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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 8, 2024 21:12:20 GMT -5
Here's your guide to Red Sox Spring Training 6:09 PM AST Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
Rather than shooting for the stars during the Hot Stove season, the Red Sox under new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow are banking on several players from their young core to take the next step.
Breslow has rebuilt the team’s pitching infrastructure around new pitching coach Andrew Bailey, director of pitching Justin Willard and Kyle Boddy (founder of Driveline Baseball). The hope is that a greater focus on analytics will help the likes of Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford and Josh Winckowski.
Next week, the Red Sox will be under the warm sun of Fort Myers, Fla., starting the process of trying to improve from back-to-back 78-84 finishes. Without further ado, here is a primer for Spring Training.
When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers? Wednesday
What is the date of the first full-squad workout? Feb. 19
Where is the team’s facility? The Red Sox train in Fort Myers at the sprawling Fenway South complex, which includes JetBlue Park, the team’s venue for Grapefruit League home games since 2012. Fenway South is located on Daniels Parkway, and is in close proximity to the airport and a variety of shops and restaurants.
Can fans attend workouts? Yes, workouts -- which typically start around 10 a.m. ET each day on the six practice fields -- are open to the public.
Who are some new faces fans should know? The key new face to watch is veteran righty Lucas Giolito, the free-agent acquisition who could vault to the top of the rotation if he can regain his 2019-21 form. Trade acquisition Tyler O’Neill should carve out his share of playing time in the outfield if he can stay healthy. There will be a lot of focus on 23-year-old Vaughn Grissom, who was blocked from playing time by a loaded core in Atlanta, but comes to Boston with the chance to win the job at second base in Spring Training.
Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp? Of the four Red Sox prospects who cracked MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list, Ceddanne Rafaela (No. 76) is the only one expected to be in Major League camp. In fact, Rafaela, who got 83 at-bats at the end of last season, will try to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. Nick Yorke, Boston’s first-round Draft pick from 2020, will also get a chance to make an impression.
When is the team’s first Grapefruit League game? The Sox open their Grapefruit League slate on the road against the defending American League East champion Orioles on Feb. 24.
What are a few other notable spring games? The Red Sox will travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to face the Rays on March 9-10. It will be a chance for Rafael Devers and Bello to play in their native country. Per usual, the Red Sox will play two Grapefruit League games against the Yankees. The first will be in Tampa on March 13. The Sox will have a split-squad contest at home against New York on March 17.
What is Spring Breakout and when is the game? MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball's future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural edition will be held from March 14-17, 2024, at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training. On March 16 at JetBlue Park, the Red Sox will unveil a team of their top prospects against the top Minor Leaguers of the Braves.
Will Red Sox games be televised this spring? There will be 22 games that NESN will televise across their three platforms, which also includes NESN+ and NESN 360. NESN viewers can get their first look at the 2024 Sox on Feb. 23, when the club hosts Northeastern. The first Grapefruit League game on Feb. 24 will also be part of NESN’s schedule.
When is the club’s last game in Florida? The Red Sox wrap up their time in Fort Myers when they host the Braves on March 24.
Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season? The Red Sox will be participants in the first games at Globe Life Field since the World Series when they travel to Arlington to face the defending champion Rangers on March 25-26.
What are the details for Opening Day? Everything starts for real for the 2024 Sox on March 28, when they face the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET. That will be the start of a three-city West Coast trip in which Boston will also visit the A’s and Angels.
When is the home opener? Fenway Park will open its gates on April 9, with a 2:10 p.m. ET first pitch scheduled against the Orioles.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 9, 2024 6:40:04 GMT -5
Star-starved Red Sox will gather for spring training in Fort Myers in relative anonymity By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated February 9, 2024, 1 hour ago
FORT MYERS, Fla. — MLB Network has made it an offseason project over the last 14 years to rank the top 10 players at each position. In a media landscape overloaded with hot takes and contrived debate, it’s a refreshingly straightforward evaluation based on performance.
The results were striking this year when it came to the Red Sox.
Rafael Devers was fourth at third base, Chris Martin came in ninth among relief pitchers, and Triston Casas was 10th at first base.
That was it. Outside of Devers, no Sox player was viewed as a premier talent.
As spring training gets underway Wednesday with the first workout for pitchers and catchers at JetBlue Park, gone are the days when photographers would line the sidewalk to get images of players like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Chris Sale, and other All-Stars walking into the clubhouse from the players’ parking lot.
Now the Sox have a roster of players only the most dedicated fan would recognize. The team hasn’t been this anonymous in decades.
“It’s a different team,” said shortstop Trevor Story, one of the few notable players still remaining. “We need new guys to help us win.
“Of course you want to add all the great players. That’s natural. More talent never hurts. But we feel very confident in the talented group that we have.
“It’s up to us, we have to play better. It’s not our job to talk about who we should have or shouldn’t have.”
But that has been the main topic of conversation since 2020, when the Red Sox embarked on the still-unfolding rebuild of their roster.
The 2021 Sox still had enough talent remaining to qualify for the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, then advance to the American League Championship Series.
The only players remaining in the organization from the postseason roster that year are Devers, infielder Bobby Dalbec, and pitchers Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, and Garrett Whitlock.
The Sox are 12 games under .500 since then, with two last-place finishes. The franchise has not finished last in its division or league for three consecutive years since a six-season run of ineptitude from 1925-30. Related: Why the Red Sox may be missing a chance to accelerate their build
With the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Yankees having made significant offseason improvements and the Rays riding a five-year streak of qualifying for the postseason, ending that skid will be difficult.
Manager Alex Cora, entering the final season of his contract, is choosing to focus on the avenues to success, not the roadblocks.
“From my end, I expect these guys to be better and see where it takes us,” he said. “We can have a good baseball team. Like I said at the end of last season, it starts with me and the coaching staff.
“We have talented players and they need to take a step forward.”
The Sox do have a short list of players who could emerge as stars in their empty galaxy.
An All-Star with the Rockies in 2018-19, Story had an .863 career OPS before he signed with the Sox. Injuries limited him to 94 games in 2022. He then had elbow surgery before the ’23 season and did not return until Aug. 8.
Story hit .203 with little power, the long layoff leaving him overmatched against fastballs. He’s been able to prepare normally for this season and is confident of a rebound.
Righthander Brayan Bello, 24, was 12-11 with a 4.24 earned run average last year in his first full season in the majors. He had six starts of at least six innings with one earned run.
Bello has worked to refine the command of his slider in the offseason. Mastering that pitch would give him an effective weapon to go with his sinker and changeup, and increase his modest career mark of 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
As director of pitching for the Cubs, new Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was adept at honing raw talent. He was among those who played a role in the development of Justin Steele, a fifth-round draft pick who finished fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting last season. Bello is a talented lump of clay for Breslow and new pitching coach Andrew Bailey to mold.
Outfielders Jarren Duran and Tyler O’Neill also have promise.
Duran had 44 extra-base hits and 24 stolen bases over 102 games last season. He also vastly improved his defensive play.
His season ended Aug. 20 when he tore a flexor tendon in his left foot trying to make a catch at Yankee Stadium. He’s now fully healthy.
“I’m a full go. I’m really excited,” Duran said. “I had a good season last year. I’m my hardest critic, so I’m never satisfied with what I did.”
O’Neill finished eighth in the NL MVP voting in 2021 while a member of the Cardinals. Injuries and a personality conflict with manager Oli Marmol then derailed his career. At 28, he could experience a renaissance.
“The big thing for me is just staying healthy,” O’Neill said. “Once I get into a rhythm and get consistent everyday at-bats, then I start to feel comfortable and be that player again. I’m looking forward to getting there.”
There is also the possibility the Sox could make a notable acquisition during spring training. It has happened before.
J.D. Martinez agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal on Feb. 26, 2018, and helped lead the team to a championship that season.
Far less effective was the six-year, $140 million contract Story finalized on March 23, 2022. He has played only 137 games since and hit .227.
But there is little indication the Sox will venture into such territory this year despite a clear need for rotation help. Any additions at this stage are expected to be lower-priced complementary players.
It is more likely that the Sox trade their one All-Star from last season, 36-year-old closer Kenley Jansen. He is due $16 million this season, a needless expense for a team with low expectations.
Trading Jansen would be on brand for the Red Sox at this stage in their evolution. You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard but you won’t see them at Fenway Park this season.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 9, 2024 21:19:13 GMT -5
Refreshed Tanner Houck is ready to start anew in Red Sox rotation By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated February 9, 2024, 1 hour ago
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Tanner Houck took a big deep breathand then hopped before he stepped on the mound to face hitters during a workout at Fenway South on Friday morning.
Was this something new in his routine?
“Nah, just me being me,” Houck said. “Happy to be outside in the sunshine.”
There’s plenty of little kid remaining in the 27-year-old righthander who was a first-round pick of the Red Sox in 2017. But the business of baseball lurks like a dark shadow.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and pitching coach Andrew Bailey are new to their jobs and have little time or sentiment invested in the players they inherited. Other than to say Houck will have a chance to compete for a rotation slot, nothing is guaranteed.
The Sox have at least seven candidates to start, counting Josh Winckowski. There’s also a possibility Kenley Jansen is traded in the coming days or weeks and one of the potential starters becomes a better fit as the closer.
Trading Jansen would make sense. A 36-year-old closer set to make $16 million is a luxury for a team with modest expectations. There is little chance the Sox would want to bring Jansen back for 2025, so why not trade him now to bring back a player the Sox can add to their mix and free up some payroll?
The Dodgers and Phillies are teams that could see Jansen as a fit. The Dodgers let Jansen walk as a free agent after the 2022 season but may want to bring him back with the understanding that he could occasionally be used as a setup man.
Houck understands how it works. He was adamant about being a starter last season and now says his preference would be to start when asked about his role.
What else can he say after posting a 5.01 earned run average in 21 starts last season?
“Everybody wants to start. I want to start,” Houck said. “Go out there and post, and things will take care of themselves.”
To improve his chances, Houck used the offseason to work on the horizontal break of his slider and getting more consistent with the action on his sinker.
He also has tinkered with the command of his splitter, a pitch he threw only 11 percent of the time last season and hopes to use more this year.
“You always have to adapt,” Houck said. “It’s that or you’re getting worse.”
Houck has enjoyed working with Bailey, saying his energy has been noticeable. That Bailey played for the Sox (2012-13) is something Houck also feels can make a difference.
“He gets what it’s like here,” Houck said. “That’s big.”
With camp officially opening on Wednesday, Houck has already faced hitters twice. The first was across the state earlier this month at the Cressey Sports Performance facility in Palm Beach Gardens.
The second was Friday when Houck faced a group that included new outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
“The job is to get hitters out. The more you do that, the better you’ll be,” Houck said. “It was a good winter and I came here ready to go. It’s a big difference.”
Houck was still recovering from back surgery at this time last season. He was able to make the Opening Day roster, then missed nearly 10 weeks after being struck in the face by a line drive on June 16.
He returned to make eight starts and was 3-4 with a 4.93 ERA.
“I feel better than I have in years at this point,” Houck said. “Last year was tough for a few reasons. I had issues with my hamstring that I was finally able to take care of this winter.”
Houck has the ability to start and that could well be where he lands as Breslow assesses all of his options. But he also has the raw stuff and personality to be an effective closer if Jansen is traded.
That job requires a willingness to attack hitters and the ability to perform under pressure. Houck’s confidence lends itself to that role.
“It’s February. Let’s see how it goes,” Houck said. “I threw to hitters [Friday] and I felt great. That’s what I care about right now.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 9, 2024 21:23:31 GMT -5
Theo Epstein has been away a while but he knows how the Red Sox work, and other thoughts By Dan Shaughnessy Globe Staff,Updated February 9, 2024, 9:18 a.m.
Picked-up pieces while remembering the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady nine Super Bowls from 2002-19 …
▪ Theo Epstein is back with the Red Sox as a part-owner of Fenway Sports Group and a senior adviser to its many holdings.
Too many holdings.
FSG’s insatiable quest to expand its portfolio and take over the world has made the Red Sox the abandoned stepchild of the corporation’s family. The Sox might as well be Connor Roy.
Theo and Sam Kennedy were teammates at Brookline High and did a lot of their learning as very young men under the tutelage of Larry Lucchino with the Padres in the 1990s. When Lucchino came to Boston as part of John Henry’s group, he had to negotiate with the Padres to acquire the services of “The Brookline Two.”
More than 20 years later, Kennedy is the CEO of the Sox and oft serves as a human shield when Henry won’t talk or when Tom Werner says something questionable. Theo, meanwhile, has emerged as the darling of Major League Baseball, the guy who broke 194 years’ worth of curses (Bambino and Billy Goat) in Boston and Chicago, then saved big league ball with new rules that shaved almost a half-hour off games last summer.
And now they all are together again.
It’s something of a weird job for Theo. It’s like an internship for becoming an MLB owner. He’s not going to move here, he’s not going to be around the Sox much, and he’s going to have a hand in picking a coach for Liverpool.
“I will not be the one making decisions,” Theo said in the news release announcing his return. “Rather I’ll be the one asking questions, offering opinions, building trust, and supporting the terrific people at FSG to help us reach new heights.”
Never mind all that, Theo. Just help Craig Breslow find some pitching.
He will.
Epstein can only help the Red Sox because he knows the owners, he knows the fans, and he understands the root of recent baseball problems in Boston.
He knows Henry well. He worked for him for more than a decade. He knows that Henry (who also owns the Globe) felt betrayed by Dave Dombrowski’s spending and has become emotional about buying talent. He knows this year’s team is a lost cause (why do you think he waited until February to come back on board?), but he can help Breslow make things better for next season. He knows the Sox farm system is mediocre with no pitching. Theo can be honest about it while supplying some cover for the beleaguered Kennedy.
Theo knows of the chaos at the last two trading deadlines. He knows Henry wanted Chaim Bloom to sell but others in the organization wanted Chaim to buy. Bloom did neither. Epstein was unofficially instrumental in the hiring of Breslow and very much wants the Yale lefty to succeed.
Theo’s opinion matters. And he knows the Sox will have to spend money to improve their sorry product, win back fans, and entice players from other markets to once again want to play here. And unlike Bloom and Breslow, Theo has Henry’s ear.
Theo won’t be at spring training when pitchers and catchers report, but he plans to be there in Fort Myers the first weekend of March for a partners meeting and again later in March to get familiar with Breslow’s staff. He knows Sox fans are depending on him to Make Red Sox Nation Great Again.
Now 50, Epstein is here to get ready for his final chapter in baseball. He knows that the Red Sox once again need to be a functional baseball team, a team with a clear direction.
He’s not in this for the money or the publicity. He wants to see the Red Sox succeed again.
”
▪ I was haunted to read in the Sports Business Journal that as part of FSG’s $3 billion investment into the PGA Tour, Henry ”led a contingent that included Jay Monahan and Sam Kennedy to Saudi Arabia to meet with Yasir Al-Rumayyan in mid January.” Al-Rumayyan manages Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which finances the LIV golf tour and is also in discussions with the PGA Tour.
▪ Offering “iconic field box seats right behind the Red Sox on-deck circle,” a Red Sox account executive wrote this to a season ticket-holder: “Due to circumstances over the past few years, we have been able to open up rare locations here at Fenway that have not been available for years in our Season Ticket Memberships.” Hmmm. Wonder what those “circumstances” might be?
▪ Excusing the decay of their major league team, the Sox keep selling “the future,” “the farm system,” and “prospects.” Then we find out that independent evaluators rank them near the middle of all major league farm systems. The Globe’s Alex Speier wrote that multiple publications view the Sox as lagging behind other teams in the AL East.
Overall, Baseball America has Boston’s farm system ranked 14th of 30 teams. MLB Pipeline puts Boston 15th, and ESPN has the Sox 23rd. Some rankings have Boston higher, but there’s certainly no consensus to back management’s insistence that things will get better because the farm system is so good. And everyone is in agreement that the Red Sox don’t have nearly enough minor league pitching prospects.
▪ It’s fair to say that Johnny Damon doesn’t keep up with MLB roster changes during the winter. When he was reached by the New York Daily News to talk about new Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo, Damon was unaware that the Yankees had traded for outfielder Juan Soto. “Thank you for filling me in,” said Damon.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 9, 2024 21:58:29 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 12, 2024 7:50:46 GMT -5
The downside of the Red Sox’ Netflix series, and other thoughts entering spring training By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated February 12, 2024, 48 minutes ago
This story originally appeared in the Sunday Baseball Notes. Read the rest here.
It’s great for Major League Baseball that Netflix wanted to do a documentary series on one of its teams with behind-the-scenes access.
The Red Sox were certainly enthused, avidly pursuing the project going back to last season. A better team would make more sense, but executive producer and director Greg Whiteley has shown a deft hand with underdog stories “Cheer” and “Last Chance U.”
The Sox certainly fit that mold given the state of the franchise. Whiteley met with some players last season to gain their support and was successful. As an organization, the Sox have embraced the idea.
But there is a potential downside. Alex Cora is in the final year of his contract and Craig Breslow is in his first as chief baseball officer. The Sox also have a lot of players who aren’t established big leaguers.
Tossing a seasonlong documentary on their plate doesn’t seem ideal. But that tension will probably generate good television. It will be interesting to what degree the show touches on the dissatisfaction of the fan base with ownership.
Prediction: Triston Casas becomes a big deal. He’s a character waiting for a show.
A few other observations on the Red Sox:
▪ Garrett Whitlock has yet to become the pitcher the Sox hoped he would when they signed him to an extension before the 2022 season. He’s just over league average since and had five stints on the injured list.
But when you see the righthander face hitters on Field 1 at Fenway South on Friday morning, five days before camp officially opens, you know the work ethic is there. That’s driven home when Whitlock is the last player on the field because he wants to run another series of sprints.
It’s a results business, but the work comes first and he does the work.
▪ Ángel Padrón, a lefthander who was a Red Sox minor leaguer from 2014-19, threw a no-hitter for Venezuela against Nicaragua in the Caribbean World Series on Wednesday in Miami.
It was only the second no-hitter in the 75-year history of the tournament. The first was in 1952.
Padrón topped out at Single A Greenville in 2019, where he was teammates with Brayan Bello. He was one of the many players who lost their spots because of the pandemic and baseball’s decision to contract the minor leagues.
Padrón has since played professionally in Venezuela and for an independent team in Mexico.
Righthander Jonathan Aro, who had a brief stay with the Red Sox in 2015, pitched for the Dominican Republic in the Series.
▪ Baseball Prospectus revealed its PECOTA statistical projections for the season. It has the Sox with 79.8 victories. In the American League, only the Tigers (75.6), Angels (74.3), Royals (69.9), White Sox (65.7), and Athletics (64.0) were lower.
▪ Old friend Rich Hill told Buster Olney’s podcast that he plans to remain a free agent through the end of the Milton Little League season so he can watch his son Bryce play his final year and help coach the team. He’s open to pitching after that by taking the Roger Clemens route of choosing a team in June or July and ramping up from there.
Hill turns 44 in March and could still help a team. It also would be nice to carve his 4.01 career earned run average down a bit.
▪ The University of Northwestern Ohio retired the No. 40 worn by John Schreiber from 2014-16. Schreiber is the only big leaguer to come from the NAIA program. UNOH offers six men’s sports, seven for women, and co-ed teams for stock car racing and drag racing.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 12, 2024 7:54:32 GMT -5
Your Red Sox spring training preview: Areas of concern, players to watch, roster, and schedule By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated February 12, 2024, 50 minutes ago
The Red Sox have landed at Fenway South to begin spring training this week with a group that, once again, is trying to find its identity.
The Sox have seen their share of changes. The club fired chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom last September, hiring Craig Breslow to take over the leadership role on Jersey Street. The club cut ties with some on-field staff, too, namely pitching coach Dave Bush and third base coach Carlos Febles. Andrew Bailey will now attempt to revamp the pitching staff while Daniel Hudson, the Sox’ first base coach last year, will take over duties at third. Andy Fox will be the first base coach.
The Sox also promoted Paul Toboni to assistant general manager.
Breslow has preached the value of building infrastructure within the Red Sox organization, believing that if the foundation is set, on-field performance will follow.
But, ultimately, on-field performance is dictated by the players on the field.
With that reality and the Sox’ refusal to acquire top-tier talent this offseason, fans could be in for another down year.
Here’s an overview as spring training begins. Areas of concern
The Red Sox finished in last place (78-84) in the American League East for the third time in four years last season, and much of it had to do with pitching and defense. Those concerns still ring true.
Starting pitching: Bailey might need a pay raise even though the season doesn’t start for more than a month. Pitchers and catchers are set to report Tuesday, and so far, the Sox starting pitching leaves a lot to be desired.
The Sox’ starting rotation will be some form of Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford. Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Josh Winckowski will battle for the fifth spot.
The rotation is full of pitchers with untapped potential, if you ask Breslow and Co. The team believes Bello will take a step forward after a promising rookie season. The Sox are bullish on Pivetta after he found a sweeper last season that, in part, thrust him back into the rotation spotlight. Giolito, despite two bad seasons, is a Cy Young candidate when at his best. Crawford is believed to have one of the best — if not the best — four-seamers in the league with the truest spin while the Sox believe Houck, Whitlock, and Winckowski have upside, although they haven’t panned out as starters.
The Sox have projects. But is that enough?
Defense: The Red Sox will benefit from having Trevor Story at shortstop to start the year, not Kiké Hernández. When Story returned in August from elbow surgery, he entered his own stratosphere defensively, accumulating eight defensive runs saved in just 314 innings. His skill set as shortstop is still among the league’s best. Still, many others present a huge question mark on defense.
The Sox traded Chris Sale for Vaughn Grissom and Breslow said you can pencil in Grissom as the everyday second baseman. His time there is limited, though, considering he came up as a shortstop. Triston Casas struggled at first base last season, ranking 12th in defensive runs saved among qualifiers. Casas’s first step, manager Alex Cora has noted, was an issue much of the season, but has improved. Across the diamond is Rafael Devers, who regressed tremendously, tying for third most in the majors with 19 errors.
The Sox have a solid defensive catcher in Connor Wong, but the outfield represents another issue. The club is tied up with Masataka Yoshida, who grades as a below-average defender. Jarren Duran has improved in center, but if he’s next to, say, Wilyer Abreu in right instead of an elite defender such as Alex Verdugo, would that leave too much responsibility for Duran? Abreu has little experience in right field with the Sox, playing in just 28 big league games. Tyler O’Neill is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, and the Sox will benefit from having him in the everyday outfield group. Yet his injury history and durability should bring pause.
Lack of power: Where will the power come from? The Red Sox made it a priority this offseason to acquire righthanded power, yet they have fallen flat with just O’Neill to show for it. Justin Turner is now a Blue Jay. Adam Duvall is still a free agent. Historically, the Red Sox have never been a home-run hitting club. Instead, they had hitters (J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts) with the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark to the pull side when need be. Much of the responsibility will fall on Story, who has the ability to hit homers by the bushel, but is a streaky hitter.
Youth and inexperience: The Sox are relying on experience to get them through the season. Ceddanne Rafaela turned 23 in September and has played in just 28 major league games. Abreu is 24. Duran has just over two years of service time, and Yoshida, 30, is entering his second season in the majors. Much of the roster feels like players just filling roles with the hope that they can develop.
Who to watch
Brayan Bello: He led the Red Sox in starts (28) and innings pitched (157) last year. He carried a 3.71 ERA before being pummeled for 13 runs over his final two outings, leaving the 24-year-old righthander with a 4.24 ERA on the season. Bello’s stuff declined after the All-Star break. He yielded a 5.49 ERA in 14 starts, allowing a whopping 16 homers compared to a 3.04 ERA and eight homers in 14 first-half starts. The rookie wall was expected, and Bello’s inability to get his four-seam fastball above the zone consistently, particularly to lefties, hurt him. His changeup and sinker remain true weapons. But those two pitches have much of the same actions: going away from lefties and inside to righties. Once the book was out on Bello and fatigue set in, it became easier for opponents to time him.
Nick Pivetta: He’s positioned himself as a leader of the club. Despite his prickly nature with the media, Pivetta was a key voice in convincing Red Sox players to allow Netflix cameras in for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the club this season. Pivetta was the Sox’ best pitcher after the All-Star break, collecting a 3.30 ERA in 16 games (eight starts) and striking out 102 batters. His conviction in the zone, confidence, and again, the sweeper pitch, helped redirect his season. But can he sustain it over the long haul as a starter who takes the ball every fifth day?
Garrett Whitlock: Whitlock hasn’t been that good since 2021 when he shined as one of the Sox’ best relievers, putting together a 1.96 ERA. And some of it isn’t his fault. The club toying with Whitlock as both a reliever and starter could have hindered his development. Injuries have hurt Whitlock, too. Last season he also dealt his brother’s death. He gained muscle this offseason with the hope he can contribute, be it as a starter or reliever.
Trevor Story: Story’s in the third year of his six-year deal. The two previous seasons have been marred by injury and underwhelming play. He’s a strong candidate to win a Gold Glove at shortstop, but the Sox will need him to regain his All-Star form from his days in Colorado.
Rafael Devers: He won a Silver Slugger Award after hitting .271/.351/.500 with an .851 OPS. But the superstar status that was thrown on Devers is premature. Defense is the concern, but if Devers is just average at third base, you’re talking about a game-changing player. He’s not a kid anymore. He’s 27, entering his eighth season. He has to start consistently playing like it.
Alex Cora: He’s not a player but he’s the face of a franchise that doesn’t have a player that has earned that status. Cora’s entering spring training on an expiring deal. Will he be with the Red Sox next year? Furthermore, if the team continues on the rebuild train, does Cora want to be a part of that?
The Sox will have their answer soon enough. Key newcomers
Lucas Giolito: He allowed 41 homers last season, a disaster at Fenway, but struck out 10 batters per nine innings pitched, an element that the Red Sox lacked.
Vaughn Grissom: He was once one of the Braves’ top prospects, and will get the opportunity to play on an everyday basis with the Sox. Key losses
Justin Turner: Turner drove in a career-high 96 RBIs last season while hitting .276 with 23 homers. He was a linchpin in the clubhouse, oftentimes leading the hitters’ meetings.
Chris Sale: Though his Red Sox tenure was mostly defined by injuries, Sale’s presence in the rotation, when he did pitch, and clubhouse will certainly be a loss.
James Paxton: He had a promising first half last season after coming back from a myriad of injuries, including Tommy John surgery. Yet he’s a Dodger now and could see his stuff uptick after having almost a full season under his belt last year. Roster
40-MAN ROSTER
Pitchers (22): Brayan Bello, Brennan Bernardino, Isaiah Campbell, Kutter Crawford, Cooper Criswell, Lucas Giolito, Wikelman Gonzalez, Tanner Houck, Joe Jacques, Kenley Jansen, Zack Kelly, Chris Martin, Bryan Mata, Chris Murphy, Luis Perales, Nick Pivetta, John Schreiber, Justin Slaten, Brandon Walter, Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski
Catchers (3): Tyler Heineman Reese McGuire, Connor Wong
Infielders (9): Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, Romy Gonzalez, Vaughn Grissom, David Hamilton, Pablo Reyes, Trevor Story, Enmanuel Valdez
Outfielders (6): Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neill, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida
NON-ROSTER INVITEES
Pitchers (10): Melvin Adon, Jorge Benitez, Cam Booser, Frank German, Luis Guerrero, Justin Hagenman, Alex Hoppe, Helcris Olivarez, Andrew Politi, Chase Shugart
Catchers (4): Nathan Hickey, Mark Kolozsvary, Roberto Perez, Stephen Scott
Infielders (6): Eddy Alvarez, Joe Dunand, Chase Meidroth, Nick Sogard, Jamie Westbrook, Nick Yorke
Outfielders (3): Mark Contreras, Dalton Guthrie, Corey Rosier
Spring training game schedule
Feb. 23 vs. Northeastern, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 24 at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 25 vs. Minnesota, 1:05 p.m.; at Atlanta, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 27 at St. Louis, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 28 at Washington, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 29 vs. Detroit, 1:05 p.m.
March 1 at Minnesota, 1:05 p.m.
March 2 at Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m.; vs. Washington, 1:05 p.m.
March 3 vs. Toronto, 1:05 p.m.
March 4 at Detroit, 1:05 p.m.
March 5 vs. Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m.
March 6 at Minnesota, 1:05 p.m.
March 7 vs. Atlanta, 1:05 p.m.
March 9 vs. Tampa Bay, 5:05 p.m.
March 10 vs. Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m.
March 11 vs. Pittsburgh, 1:05 p.m.
March 12 vs. St. Louis, 1:05 p.m.
March 13 at New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
March 14 at Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m.
March 15 vs. Minnesota, 6:05 p.m.
March 16 at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m.; vs. Atlanta (prospects game), 1:05 p.m.
March 17 vs. New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.; at Atlanta, 1:05 p.m.
March 18 at Minnesota, 1:05 p.m.
March 19 vs. Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m.
March 21 vs. Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.
March 22 at Toronto, 1:05 p.m.
March 23 at Pittsburgh, 1:05 p.m.; vs Minnesota, 6:05 p.m.
March 24 vs. Atlanta, 1:05 p.m.
March 25 at Texas, 8 p.m.
March 26 at Texas, 2 p.m.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 12, 2024 15:08:47 GMT -5
Key storylines to watch around the Red Sox this spring 2:23 PM AST Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
Each Spring Training comes with key storylines. Here are three prominent ones for the Red Sox.
Which starting pitchers are ready to take the leap? The Red Sox have added Lucas Giolito as a free agent while trading Chris Sale to the Braves and losing James Paxton to the Dodgers via free agency. Barring what would be a surprising big addition (Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are still on the market), Boston will count heavily on its core of mid-20s righties to take the next step.
Brayan Bello, who made it clear he wants to win the Opening Day nod, has the most talent of the group. Bello pitched like an ace at times last season, but he was also inconsistent through stretches, finishing the year with a 4.24 ERA. Bello, who gets a lot of ground balls with his nasty sinker, could benefit from the team improving an infield defense that was a glaring issue. The 24-year-old is excited about the improvement of his slider, and he plans on having that as the third pitch he can count on.
Garrett Whitlock, who was dominant as a rookie reliever in 2021 after being a Rule 5 Draft selection, has battled injuries over the past two seasons, which has been a roadblock in his quest to move from swingman to full-time rotation member. Whitlock comes into camp fully healthy and having hit the weights hard during the offseason, as anyone who saw him at Winter Weekend could tell.
Tanner Houck, who happens to be Whitlock’s best friend, was used exclusively as a starter last season. There were two issues with that. The first was his repeated difficulty the third time through the order. The second was bad luck in the form of a batted ball on June 16 that gave him a facial fracture and limited his season to 21 starts. Houck has a natural starter’s build, but he needs to command the baseball more consistently to avoid moving back to the bullpen.
Kutter Crawford was solid for the most part last year, starting in 23 of his 31 appearances. His next developmental step is to pitch deeper into games.
Is Vaughn Grissom ready to play every day? The Braves are loaded on the position-player side, so there wasn’t much of a path to a regular Majors spot for Grissom with the club. The Red Sox are a different story, as they’ve been searching for a long-term solution at second base the past several years.
Enter the 23-year-old Grissom, who has a track record of strong offense in the Minors. The Sox traded Sale to get Grissom’s strong right-handed bat, and they think he is going to grow into more power. Grissom has a build that is lanky yet sturdy. One big question is how good a defender he can be. For sure, Grissom will be one of the most intriguing players to watch during Spring Training.
How will the outfield piece together? Any successful team needs production from the outfield. In a word, Boston’s outfield is unproven. Masataka Yoshida was strong at the plate through July in his first season coming over from Japan, but his bat lagged down the stretch. The Red Sox think he will be better in his sophomore year, now that he’s had time to adjust to the culture and travel schedule that is more rigorous than what he was used to in Japan. With Justin Turner gone, Yoshida could end up serving as the designated hitter far more often than he did in his rookie year.
That would open up more time in the outfield for Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neill and Wilyer Abreu. Duran was the team’s biggest surprise last season, given how much he struggled during his Major League stints in 2021 and '22. He probably led the league in hustle doubles. If he can stay healthy and consistent for a full season, the Red Sox will have no question who their leadoff hitter is.
In 2021, O’Neill had a breakout season with St. Louis. But he battled a barrage of injuries in the past two years, and the Sox hope a return to health can get the right-handed hitter close to what he was in '21, when he finished eighth in the National League Most Valuable Player Award voting.
The 24-year-old Abreu thrived in his first taste of the Majors last season, putting together an .862 OPS in 85 plate appearances. Abreu’s quest is to prove that wasn’t just someone staying hot during a small sample size. The Red Sox love his patient approach, and he should get the chance to play a lot. It won’t be surprising if Boston adds another righty bat before Opening Day, preferably someone who could play outfield and perhaps first base.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 12, 2024 15:13:18 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe The Sox are up to 64 players in camp. These are the 24 non-roster invitees to this point:
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 13, 2024 6:48:05 GMT -5
Red Sox spring training: Key dates, position battles and everything else to know
By Mac Cerullo | mcerullo@bostonherald.com and Gabrielle Starr | gstarr@bostonherald.com February 13, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.
After a long and largely uneventful offseason, spring training is officially here.
The Red Sox formally open camp in Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday, kicking off a six-week marathon as the club ramps up preparations for the 2024 campaign. Though some last-minute signings are always a possibility, we more or less know what this year’s team is going to look like. Now, the question is if enough of the club’s younger players are ready to take the kind of leap forward it will take for Boston to compete in a loaded American League East.
So as camp officially opens in the coming days, here is everything you need to know about the Red Sox this spring. Key dates
Spring training officially kicks off Wednesday when pitchers and catchers report for their first workout. The first full squad workout will follow next week on Monday, and the first exhibition game will be next Friday (Feb. 23) against Northeastern University.
From there the Grapefruit League schedule will kick off next Saturday (Feb. 24) against Baltimore in Sarasota, and the Red Sox will play nearly every day for the following month. Among the highlights of the spring training slate are the two-game series against Tampa Bay in the Dominican Republic (March 9-10), the Spring Breakout prospect showcase at JetBlue Park on March 16, and once camp breaks the Red Sox will play their last two spring training games at Texas’ Globe Life Field (March 25-26) on their way west for the season opener in Seattle (March 28). Position battles to watch
Most of the Red Sox starting lineup is already set in stone, but there are a handful of position battles to keep an eye on as the spring progresses.
The biggest is who will claim the last spot in the starting rotation. Right now, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford are projected to be in, leaving Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Josh Winckowski and Cooper Criswell to battle for the remaining spot. Unless the Red Sox make a late signing (Jordan Montgomery?) one of those four should win the final spot while the others start the season in the bullpen.
Most of the Red Sox bullpen also appears set, but there will be fierce competition for the last spot. Justin Slaten looks to have the inside track as a Rule 5 pick, but Isaiah Campbell and Greg Weissert both have recent big league experience and were acquired this offseason in trades, and incumbents like Zack Kelly, Chris Murphy, Brandon Walter, Joe Jacques and Bryan Mata should all factor in as well.
On the position player side, there should be a competitive battle for the primary utility spot off the bench. Pablo Reyes and new signee Romy Gonzalez should be the favorites, though prospects Enmanuel Valdez and David Hamilton will get a look as well. The X-factor is Ceddanne Rafaela, who has by far the highest upside but who might be better served getting regular at-bats at Triple-A, rather than inconsistent playing time off the bench.
To the extent there will be competition among the projected starters, it will be worth watching how Masataka Yoshida and Tyler O’Neill are utilized. Will Yoshida mostly serve as a designated hitter? Will O’Neill be an everyday player or will he wind up platooning with the left-handed hitting Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu? Is Abreu really in line to serve as Boston’s regular right-fielder, as the club’s top decision-makers have suggested throughout the offseason? We should get a clearer sense as the spring goes on. Non-roster invitees to watch
With the addition of left-hander Lucas Luetge, the Red Sox will begin spring training with 24 non-roster invitees.
A former Yankees left-hander, Luetge is one of 11 pitchers hoping to make a good impression in Fort Myers. There’s also former Colorado Rockies minor leaguer Helcris Olivarez, who offers strikeout potential, but has struggled with command throughout his career.
Former Boston bullpen arm – albeit briefly – Frank German is back as well, after a whirlwind tour of several organizations. After being named the organization’s minor league Relief Pitcher of the Year for 2022, German has been traded to the White Sox last February, claimed by the Cincinnati Reds in May, and released in July. He re-signed with the Red Sox on a minor-league deal later that month.
Luis Guerrero is one of the most intriguing arms in the group. He posted a 1.81 ERA over 43 appearances for Double-A last year, including 34 games finished and 18 saves. It earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he allowed four earned runs on four hits over six appearances (three scoreless) before season’s end. Though the Sox bullpen already has plenty of righties, Guerrero could be looked at as a potential closer option in the near future, especially if a Kenley Jansen trade ends up happening.
It’s the beginning of what should be a big year for Nick Yorke. The 21-year-old infielder already earned a spot at the organization’s annual Rookie Development Program last month, and is now a non-roster invite to Major League camp. He had a solid season in Double-A, hitting .268 with a .785 OPS over 110 games, but with a fairly set Boston infield, it’ll be interesting to see what his future holds. Likewise for infielder Chase Meidroth, who’s only been in the organization for two years, but rose from rookie ball to Double-A in that span.
There’s also catcher Nathan Hickey, who’s climbing the ranks at the same time as the organization’s 2023 first-round pick, fellow backstop Kyle Teel. Hickey is joined two-time Gold Glove-winner Roberto Pérez in the non-roster crew.
Dalton Guthrie, whose father Mark played for the Red Sox during his own Major League career, is another intriguing invitee. Unlike most of his fellow non-roster folks, he has some Major League experience from his time with the Philadelphia Phillies. He offers Boston infield and outfield depth.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 13, 2024 6:57:58 GMT -5
Here’s a first look at our first projection of the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated February 12, 2024, 6:29 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora are scheduled to meet with reporters Tuesday and the first official workout for Red Sox pitchers and catchers is Wednesday.
There are still some desirable free agents on the market including — ahem — starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell. But unless the Sox suddenly develop an urge to meaningfully improve, their training camp roster is set beyond the possibility of adding free agents on minor league contracts.
Given their current state, the Sox will likely prioritize roster versatility coming out of camp and their choices will reflect that mind-set. They are in evaluation mode.
There are 64 players on the roster at the moment. The latest was officially added Monday when veteran lefthander Lucas Luetge was signed to a minor league contract that would pay $1 million if he makes the major league roster.
Here’s our first projection on the 26-man roster that will arrive in Seattle for Opening Day on March 28. A reminder that teams can keep a maximum of 13 pitchers.
Rotation (5): RHP Brayan Bello, RHP Kutter Crawford, RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Nick Pivetta, RHP Garrett Whitlock.
Analysis: Whitlock, Tanner Houck, and Josh Winckowski are competing for the final spot. All three have performed considerably better as relievers than starters, Winckowski in particular.
Give the edge to Whitlock, who has enough of a pitch mix to succeed in the rotation.
Red Sox starters had a 4.68 ERA last season, fourth highest in the American League. But the only changes made were to trade Chris Sale and sign Giolito, who was 19-24 with a 4.89 ERA the previous two seasons.
He received Cy Young votes the previous three seasons and had a 3.47 ERA. That’s who the Sox believe they can recapture.
Bullpen (8): LHP Brennan Bernardino, RHP Tanner Houck, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Lucas Luetge, RHP Chris Martin, RHP John Schreiber, RHP Justin Slaten, RHP Josh Winckowski.
Analysis: There’s not much point in predicting bullpen choices as the roster will probably change two or three times on the first road trip. But project we must.
Luetge, who agreed to a minor league contract over the weekend, has a good chance to make the team. The Sox will need another lefty to use with Bernardino and the only other choices are Joe Jacques, Chris Murphy, and Brandon Walter.
The Sox made a trade to assure they would land Slaten in the Rule 5 Draft. So unless he’s overwhelmed in camp, it stands to reason the former Rangers prospect will be on the team.
Righthander Greg Weissert, obtained by the Yankees in the Alex Verdugo housecleaning, could push for a spot.
Catcher (2): Reese McGuire, Connor Wong.
Analysis: There doesn’t seem to be much competition here. Wong is holding down a starting spot until prospect Kyle Teel is deemed ready and that may not be until 2025.
Wong doesn’t add much offensively but he’s durable, competitive, and strong defensively.
Journeyman Tyler Heineman is on the 40-man roster as an insurance policy.
Outfield (5): CF-RF Wilyer Abreu, CF-LF Jarren Duran, LF-CF Tyler O’Neill, LF-RF Rob Refsnyder, LF Masataka Yoshida.
Analysis: Not sure the Red Sox have an outfielder capable of handling Fenway Park’s wide-open spaces in right field. Abreu will get a chance. Yoshida was a poor outfielder last season and maybe that will improve in his second season. It’s more likely he gets the bulk of his at-bats as the DH.
O’Neill will be a regular, likely in left, and Duran will get an opportunity to handle center field unless he is traded first.
Look for 23-year-old Ceddanne Rafaela to open the season in Triple A after being overmatched by major league pitching last season (.241/.281/.386) in 89 plate appearances. That leaves a spot for Refsnyder, who was a favorite of the previous administration.
Infield (6): 1B Triston Casas, 3B Rafael Devers, 2B Vaughn Grissom, SS Trevor Story, UTIL Pablo Reyes, 2B Enmanuel Valdez.
Analysis: Casas, Devers, Grissom, and Story have lineup spots nailed down barring injury. Reyes brings defensive versatility to the mix. Valdez is a talented hitter who needs a lot of work at second base.
Unless it’s Reyes, the Sox don’t have a backup at first base. That could open a spot for Bobby Dalbec, who inexplicably remains on the 40-man roster.
Dalbec turns 29 in June and needs a fresh start at this stage of his career. He swung the bat well in spring training last season and didn’t make the team.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 13, 2024 14:10:00 GMT -5
Alex Cora envisions Masataka Yoshida getting the most at-bats as Red Sox DH
Published: Feb. 13, 2024, 11:22 a.m.
By
Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Since he was hired last November, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has stressed that he doesn’t like the idea of a full-time DH on his roster, preferring to emphasize flexibility.
But someone is going to have fill those at-bats and Tuesday, Alex Cora said he expects Masataka Yoshida to see more playing time in the DH spot than anyone else.
“I’m not really sure (how many games that will mean),” said Cora. “And I’m not saying he’s the DH. But out of the group, he’ll get the most at-bats.”
In years past, this wasn’t an issue. From 2003 until his retirement in 2016, David Ortiz was the team’s everyday DH. Then, from 2018 through 2022, that job was mostly J.D. Martinez’s. In 2023, the Sox signed Justin Turner with the DH role in mind, though he also got playing time at first base and, occasionally, second.
But Turner wasn’t aggressively pursued by the Red Sox this past winter and last month, though he had expressed interest in remaining in Boston, signed with Toronto.
That left a gaping hole in the Red Sox’s lineup that Yoshida will be tasked with filling more than any other play. It’s expected the team will make an effort to rotate both Rafael Devers and Triston Casas through the DH spot, too.
In his first season with the Red Sox, Yoshida slashed .289/.338/.445 with 15 homers and 72 RBI. But his defense was well below average in left field, where he registered a -4 in defensive runs saved. His range and arm strength were also sub-par.
The addition of two-time Gold Glove award-winner Tyler O’Neill, acquired in a trade with the Cardinals, gives the Red Sox an upgrade in left field. Cora said that Jarren Duran and Rob Refsnyder could also see time in left field.
Cora added that should Ceddanne Rafaela make the major league team, it would likely be as the starting center fielder. Rafaela is seen as a plus-plus defender, but there are questions about his readiness to face major league pitching because of poor swing decisions.
“It’s just a matter of how we feel about it,” said Cora. “We know the defensive game is elite. It’s a game-changer and you’ve seen throughout the years organizations have made efforts to improve the defense and taking the at-bats. The Phillies did it last year, and I think Toronto did it last year, too. We’ll sit down as a group toward the end (of spring training) and decide what we want. If we’re comfortable with the kid playing center field, understanding that there’s going to be struggles at the big league level with the offensive part of it, then we’ll go that way.
“If we feel like he needs to go to the minor leagues and keep getting better and keep improving, we’ll do that, too.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 13, 2024 14:11:31 GMT -5
Red Sox will give ‘freaky talented’ prospect chance to win starting CF job
Updated: Feb. 13, 2024, 11:14 a.m.|Published: Feb. 13, 2024, 11:03 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox prospect Ceddanne Rafaela will be given every opportunity to win the starting center field job during spring training.
Manager Alex Cora met with the media for the first time at JetBlue Park on Tuesday. He was asked who is most likely candidates to be the center fielder of an outfield group that also includes Tyler O’Neill, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu.
“I do believe if Rafaela makes the team, he’s going to play center field,” Cora said.
Rafaela has Gold Glove potential in center field. The question right now is whether the 23-year-old is ready offensively. He is a super aggressive hitter, leading to him chasing pitches outside of the strike zone. Rafaela, who earned a promotion to Boston in late August, had a 38.8% chase percentage, 29.0% whiff percentage, 31.5% strikeout percentage and 4.5% walk percentage in 89 plate appearances.
Rafaela has a ton of potential offensively. With quick hands, he has led all Red Sox minor leaguers in extra-base hits each of the past seasons. But the Red Sox might need to sacrifice some offense right now in favor of his elite defense.
Baseball America ranks Rafaela No. 94 on its Top 100 list. MassLive recently ranked him the No. 5 prospect in the Red Sox organization.
“He had a good offseason,” Cora said. “He was in Tampa the last month working on his body and his swing and all that stuff. It’s just a matter of how we feel about it. We know his defensive game is elite. It’s a game-changer. And you have seen throughout the years, organizations have made efforts of improving the defense and taking the at-bats. ... So we’ll see that as a group towards the end and decide what we want. If we’re comfortable with the kid playing center field understanding that there’s going to be struggles at the big league level in the offensive part of it, then we’ll go that way. If we feel he needs to go to the minors and keep getting better and keep improving we’ll do that, too.”
Is Duran the most likely option if Rafaela begins the year at Triple-A Worcester?
“Again, we’ll go from there and somebody will win the job during spring training,” Cora said.
An MLB scout recently said about Rafaela, “Freaky talented at two skilled positions with the legs and speed to impact the game at the top of the order. A threat on the bases at all times. Stolen base instincts, above-average potential Gold Glove center fielder and a solid defender at shortstop with Mookie Betts athletic-profile comps. Driven kid. Sox may slow down his ETA as he has moved quickly. Greatest need is patience, discipline with strike zone and pitch selection. Aggressive early-count approach to tweak his strikeouts into OBP and walks to utilize his speed. All-Star upside. Floor: Solid everyday 1, 2 hole bat who will produce when he figures out who he is at the plate.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 13, 2024 14:12:36 GMT -5
Red Sox trade addition will get ‘a chance to run away’ with second base job
Updated: Feb. 13, 2024, 12:06 p.m.|Published: Feb. 13, 2024, 12:05 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Vaughn Grissom, who the Red Sox acquired from the Braves for Chris Sale in December, is the frontrunner to be the Opening Day starting second baseman.
“We’re going to give Vaughn a chance to run away with the position,” manager Alex Cora said Tuesday at JetBlue Park. “I think athletic-wise, he’s capable of doing it. And now we’ve got to get him up to speed with everything that goes on in that position.”
Grissom’s offense is ahead of his defense at this point. He has negative-3 defensive runs saved in 368 innings at second base as a major leaguer. The 23-year-old has negative-7 defensive runs saved in 168 innings at shortstop in the big leagues.
MassLive’s Sean McAdam asked five different scouts about Grissom when the Red Sox acquired him. Their evaluations of his defense varied.
“I think he got into the habit of being too fast on some routine plays in the infield and is in need of more game-speed experience,” one scout said. “I guess I see him as an offense-first shortstop option who would, ultimately, fit better at second base.”
A second scout called his defense “underwhelming” while a third scout said “he really can’t play shortstop” and likely will be “limited to either second base or a corner outfield spot.”
A fourth scout mentioned his concerns about Grissom’s shortstop defense but added, “He should be able to hit and play second base.”
A fifth scout said, “Showed me actions, athleticism, range, arm to play shortstop and would be plus defender at (second base).” .
Grissom has extra-base power. His right-handed bat should help a Red Sox lineup that is very left-handed hitter heavy. That said, the Red Sox are still in the market for another right-handed hitter.
“That’s something we’ve talked about but it hasn’t happened,” Cora said. “We’ve still got a few weeks before Opening Day. In 2018, we were lacking the same thing and two weeks into spring training, boom, that happened (signed J.D. Martinez). These people are working hard. They are trying to trade for people, sign people. You name it, they’ve done it. It’s not lack of work. It just hasn’t happened. We know where we’re at offensively. We know we’re very left-handed. But at the same time, the left-handed hitters that we have, they’re really good, too.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 13, 2024 14:14:12 GMT -5
'I'm glad that I'm here': Cora talks future with Sox 18 minutes ago Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- For years, the Red Sox have marked the beginning of Spring Training with the manager speaking the day before the team’s first official workout.
While Alex Cora continued that tradition on Tuesday, there’s uncertainty in the air regarding the manager who guided the club to a World Series title in 2018 and another deep postseason run in ’21.
Will Cora’s sixth season managing the Red Sox be his last?
Though Cora doesn’t have a contract beyond 2024, he was at ease discussing his uncertain future.
“No, not at all,” said Cora, asked if contract limbo was a stressor. “Like I've been saying all along, this is where we’re at and whatever happens in the future, it’s going to be a family decision. I'm glad that I'm here.”
Cora’s run in Boston has been memorable, filled with its share of ups and downs.
“This organization gave me a chance to become a big league manager in the fall of 2017. And then, more surprisingly and I take it by heart, after the suspension, they gave me a chance to come back right after that,” Cora said. “I appreciate that. I never thought I was going to be back managing as soon as I did after the mistake that I made. And for that, we appreciate that.
“This is family for us. We love it in Boston, but at the same time, we understand as a family how it works. It's a business and at the same time we're very happy where we’re at. So to answer your question, straightforward, no, it doesn't bother me.”
Does managing the Red Sox beyond ’24 appeal to Cora?
“I don't want to talk about that right now,” he said.
In fact, the freedom to make his own decision going forward sounds as if it is appealing to Cora, who admitted that managing in the pressure-cooker of Boston can be tough at times.
Cora acknowledged Tuesday that last season was particularly tough on him, which is why he went on a fitness kick over the offseason that has him looking notably trimmer.
“I'm running,” said Cora. “This morning I got up, I ran four [miles]. That's where I'm at. All joking aside, I felt awful, physically, last year. I felt awful health-wise, energy-wise. It was bad. I cannot let a game dictate who I am as a person, or what I have to do. I feel really good.”
It was, at the very least, interesting to hear Cora -- a soccer enthusiast -- reference a passage from a book by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
“I read Guardiola's book and he said that when you spend more than five or six years in one place, it can take a toll on you,” Cora said. “I think I got hit last year with that. I'm glad that I recognized that. I think the pictures and videos [showed] that, and a conversation with my mom, who actually was very honest when I got back home, she crushed me. And the last conversation we had before I got on the plane, she said, ‘You look great,’ and I said, ‘Thank you.’ It's not easy, man. Dealing with the media, dealing with players, the front office, the pressure of winning is not easy. It should be fun, and sometimes it's not.”
Even if Cora does find a less stressful environment going forward, he has already decided he’s not going to be one of those “lifer” managers. The 48-year-old Cora says he will be done writing out lineup cards before he is through his 50s.
“I'm not going to manage 10 more years, I'll tell you that,” Cora said. “I don't see myself being like Tito [Francona] or Tony [La Russa]. I've got two [6-year-old] boys, I've got a daughter who's a junior in college. There's more in life than baseball. This is a tough business.”
For the Red Sox, part of that business has been frequent changes in front-office leaders over the last decade. Dave Dombrowski, who now runs baseball operations for the Phillies, hired Cora to manage the Red Sox. Chaim Bloom, who was let go by the Sox after last season and is now in an advisor’s role with the Cardinals, re-hired Cora after his one-season suspension from MLB for his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Now, Cora will work under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow for at least this one season.
How is that going so far?
“Good,” said Cora. “We’re getting to know each other. It's been, what, three months? Four months? I've been through this path before, working with somebody new. I'm very, very happy and excited about where we are at with our pitching group – the details, the information, the way we're going about our business. It’s been good so far.”
If this does wind up being Cora’s last chapter with the Red Sox, it will be well-chronicled by Netflix, as the streaming service announced last week it will follow Boston’s ’24 season from start to finish for a docuseries that will come out next year.
“From my end, I’ll talk to them,” Cora said. “There are certain times I’m going to say, ‘Not today.’ But most of the time we're going to be available and hopefully this is a story of a team that nobody gave a chance to win it and we can hoist a trophy at the end of October and have a great Halloween.”
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