
Ed – Get ready …… right now there’s a baseball player at Jacksonville University named Richard Long.
I hope he makes the majors, for the jokes alone.
How is everyone feeling about the $30MM MAN now batting 5th in the line-up while Connor Wong the 80 OPS+ MAN from 2023 is batting 3rd?
Devers can’t field and hasn’t hit since Bogey and JD got booted. 10 years of wasted money!!! The club goes nowhere until they fix the biggest problem. Maybe we could trade Devers and pay most of his salary like we did Sale and we could get another pre-Arb 1 infielder who is an average fielder and a weak hitter!!!
It sure is fun to see Sale away from Cora. It’s like he’s his old self and all it took was eliminating Cora!!! DD thought he was getting this Sale not the one that Cora forced on to the field to pitch Cora’s way.
Sale wins Cy while Grissom has a good cry.
And Oneill chokes again with RISP can’t even put the ball in play for a SF he’s useless.
Casas – In all fairness to Tyler, he’s already exceeded expectations. If he can keep his OPS over .800 he will be a great trade candidate at the deadline.
Zach Short is a. 4A player but everyone loves him! He can play SS & a great arm. His bat is what keeps him from a full time job.