Sox Make Rule Five Roster Adjustments
In preparation for December’s 6th’s Rule 5 draft in Nashville, TN at the end of the 2012 winter meetings the Red Sox added six minor league players to their 40 man roster, including right-hander Allen Webster, one of the prospects acquired from the Dodgers/Sox deal back in August.
September 30, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) at bat in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 6 – 3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE
The other players the Sox have protected for the Rule 5 Draft are catcher Dan Butler, outfielder Alex Hassan, right-hander Alex Wilson, catcher Christian Vazquez and knuckleballer Steven Wright.
As usual, addition also means subtraction. In order to make room for the six players Boston designated five players for assignment; right-handed pitchers David Carpenter, Sandy Rosario and Zach Stewart, infielder Ivan De Jesus, third baseman Danny Valencia.
Let’s connect a few dots. Stewart was the White Sox pitcher acquired in the Kevin Youkilis trade. Like all things in 2012, Stewart blew up in Boston’s face. He was awful in just two major league starts. The jury is out as to whether this deal will ever pay off.
Webster, on the other hand, is a young and promising sinker baller that the Red Sox believe will pay handsome dividends in the future with proper grooming. Last year he was 6-9 with a 3.86 ERA in 29 appearances.
Butler and Vasquez are both strong defensive catchers that continue to give Boston depth behind the dish, making the current five catcher lineup something that won’t last.
Hassen, a 20th round pick in 2009, has had some health issues but is valued for his plate discipline (.377 on base percentage) and aggressiveness.
Boston’s new pitcher-heavy and infield/outfield light 40 man roster looks like this:
Pitchers: Alfredo Aceves, Scott Atchison, Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard, Pedro Beato, Craig Breslow, Drake Britton, Clay Buchholz, Chris Carpenter, Rubby De La Rosa, Felix Doubront, Rich Hill, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Mark Melancon, Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales, Clayton Mortensen, Stolmy Pimentel, Junichi Tazawa, Allen Webster, Alex Wilson, Steven Wright.
Catchers: Dan Butler, Ryan Lavarnway, David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Christian Vazquez.
Infielders: Pedro Ciriaco, Mauro Gomez, Jose Iglesias, Will Middlebrooks, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jerry Sands.
Outfielders: Jacoby Ellsbury, Alex Hassan, Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava, Ryan Sweeney.
So we change partners
Time to change partners
You must change partners
Again
– Change Partners, Stephen Stills