Cleaning out the Red Sox roster closet
By Rick McNair
Time for a quick update on the departed in the Red Sox recent moves and one that remains that is a surprise.
The Boston Red Sox had a group of players that simply defied why they were still here. There is absolutely no sense of the continuation of soap opera of performers without any sustainable major league talent and one who continued to offer some type of long distance promise – promises that invariably disintegrate.
In the last few days they have cleaned out some of the roster closets and from my view, that is a very good thing. Off to the baseball cornfield for a few. And one who should join them.
The acquisition of Michael Martinez was – to me – a greater mystery than D.B. Cooper and has now been designated for assignment (DFA). What was the motivation, as they like to say in acting school? Martinez is a multi-positional player and that apparently has some clout within the decision-making ranks in Boston. Again – what motivation for getting him?
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Martinez is now 33 years old, is a lifetime .198 hitter and played in four games that demonstrated his skill set, especially in the outfield, is not exactly fine-tuned. The Red Sox cherish versatility, but Martinez was merely a dead weight defensively and offensively.
Tommy Layne is a situational lefty who is 31-years-old and with the continual need for such a pitcher, a job always surfaces no matter how dismal the statistical line happens to be. The Red Sox traded for Fernando Abad – nothing special – that represents an upgrade, slight as it may be, and off to DFA land for Layne.
Layne has pitched for the Red Sox for three seasons and what gets my attention is the sin of all pitching sins a 4.6 BB/9. This season left-handers are swatting .259 against Layne and the other side at .260. Abad is a significant improvement against lefties so Layne sits and waits until he is claimed or the Red Sox maneuver a trade.
For an in-depth look at Abad just examine the recent article by BSI’s Tracy Katzke.
Joe Kelly is a baseball tease with his power arm and a great finish to 2015, but don’t be fooled as it is all an illusion – a baseball mirage. Kelly (thankfully) has options left and has been returned to Pawtucket to await his next recall – it most certainly will happen.
You get enticed with Kelly’s heat only to watch that the safest place to avoid being hit is by standing on home plate. Just give the ball to someone who can actually have a reasonable chance at tossing a strike. My prediction is that Kelly will (1) Never win a Cy Young Award and (2) will not be on the 2017 Red Sox roster.
Pat Light was also heat and he was shipped to the Twins, who are going nowhere and can have the patience to see if Light actually develops – don’t hold your breath on that one. The 25-year-old righty has an MLB ERA close to his age – 23.63.
Light had been the occasional closer at Pawtucket and had the same disease that has infected most of the Red Sox system and that is a 4.9 BB/9. Just walk guys in bunches and bushels and you stay.
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Last is one player who has somehow remained on the roster and my assumption is no one else wants him unless the Red Sox pick up the contract.
Clay Buchholz shelf life has still not reached an expiration point. Now consigned to pitching in relief in games that have long since gone sluicing into the loss column. What the Red Sox have is a baseball custodian who simply comes in when a pitcher has created a mess – a custodian whose only responsibility is to prevent a position player the embarrassment of mopping up the remains of a shattered game.
Buchholz is the ultimate in expensive bullpen toys at $13 Million a season. The idea is suppose to have the bullpen solidified with Buchholz when, alas, it is just a necessity since baseball at this level has no slaughter rule. In the grander scheme of things, I am sure Boston is somehow hoping that a market exists and that someone may actually be willing to share the contractual pain.
Next: Red Sox built for relief
The players I have mentioned are all readily expendable – like the appendix, they may have no known use. All are easily replaceable and should be since after great patience – especially Buchholz and Kelly – management has not been rewarded.