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Red Sox Option Rusney Castillo and Jackie Bradley to Triple-A Pawtucket

4/3/2015

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by  Richard Rowell,  Write W.A.V.E. Media  Staff
While it is not incredibly surprising that the Red Sox optioned Jackie Bradley Jr. to Pawtucket, even after a torrid spring training, it is a bit strange to see Rusney Castillo sent down as well. Then again, the Red Sox outfield logjam made tough decisions necessary. Hanley Ramirez and Mookie Betts locked down left field and center field respectively. Shane Victorino is going to start if he's health. That left Allen Craig and Daniel Nava either playing or having to be exposed to waivers - and requiring the Red Sox to buyout their contracts through release if they passed through waivers. The only two outfielders with options not named Mookie Betts were Bradley and Castillo. Therefore, they were the ones to go.

Red Sox manager John Farrell has already made it clear that Castillo was sent down in order to receive regular at-bats, which he wouldn't have at the major league level with Shane Victorino starting in right field for the foreseeable future. Castillo only received 29 plate appearances in Spring Training, hitting over .300 with 2 homers, as the Sox were evaluating a great number of outfielders this spring. Were Victorino not healthy, Castillo would easily be in the big leagues to start the year. While it seems strange to send down someone due about $!0 million this year, to keep him on the roster would require an injury to one of the three outfield starters or jettisoning Craig or Nava.

Bradley was an easier decision, despite his incredible spring training, hitting .378/.462/.444 playing his usual stellar defense. But as the competition is much lighter in spring training, those stats can be deceiving. Bradley hasn't proven that he can hit at the big league level in almost a full season's worth of games. Even though his defense basically can carry a poor bat, even with his Gold Glove caliber defense, he's barely been worth over replacement level according to FanGraphs. He'll need a strong offensive showing at AAA Pawtucket and an injury or trade to open up a position on the major league level.

Castillo had a fine start to his Major League career at the end of 2014. Both the Steamer and ZiPS projection systems see Castillo as an above-average regular. Steamer has him being worth 1..7 Wins Above Replacement in only 93 games. and ZiPS has him at 2.6 WAR in 142 games. Neither see him putting up big offensive numbers, but providing above-average defense and baserunning. Castillo seems to have the talent to out-perform those projections, but even if he doesn't, he was well worth the contract that the Red Sox gave to him.

The Sox have enviable outfield depth, and at this time, while a trade of someone seems imminent, Victorino's health is still a major question mark. Also while Betts hasn't shown any signs of a sophomore slump, it conceivably could happen - however unlikely. Nava or Craig may also prove ineffective or suddenly go on a tear facilitating a trade for a decent prospect that the Red Sox may not be able to refuse. The Sox made the only decisions that they could at the time being, as having depth is better than having none. Boston learned that the hard way last year and they are trying to be sure not to repeat that mistake.
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Jackie Bradley in 2014 (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
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Boston Red Sox Acquire Catcher Sandy Leon

3/30/2015

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by  Richard Rowell,  Write W.A.V.E. Media  Staff
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With Red Sox starting catcher Christian Vazquez dealing with an elbow injury that could potentially end his season, the team went out and acquired catcher Sandy Leon from the Washington Nationals. It's unknown at this point what the Red Sox promised the Nationals in acquiring him, but it will likely be cash considerations or a player to be named later. As Leon was out of minor league options, were the Nationals to send him to the minor leagues, he would have had to pass through waivers.

Despite only being a back-up caliber catcher, Leon's cannon arm and above-average defensive skills behind the plate would have been picked up by a number of teams for free. This way, the Nationals will at least get some value for letting the Red Sox enjoy his services. Leon is a veteran of 34 games across 3 seasons with the Nationals, hitting only .189/.280/.253 in that time. He hasn't been much of an offensive force in the minors, either, outside of a 117 wRC+ run in 40 games at AA in 2012, followed by an incredible outburst of 188 wRC+ in 19 games at AAA which earned him his first call-up.

The projection system ZiPS projects Leon for a .217/.285/.317 batting line in about 300 plate appearances, which is worth about a 69 wRC+ or 31 percent below league average.. He's also projected to save about 13 runs on defense. in 83 games, making him overall worth about 12 runs above replacement level. While it's doubtful that the Red Sox would need to turn to Leon for that many games, he is a better option than veteran Humberto Quintero, who is decent on defense, but projected to be even worse on offense.. Quintero also isn't on the 40-man roster, meaning the Red Sox would have to make a move to put him on it. Top prospect Blake Swihart is on the 40-man roster, but the Sox would prefer to send him to AAA Pawtucket for further seasoning.

Leon should serve as a more than serviceable back-up to the Sox's other catcher, Ryan Hanigan, until Vazquez returns or Swihart proves he's ready for the big leagues. It's a good value pickup for the Sox in any case.
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Chicago White Sox Going All In for 2015 and Beyond

12/9/2014

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by Richard Rowell, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
The White Sox are going all in this year. The  acquisitions of first baseman Adam LaRoche, Zach Duke, and David Robertson (very solid closer, even if they paid him a bit much) have already showed their intentions at  making a run at what could be a wide open American League Central in 2015. LaRoche  is still a good hitter with some defensive value at first base. Zach Duke is a very strong left handed reliever, who although I was surprised got three years, deserved the attention he got. David Robertson is a very solid closer, and while I feel they overpaid, they have likely solidified the back end of their bullpen for at least the next four years. 

The White Sox definitely needed another starting pitcher, though. When I first heard the rumors that the White Sox were going after a one-year rental of Jeff "Shark" Samardzija, though, I was a bit perplexed. But after seeing what the Athletics got for him, I love this trade for the White Sox. They even get the upside of young right-handed pitcher Michael Ynoa on top of renting "Shark" for a year. In return, the White Sox give up their backup catcher in Josh Phegley, a decent arm in Chris Bassitt (whose control is a bit iffy but has upside), a utility infielder in Marcus Semien, and a decent hitting prospect in Rangel Ravelo.

While the A's got a decent haul for a rental, I still love this for the White Sox. It's an OK return for a team like the A's who are clearly going for a quick rebuild, though. It's going to save the A's at least $9 million in salary arbitration. But for the White Sox, they get a chance to sandwich Shark in between Chris Sale (one of the best pitchers in baseball) and the ever-underrated Jose Quintana. They have a couple other decent arms in that rotation, as well, but this takes some pressure off of their developing young starters. GM Rick Hahn is doing a great job with this South Side team makeover. Oakland GM Billy Beane is just continuing his fire sale, but I like THIS return better than the returns for Josh Donaldson and especially Brandon Moss.

On top of their other acquisitions, this move makes the White Sox look very good going into next season. I don't think they'll miss Bassitt too much, although he has back-end of the rotation potential and probably bullpen help at worst. Though Ravelo may be something, it will be likely a couple years before he makes an impact. He's probably the best player in the deal. Phegley is a nice back-up catcher with power, but the White Sox gained catcher Rob Brantly off of waivers, so he became expendable.

The Tigers are getting older with several positions in flux. The Twins are a mess. The Royals could still be fairly good and the Indians look better. But this could be quite a race now with all of the talent the White Sox have added. It's been 10 years since the White Sox last won the World Series. Why not go for it now?


What do you think of the White Sox going forward? 
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Boston Red Sox Sign Pablo Sandoval AND Hanley Ramirez

11/25/2014

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by Richard Rowell, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Pablo Sandoval (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
By now, you have all heard the news. The Boston Red Sox have gone on a spending spree, signing third baseman Pablo “Panda” Sandoval to a 5-year $100 million deal and former shortstop Hanley Ramirez to a 4-year $88 million deal to play left field at Fenway Park.

Of course, the Red Sox have the money to sign both Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. Plus, since Ramirez – who is a lousy defensive shortstop – is being moved to the outfield, young shortstop Xander Bogaerts never has to worry about the bench. Plus, he now has a plus defensive third baseman playing beside him. What this does do is make an already major logjam in the outfield that much worse. Now, either right-fielder Shane Victorino or now former left-fielder Yoenis Cespedes is almost definitely destined to be included a trade for pitching.  Center fielder Rusney Castillo, the young Cuban who signed a major deal last season, is going nowhere.

The current scenario for the Red Sox makes sense. Since Ramirez and Sandoval are free agents now, you have to sign them now. The Red Sox are at a juncture where they don't exactly have much offense coming through the system outside of Mookie Betts and perhaps the raw, but powerful Bryce Brentz. They can't trade Betts, really - too valuable in his versatility. They can't trade much from their pitching depth in the minors (Henry Owens and Brian Johnson) and they can't trade Christian Vazquez (slated to be their starting catcher). Their top prospect, catcher Blake Swihart, is a stud who could be starting by 2016 in the Major Leagues.

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Hanley Ramirez (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Basically, this means that you have to sign the guys that are still young enough to be useful for the majority of those 5 years. And “Panda” definitely should be, at only age 28. Hanley will be turning 31 before Opening Day, but he is taking a discount in years to play in Boston - where his career first began. I’m a big fan of both players. Also, although Hanley does have those character issues from his past, I think the clubhouse in Boston will keep him in line. David Ortiz and Hanley are already buddies so I don’t see any issue there. Plus, Sandoval is a great clubhouse guy. Panda has nothing left to prove in San Francisco after winning three World Series by the Bay and Hanley just has to stay healthy for the better part of a season.

I like these moves for the Red Sox. The question now is what to do with Allen Craig, Daniel Nava, and Jackie Bradley, as well as having to move Yoenis Cespedes (1 year left, $10 million) or Shane Victorino (1 year left, $13 million) or both – as the Sox have made it clear that Betts will play. But that could be a very good problem to have as there are pitchers on the trading block and the Sox are loading up to make another worst-to-first run in 2015.
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