Red Sox rejects: A mid-season look
May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Wilson (30) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Red Sox shuffled some players off the island in the off-season. Traded over low expectations, poor performance, signing issues or just to go shopping for a better product – a team upgrade. Reject may be a harsh terminology, but the reality is you were expunged from the organization.
As the season nears the All-Star mark, where we can collectively enjoy the Kansas City Royals facing off against the National League, comes an examination of how the Red Sox rejects have performed with a change of scenery.
This will be limited to players that were traded and not free agents, players released or those claimed off waivers.
Who won or who lost on the transactions is certainly open to short term interpretation. Long term could take considerable time frame since what may appear a dismal failure one season turns to baseball gold another.
Jun 23, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks (11) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Will Middlebrooks traded to San Diego for Ryan Hanigan.
Middlebrooks was on the fast track to be a right-handed power producer in the Red Sox lineup. All signs pointed favorable in 2012 with a slash of .288/.325/.509 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in about a half season of actions. Then it simply fell apart.
Middlebrooks still has not hit for average. The WAR is 0.1 or just about flat. BABIP is at .250, wOBA at .276, ISO of .164 and the traditional numbers are nine home runs and 28 RBI. Defensively Middlebrooks’ UZR/150 is -5.8 and the defensive metrics are minus across the board.
The numbers are clear in that Middlebrooks still is a long – very long – way from his 2012 promise. San Diego has not provided the impetus to resurrect his career.
Jun 14, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) hits a single in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Detroit won 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Rick Porcello arrived from Detroit and Alex Wilson, Yoenis Cespedes and Gabe Speier all went to Michigan.
Cespedes is another cog in the high powered Tigers offense and is hitting above .300, hitting for extra bases, has a 2.5 WAR and having a UZR/150 at is 14.6. Cespedes, a free agent after 2015, is in an exceptionally favorable contract push by maintaining power numbers while raising his once mediocre batting average.
The real performer is Wilson who did demonstrate some pitching potential with Boston in 2014. Wilson did the usual yo-yo act between Boston and Pawtucket, but did make 19 appearances with a 1.91 ERA in 28.1 innings. Wilson’s WHIP was an impressive 0.88 and the 28-year-old right-hander has picked up in 2015 where he left off in 2014.
Wilson is a go to guy in the Tigers pen and in 39 innings has an ERA of 1.62, a 2.81 FIP and a WHIP of 0.87. Wilson’s WAR is 0.6, the same as Junichi Tazawa. With the flux in the bullpen who would you rather have? The open door collection the Red Sox have presented in the first half of the season or Wilson?
Jun 14, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa (12) prepares to deliver a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Wade Miley from Arizona for Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa.
Webster was one body who was delivered as part of the package for Miley and has done little. Webster’s stay mirrors his time in Boston with extended visits to the pleasures of Triple-A ball.
Webster is now with the D-Backs and has a 1-1 record with a 6.46 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. In three starts Webster has failed to go beyond 5.2 innings and has displayed a similar performance as he had in Boston. Webster will continue to shuttle between MLB and Triple-A. Currently Webster is on the 25-man roster, but for how long?
De La Rosa has shown the same mystery out west as he did in the east. A hard thrower who has not developed the consistency with location and secondary pitches to take the next step in development. Frustrating to watch just realizing the potential if that talented arm could be harnessed.
De La Rosa still throws the heat with a fastball that averages 93.8 mph and uses it almost 50% of the time. So the tantalizing glimpse is occasionally present – just enough to keep the promise in the picture.
For the season De La Rosa has made 15 starts for Arizona with a 4.69 ERA, 4.13 FIP and his WHIP is 1.24. The BB/9 is down (2.3) and the K/9 is up (8.2) so some degree of progress is being made, but that next level? Maybe by season’s end? Rubby’s WAR is currently 0.8.
Both Webster and De La Rosa are now into their third organization and now the Diamondbacks hope the third time is a charm.
Jun 18, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Texas Rangers starter Anthony Ranaudo (46) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Ranaudo to Texas for Robbie Ross.
Ranaudo, a 24-year-old right-hander, never fulfilled his promise in Boston and the former first round selection was finally jettisoned.
In Texas, Ranaudo has made two starts and both represent the enigma he presented in Boston. The first start in early April was a statistical and performance nightmare. In 1.2 innings the Angels scored six runs on six hits before Ranaudo was mercifully pulled from the game.
The second start was on 6/18 against the Dodgers and Ranaudo pitched an impressive 6.2 innings of shutout ball allowing the Dodgers only five hits. That earned Ranaudo a quick trip back to Round Rock of the PCL Triple-A. A spot start with Texas and more will, no doubt, take place.
At Round Rock Ranaudo has been operating in the rotation and sports a 7-2 record with a 3.12 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. The Rangers will use Ranaudo as Boston had by allowing spot starts when the need arises, otherwise he will remain at Round Rock.
Feb 23, 2014; Ft Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Dan Butler poses during photo day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Dan Butler to Washington for Daniel Rosenbaum.
This was a minor transaction that I included out of admiration for the gritty and determined 27-year-old Butler. Of note – Rosenbaum, who recently had TJ surgery, is a virtual pitching version of Butler. Both started in 2009 and Rosenbaum, a 27-year-old left-hander, was at Lowell when injury possibly ended his career.
Butler made a brief appearance in Boston in 2014 hitting .211. The right-handed hitting catcher was noted for his defensive skills and conversely his lack of hitting skills.
Butler is now back at Triple-A and catching for Syracuse of the International League. Butler, as history has shown, will not return dividend with the bat. Butler is currently hitting .233 with one home run and 13 RBI.
Somewhere is a few years Butler will surface as a minor league coach or manager as his “coach of the field” skills will be put to good use – hopefully it will be with the Red Sox organization.
Statistics from baseball-reference and Fangraphs through 6/28.
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