The Red Sox have some open rotation opportunities and one surprising name is emerging as a candidate. Manager Álex Cora tells Christopher Smith of MassLive that left-hander Sean Newcomb is “in the hunt” for a starting gig to begin the season.
Since camp opened, the Sox have lost three rotation options to injuries. Each of Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are slated to start the season on the injured list. Crawford has right knee soreness, Bello right shoulder soreness and Giolito left hamstring tightness. That leaves the Sox with Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler in three spots, but with two openings to start the season. They could go with guys already on the roster, such as Quinn Priester, Richard Fitts or Cooper Criswell, but it seems there’s also a chance they with Newcomb, who is in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Newcomb, 32 in June, was once a viable big league starter. He tossed 264 innings for Atlanta in 2017 and 2018, starting 49 of his 50 appearances. In that time, he had a 4.06 earned run average. His 12% walk rate was on the high side but he struck out 23.3% of opponents and got grounders at a 43.6% clip.
Since then, his results have backed up. His control problems worsened, which has pushed him into spending more time in the bullpen, but without improved results. From 2019 to the present, he has 167 big league innings pitched with a 5.23 ERA and 13% walk rate. But in camp thus far, he has tossed 9 2/3 innings over four appearances with a 0.93 ERA, 27% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate. That led him to settle for a minor league deal with Boston this winter.
There’s no real urgency to select Newcomb’s contract, with Smith relaying that the lefty does not have an opt-out in his minor league deal. But each of Crawford, Bello and Giolito could return fairly early in the season, so the Sox might need him now more than they will as the season progresses.
Still, the Massachusetts native might end up going to Triple-A Worcester if the Sox go with guys like Priester or Fitts to start the year, but he’s okay with that. “If it means going there to stay ready type of thing, that’s fine,” he tells Smith. “It’s in Mass. So I’ll be able to be home either way. That’s kind of a plus. But obviously the goal is to be up there.”
The Sox also have to make a decision about second base, as they have no defined starter there. Per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Cora said the spot is a competition between David Hamilton, Vaughn Grissom and Kristian Campbell, with Cora speaking fondly of Hamilton and his athleticism. Hamilton has hit just .235/.298/.373 in his career thus far but has 35 steals in 40 attempts.
Campbell is well known as one of the top prospects in the league. He is only 22 years old, turning 23 in June, and has only 19 Triple-A games under his belt. Cracking the big leagues is certainly feasible but sending him back to Worcester for more reps is also justifiable. He came into today with a line of .152/.263/.182 in spring, not exactly kicking the door down. He did go 1-3 with a walk today, but also struck out twice.
Smith wrote about today’s performance, noting that Campbell made several impressive defensive plays. That had previously been an issue, with few balls hit to him so far this spring, making it hard for decision makers to evaluate his glovework. “It feels like he’s getting comfortable. Put a good swing and then the walk,” Cora said of Campbell’s performance today. “That was good. But I think defensively, today was the first day I was able to see it. We talk about it, too. And (he) got a few chances. Even late in the game, it’s 12-3 or whatever it was. And he made two nice plays. That tells you who he is and the defender he is.”
The Sox open the season on Thursday next week against the Rangers in Arlington. That gives them about a week to make their final roster decisions. Neither Newcomb nor Campbell are on the 40-man roster, so corresponding moves would be required if they make the cut.
Newcomb starting? What year is it again?
How’s Grissom looking?
Not sure how he’s been defensively, but really struggles at the plate.
Any chance that Bregman would get moved there by mid May?
Essentially no chance at this point.
You’re more likely to see Mayer take SS and Story slide to 2B than you are to see Bregman jump to 2B at this point.
My guess is they’re happy to roll with hamilton/Gonzalez in tandem until one of the IF kids force the issue out of AAA
GA, just give the job to Campbell if/when the team believes he’s ready and until then, the combo you mentioned is fine. Let Campbell play though once he’s brought up. Have patience. Remember Pedie was under .200 his rookie season in April.
GA – Agreed on Hamilton/Romy at 2B is the most likely duo to start 2025. Two analysts, who were at spring training, noted that Kristian Campbell played the vast majority of his games, in 2024, at SS and outfielder rather than 2B. They said he looked a little rough at 2B, and might need a little more time at 2B in AAA. He just has not played there enough in his career yet. He was drafted in 2023, and he reached AAA in only his first full season in 2024.
Devers shoulders are not fully healthy, so he starts the season at DH, Bregman 3B, Story SS, above paragraph at 2B, Casas 1B, Duran LF, Rafaela CF, Ref/Abreu in RF, Wong C
Sean Newcomb (NRI) can start in the rotation if he continues to pitch well, and the corresponding move is Murphy 60-day IL. If Ottivano makes the 26-man, then Kutter Crawford ends up on the 60-day too.
Penrod is also likely to go on the 60 day IL. I still think in the end Cora will want Yoshida at DH vs RH SP’s with Bregman moving between 2B and 3B when Yoshida sits vs LH SP’s and Devers goes to DH — Romy to 2b.
It’s just staggering to me that there are still Sox’ fans holding onto the notion that Rafael Devers, the Michael Jackson of 2025 baseball, could/should/might be positioned at third, with his reigning Gold Glover teammate “sliding over” to second.
By all outward indications, Devers seems like a decent guy, maybe not the most engaged teammate, but jeez, if there is ONE thing a simple eye test can confirm, he’s a god-awful defensive liability. It’s not for a lack of effort – he has no natural talent or feel for the position, and he’s been playing there long enough for rational observers to conclude that he’s not developing latent talent.
Ownership spent $120m to sign one of the slickest, most surehanded third baseman in the majors today – but why improve your overall team defense by playing him at his natural position – heck, maybe he can catch.
Someone please explain why the Red Sox will be a better team with Devers at third, and Bregman playing an unfamiliar position.
Oh yeah, the Michael Jackson thing. Old joke. What did Michael Jackson and Rafael Devers have in common? They both wore a glove on their left hand, for no apparent reason.
Kidding, awesome opinion. lol, “they both wore a glove on their left hand, for no apparent reason.” Perfect
@Kidding Right?
The drawback of having Devers at DH is that the Red Sox lose Yoshida’s bat as there is a huge gap between Yoshida and Hamilton (the current front runner for 2b). Yoshida has a career 112 wRC+ while Hamilton’s is 85 wRC+ – this gap becomes even more extreme when using ZiPs or Steamers to project future performance.
Gold gloves are a poor barometer for measuring defense. Over the past 3 seasons Bregman ranks 10th in OAA, 21st in DRS and 25th in UZR. He’s a slightly above average defensive 3rd baseman with good hands, but he’s held back by a weak arm for the position (44th in arm strength of 55 3rd basemen with 50+ throws in 2024).
2b isn’t a wholely unfamiliar position for Bregman as he practices taking grounders throughout the infield and played 2b in short stints in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He only plays 3rd base because there was no other spot for him when he arrived in MLB – he previously played shortstop as his primary position. If you were to think of him as a prospect with his sure hands and weak arm, 2b is likely where you would place him.
Devers actually does have natural talent for 3rd base as he’s one of the better throwing 3rd basemen in MLB with his strong arm (18th of 55), unfortunately this is coupled with inconsistent fielding which puts him near, or at, the bottom defensively in most overall fielding metrics.
The present-day value of Bregman’s contract varies depending on evaluation, but the CBA has it pegged at ~95.1mil, most of which likely won’t be realized given his player option for 2026. But a player’s contract shouldn’t determine position, especially for a player (Bregman) who’s willing to play anywhere.
Ideally if Devers and Yoshida were healthy enough to play the field then Bregman would be getting time at 2b so we could see how he looks, but the timetable of when either of them can start throwing is murky. Otherwise Campbell or Grissom lighting up spring training would have given the team a strong plan-B, but that hasn’t happened (Campbell’s ~35% K% is concerning) as Hamilton is likely best suited for a utility role.
The Red Sox don’t have a great option here until Devers gets healthy and/or one of the young guys shows he can play. The Yoshida side-story shouldn’t be overlooked either as they will reportedly place him on the 15-day DL to continue rehabbing his throwing shoulder – but his health will eventually push the team into moving Bregman to 2b or playing with only a single reserve infielder (not including Rafaela).
I appreciate and respect your thoughtful and well-reasoned opinion; most specifically because there is very little of what passes for intelligent discussion on these types of boards.
You are correct that Bregman’s arm strength is at the lower end of Major League serviceable, but what he does demonstrate is League class range; measuring out within the top decile of active third basemen. Given the unique geometry of Fenway’s left field, it’s a big deal to keep ground balls from rattling around in those corners.
Bregman is especially strong at “going toward the bag”, and those are the more dangerous of Fenway grounders, both in terms of balls that rebound obliquely off the stands, and balls that get down into the door area.
I 100% concur that Raffy has a stronger arm (accuracy aside), but a third baseman has to field balls, in order to throw them. We can engage in a healthy debate about the informational value of the various defensive metrics that are thrown around, but by one oft-cited metric, Devers was the worst rated qualifying third baseman in the league, this past year, and it wasn’t particularly close ( Statcast’s FRV). It won’t surprise you to confirm that he finished dead last in 2023, as well. Since Devers’ first full season, he’s been pegged as costing the Sox 62 runs with his third base defense, and the next worst player in the majors comes in at 46.
I also acknowledge your thoughts with regard to Yoshida being a quality bat, with absolutely zero defensive upside. Unlike Little League baseball, you can’t hide your poorest fielder by playing them at “Left Out”. If Masataka could just put up the kinds of offensive numbers that we know he’s capable of, that would be a tremendous asset to the team – but – at what sum cost?
To install Yoshida as your everyday (right platoon?) DH, acknowledging that he offers zero fielding value, directly accepts that the worst fielding third baseman in the league is going to olé a non-insignificant number of ground balls that would have a high EV of success for even a replacement level Joe Schmo, and, directly accepts that Casas and his hamstrings wii get a season long workout, stretching and leaping for cross diamond throws, going who knows where.
I propose that the bigger problem is simply “How To Solve a Problem Like Yoshida”, rather than “Helter Skelter” Devers at third.
As we know, the Yoshida problem is really a $$ problem – there are any number of teams that could use a quality DH bat, removing a Red Sox surplus rostering problem – but the most strategic, if costly, solution is probably to take a depreciation on the trade value of the Yoshi asset, rather than hobble the defense with an inadequate third baseman.
Can I also say that – visually – Raffy Devers doesn’t seem to have a gather my thoughts, set my feet, rely on my technique mode; either in the field, or at the plate.
You watch him at bat, and you can almost see “I’m going to swing REAL HARD at this next one, no matter what pitch is likely to be coming, no matters its location, no matter its velocity.” He gives the impression of performing purely on instinct, rather than a whole lot of technique.
He gives me the same impression in the field. A more contemplative athlete might think “take a breath, set my feet, check the runner”, but Devers’ personal approach seems to be “let this baby fly!”
I’m dating myself significantly, here, but the all-time favorite of my youth was Yaz. Eddie Stanky was once famously quoted as calling him “an all-star from the neck down”. A player who maybe appreciated the game as a see –> react player, more than maybe a deep thinker.
I would love to see a Devers who maybe adjusts a little bit more, demonstrates the wisdom that comes with experience. He plays with a stubborn self-confidence that doesn’t need a whole lot of temperance.
Easily the biggest reasons Bregman WONT be at second is: the fact that he’s not played a single inning there and they’re already strong enough at 2nd with Hamilton, Mayer and Campbell. Dollars aside.
Easily the biggest reasons Bregman WONT be at second is: the fact that he’s not played a single inning there, and they’re already strong enough at 2nd with Hamilton, Mayer, and Campbell. Dollars aside.
WCSox – your analysis is correct. I would also add that Bregman is a good and capable second baseman, and that it is a more valuable position than 3B. Range and turning double plays as well as number of plays a 2B is involved in as an ‘up-the-middle position make Bregman valuable at 2B as well as getting Yoshida’s bat in the lineup more often.
The whole who plays where will ultimately be determined by who is healthy! Remember the ling discussions about the Red Sox six man rotation to start the season (Crochet, Buehler, Houck and the now injured Crawford, Bello, and Giolito)…. Now the Red Sox are having to add Fitts and a fifth starter, because 3 of their original 6 will be MIA….
Okay, I’ll bite – where are you getting “a good and capable second baseman”?
Alex Bregman never appeared at second base at LSU, nor did he play second at any point while playing minor league ball at Lancaster, Quad Cities, Fresno, or Corpus Christi.
Of his 9579.2 major league innings, he was positioned at second base for 32 of them.
Bregman has played two full games as a second baseman at any point in his 12 majors, minors and college career – the most recent full game appearance was on June 19th of 2018 and his last second base action of any kind was on July 21st of that same year.
Is your thesis that anyone can play second, or is it more specific, that any third baseman can play second, or what, exactly?
Perhaps you had the good fortune of viewing all of the 15 chances that Alex Bregman has fielded at second base, and they all looked “good and capable”, if not spectacular. If so, I obviously yield to your far greater familiarity with his defensive skills.
Seriously, do you just pronounce him “good and capable” as a second baseman, and that makes him so, or are you just counting on the fact that most readers won’t know that you’re just making it up?
There’s not much in your last two posts which I can disagree with, although I think you’re being a little hard on Devers and Yoshida (although liking/disliking a players is always up to a fan’s discretion).
Bregman had the best season of his career by FRV/OAA (they’re the same thing aside from a very slight adjustment of baserunner advancement) and the difference in their run value (RV), another statcast adjustment metric, was 10 (-5 vs +5). Although you may not like to watch the occasional sloppy play by Devers, do you think that having Yoshida over Hamilton offensively is worth less than 10 runs for a given season? My guess is that it probably isn’t.
The other variable is how good Bregman is defensively at 2b as opposed to Hamilton. Managers, scouts and fans who have seen him claim he’s good there, and as we’ve discussed it better fits his skillset (and his size for that matter), so I wouldn’t be surprised if he were actually a better 2b than he is a 3b.
Hamilton’s peripherals this spring have been quite good, and I hope he continues to improve, but based on their usage of him, the Red Sox seem to look at him as a utility guy and possible 2b placeholder, and I trust their take the most. It’s interesting that Mayer is now getting some 2nd base reps, but I’d be surprised if Cora went with him given his lack of AAA time and experience at 2nd base.
There’s a lot of hate toward Yoshida’s fielding, and I would never claim he’s good, but judging a player off of 1 season when they’re a rookie and learning LF at Fenway, is a bit rough. Those watching Yoshida didn’t think he was bad until the statcast data came in, but statcast defensive data is notoriously questionable regarding irregularities of ballparks and LF at Fenway is as irregular as you get, so I’m betting he’s a little better than OAA or FRV showed in 2023. If he can play the field competently, which he reportedly did while in Japan, then it gives Cora more options to adjust the lineup, even if he only plays ~2/3 of the time based on handedness (his LHP splits last year were fully due to BABIP, which was partially luck-based).
Last year Yoshida was a DH-only due to the shoulder injury, and it badly restricted the lineups, if we move to Devers being ‘DH-only’, it not only causes issues now with Yoshida, but it will cause the roster restriction issues through the year 2033! So i’m committed to wanting Devers to be ‘good enough’ at 3rd while he costs the team 5-runs per year defensively but more than makes up for it offensively (although drawing a few more walks wouldn’t hurt). My dream is still to have a Devers/VGJ/Casas 3-way platoon – defense be damned.
Bregman has made two starts at 2B in his career and played zero innings at 2B this spring. The Red Sox have no intention of playing him there. Either Campbell will win the job and go north with the team or Hamilton/Grissom/Gonzalez will hold down the fort until he is ready.
That deal is reeking of Lyle-for-Cater in so many ways.
Almost a carbon copy of Campbell at the plate this spring. Both are likely to end up in AAA with Hamilton getting the opening day nod.
At least 2 of the 3 are likely to make the team as they need more than just the starting 9. They need backups as well and all of them can’t be just OFers.
Ignorant, to me Grissom has looked crappy in the field.
So many bobbled plays, and they don’t give out an error, but rather a base hit. He’s not steady with the glove and his footwork still seems to be lacking at second.
I’ve shaken my head and proclaimed “he’s done” out loud for everyone to hear too many times.
I’m all for Hamilton starting the year at second and then maybe Campbell will be ready after a few months of AAA?
2025 Spring Training
Batting now… or lack there of Vaughn Grissom!
34AB .176AVG 0HR 3RBI 0SB .535OPS
Newcomb has looked better than Priester and two spots on the 40-man roster will open when the season starts because of injuries. It would be a nice ‘never give up’ story.
Why rush up kcamp? Give hamilton a month, if he sucks, promote camp & preserve his service time
The RedSox have to be strongly considering all three rookies, due to the PPI rules of MLB. Basically, if a top 100 prospect is active 172 of 180 days & then wins rookie of the year or finishes top 3 in MVP or CY in first three years, the team is rewarded an extra draft pick.
Agree 100% – they have three chances at that ROY draft pick.
IMO their best roster includes the 3 top prospects, not all these glove only guys. Especially w Yoshida injured.
Because Campbell is better than Hamilton and Grissom? Hamilton is fast and…. That’s it. Grissom was a bust before the Sox traded for him.
If he’s ready, no need to keep him in the minors.
Hamilton had 8 HRs in a half-season with a 2.6 bWAR, and has outplayed Campbell, and mostly everyone else in ST.
Again, Hamilton is fast. That’s it. The SB inflates his WAR. His defense is horrible. 92 OPS+.
It’s unfortunate that no one has actually seized the opportunity at 2B. Mayer has significantly outplayed Hamilton in ST, and it’s a little strange he hasn’t gotten looks at 2B.
Again, 8 HRs in half-season. That’s above average for a 2B. And his fielding graded out well last year, with 8 DRS, 3 OAA, and 2 FRV, in only 266 IPs.
Defensive metrics over 266 innings aren’t reliable. They typically need a full season or longer to give any reliable data.
Unfortunately missing the first month of the season wouldn’t help with service time manipulation unless you expect him to be sent back down again in the future. The team would need to keep Campbell down for 45-60 days for the extra year of control, and a little longer to avoid super-2 status. And even if they get the extra year of control, it can go away based on his performance.
@wc
60 days? Not sure if thats correct
If Player is in majors 171 or less days the tm gets the extra yr. So thats a few weeks not 2 months. Unless i’m missing something here
Also the point is, he might not be ready. Rough spring. Needs a few more ABs in minors
I’d prefer the extra year, but I think it’s even a question at this point. 498 minors ABs, 70 in AAA, and 15 Ks in 36 ABs in ST. That’s 250/600 ABs, and not always against major league pitching. Let him develop.
It’s great to see decent depth. Another LH starter would be great. Newcomb needs to have a couple more good starts and force them to put him at 4-5 in the rotation.
I’d say Ham has “won” the job, but only because neither Campbell nor Grissom did enough to win it. He’s a fine #8 hitter who can steal some bases.
swanhenge: Pitchers are traditionally ahead of hitters in spring training, so don’t hold your breath for Newcomb.
I’m hoping for two good starts and a Gio return. My bet on more L/T success would be Fulmer. He’s always been a #3, when healthy.
Neither Campbell or Grissom a should open the season with the big club. Let Hamilton and Gonzalez platoon at 2B til either one of the kids emerge from AAA or Bregman slides over
red sox might be relieved campbell isn’t forcing the issue this spring. hamilton is perfectly cromulent so they can give campbell some more reps at AAA
@dasit
Very impressed and pleased with your use of “cromulent”. A very underutilized word.
Somebody’s showing off their word of the day calendar
Agreed. I believe the Red Sox are stressing competition in spring training and Hamilton and Gonzalez are performing the best so far.
And Romy is the only one with 1B experience.
Hamiltons speed is a game changer
As a wise man once said “You can’t teach speed”
Cora said today was the first,time he saw Campbell play second base. That tells you Cora was hearing from his team that Campbell looks great but isn’t ready. Campbell needs to show he can do the routine plays consistently; he hasn’t had enough reps.
June call up would be possible, but I think they want to see how he does over half a season. Hamilton is pretty good too, so there’s no need to rush Campbell.
I’m sorry Darragh, but the way you use “guys like” in articles just shouldn’t be there. I was told in middle school to not use phrases like that in writing. It takes away from your writing
Just go with whoever is hottest this spring and try to get them to deliver for another month. Then the red sox will have guys coming off the IL and prospects in Worcester who will probably be better adjusted by then. No need to force Campbell to immediately take over at second. And if any of those back of the rotation options are struggling now there’s no reason to put them out there. None of them are that great. You’d expect a 5.00 ERA from any of them.
Boston is treating April as a bullpen chess game, making sure they don’t waste a move too early when a better, more stable solution might be right around the corner.
My Vote is for Mayer to play SS and move Story to 2B. My other Vote is to package Abreu, Grissom and Yoshida to Seattle (who desperately need Offense) for Closer Munoz or Woo.
Cooperdooper – Mayer will not be starting at SS as he has all of 0 at bat in AAA, and there is no way that trade with Seattle happens under any circumstances!