Crimson Sox
Lower than 24 hours away from MLB’s commerce deadline, it stays unclear if the Crimson Sox will choose to purchase or promote.
Lower than 24 hours away from MLB’s commerce deadline (6 p.m. on August 1), it stays unclear if the Crimson Sox will choose to purchase or promote throughout this crucial juncture.
Very similar to final season, the Crimson Sox might additionally choose to do a little bit of each.
However no matter course that Chaim Bloom charts for Boston over the following day, the Crimson Sox should not have any scarcity of belongings obtainable to each dump for future items or deal with a view to bolster this present roster.
Right here’s a rundown of a few of Boston’s prime commerce chips:
Adam Duvall, OF
Even when the Crimson Sox do choose so as to add on the deadline, a veteran like Duvall does look like an apparent candidate to be flipped in what’s now a crowded outfield.
Initially introduced in as a steadying presence with some much-needed pop, Duvall has been on the surface wanting in at common reps given Jarren Duran’s shock emergence out in middle discipline. The sturdy play of each Alex Verdugo and Masataka Yoshida provides Boston three sturdy beginning outfielders already.
Duvall dominated in his first few weeks with Boston, slugging 4 house runs and driving in 14 runs over his first eight video games in March and early April. However a damaged wrist sidetracked his 2023 marketing campaign, placing him on the shelf for 2 months.
Since getting back from the IL on June 9, Duvall is batting simply .208 with 5 house runs and 15 RBI over 36 video games.
With Duvall at the moment on a one-year deal, Boston might flip him to a staff in want of a beginning outfielder, with the Crimson Sox handing common reps to Duran in middle and preserving Rob Refsnyder because the fourth outfielder.
The Phillies have some curiosity in Duvall, based on FanSided’s Robert Murray.
“The Crimson Sox, they’re attempting to take care of being aggressive this 12 months whereas additionally having an eye fixed in the direction of subsequent 12 months, which is why I feel they find yourself shifting free-agents-to-be,” Murray mentioned on “The Baseball Insiders” podcast. “An Adam Duvall kind makes a complete lot of sense. Perhaps they’ll improve a unique a part of their roster for this 12 months and subsequent 12 months in a possible commerce to take action.”
James Paxton, P
A longtime pitcher like Paxton within the midst of a resurgent season might internet a hefty return for the Crimson Sox.
After a number of seasons misplaced to Tommy John surgical procedure and different illnesses, Paxton has been a powerful addition to Boston’s beginning rotation in 2023, posting a 6-2 document with a 3.34 ERA. Add in his one-year contract ($4 million in wage), and Paxton is strictly the kind of rental piece that a number of contenders will line up for on the deadline.
In fact, the argument for preserving Paxton is that he’s been a key piece in Boston’s second-half surge, with the southpaw standing proper subsequent to Brayan Bello as arguably the 2 brilliant spots within the beginning rotation.
Even with reinforcements like Chris Sale, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck on the way in which, that trio’s harm historical past doesn’t precisely provide a lot by way of confidence of their means to duck the harm bug as soon as once more.
By that very same token, Boston may additionally choose to promote excessive on a pitcher with a prolonged harm historical past in Paxton, particularly in the event that they assume the veteran doesn’t issue into their long-term plans.
On Sunday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweeted that the “feeling of groups speaking to Crimson Sox is that Sox must be blown away in the event that they had been to deal Paxton.”
Alex Verdugo, OF
Verdugo’s inclusion on this checklist may come as a shock, on condition that his sturdy season has performed a big function in Boston’s present playoff push.
However based on Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, the Crimson Sox are certainly listening in on gives for the 27-year-old outfielder.
With one other 12 months of staff management, Verdugo doesn’t precisely look like the asset that Boston would need to transfer.
However with Durran’s emergence and outfield prospects like Ceddanne Rafaela making a push down within the minors, maybe Boston opts to promote excessive on Verdugo — particularly if the return brings in a controllable asset that addresses a extra urgent want, particularly within the rotation.
To this point, no talks concerning a contract extension between Verdugo and the Crimson Sox have taken place.
Verdugo was arguably a snub for the All-Star Sport in 2023. By way of the primary 72 video games of the season, Verdugo batted .307 with 26 doubles and an .856 OPS by way of the primary 72 video games of the season, complimenting his play on the plate with Gold-Glove-caliber protection in proper discipline.
However since June 28 (22 video games), Verdugo is batting simply .148 with 12 hits, one double and simply seven RBI.
Ceddanne Rafaela, OF/2B
If the Crimson Sox realistically need to purchase affect gamers on the deadline (particularly gamers with time period), they’re going to have to empty a few of their promising prospect pool.
Rafaela has seen his inventory soar this season, with the 22-year-old tabbed as Boston’s No. 2 prospect on MLB.com and SoxProspects.com’s No. 3 rating.
Rafaela’s superior glove at each second and particularly within the outfield had him projected as a key utility piece within the massive leagues. However his elevated manufacturing on the plate gives hope that Rafaela can become an on a regular basis contributor.
Since getting the call-up to Triple-A Worcester, Rafaela is batting .317 with six house runs and 20 RBI over 25 video games.
His pace can also be spectacular, with Rafaela swiping 30 baggage over 60 video games with Double-A Portland earlier this season.
Rafaela might earn a glance up with Boston later this season, particularly if the Sox transfer one other outfielder or two within the subsequent day.
But when Boston is attempting to deal for an affect participant, a refined prospect like Rafaela that’s on the cusp of big-league reps might be an interesting goal.
Bobby Dalbec, 1B
Given each Dalbec’s age (28) and intensive time down with Triple-A Worcester, it appears unlikely that the Crimson Sox would get a big return in any commerce involving the power-hitting first baseman.
Nonetheless, the case might be made that Dalbec deserves a shot up within the massive leagues someplace, with Boston not a possible possibility with first baseman Triston Casas heating up on the plate.
Though Dalbec’s contact price has plummeted in opposition to MLB competitors in his profession, he has supplied loads of pop with Worcester. In 76 video games with the WooSox, Dalbec is batting .295 with a 1.017 OPS and 25 house runs.
Maybe he’s only a tweener higher suited to dominate within the minors. Nonetheless, Dalbec hopefully finds a brand new house in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent day.
Nick Yorke, 2B
Yorke, tabbed as Boston’s No. 3 prospect on MLB.com, is within the midst of a powerful bounce-back marketing campaign with Double-A Portland.
The 21-year-old second baseman has shaped an efficient 1-2 punch with Marcelo Mayer in Portland, with Yorke bashing 10 house runs and 43 RBI over 77 video games with the Sea Canine in 2023.
A bat-first possibility if he advances to the majors, Yorke might be an expendable asset within the short-term for Boston, particularly if Mayer takes over at shortstop within the coming years and Trevor Story slots again over to second.
Marcelo Mayer, SS
The crown jewel of the Crimson Sox’ farm system, Mayer is projected to be Boston’s shortstop of the long run.
A five-tool expertise at the moment enjoying with Double-A Portland, Mayer is most probably off-limits for Bloom and the Crimson Sox.
However the 20-year-old is strictly the kind of participant that each different GM would decide up the telephone for if Boston was to dangle him on the commerce market. Realistically, Boston isn’t even mentioning Mayer in talks until it was for a famous person (Shohei Ohtani? Juan Soto?) or a key participant with loads of staff management.
If Mayer does pack his baggage between now and Tuesday night, the Crimson Sox are clearly swinging for the fences.
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