Boston Red Sox outlook: PawSox “no’s” for 2016
By Rick McNair
Sep 13, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Allen Craig (5) hits a single against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-USA TODAY Sports
A “No” is a player not on the 40-man roster. The Red Sox have several and here is a brief profile on each.
The Boston Red Sox picked the 2015 PawSox roster cleaner that a flock of ravenous seagulls hitting an extra ripe landfill, but, hey, that is the idea! The PawSox went from first place after about forty games into the basement like it was a drop at the Tower of Terror ride.
Jackie Bradley, Rusney Castillo, Blake Swihart and just about any pitcher of merit took the I-95 ride to Yawkey Way to attempt to fortify the Boston club. Alas – the parent finished like the young Pawtucket off-spring and ended up occupying the basement.
The PawSox now have a collection of “no’s” as they prepare for the 2016 season. And just what are the “no’s?” They are the ones excluded from the 40-man roster. Some have shuffled through being designated for assignment and ignore only to sign back with Boston and vie for the opportunity to check daily for roster changes in Boston and elsewhere.
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Don’t be fooled – injuries and failure at the MLB level can translate into an opportunity for a player with previous MLB experience or faded promise from languishing further in the International League or whatever minor league team they are filling a spot.
The Red Sox recently did what every team does and signed several players to minor league contracts. The skill level varies as does the job resume from limited experience to extensive experience. And from once a world of promise to a world of failure.
The PawSox have some players who will now go to spring training camp and in all probability return to Pawtucket and the IL or just be cut in ST. Occasionally a player surfaces with an impressive spring and hooks on with Boston or is traded elsewhere and some that I will list may just fill that niche.
The life of a “No” will be tenuous at best since some will be displaced by current members of the 40-man roster. This is the current situation with the “No’s” at Pawtucket and that will constantly shift as current 40-man players are assigned to Pawtucket.