The Red Sox announced Monday that they’ve designated left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez for assignment and selected the contract of righty Brad Keller from Triple-A Worcester in his place.
Rodriguez was selected to the 40-man roster himself on Friday, and the Sox used him heavily over the weekend. The 32-year-old southpaw pitched in three straight games from Friday through Sunday, logging 2 2/3 innings and allowing a run on four hits and no walks with one strikeout. Rodriguez was surely unavailable today for what’s effectively a doubleheader — the Sox will finish their suspended game against the Blue Jays and then play a second game versus the Jays this evening — and will be jettisoned from the roster for a fresh arm in Keller.
This weekend’s stretch of three solid appearances from Rodriguez helped to pare down a rough earned run average that now sits at a still-unsightly 5.93 on the season — albeit in just 13 2/3 innings. Rodriguez’s under-the-hood numbers are far, far better. He’s fanned a below-average 18.8% of his opponents but also sports a pristine 3.1% walk rate and a massive 59.2% ground-ball rate in this season’s 14 appearances. Metrics like xFIP (3.07) and SIERA (2.87) are much more bullish on his performance than his ERA.
That’s nothing new for Rodriguez, who sports a roughly average 22.5% strikeout rate in his career, a higher-than-average 10% walk rate and a terrific 56% ground-ball rate. In 170 2/3 innings, he’s posted a 4.80 ERA, but his respectable ability to miss bats and huge ground-ball tendencies have long led ERA alternatives to forecast better bottom-line results. Rodriguez has at times had success in the majors, but his whiffs and grounders have been undercut by persistent struggles with men on base; his career 64% strand rate is about eight percentage points worse than average.
Now that Rodriguez has been designated for assignment, he’ll be placed on waivers and made available to the other 29 clubs. A new team would owe him a prorated $2MM base salary for any time spent on the big league roster or injured list (about $344K for the remainder of the season). If he goes unclaimed, he can reject his outright assignment, become a free agent, and hope to latch on with a new club as a depth option prior to the Aug. 31 postseason eligibility deadline.
Today’s move is a swap of one veteran for another. Keller will rejoin the team after being previously designated for assignment himself, electing free agency, and returning on a minor league deal. He’s appeared in 15 games for Boston this season and pitched 37 2/3 innings of 5.30 ERA ball with a 17.8% strikeout rate, 7.7% walk rate and 49.3% ground-ball rate. He’s been working primarily as a starter in Worcester and is stretched out for long relief if needed. In 30 innings with the WooSox this season, Keller has a 3.00 ERA.
Keller is in his first season with the Red Sox organization but spent six years as a fixture on the Royals’ pitching staff. From 2018-20, he was a regular in the rotation and a steady source of quality innings. His results dipped in 2021, and by 2023 his command had deteriorated to the point where he walked a stunning 45 batters in 45 1/3 innings. Keller eventually hit the injured list and was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, which required season-ending surgery. He’s yet to rediscover his 2018-20 form (360 1/3 innings, 3.50 ERA, 16.8% strikeout rate, 9.1% walk rate, 52.1% grounder rate), but he’s still relatively young at 29 and has been outstanding in the minors recently. Over his past 22 innings in Triple-A, Keller sports a 0.82 ERA and 15-to-1 K/BB ratio.
Makes sense as Keller should be able to give a lot of crappy innings over the next several days.
Even with the pitching matchups, Sox should win at least 4 against the Jays. They could be just 2.5 games out of a WC spot by tonight.
I know, I’m being overly optimistic again. LOL
Would red Sox trade Anthony for jobe?
Good question. I doubt it.
It would take more than just Anthony to get Jobe. Jobe was drafted higher, is currently ranked higher as a prospect and prospective pitchers are usually valued more than hitting prospects. JMO.
Jobe has yet to throw 100 innings in a season. I’m not sure he is durable enough to be a starter. He might be, but I wouldn’t trade the value needed to get a starter for him just yet.
They have to decide which 4 outfielders they want for the future.Pick 4 of Anthony,Cambell,Duran,O’Neil,Refsnyder,Abreu and any other prospect coming up.
Or Rafaela?
TB – Agreed, if they can get something for him I say do it ….. and as I wrote that he struck out again swinging at an eye-level pitch.
But realistically, he’s not going anywhere unless his career OPS falls below .600 again.
And even then, he’s probably still not going anywhere.
Well, Oneill is a free agent and Refsnyder is going to be 34 next year, so there, your question about the future is answered
Duran, Abreau, and Rafaela are already established, Anthony and Campbell knocking on the door.
Campbell’s in the soup but Refsnyder is starting to put up Hall of Fame numbers.
Closing in on 25 career home runs bro. He’s even got his career OPS up over .700.
Ok,so you are keeping 5 outfielders.Duran,Rafaela,Abreu,,Campbell and Anthony.How do you give enough playing time to everybody?Why not trade one of them for pitching.
Campbell is the Red Sox second baseman of the future imo. The outfield is going to be full. I think they need to move Abreu and Grissom for pitching. They may sell high on Duran but he’s such an igniter I would hate to see that happen. Still imo second base is set and next year we can see an infield of Casas, Campbell, Story, Devers with an outfield of Duran in left, Rafaela in center, and at some point maybe even out of spring training Anthony in right. That potentially a very elite lineup and great defensively except at third base.
If Story gets injured again perhaps Mayer will be ready to step in but Rafaela has shown he can do the job and the Red Sox have a ton of outfield depth. I would keep Refsnyder as the 4th outfielder if he wants to continue to play. There should be money to play with if ownership is willing to go to the lux tax line go get a couple of pitchers to go with what we have now and this a really dangerous team next season.
I am curious.I have seen lots of people wanting some higher priced veterans on the team.Where do you play them?Which younger guy do you take out?
If Bello or Crawford aren’t the answer for your pitching shouldn’t you unload them for different pitchers?
I think we have seen you can’t have too much pitching. I think Bello figures it out his stuff is high end he’s just going through a learning process. I really think this staff can benefit from having a guy like Burnes a no doubt top of rotation guy. To be clear I think this team is very close I don’t think don’t need to go get any position players but you can never have too much pitching and I think the true pitching help in the minors is probably at best 2026 when they start to show. The number one need for this team is a tried and true #1. If they kept Sale they would probably be in the post season if he had the same season he is having now. They need that guy Houck isn’t a true #1 he’s been really good but not an ace.
Because two of them haven’t even played in the major leagues yet.
Ref has already talked about retiring and going the front office route.
mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/al-east-notes-refsnyder…
But he’s the Brock Holt of the 2020’s. Awww.
For some reason, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Boston (at least quietly) shop Duran around this winter.
Patience was key.2 years ago people wanted Duran gone.He has the same speed he had then.
But He is also the oldest of the outfielders.do you think that he will slow down or keep his speed in to his later years.
Not saying it makes sense, but his name was tossed about last off-season and ownership may still me more than a bit miffed over his recent “comment”, which was much ado about nothing, but it is what it is.
let – They heavily shopped him last offseason, so I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if they do it again.
Don’t listen to fever. There was zero chatter Duran was being shopped. He would have been traded at his lowest value.
acell– Please read a bit more baseball articles. It was anticipated Duran over the last winter was going to be moved, pretty sure sports rag TheAtletic was on this the most. Can’t go back and search it, let suscription expire. pretty sure other writers from other places were on this also. maybe mass.live? It wasn’t limited to just a couple places.
provide your sources then. There was no serious chatter about Duran getting traded especially coming off the season he had last year.
only thing out there was that the Padres “showed interest” but that’s hardly the sox shopping him around or there was any anticipation of his departure. so actually it seems like you’re the one who needs to read more baseball articles
More than a claim, as if didn’t know… TheAthletic piece (1 of) found right away via internet search and Bowden touched on in this last June to the SFG. Found an SI article (2 exactly) 1 from 12/23, other 2/24 linking him to SFG. Here is a Heyman-ism from 1:
–“I’ve even heard that the name Jarren Duran has come up in trade rumors,” the New York Post’s Jon Heyman said on a Bleacher Report livestream Tuesday afternoon. “Now I’m not saying they are shopping Duran and they certainly won’t admit it if they are but they have big-time prospects including Roman Anthony and many others are down on the farm who could replace him potentially.”—
Stopped going further than little over dozen searches down when became easy to find all the articles under searches “jarren duran trade rumors”
Don’t put on blinders and can see in more than 1 direction.
The SI article is just one reporting what Bowden said. That’s not new information, it’s repeating something Bowden said which was Bowden suggesting potential trade targets. Cederic Mullens was included in that same article. Do you really thing the O’s were seriously shopping him?. Same thing with Heyman. Heyman literally in your quote I’m not saying they are shopping Duran.
either you need to do a better job of Reading your sources more carefully next time or know what the definition of anticipated means. You’ll be less likely to embarrass yourself next time.
I wouldn’t worry about it to much Acell I don’t think the Red Sox are trading for anything short of a massive pitching haul. Duran, a late bloomer, has established himself as one of the most valuable players in the game. I can’t see Breslow moving him for anything short of a Kings ransom. In short they aren’t moving Duran but may sell high on Abreu.
Given Joely Rodriguez’s consistently high ground-ball rate and his solid xFIP and SIERA metrics, how might his DRA (Deserved Run Average) and RE24 (Base-Out Runs Added) compare to his traditional ERA and LOB% (Left on Base Percentage)? Could these metrics provide additional insight into how Rodriguez’s performance might improve with better infield defense or in situations with a different distribution of base runners?
I’d like to see the Red Sox call up Kristian Campbell to the show with the September call ups. He has had a meteoric rise and he’s a righty who can help balance out that lineup. 2nd base has been kind of black hole and 2nd is probably his best position. I think he has proven his unusual batting style is not a problem. He’s a confident kid and if he struggles I don’t think it will bother him. If he’s their second baseman of the future which I think he is, why not try him now it only would cost a 40 man spot and the Red Sox have guys they can dfa. He might just give them the jolt they need.
And injuries
Injuries are the only concern with Mayer but is a concern at this point.
Bruin – If forced to wager, I’d say Sogard is the only position player callup in September to start the month.
if the Sox fade, then some of the real prospects will get the call.
Red Sox arent calling up Campbell. It would waste a 40-man roster spot. He doesnt have to be protected for the Rule V draft, but calling him up now, would require him being added to the 40-man. Why lose a young player in Rule V, just to give Campbell a handful of ABs?
I’m not just saying this with nothing behind it Cora is quoted as saying they are seriously considering it and the more I think about it I like it. They have a ton of guys they can waive the 40 man isn’t a consideration. We will see what happens if I had to guess they won’t call him up but Cora has said they are calling up one position player and pitcher so let’s see what happens.
I dont know what Cora quote yor referencing, but Im skeptical he was refering to guys that dont have to be added to rhe 40-man this winter. There are several prospects that have to be added to the 40-man, or be exposed to the draft. Those guys will probably will get a shot. Its the reason Sogard was brought up and not Mediroth. Sogard needs to be proected Meddy does not.
I would be surprised if there will be any highly regarded prospects added to 40-man this fall if they dont have to be. Therbecause will be a roster crunch this winter, and the Red Sox will try not to lose any games layers, if they dont have to.
There is no roster crunch this winter. It’s likely that there will be extra 40 man spaces available to go rule 5 hunting by Breslow. According to Sox prospects the only guys that need to be protected are I see only 3 guys that really need to be protected Fitts, Guerrero, and probably Dobbins. They have a lot of trash to get rid it’s not a real problem this season might be a huge issue next year.
Salvi it’s a Beyond the Monster article with quotes from Cora. You should read it they may not call him up but they are considering it.
Briun: Monegro has been pitching well. Why not protect him? Is it because he hasn’t reached AA yet?
Yup I don’t know if there is anyone in the rule 5 who has been taken from High A.
I guess that’s not right because DD took Noah Song who was technically in A ball but as a rule you don’t have to protect guys that haven’t been at least AA and if they are in AA they better of shown legit stuff.
In My Opinion
Locks:
Pitchers (17)
Bello, Campbell, Crawford, Criswell, L Garcia, Wilk Gonzalez, Hendrix, Houck, Z Kelly, Mata, C Murphy, Perales, Priester, Slaten, Weissert, Whitlock, Wincko
Infielders (9)
Casas, Devers, Grissom, Gonzalez, Hamilton, Rafaela, Sogard, Story, Valdez
Outfielders (3)
Abreu, Duran, Yoshida
Catchers (1)
Wong
Players I feel need to be added (5)
Fitts, Guerrero, Dobbins, Jhost Garcia, Monegro
Veterans needed to fill out roster (7)
2 Starters
1 Reliever
1 Catcher
1 First Basemen
2 Outfielder
On the Fence (Not Counted)
Bernadino, Gasper, Blaze Jordan, Booser
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30 already on 40-man that should be kept
6 I feel need to be added
7 veterans added to fill out the roster to be acquired over the winter.
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Thats 43 players, right there. Im certainly not seeing your “extra” space.
Its easy to look at my list and find a couple of guys that arent necessary to protect, but Im not seeing the usefulness of adding multiple players from the farm now and knocking a name off for each one added. I’d wait until spring, see who’s hot and add those players as the inevitable injuries come.
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Any ways good talk.
We just differ on whom we think is going protected. I’ll be surprised if they protect Jhostnyxon or Yordanny also L Garcia is a free agent he isn’t coming back. I also believe the Red Sox if they keep Romy he will backup Casas I really don’t think they will add a second first baseman/ DH type. That leaves me down to 39 spots. I also think a couple gets moved for pitching. I’m guessing when the rule 5 comes around they will have 38 spots on their 40 man. It’s just a guess but I don’t think this year is a real roster crunch. I also don’t believe they will get 2 outfielders since, with story back, the outfielders are Duran, Rafaela, and Abreu with Refsnyder. I think Ref comes back.so there’s another spot I don’t think they will sign a free agent outfielder due to the proximity of Anthony who will compete for the opening roster in spring training. I think they will keep Bernardino and Booser so back to 40. I also think they move on from Valdez if they need a 40 man spot.
It’s incredibly difficult to keep a guy on your 26 man all season that’s why it’s mostly pitchers that are selected and even then a team like the White Sox who are historically bad and couldn’t keep Drohan and hide him. It’s even tougher with position players. I don’t see a team wasting a valuable 26 man spot on either Monegro or Jhostnyxon and if they do even less likely they stick.
No Rafaela moves to the outfield center to be exacta and Story is the shortstop with Rafaela as the backup.
Salvi I went back and looked at the rule 5 draft results on average about 12 or 13 players are taken. The most ever I believe is 19. When you have a ton taken about 50% are returned. In an average year it’s about 30% returned. So in an average draft you have 8 or 9 guts lost. By far the most sought after commodity in the rule 5 is arms that can be stashed in a bullpen. It’s really hard to keep a guy on the 26 man most of the season if they aren’t somewhat ready. I just can’t see Jhostnyxon and probably not Monegro either staying on the 26 man the required amount of time. I can see Guerrero, Fitts, and Dobbins being taken that’s why they will be protected. Just my .02.
Agreed with your point on Jhost, and Monegro, but thats still a tight roster. Even you are at 40 as you say and adding Anthony, Meidroth, Campbell or Teel begins to cut into legitimate players, I’d prefer they keep.
Also, Im a little hazy on your OF. Ref would be an FA addition, since he isnt in the roster count. That would leave Duran, Abreu, Rafaela, Ref and Anthony as the whole OF with very little safety net behind them. An injury or regression by anyone would leave a big whole and two players having problems would be a nightmare. I feel they have to add another veteran OFer.
We dont have to wait long for answers, Sept 1 is right around the corner.
Yoshida is the DH/backup outfielder. It’s not ideal but I think they go the route of Duran/Rafaela/Abreu/Ref assuming he wants to come back with Yoshida backing up and Anthony soon to show.
I also think they could designate Valdez if the called up Campbell. He really doesn’t have a place on this roster or moving forward.
Bruin1012
Prospects that are subject to Rule 5 in December 2024:
1) Jh.Garcia (OF) #12 – A+/AA
2) R.Fitts (RHP) #13 – AAA
3) A.Castro (OF) #19 – A+/AA
4) H.Dobbins (RHP) #21 – AA/AAA
5) Y.Monegro (RHP) #25 – A+
6) B.Jordan (1B/3B) #26 – AA
7) L.Guerrero (RP) #28 – AAA
8) Z.Penrod (LHP) #29 – AAA
9) G.Gambrell (RHP) #39 – AAA IL
10) N.Hickey (C) #40 – AAA/AA
Last 7 games Yordanny for Greenville:
34 IP, 13H, 0ER!!!!, 9 Walks, 42 SO
Monegro has dominated A+ the last seven matches and should be in Double AA by now.
If he isn’t protected, some team will snatch him up and it will be a shame if he plays well in AA and AAA in 2025 and makes his debut in September 2025, perhaps earlier.
I think Breslow will make a deal before the Rule 5 pick, bringing in Garcia, Castro, Jordan for SP.
I still have a hard time believing anyone will take Monegro from High A to there 26 man it seems far fetched to me. I’m really convinced no one will take Jhostnyxon or Castro. I just can’t see it. Maybe I’m wrong but I think that’s why they are keeping Monegro down at High A they aren’t planning on protecting him.
I do think there will be moves before the draft but next year looks like a real 40 man roster crunch. The Red Sox are going to have a devil of a time keeping all their guys then.
Bruin1012
I agree with you about Garcia and Castro, perhaps you are right that they don’t want to raise Monegro in AA, because they don’t plan to defend it.
But, I would move Jordanny up to AA to see what he can do in the final month and playoff for the Sea Dogs and decide whether to protect him or not.
The Drive play Bowling Green this week will be his toughest test as Bowling Green has been on fire. If he dominates them I’m not sure how they don’t move Monegro up. My guess is Monegro pitches today or tomorrow then might get moved.
Bruin1012
Rule 5 Draft Eligible 2025 Red Sox:
2024
#2 M.Mayer (SS) – AA
#8 M.Bleis (OF) – A+
#10 D.Sandlin (RHP) – AA
#11 C.Meidroth (INF) – AAA
#17 E.Rodriguez (RHP) – A+
#23 J.Paez (RHP) – A+
#33 H.Mullins (LHP) – A+
# I.Coffey (RHP) – AA
#36 N.Dean (LHP) – A+
When you factor in the fact that Anthony, Campbell, and Teal will debut at some point in 2025, this is a solid list.
Breslow will have to make trades to bring in a starting pitcher in 2025 anyway.
You won’t be able to keep all the prospects.
From Earlier: “Agreed with your point on Jhost, and Monegro”
Youre still at 40 roster spots, since I also forgot Gioloti.
I disagree that the 40-man roster will get reduced as the team make trades. Red Sox can no longer trade away 40-man roster players for younger players. They wont have the space next year. So most every trade will likely will be a wash in roster spots. In other words, a 40-man player will bring back a 40-man player of similar status.
Revised Roster:
Pitchers (22)
Bernadino, Bello, Booser, Campbell, Crawford, Criswell, Dobbins, Fitts, Giolito, W Gonzalez, Guerrero, Hendrix, Houck, Z Kelly, Mata, C Murphy, Perales, Priester, Slaten, Weissert, Whitlock, Wincko,
Infielders (8)
Casas, Devers, Grissom, R Gonzalez, Hamilton, Sogard, Story, Valdez
Outfielders (4)
Abreu, Duran, Rafaela, Yoshida
Catchers (1)
Wong
Additions: 2 Starters, 1 Back-end Reliever, 1 Catcher, 1 Outfielder
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That puts the roster at 40 and that is bare bones with respect to veteran leadership. You’ve got Yoshida most likely playing occasionally in the OF (even with Anthony added) and a starting CF who will be pulled to the IF to fill in. Any regression/injuries will immediately test your depth. I’d add a few more veteran depth pieces.
Now you want to add some combination of Mediroith, Anthony, Keel, Campbell in September. Instead of waiting and only adding at season start, and only if they exceed expectations. Reminder: Once you add those players to 40-man they are there forever. Regression/minor injuries dont change anything, they are stuck there.
It’s time to worry about Mayer while it’s clear he can hit when healthy he’s just having a hard time staying healthy he’s out fir the season again it appears with a lumbar issue he was sent to Fort Mayer’s today to rehab season appears over. This is a very worrysome trend I’m rooting for the kid because clearly he’s talented and imo can be a big league shortstop but those injuries are really piling up on the kid.
If that is the case,trade him to a team that thinks they can get the most out of him.Same with Dalbec.He will not play for the Sox.Trade him to say the Pirates.
So we can watch another guy become a very effective big leaguer like Yorke will become no thank you. The only way you trade Mayer is if you are convinced his injuries are chronic and he will never be healthy or you can move him as the lead for a true tor arm such as Skubal. I’m concerned about injuries with this guy you have to be at this point maybe you do dangle him but don’t move him for less then a kings ransom.
Bruin – Funny you should bring up Yorke.
Prior to the season the Sox needed starting pitching and had an abundance of stopgap 2B possibilities with good 2B prospects in the pipeline …. makes zero sense to have traded Sale for Grissom, even if Grissom had stayed healthy.
Fever Yorke has just continued rake. I have been saying for quite some time now if Yorke stops trying to hit the long ball and goes back to that all fields approach he’s a big leaguer. He did that this year his stats lied at AA Portland this year but you could tell he was trying to get back to what made him a great hitter in 2021 and low and behold he started to rake when he was called up and he has continued to rake since the trade. He will be called up in September I’m guessing for his first taste of the big leagues.
Bruin – Thanks for the update, I appreciate it! While I don’t usually follow prospects too closely, Yorke piqued my interest. He reminds me of Duran, never rated super high but always seemed to show enough to never count him out.
it’s annoying but again this feels like the sox being overly cautious. A lumbar strain is a nagging and not very serious type of injury that I suspect if this happened at the beginning of the year would not have ended his season. The timing of it stinks but the the KD17’s of the world will try to spin this like it’s a big deal but really in the grand scheme of things it’s not.
Acell I’m a believer in Mayer and clearly he hits when he’s not injured but the amount of injuries are a real concern and until he can go a season without injury it’s a concern. Romero is finally showing what he can do when healthy but I still want to see him finish the season healthy and have a healthy season next year at Portland before really getting excited about his status.
Again I don’t blame you and I could see how the amount of injuries could be concerning. That said this isn’t the same injury or same body part over and over again. This one and the one from his first full pro season were more of the nagging variety. Also as I said a lumbar strain while annoying isn’t something thats overly serious that it should be a concern going forward. The sox are protecting him because of how last season ended.
I wonder if the Sox are being extra cautious with Mayer and slow tracking him in order to postpone the infield logjam as long as possible. If Mayer stays in AAA all next year, that is one less year of overlap with Story.
I agree that he might be slow tracked but I suspect it’s more to do with just being cautious with after what happened last year with his shoulder
I also read recently that Mayer was never into lifting weights before being drafted. So, maybe he is finally needing to do things such as strengthen his core.
DFA Pucas Sims
Mikey Romero gets the promotion to AA another Red Sox prospect with helium. Nice to see him recognized after a really good two months really hit the ball well.
Remember when Theo wined and dined free agent Curt Schilling in the 2003-04 off season? IIRC, they spent Thanksgiving together.
Breslow needs to do that this winter. Maybe Corbin Burnes?