Trade Deadline confessions from five players
CHICAGO - It was just one series, one weekend. But the realities of this time of year is hard to ignore. Just ask the Cubs.
David Ross' team came into the three-game set with the Red Sox knowing it was up against the clock when it came defining its existence. Buyers? Believers? Nope.
What the Cubs felt after Sunday's 11-5 loss to the Sox was desperation bordering on resignation. It was a feeling shared by a few clubs after three post-All-Star break contests. The Cubs are eight games out of a postseason spot. The Mets sit 8 1/2 back in the National League Wild Card race. PIttsburgh? Forget about it. They are 10 1/2 out. And San Diego has burst out of the break with three straight losses to put their deficit at eight games.
The Red Sox, however, at living a different sort of life. They are seemingly finally on the cusp of defining themselves in a good way.
Alex Cora's club is now 1 1/2 games out of the final American League Wild Card spot, having taken two out of three games against the best Chicago has to offer - starters Kyle Hendricks, Marcus Stroman and All-Star Justin Steele.
Best-case scenarios are popping up all over the roster. Kutter Crawford. Masa Yoshida. Jarren Duran. Triston Casas. Justin Turner. Connor Wong. Chris Martin. Kenley Jansen. Brayan Bello. James Paxton. Yu Chang. Rob Refsnyder. Alex Verdugo. All best-case scenarios, or pretty darn close to it.
And because of where this group has landed, the Red Sox have found themselves in the meat-and-potatoes of postseason consideration.
So, as the Red Sox head to Oakland for an opportunity to feast on the worst team in Major League Baseball, here are some thoughts, observations and tidbits for those trying to get a feel for what exactly is going on with 15 days to go before Fork-In-The-Road-Tuesday (otherwise known at the MLB Trade Deadline):
- The Red Sox would actually seem to be in a decent spot heading into the the Deadline, with sources suggesting their priorities are two things that might not cost a ton to acquire: 1. A back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, and 2. A seventh-inning righty reliever.
There are plenty of contending clubs whose priority will also be pitching, but must prioritize more expensive top-of-the-rotation (Lucas Giolito) or closing (Josh Hader). The Red Sox seem content in riding with the likes of Bello, Paxton, Crawford and probably some combination of Chris Sale, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock, with the integration of a Rich Hill-type. And, as for the bullpen, Jansen and Martin are locked in, a luxury that many of the contending teams would die for. But what can be bolstered is the next tier of righties relievers, which is going to be relying on the soon-to-be-returning John Schreiber, as well as Nick Pivetta. Keep an eye on the White Sox list of potentially-available relievers, Reynaldo Lopez, Keynan Middleton, and, yes, Joe Kelly (who returns from the injured list this week).
But beware: The Red Sox aren't the only team prioritizing those sort of bullpen arms. After the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, the Rangers have put their sights on the same group, with the Rays also pounding the pavement for hard-throwing set-up men.
- There may be a bit of a race against time for the Red Sox considering the need to veer away from a rotation that has been including two bullpen games. It's not as if Sale, Houck or Whitlock are likely going to be dropped into the rotation within the next three weeks, dropping some urgency into Chaim Bloom's lap. The problem is that there will most likely be a tax (not literally, but simply in the form of cost of doing business) for jumping the market with most selling teams seemingly content on basking in the desperation of those looking to buy.
There are always exceptions. The J.D. Martinez deal to Arizona in 2017 and Manny Machado's move to the Dodgers a year later both came on July 18. Then there was the Rays getting Nelson Cruz on July 22 two years ago. That same year, a day later, the Mets got a veteran starter in Hill. But really, if history is any sort of guide using the last two seasons, July 27 is really the realistic jumping off point for truly getting the action started. (For another point of reference, the Kyle Schwarber deal in 2021 was dropped on July 29.)
- Chris Martin, who has been part of two-Trade Deadline deals, put it perfectly when talking about the acquisition of a player - sometimes any player - heading into August.
"It's an interesting time of the year. It's like the GMs' Super Bowl," Martin said. "I can attest to this with 2021 with the Braves. We went and got Joc Pederson before the Deadline (July 15) and we were kind of on that edge wondering if we were going to sell or buy, wondering what the front office thought of this team. And when the front office went and bought someone we were like, 'Alright, they are believing.' To give a little spark. Not that you really need it, but it shows the front office believes in you."
- After the Red Sox' win over the Cubs, Rob Refsnyder informed WEEI.com he wanted to be called "Bargain Bob", a nickname that has been batted around in the cages with some of the hitting coaches. The reason? He wants to be the guy who is outperforming his contract. So far, mission accomplished.
Refnsyder has become a legitimate weapon against left-handed pitching, hitting .347 with a .915 OPS vs. southpaws. It has allowed the Red Sox to carry the fourth-best batting average (.276) and fifth-highest OPS (.808) of any team against left-handers.
- Triston Casas is piling up the firsts, including hitting the first pinch-hit home run of his life - at any level - Sunday afternoon.
It would seem that after some uneasiness, the Red Sox have found their foundation first baseman.
- The constant refrain for those experiencing Justin Turner on a daily basis for the first time is: "He is better than I thought."
The fact of the matter when it comes to the Red Sox' decision to prioritize Turner over J.D. Martinez is that while Martinez is having an All-Star season with the Dodgers, the redhead is a better fit for the 2023 club. The ability to more-than-competently play three infield positions while manning tremendously important piece of protection around Rafael Devers in the lineup has flat-out put Turner in the conversation for Most Valuable Player on this team.
- Would the Red Sox ever deal one of their best players, Alex Verdugo, at the Trade Deadline? Probably not, but you still can't count out the conversation. There was serious internal debate on whether or not to entertain offers for Mookie Betts at the 2019 Trade Deadline with the outfielder still possessing a year of control on his deal. And Bloom as part of a Rays front office that dealt David Price at the 2014 Trade Deadline despite having another year on his deal.
Verdugo is eligible for for free agency after the 2024 season and, to this point, doesn't seem involved in contract conversations with the Red Sox regarding extending his stay. And considering the opportunity for any acquiring to secure Qualifying Offer status regarding the outfielder - along with the presence of a very good player for the stretch drive - Verdugo's value in any deal won't be any higher.
- Wong has become a legitimate weapon behind the plate. The catcher has the fourth-best "pop time" of any backstop in baseball, allowing for a major league-best 15 baserunners being gunned down trying to steal.
- So, where do the Red Sox stand when it comes to this logjam in the middle infield? Yu Chang not only collected a pair of hits in Sunday's game, after homering Friday, but his presence in the field during both starts was noticeable. He is a lock. And Christian Arroyo certainly continues to show he is anything but a defensive liability at second base while hitting .333 with an .860 OPS in his last six starts (even with Sunday's 0-for-5). That leaves Kiké Hernandez.
Pablo Reyes' integration into the outfield in his minor league rehab stint should be noted, along with his .389 batting average and .844 OPS in his last seven games. Hernandez, conversely, took a turn for the worse in his battle to show consistency in the infield, making a couple of questionable plays Saturday. With Duran cementing the workload in center field, and the Red Sox clearly prioritizing defense for any player manning a middle infield spot, it would seem Reyes has the upper-hand.
- The importance of Rafael Devers was put on display once again over the weekend. Not only did he launch three homers while collecting six hits, but added the kind of presence in the Red Sox' lineup that makes any pitcher work a whole lot harder. There are some players who can do that. Aaron Judge, being one. This version of Devers being another. And don't think for a minute that not going to Seattle for the All-Star break was a blessing in disguise, with the third baseman not only entering the second half with a lethal bat, but he also carried the kind of spring in his step that hadn't been there for some time.
- And then there is Yoshida. What better way to celebrate your 30th birthday than to reenter the American League Rookie of the Year conversation ... and potentially the AL batting race.
The Red Sox outfielder is now hitting .317, second only to Tampa Bay's Yandy Diaz (.323). While Texas' Josh Jung is still the FanDuel favorite to win the ROY, voters might want to take a closer look. While Jung has 19 homers compared to Yoshida's 11, the Red Sox' rookie leads his Rangers counterpart in OPS (.883-.817) and hits (100-99).
After Friday's two-hit performance, there was this ...
And while Yoshida went hitless Saturday, his response Sunday was notable. Three hits, including a triple and grand slam.
- Sunday offered a reminder regarding one of the toughest tasks in baseball - evaluating and projecting 16-year-old international signings.
There, of course, is Devers, whose frame and power looked decidedly different a decade ago, yet here he is. And then we have the Reds' Elly De La Cruz, the rookie phenom who managed yet another eye-opener Sunday with the fastest infield throw in the Statcast era.
When Cincy signed De La Cruz, he weighed 130 pounds. That is ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY POUNDS! And the guy is 6-foot-5. Here is the proof ...
Want to get a head-start on identifying the next Red Sox teenager to burst on the scene? Keep in an eye on 17-year-old shortstop Yoeilin Cespedes, who was signed to a $1.4 million bonus last summer. Cespedes is not only hitting .336 with a .913 OPS in 28 Dominican Summer League games, but has shown above-average strike zone command while making big strides defensively. And his 5-foot-9 frame already weighs 180 pounds.