Red Sox 2020 Roster Thread

DeadlySplitter

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The "let's talk about this ballclub" thread is getting a bit cluttered. So let's get a fresh start on this season, however long it lasts, with the initial 30 day roster, and discuss IL / roster cuts (the roster size will decrease over time), etc. here.

The initial 30-man roster:

Notable players who made the cut: Arauz, Lin, Lucroy, Covey, Valdez. Osich/Springs made it as LHRP, but I imagine once Darwin and Taylor are COVID-free and ready they're first in line to be demoted.



The other players in the pool that can be swapped in. Notable initial cut: Johnson.

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BaseballJones

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View: https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1286351295373348871

"Sox plan an opener for the 4th game and a starter of some sort for the 5th game. Hall or Springs would seem like possibilities. " - Pete Abe


the current rotation is Eovaldi, Perez, Weber, opener, TBD. :eek:
Good lord has there ever been in team history a sketchier starting “rotation” than this? Even Eovaldi, as tantalizing as his talent may be, doesn’t actually have good career numbers. And he’s the #1 right now.

*career: 4.30 era, 94 era+, 1.37 whip, 7.0 k/9
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Good lord has there ever been in team history a sketchier starting “rotation” than this? Even Eovaldi, as tantalizing as his talent may be, doesn’t actually have good career numbers. And he’s the #1 right now.

*career: 4.30 era, 94 era+, 1.37 whip, 7.0 k/9
Pick a rotation from the early Pedro years, only with Pedro and the next best guy on the DL (as Sale and E-Rod are now), and you'll probably come pretty close.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Pick a rotation from the early Pedro years, only with Pedro and the next best guy on the DL (as Sale and E-Rod are now), and you'll probably come pretty close.
Maybe. But Pedro wasn’t ever hurt on opening day and the next best guy (Lowe, Wake, Schilling, Saberhagen, etc) was better than Perez. Obviously the rotation looks much different with a healthy Sale and ERod at the top. Much different.

But, well....... they’re not there.
 

The Gray Eagle

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This thread from March might be helpful in identifying some of these pitchers:
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/who-the-hell-is-that-guy-a-guide-to-red-sox-pitching-depth-in-spring-training.29828/
Here are the writeups from that thread of the no-name pitchers who have made our Opening Day roster:

Austin Brice
27, RHP. Out of options. Born in Hong Kong.
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2020/02/austin-brice-new-boston-red-sox-pitcher-without-options-i-go-into-every-camp-thinking-i-dont-have-a-job.html
Brice put together a solid 2019 season. He posted a 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 4.87 WHIP, .214 batting average against, seven holds and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 36 outings (44 ⅔ innings) for the Marlins.
It marked the best season of his major league career to date. He had posted a 5.68 ERA in 70 outings (84 innings) from 2016-18.
Brice features a four-seam fastball, curveball, sinker and changeup. He uses the changeup mainly vs. left-handed hitters.
His curveball usage increased from 28.1% in 2018 to 44.7% in 2019 while his four-seam fastball usage increased from 19.8% to 31.5%, per Statcast. Meanwhile, his sinker usage dropped from 48.5% to 19.5%.
Matt Hall
26, LHP.
Was terrible in 31 IP for the Tigers in ‘18 and ‘19.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/03/camp-battles-bostons-rotation.html
Joined the Red Sox in a minor trade with the Tigers in January. The spin rate darling has enjoyed some success in the minors, shown in part by a 4.25 ERA with 10.3 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 144 Triple-A innings, but has allowed almost 10 runs per nine with 5.17 BB/9 in a smaller sample of major league frames (31 1/3).
Josh Osich
31, LHP. Claimed off waivers in Oct.
https://soxprospects.com/players/osich-josh.htm
Relies on a 90-92 mph cutter, a 75-81 mph slider, a 94-96 mph sinker, an 84-87 mph changeup, and a mid-90s four-seamer. Arsenal has evolved drastically over the years, including the addition of the cutter in 2019, increased use of the slider, and decreased use of the four-seamer. Cutter is an above-average pitch with some sink and strong cut. Slider varies in speed and has some depth. Induces a lot of swings and misses. Four-seamer has sink. Inconsistent control.
Profiles as a low-leverage middle reliever, but could see high leverage innings if he's able to keep a consistent release point, hone his control for some time, and maintain the dominance of his cutter.
Jeffrey Springs
LHP. Acquired for Sam Travis. 40-man roster.
https://www.masslive.com/sports/2020/02/jeffrey-springs-new-boston-red-sox-pitcher-went-from-minimum-1k-signing-bonus-to-big-leagues-its-less-than-that-after-taxes.html
Springs posted a 3.38 ERA in 32 innings his rookie year in 2018, but his ERA jumped to 6.40 in 32 ⅓ innings last year.
“For me, it’s moving my fastball around,” he said. “Changeup’s my bread and butter. But to be able to move the fastball down to both sides. Sink it when I need to. And I love to elevate it. For me, it’s kind of a speed-'em-up, slow-'em down game. The changeup like I said — if I can get guys on the front foot, I feel like I can throw fastballs by them and then vice versa. If they start cheating to the changeup, move the fastball. The breaking ball, the slider has gotten a lot better. I worked on it a lot this offseason. So I feel like it’s still going to be an out-pitch for me. But for me, it’s the front-to-back game, speed-'em-up, slow-'em-down."
Phillips Valdez
28, RHP. Claimed off waivers from Mariners.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/03/camp-battles-bostons-rotation.html
Valdez got his first taste of MLB action with the Rangers a season ago, and while he pitched to a 3.94 ERA, averaged better than 10 strikeouts per nine and induced grounders at a 53.3 percent clip, he walked more than five per nine at the same time. And Valdez wasn’t as good at Triple-A, where he recorded a 4.92 ERA/5.59 FIP with 7.44 K/9 and 4.12 BB/9 in 78 2/3 innings of work.
 

The Gray Eagle

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And here is some info on Dylan Covey, who also made the Opening Day roster:

Dylan Covey
28, RHP

Former first round pick of the Brewers, (taken right after Chris Sale!!) didn't sign, then was taken in the 4th round by the A's in 2013.

https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-know-red-sox-pitcher-224810814.html
Covey has appeared in 63 games as a Major League pitcher -- all with the Chicago White Sox -- including 45 starts. He owns a 6-29 record with a 6.54 ERA, 173 strikeouts and a 1.60 WHIP for his career. Covey has a 5-26 record with a 6.75 ERA in 217 1/3 innings as a starter.
Here's what he threw like back in 2017, when he was a White Sox prospect:
Covey can run his fastball up to 95 mph but typically sits between 89-93 mph with heavy sink. His best pitch often is his changeup, which features splitter action. He also throws a curveball and slider, both of which have their moments but usually grade as average offerings.

Because Covey lacks a plus pitch, he must keep the ball down in the strike zone to succeed. He doesn't have huge upside as a starter, but he could be an innings eater toward the back of a rotation.
Ron Howard voice-over: He couldn't.

Here's a really optimistic take on Covey from Beyond the Box Score from 2018:

Overall, Covey has done a massive overhaul with fastball. Last year he threw a four-seamer 30.1% of the time. Through six starts this year, he’s almost totally abandoned it, throwing it at a 3.7% rate. He’s essentially replaced it with a sort of two-seam sinking fastball (Baseball Savant marks it as a two-seamer, Brooks Baseball has it as a sinker), which he threw 27.3% of the time in 2017, upping it to a 64.1% mark this season. His rate of increase with that pitch is at an unprecedented level among major league pitchers this year.

The complete remodel with his fastball combined with a release point change has done wonders for Covey’s control problems too. The rate of pitches in the zone on his fastball has had a nice uptick, jumping from 50.0% to 57.1%, now comfortably above the league-average of 52.0%.

I try to not get worked over a small sample size, such as something like six starts, but when a player makes a dramatic change to his profile and results start to improve, it’s hard not to say something. Covey likely isn’t ever going to become anything flashy, but the White Sox might have molded a very capable major league starter with a few changes.
Ron Howard voice-over: They haven't.

Not to sugarcoat it, but Covey's been one of the very worst pitchers in baseball over the past few years.

In 250 major league innings, he's accrued -2.6 WAR, with a 6.54 ERA and a 6-29 W-L record and an ERA+ of 66.

Is he at least on an upswing? Nope. Last year he went 1-8, 7.98 with the White Sox.

This guy is bad at pitching the baseball, compared to other major league pitchers. He's probably a lot better pitcher than you or me, and even probably better than a lot of minor leaguers. And better than some, but not all, position players who sometimes try to pitch.

Those horrendous career numbers would be even horrendouser if he wasn't great against the Red Sox. He's gone 2-0, 1.32 in 13 career innings against Boston.

He has made one career appearance at Fenway Park. It was with the White Sox in 2018 when he started against Sale on June 8. Covey pitched six innings, allowing three hits and no runs with seven strikeouts and one walk. The White Sox won 1-0.

Clearly, he dominates everyone at Fenway, so we should definitely count on him to win the Cy Young award this year if we only pitch him in home games.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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They've got 32 pitchers on the 60-man roster (including Sale and ERod). They're going to be rotating guys to the Pawtucket taxi squad frequently. There really isn't much to read into Covey being sent down after today's game other than they want another fresh pitcher for tomorrow. They have to make room for Godley at some point as he's expected to be a part of Monday or Tuesday's game (starting or long man after an opener). Johnson too.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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They've got 32 pitchers on the 60-man roster (including Sale and ERod). They're going to be rotating guys to the Pawtucket taxi squad frequently. There really isn't much to read into Covey being sent down after today's game other than they want another fresh pitcher for tomorrow. They have to make room for Godley at some point as he's expected to be a part of Monday or Tuesday's game (starting or long man after an opener). Johnson too.
Even if this were a regular season I’d have expected a lot of churn at the bottom of the roster in search gold, especially in the pen.
 

ehaz

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At this rate, Bloom will have a great opportunity to add pitching talent in the ‘21 draft!
 

sodenj5

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Unless Mookie Betts was going to go 9 innings once a week, he wouldn’t have helped this roster.

Short season might be a blessing for all of us. There must be AAA rosters with a better 1-5 rotation than Boston right now.
 

BaseballJones

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Well for a team that didn’t look like it had a great rotation to start with, losing both Sale (a true ace) and ERod (a legit #2) didn’t exactly help.

The key for Boston this year moving forward is to reset the luxury tax. Gotta get the season to Sept 1. And at the trade deadline, deal anything you can outside of ERod, Sale, X, Verdugo, and Devers for whatever you can get. Yes even JD (if he can be traded) and Barnes and Workman and Benny and JBJ and Peraza and Eovaldi. Keep the core and rebuild.
 

scottyno

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Unless Mookie Betts was going to go 9 innings once a week, he wouldn’t have helped this roster.

Short season might be a blessing for all of us. There must be AAA rosters with a better 1-5 rotation than Boston right now.
His bat wouldn't have helped either since RF has been their best position so far
 

YTF

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Unless Mookie Betts was going to go 9 innings once a week, he wouldn’t have helped this roster.

Short season might be a blessing for all of us.
There must be AAA rosters with a better 1-5 rotation than Boston right now.
Perhaps as fans, but this short season is going to be a killer in terms of assessing talent and acquiring talent in season. I'd rather the team had a full season to work with because IMO there's going to probably be as many question marks going into next season as there are right now.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Well for a team that didn’t look like it had a great rotation to start with, losing both Sale (a true ace) and ERod (a legit #2) didn’t exactly help.

The key for Boston this year moving forward is to reset the luxury tax. Gotta get the season to Sept 1. And at the trade deadline, deal anything you can outside of ERod, Sale, X, Verdugo, and Devers for whatever you can get. Yes even JD (if he can be traded) and Barnes and Workman and Benny and JBJ and Peraza and Eovaldi. Keep the core and rebuild.
I’d add in being aggressive with call-ups as soon as they’ve delayed enough service time.

I’m sure Bloom is working with all of the above in mind. A losing season doesn’t have to be a waste.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Who in particular with talent do you think they are keeping down for service time issues?
I don't think the Red Sox are keeping anyone down for service time issues. That's the sort of thing teams do with top prospects who have a clear role with the big club once they're brought up. The Sox have no such prospects, and the best prospects they do have are more or less blocked at their primary positions anyway so what's the rush?
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Well for a team that didn’t look like it had a great rotation to start with, losing both Sale (a true ace) and ERod (a legit #2) didn’t exactly help.

The key for Boston this year moving forward is to reset the luxury tax. Gotta get the season to Sept 1. And at the trade deadline, deal anything you can outside of ERod, Sale, X, Verdugo, and Devers for whatever you can get. Yes even JD (if he can be traded) and Barnes and Workman and Benny and JBJ and Peraza and Eovaldi. Keep the core and rebuild.
Serious question... but will any team REALLY "go for it" this year and actually trade anything of value to win this season's "world series"? I don't see any team placing value on it this year, and don't see any deals being made this year other than small minor adjustments.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Serious question... but will any team REALLY "go for it" this year and actually trade anything of value to win this season's "world series"? I don't see any team placing value on it this year, and don't see any deals being made this year other than small minor adjustments.
You might be right. I think JD could fetch something though. What would happen is that the other team (and now with the DH in both leagues, a lot more teams come into play) would want to negotiate with JD for a long-term deal, so it would benefit them not only for this year but for years to come. He's an elite hitter with many productive years ahead of him. He *should* be able to get the Sox a nice return, and I think he's very likely to opt out after this season. Though with covid, maybe he doesn't. Who knows. I'd still look to deal him and see what you can get.
 

johnnywayback

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Perhaps as fans, but this short season is going to be a killer in terms of assessing talent and acquiring talent in season. I'd rather the team had a full season to work with because IMO there's going to probably be as many question marks going into next season as there are right now.
I agree with this. And I think that, winning aside, the top priority for this year is using these 60 games to identify a couple of useful pitchers out of this army of discards Bloom is assembling. So I'm willing to give them a little more leeway in trotting out various Halls and Godleys.
You might be right. I think JD could fetch something though. What would happen is that the other team (and now with the DH in both leagues, a lot more teams come into play) would want to negotiate with JD for a long-term deal, so it would benefit them not only for this year but for years to come. He's an elite hitter with many productive years ahead of him. He *should* be able to get the Sox a nice return, and I think he's very likely to opt out after this season. Though with covid, maybe he doesn't. Who knows. I'd still look to deal him and see what you can get.
I don't agree with this. Martinez is our best hitter, and if they hope to compete in 2021 (which they should), they'll need him. There's no one of his stature available elsewhere. They should be trying to extend him, not trade him.

If they do wind up falling out of contention, I'd look to trade Workman and Barnes. With the playoffs so much of a crapshoot this year, there will be a lot of teams looking for high-leverage relief pitching, and I bet you'd get more than you think for those two guys.
 

BaseballJones

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@johnnywayback - It's not about "extending" JD. He's under contract through 2022, but per that contract, he has an opt-out after this year. People I've read have suggested that he's quite likely to opt out after this year (though covid may alter that reality). He's not making a ton of money (just $23.8m this year, and $19.4m in 2021 and 2022), so he probably could get a lot more as a free agent, even with covid.

So if they think he's likely to opt out, then dealing him makes the most sense, especially if this season is lost.
 

johnnywayback

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@johnnywayback - It's not about "extending" JD. He's under contract through 2022, but per that contract, he has an opt-out after this year. People I've read have suggested that he's quite likely to opt out after this year (though covid may alter that reality). He's not making a ton of money (just $23.8m this year, and $19.4m in 2021 and 2022), so he probably could get a lot more as a free agent, even with covid.

So if they think he's likely to opt out, then dealing him makes the most sense, especially if this season is lost.
Right -- I'm saying that they should be talking to him about re-working the contract so that he surrenders the opt-outs in exchange for, I don't know, a 5/125 deal running 2021 through 2025.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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@johnnywayback - It's not about "extending" JD. He's under contract through 2022, but per that contract, he has an opt-out after this year. People I've read have suggested that he's quite likely to opt out after this year (though covid may alter that reality). He's not making a ton of money (just $23.8m this year, and $19.4m in 2021 and 2022), so he probably could get a lot more as a free agent, even with covid.

So if they think he's likely to opt out, then dealing him makes the most sense, especially if this season is lost.
Here's the thing though...if they're trading Martinez out of fear he'll opt out, who's going to trade anything useful for him if he could literally be a one month rental (does he not still pose an opt-out threat to the new team)? I'd rather they keep him and if he opts out, he opts out. It's not as though they don't have the money to give him a competitive offer to stay if they wanted. I just don't see the reward of trading him being significantly greater than if he simply walks this winter.
 

ehaz

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They’re not going to get anything useful for Martinez given that the season could be over in the blink of an eye (maybe even today).

Benintendi might be a different story.
 

BaseballJones

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Here's the thing though...if they're trading Martinez out of fear he'll opt out, who's going to trade anything useful for him if he could literally be a one month rental (does he not still pose an opt-out threat to the new team)? I'd rather they keep him and if he opts out, he opts out. It's not as though they don't have the money to give him a competitive offer to stay if they wanted. I just don't see the reward of trading him being significantly greater than if he simply walks this winter.
Well just a few posts ago, I said, "What would happen is that the other team (and now with the DH in both leagues, a lot more teams come into play) would want to negotiate with JD for a long-term deal, so it would benefit them not only for this year but for years to come."

So presumably the team getting him would want to work that stuff out. One reason he might prefer another team is if their future prospects of winning are greater (in his estimation) than Boston's. Which right now, frankly, don't look very good.
 

OurF'ingCity

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They’re not going to get anything useful for Martinez given that the season could be over in the blink of an eye (maybe even today).

Benintendi might be a different story.
Selling low on a relatively cost-controlled Benintendi doesn’t seem to be the kind of move Bloom would make (although, it’s not like Benintendi should be off the table entirely if some team makes a great offer).

I agree with others that goal should be to get as much as they can for Workman/Barnes (and possibly JBJ) and otherwise use the season as effectively an extended exhibition season to “try out” their various scrap-heap relievers in the hopes that one or two of them will show enough to make them viable major league pitchers in the longer-term.
 

Bernie Carbohydrate

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Churned Pitcher Write-up Template

Name:

A. Brice Austin
B. Matt Josh
C. Austin Brice
D. "Exxon" Valdez
F. Dylan Stock

Age:
A. 26
B. 27
C. 28
D. 29
F. Veteran Presence

Damning-with-faint-praise adjective:
A. Solid
B. Serviceable
C. Steady
D. Affordable

Stuff Descriptor:
A. Decent
B. Deceptive
C. Passable
D. Intriguing

Scouting Report:
A. Straight breaking ball
B. Slow fastball
C. Rising sinker
D. Change-up lacks change.

By the Numbers:
A. 5+ ERA
B. 2+ WHIP
C. 5- K/9
D. 103° temperature next week