The Boston Red Sox have several players are out of minor league options and for a few, it may mean a career in Boston is over.
Out of options can often be the deciding factor on a player being on the 40-man roster or not. MLB Trade Rumors has the latest list and the Boston Red Sox have several players that have less than five years service time and no options remaining.
To send a player out of options to the minors requires they be placed on waivers and any team can then claim them. That has a certain risk element since the team that places a waiver claim assumes the contract.
Boston easily had Allen Craig and Rusney Castillo going through waivers since no one had a level of insanity necessary to place a claim and absorb contracts that had “Dead Money” emblazed upon them. Drifting back many years the Red Sox also had Manny Ramirez on waivers, but even the productive Manny was not enticing enough for some team to absorb his contract. I will avoid the extensive and – at least to me – ponderous, intricate and confusing process of options and waivers.
The Red Sox could avoid any questionable choices by just using the trade market. They could also risk exposing a player with the understanding that no other team will be interested. Conversely, the Red Sox may be interested in just who another team may choose to jettison.
"Once a player is put on the 40-man roster, the option countdown begins. A player is assigned three options as a rostered player. Each year, when a player who is on the roster gets sent to the Minor Leagues for a stint of more than 20 days, it counts as an option. – MLB Rules"
The Red Sox list contains names that will certainly not be sent to the waiver wire. Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright, and Tyler Thornburg all have a solid roster spot. Pomeranz and Wright are certainly viable options for the rotation with the “loser” being a valued addition to the bullpen.
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Thornburg’s performances in spring training would get a level of attention that could conceivably result in demotion to the minors, but with his talent level and investment by the team via trade, he will stay. Any issues regarding his health simply mean the disabled list option.
Another possibility out of the bullpen is Heath Hembree. At this juncture, Hembree has displayed some positive performances and apparently has a better than even chance of staying with Boston. Hembree also had a strong 2016 season so his spot is safe.
One name surfaces whose fate may soon be determined and that is Bryce Brentz who will probably be Designated For Assignment (DFA) as this is written. Brentz – a former number one pick (2010) – has never produced as expected. How 28-years-old the right-handed power hitting promise has evaporated and it is highly doubtful another team will claim Brentz.
Josh Rutledge has been through the grinding paperwork process for players that are on the fringe. Rutledge was traded to Boston by the Angels in 2015 and in 2016 played until a knee injury in June scuttled his season. Rutledge was outrighted to the minors and eventually choose the free agency route. Rutledge signed with the Rockies in November of 2016 but was eventually returned to Boston as a Rule 5 selection.
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Rutledge is a dependable reserve and has two important considerations going for him. The first is his combination of experience and versatility and the second is his competition. Marco Hernandez has hit in spring training and in a brief stint with Boston in 2016. Hernandez also has two options remaining so even if Hernandez continues to powder the ball he may be heading south of Boston on I-95.
Sandy Leon is out of options, but with his superior defensive skills and a .310 average in 2016, he will remain tethered to the Red Sox. Leon’s catching competition is Christian Vazquez and Vaz is also out of options, but not out of a promise. Vazquez appears to be fully operational after missing 2015 with surgery and the assumption is that both remain in Boston.
The Red Sox also have Blake Swihart in the catching mix. Swihart certainly is not of the defensive backstop quality of Leon and Vazquez, but he can hit. Swihart has good or bad paper depending on your view and that paper has an option on it.
Next: What if Adrian Beltre never left Boston?
The numbers will start to disappear as spring training progresses. The usual group will be sent packing to the minor league camp. That first round has recently commenced, but for a few players – most notably Brentz – the next round will determine their Boston career.