9:19PM: Wingenter has an assignment clause in his contract, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, and as such will need to be added to the club’s 40-man roster in the coming days. No corresponding move has been announced by the Red Sox to this point.
8:36PM: The Red Sox have acquired right-hander Trey Wingenter from the Tigers in exchange for minor league righty CJ Weins per an announcement from both clubs. Wingenter was in the Tigers organization on a minor league deal and does not need to be immediately added to the club’s 40-man roster.
Wingenter, 30, has pitched in parts of three MLB seasons and most recently appeared in the majors as a member of the Tigers last year. The right-hander was a 17th-round pick by the Padres in the 2017 draft and made his debut with the club in 2018. Over two seasons with San Diego, the righty posted a lackluster 5.14 ERA in 70 innings of work, although his peripheral numbers suggested a stronger underlying performance that those run prevention numbers may have suggested. The righty struck out a whopping 33.1% of batters faced during his time with the Padres, and that was enough to garner him a 3.79 FIP despite a 13% walk rate and a 12.7% home run to fly ball ratio that both left something to be desired.
The righty wouldn’t resurface at the big league level until 2023, as a member of the Tigers. His time in Detroit went similarly to his time in San Diego, as he posted a lackluster 5.82 ERA while a big strikeout rate (28.9% in 17 innings) outweighed his elevated walk rate (9.2%) and proclivity towards home runs enough to give him solid peripheral numbers. One noticeable change from his time with the Padres was his groundball rate, however. Wingenter didn’t garner many grounders during his time with the Padres, inducing them at only a 35.7% clip, but that rate shot up 43.2% with the Tigers.
Wingenter ended up remaining with Detroit entering the 2024 campaign after re-signing with the club on a fresh minor league deal this past winter. While he hasn’t pitched for the club in the majors this season, he’s posted generally impressive numbers at the Triple-A level with a 3.31 ERA in 32 2/3 innings of work this year. He’s paired those strong results with his typical bat-missing stuff, as he’s struck out 32.9% of batters faced at the level this year while walking 11.6%. Notably, he’s continued to show improvement in terms of his batted ball profile, as he’s induced grounders at a strong 48% clip this season in Triple-A.
In heading to Boston, Wingenter joins a stockpile of interesting bullpen arms the club has on non-roster deals as potential depth options behind their current group. With that being said, it’s worth noting that much of that group (such as Lucas Luetge and Joely Rodriguez) throw from the left side, meaning Wingenter could be the club’s top non-roster depth option from the right side. With Chris Martin and Liam Hendriks both currently on the injured list, it’s at least plausible that the loss of one of Kenley Jansen, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, or Zack Kelly could lead the Red Sox to turn to Wingenter over either Alex Speas or Isaiah Campbell, both of whom are currently at the Triple-A level but already occupy spots on the 40-man roster. It’s also possible that the club could be intrigued enough by Wingenter’s high strikeout rates to give him a more immediate look in the majors, though such a move would require selecting him to the club’s 40-man roster.
In exchange for adding Wingenter to their depth chart, the Red Sox are giving up Weins. The 23-year-old was Boston’s sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft and pitched just one inning in rookie ball last year before being promoted to Single-A to start the 2024 campaign. In 24 1/3 innings of work with the club’s affiliate in Salem this year, Weins has posted a lackluster 4.81 ERA with a solid 26.6% strikeout rate but a worrisome 14.7% walk rate. Those solid strikeout numbers give reason for hope that the righty could be a valuable piece of a big league bullpen someday if he can work out his control issues, and the Tigers now figure to work towards guiding Weins toward that goal going forward.
Red Sox could use more bullpen depth
Sweet – This acquisition is more like shallowness, they already have plenty of that.
I’ve had enough of Weissert….I’d trade Weissert right now for a bag of chips hopefully he’s released
Agree W. had recently been bad and is probably overused. Hoping the break is what he needs. Under no circumstances should he be brought in tonight.
Weissert would bring back more than a bag of chips. You would have 25 to 29 teams interested and offering a legit prospect.
I sense some Matt Barnes in Weissert. Used efficiently, he can be solid. Overuse him and you’d be better off getting Pablo Reyes back to pitch a few innings.
dewey – What do you base your “overused” speculation on?
His ERA has been steadily rising since May 13th, you think a 29-year-old in peak physical shape would tire out that soon in the season?
Even in games like June 28th he got hammered despite not throwing a pitch for 3 days.
I think we need to hold pitchers accountable for their performances. He didn’t pitch Friday, he had plenty of time to “recover” from Thursday’s game.
The only excuse that *could* be made for yesterday is the fact he was facing the same organization that he was a part of from 2016-2023 so obviously the Yankees know his strengths and weaknesses better than anyone.
let – Sorry I have to disagree with you on this one.
Barnes through his Age 29 season had pitched 314 innings with an 11.7 K/9 and was well established with a career 2.8 bWAR.
Weissert halfway through his Age 29 season has pitched 68 innings with a 9.4 K/9 and has yet to establish himself with a career -0.5 bWAR.
It’s how he’s used as well as how oftrn. It just seems like he’s in every game. It might though just be me and he’s hit a rough patch Fever. Hopefully, it’s not that the league has developed a book on him already.
Fever, not everyone comes up at the same age. I don’t have the stats but more important to me would be to compare 70 innings, rather than age.
Weissert has improved against RHH this year, struggles against LHH. I would have comped Schreiber rather than Barnes. He is a useful pitcher, if used right, but not somebody you can throw out there in any situation against any lineup.
tff – That’s a great comp, Schreiber has been absolutely pounded by LHB this season. I hope we see him next weekend.
Speaking of LHB, hafta give a shout out to my man Devers. Against the reigning Cy Young winner he smacks hit #1,000 before his 28th birthday and in his next at bat he hits an absolute moonshot against him.
I’ve been comparing him to Manny for many years now, he’s earning his contract.
Devers isn’t Manny, Manny was probably the 2nd best hitter in a generation just behind Bonds. If ya want to say Griffey Jr I’d listen to that. If Devers can get a .340 35 HR season then we can begin to put him in that category. He strikes out a lot more than Manny ever did.
Tff17 – So how do you get around Cora being manager and using him incorrectly?
Thought you weren’t talking to me, TF?
I don’t see any way around that, do you? As long as Cora is the manager, he’s going to use his bullpen pieces as he sees fit.
Might also be limits to how many weaknesses a manager can protect against? Even under the best manager, Weissert is going to need to face some lefties. He’s just best off if that number is kept to a minimum, at least when the game is on the line.
kingburn – Devers has a PR machine behind him that leads you to think he’s better than he is. Manny was a machine like Papi. Devers is the guy missing the clutch gene.and has NOT put up Manny=like numbers. His career OPS+ for 19 seasons was 154!!!! Devers OPS+ never was as high as his 19 year average in his first 7 years. This year, while he off to his typical first half hot streak and he’s hitting better than ever before as he usually does before he slumps after the all-star break his OPS+ is 158 four points higher than Manny’s average. By year end, it will be below 154 like all other years where he starts out hot and fades. Manny’s 27 year old season produced an OPS+ of 174 which led the league.
Devers is a huge step down from Manny offensively and defensively and that says volumes about his defense!!!
Bum – I didn’t say Devers is as good a hitter as Manny.
Manny is the greatest all-around Red Sox hitter in my lifetime, he’s an A+ while Devers is probably an A- (and hopefully without roids).
The comparisons to which I was referring:
1) Both far more focused on hitting than fielding
2) Both among the best hitters in their time
3) Both are goofy and aloof
4) Both with defensive shortcomings
5) Both with sold clutch numbers
6) Both Yankee killers
And TWO MORE HOMERUNS tonight for Devers!!!
tff – If I may interject, I’d like to bring up a recurring error that Cora makes with regard to what you just wrote.
He often brings in a lefty reliever with one or two outs to face one or two lefties, even when a strong RHB or two follows the LHB’s. Which means the LHR better get the LHB(s) out or he will be forced to face the RHB(s). Not an ideal situation, to say the least.
That’s the thing, ideal situations don’t generally present themselves. Most managers avoid having three LHH in a row, and even a LHRP will need to face RHH on occasion. Hopefully less than half the PA.
Is worse in the 8th or 9th, as you’ll see PH then. Is why Weisset is best slotted in the sixth.
tff – Yesterday the Sox had lefthanded hitters start 1-8 as Rafaela was the ONLY RHB in the starting lineup!
In the past the Rays even had 9 lefthanded hitters in the starting lineup!
It’s great Cora has confidence in his relievers, but there’s a fine line between showing confidence and showing stupidity.
Guys got a wicked arm and strikes people out. He looked like a diamond in the rough when the Tigers signed him last year. Hope he gets a chance in Boston.
Seconded ✌️
Great news. Maybe some magic still left. Bailey do your thing
And Sparky Anderson said Rusty Meacham had as good of a curveball as Sandy Koufax !
Loved Sparky, but everyone knows he’d tell people that some third baseman in A-ball who batted .192 with 1 homer was going to be the next Mike Schmidt.
Sparky was the ultimate Tigers optimist. I forget who he compared Barbaro Garbey to one time but it made me laugh.
Crazy man. He once said Johnny Bench was the greatest catcher to ever play the game. Ok, fine, maybe he was right on that one.
Motor – He will definitely get a chance, and probably very quickly.
This guy is giving off a Braiser vibe to me.
Add a couple pitches and tweaking of the fb mechanics and *poof*, a quality mlb pitcher is pulled from a hat.
…until batters adjust.
Fix Trey, give him a couple weeks of awesomeness, then trade him for a better prospect than Weins. Like trading up on Craigslist!
DBH – We can only hope!
I don’t think Braiser is a good comp though, he had past success before getting fixed by the Dodgers. Dominant in 2018, sucked in 2019, dominant in 2021, sucked in 2022 until he went to the Dodgers in early 2023, and he sucks now (hoping Olm doesn’t see this post!).
Wing has never experienced success and at least two other organizations have tried to fix him.
I’m fine with taking a flyer on him, but I’d like to know who gets bumped from the 40 and I’d like an assurance that he won’t get thrown into a high leverage situation right away in the middle of a WC chase.
To late… good bye cruel and middle cut slider world!!
Article says he doesn’t have to go on the 40-man
DBH – Original article says “not immediately” and the update 43 minutes later says they must add him within the coming days. I wouldn’t steer you wrong brother.
And how about Devers, he goes oppo again!! Talk about a Yankee killer!!
Or playing the housing market….buy a dumpster fire, fix it up sell for 50%+ profit
Trash
Trey Wingenter is a promising pitcher known for his fastball velocity and slider. He’s shown potential as a reliever with the ability to rack up strikeouts effectively when he’s on his game. However, his career has been somewhat hampered by injuries, which have limited his playing time and development. When healthy, he has demonstrated the capability to be a solid bullpen piece with the potential for higher leverage situations due to his stuff. Overall, he’s an intriguing player to watch when he’s able to stay on the field consistently.
LMFAO!
I don’t know the pitcher but Tiger fans are supportive. Hopefully Sox fans get the last laugh. If he shows nothing until we see someone DFAed who should not have been, what’s the harm with taking a flyer? Detroit is doing the same with the return who I have never seen. Look how the Sox signed Refsnyder and all the laughs then. Teams make these moves every season, similar to a Rule 5 wildcard. Every once in a while there is a blue moon
AI or a copy paste from a 2017 prospect write up?
@YourDreamGM
No, just me writing up my evaluation of him as a player.
I figured. Just a lil joke because it would fit right in on fangraphs mlb etc. Well written.
Print your playoff tickets, Red Sux!
@cooperhill
The team is currently in the playoffs, thanks to the expansion of playoff teams by MLB. It’s similar to how we give trophies to all our kids now and have no fail policies all through their life. Imagine not failing at all in life until you become an adult and then learn the very hard reality when one gets fired from their job.
it’s always funny when the people who either gave out the participation trophies or are from that generation whine about those who got them as they gave themselves those trophies.
Correct. It’s not the kids making the rules, it’s the adults who do and then blame the kids for not being “tough” like they were.
*if
@acell10
When did I give myself a trophy?
@ellisburks
I wasn’t blaming the kids. I literally was blaming the adults.
Unfortunately, MLB is catering to others, trying to increase their pocketbook like other sports when the uniqueness of having to win to get in brought out true races when it happened. I can live with one wild card as to have the chance of a Yankees – Red Sox ALCS was amazing in 03vand 04 but it’s overkill with three. Separately, don’t get me started about the ghost rule. If it was so good, why not use it in the playoffs. While I’m at it, get rid of the pizza box bases, oven mitts and require batters to only use shin guards and helmets or at least call it a strike/foul ball if you’re hit on an extended face guard or elbow pad.
I’m talking about those who gave them out vs those that got them. Either way complaining about participation trophies is pretty lame.
We don’t know you bro. It’s possible you give yourself trophies numerous times throughout the day.
I like the pizza box bases, it’s brought the stolen base back as a thing. I don’t mind the pitch clock either, we didn’t need to have games ending at midnight and kids not being able to watch the whole thing. What I absolutely hate is the ghost runner, pretty much it forces ya to score at least 2 in extras to win. That runner from second is going to score more often than not, especially if the runner has some speed.
LMMFAO Someone’s toes got stepped on , that must have a case full of participation trophies.
Pitch clock I love but that alone would have increased stolen bases. You can’t compare Lou Brock, Maury Wills or Rickey Henderson to anyone today due to the changes. At least get rid of the mitt that extends a player’s hand.
You’ve obviously never seen a player get a fastball to the face. The extended face guard is something that is long overdue. Nobody is going to lean into a 100 mph heater with their head because they have the face guard.
I was just responding in general to the other comment. Want directed at you. I think we were all in agreement.
Well since they have the 3rd Wild Card spot and only 5.5 games behind the Yankees for the top Wild Card spot, it’s probably a good idea to print playoff tickets. Thanks for the help!
Not so fast…KC, Houston, and Tampa are still right there too within a couple games. As surprising Boston has been I think Houston is going to have a big 2nd half.
King – Right you are! Astros are on a roll and when they get back some major talent in guys like Tucker and Verlander and Garcia they will be even more of a strong contender.
The Royals I expect to add enforcements at the deadline because they are in GFIN mode.
The Rays are kinda iffy, I think it will depend on who they decide to sell off.
Astros will win the division and the Twins, Seattle, Boston and KC will fight for the last WC spots.
I am aware it’s early July. It was sarcasm. Either way Red Sox will have a better record than The Yankees end of the year. That you can book.
Dewey – Don’t count out the Rangers. They still have a mash unit of star players waiting to return in the second half. Scherzer has made a difference and deGrom will too not to mention Mahle. Oh yeah, their stud 3B Jung was the catalyst last year that put them on a huge run and he’ll be back as well. Carter too is returning!! Talent wise they are better than Houston when healthy and way better than Boston, Minnesota, KC and the pretenders known as Seattle (will finish 3rd in division and watch the playoffs on their big screens!!)
Plenty of season left for things to change significantly. Bregman will go into a big slump like he always does before getting hot in Sept. Altuve and Alvarez can’t get hurt and how long will it take for Tucker to get in the groove and perform to his full abilities? Houston only wins in a perfect storm. If healthy, Texas wins the West with superior pitching and 8 position players that match-up with Houston.
TF – I agree we can’t make assumptions on the Rangers until the end of the month, but let’s say it’s July 30th and the Rangers are selling and the Red Sox are buying …. how freakin’ cool would it be if the Sox trade for The Great Nate!!!
It could happen, and would be an excellent move.
I can dream, can’t I? LOL
Yes, Houston will pass Seattle for the Western division title, and Seattle will miss the playoffs again. Both of their W-L records are worse than the Red Sox.
Per Quinn Riley on X:
“Newly acquired Sox reliever Trey Wingenter had a *50%* whiff rate on his gyro slider last year in 17 G w/ the DET (5.8 ERA). Reaches 99 with the FB but it gets hit hard with its poor shape. 3.31 ERA in AAA this year w/ a 46.7% SL whiff rate and he’s also developed a new splitter.”
Sounds like he may be serviceable if they fix the shape of his fastball which I assume is too straight.
Dude is pretty burly and throws some mean cheese- but the train stays on the tracks. Not a bad add, I’d take him back in SD!
Could be serviceable as is. But if they improve him they really got something.
This is what Bailey was brought in to fix, we shall see. I’m betting he gets a sweeper next year.
Wonder if his fastball would move better with a little less velo? Or at least make it easier to locate?
All in – totally agree
Cooper – He will ignore the career 5.28 ERA and come up with some obscure analytic in an attempt to justify the “demonstrated the capability to be a solid bullpen piece” claim.
The bullpen has been gassed over the last 3 days so i expect shuffling of the deck coming
Hopefully, tonight is not a taxing evening
dewey – Kelly hasn’t pitched since Thursday and Boozer, Horn, Jansen and Slaten haven’t pitched since Friday.
And tomorrow is an offday.
So I’m pretty sure Cora won’t be running out of pitchers to use tonight.
Easy win for the Tigers just got a free prospect. Wingenter wasn’t 40 man worthy.
Another win win as Boston didn’t lose much. A reliever they can find easily and cheap in any draft. If they thought much of him they should have kept him. Nothing jumped out as me as being special must keep. You add guys like that everywhere and hope you get lucky. One is good as the next.
I like Wingenter in low leverage. Come in and get a RHB out. Pitch entire inning vs a RHB heavy lineup. Not a good fit for Fenway though. But he was cheap to get. And just takes 1 coach to improve something. But as is he is good as one of your weakest pen arms.
YDGM, read my above post. We worded it differently but basically are in agreement. Would you marry me, my wife and I far less lately on being on the same page…
Lol. You can show your wife that the world’s greatest baseball mind agrees with you. That will impress her!!!!!!!
Let’s get real. I ain’t scouting 6th round pick A ball relievers very hard unless asked to do so. I ran him through my formula and it came out as expected. Sox know him better than anyone so gotta trust them if that’s your team.
Tigers fan should be happy receiving anything and Sox fans should see how their new reliever does and never think about that prospect again. I think our way of viewing it is best but seen someone looking at his career era and that’s fine as well. Probably just as likely to be at 5 vs 3 but I would choose in the middle of the two. Might not be enough sample size to even think about looking at era because he will have to really show well to be back next year. Hope he does but I still won’t be looking at his era but it will give a better indicator for those who do.
Bitter beer face.
Ok. MLBTR will no longer get my business.
The Gigi crowd has taken over the site and Tiger baseball and administration here support abuse of posters.
Tiger fans here are so dumb.
Chris Illich hired a kid, who is delighted just to have the position and job.
A veteran POBO, would have demanded a budget to build.a winner.
Chris Illich has no intention of building a winner.
Administration does not do thier jobs here.
Or maybe it’s you that’s dumb, Stuperfife. I’m glad, if true, that you’ll leave this board. We won’t miss your act and indecipherable drivel. Don’t go away mad, just go away.
A banner day for Tigers fans if this is true. Unfortunately, I doubt you can stay away.
Stuperfife is back, under a different name. Trevor is Waiting or something like that, babbling on about himself being someone named Trevor (not Bauer) needing to be signed by the Tigers. He’s delusional and a drama queen.
This is a simple move similar to the Alex Speas move big arm see if you can harness it. It’s unlikely but you never know when someone figures it out and who knows maybe the pitching lab led can help one of these guys. This is a low risk move only costs a 40 man spot maybe they can somewhat harness the control of one of these guys. It’s obvious that Breslow likes big arms.
Bruin – Agreed, but there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. It’s cool the 3 B’s are confident they can fix a pitcher who has been brutal his entire career, but let’s see who gets bumped from the 40 and let’s see if Cora eases him into low leverage situations or throws him into the fire like he did with Campbell and Slaten to name two.
I’m not sure they think that. What I am sure of Breslow likes those high powered arms and if one out of 5 works so be it. I think he knows it’s a numbers game Aldon didn’t work on to the next projects. Very low risk and possibly high reward.
Can I start the…. Must win for the Sox tonight?? And use it the rest of the season…???
They gonna pick up Golic and Kenny Mayne too?
Aside from that….YOU GUYS PROBABLY PUT KETCHUP ON YOUR HOTDOGS.
Sts!!! Away Satan!!! From Chicago!! You could’ve said Ditka is a packers fan and statement would have been more true!!!LOL!!
Stuperfife, you and your alter egos can leave now, as you threatened above. Oh yeah you can’t because you love the drama. Your brain is so bloody after it’s long bleed that it’s a wonder you can read your own comments,