Red Sox reserve strength that will be in Pawtucket – maybe
The Boston Red Sox will soon make cuts that could determine the baseball future of several players. This is a look at a few and two who will be contractually protected.
With spring training winding down, we’re nearing the point of finding out which players will round out the last few spots on the Boston Red Sox Opening Day roster and who will left waiting in Pawtucket.
There are terms in baseball that apply to certain players and two such terms are a “tweener” and “4A” player. Both terms are symbolic of a player who is close to being in the major leagues, but has never made it to where they can latch onto steady employment. The reason is simple – deficiencies. Some level of weakness either defensively, the pitchers finding holes in swings, injuries, logjams with clubs or the fact they are just not good enough.
The Triple–A level teams are stockpiled with players that meet that classification or players that had an extended taste of the majors and wish more – with the base salary and benefit packages that are a desirable avenue to follow.
Players that are borderline spend considerable time watching the transaction wire, finding injury updates and looking for any movement in the majors that could offer them an opportunity to get that precious call and a far more elegant lifestyle. Boston now has their share of players who fill that niche and they will either be at Pawtucket for insurance or – if fortunate – land elsewhere to fill a need.
Waivers offer opportunity and the Red Sox saw something with 27-year-old Steve Selsky so they pounced and claimed him from the Reds. Maybe it was the right-hand power potential? Selsky did hit .314 in 2016 with the Reds. Maybe just a stockpile for 2018 when Chris Young is off the books?
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Selsky has two options remaining so the Red Sox do have some control. He’s on the 40-man roster and that can be a precarious placement in case a slot is needed. Selsky also has 4A credentials with a career .283 average at Triple-A.
Selsky making it to the majors is somewhat of a surprise as he was a pick in the 33rd round of the draft in 2011. As of this moment in time, Selsky will invariably be part of the Pawtucket outfield. Selsky is capable of respectable, but not exotic glove work in the outfield – playing all three outfield positions – and the metrics show nothing special or worrisome.
This is an insurance policy, but it is a policy that may not be used since a few other options could exist at Pawtucket. The positive is that Selsky hit enough at his brief trial with the Reds to get interested from the Red Sox. As a right-hand bat with off the bench potential Selsky may earn a visit or two to Fenway Park if he hits in the International League.
I hope Brian Bogusevic collects air miles since Boston is the latest team for the 33-year-old left-hand hitter and fielder. Bogusevic was drafted by the Astros in 20005 and has seen duty with the Cubs, Marlins, Phillies and Nippon Baseball organizations. In 321 MLB games Bogusevic has hit .238 – not exactly attention-getting.
Bogusevic certainly provides 4A evidence with a career .281 average in 603 games at the Triple-A level. What is of interest to note is that Bogusevic also can pitch or at least give a reasonable facsimile of a pitcher. The career minor league statistics certainly will not make David Price envious – 14-21 and a 5.05 earned run average, but any port in a storm since the Astros once tossed him on the mound for an inning of being pounded (two runs allowed).
Since Bogusevic has a minor league deal he will be shuffled off to Pawtucket unless the PawSox needs a spot for another player and then it will be cut loose time. Bogusevic is the left-handed version of Selsky and that is somewhat of a competition. If the Red Sox have a level of desperation the deciding factor could be based on the need of right or left.
Bogusevic is a very long-shot to return to the majors – especially at his age. The possible plus is a 16.8 UZR/150 for his career.
Deven Marrero is also hitting this spring training. There is never a question regarding Marrero’s fielding ability and in another baseball age with rosters that usually had seven infielders Marrero would find employment. A late inning defensive replacement is a high priority for many a leaking defense. Games can be lost or even a World Series by poor managerial decisions on defense – just think Bill Buckner.
Marrero is a former number one draft choice and is now on the cusp at 26-years-old. Last season at Pawtucket Marrero had a significant regression with his hitting ability as his average plummeted to .198 from .256 the previous season. Short stays in Boston the two previous years resulted in a .200 average. What I noticed was a certain inability at both Boston and Pawtucket to accomplish the “little things” necessary. Getting a bunt down or moving a runner along.
Marrero has an option left and will be returned to Pawtucket. Josh Rutledge and Marco Hernandez both are well ahead of Marrero on the company flow chart under reserve infielders, but Marrero does have the potential to latch on elsewhere. The Boston roadway appears a dead-end, but when a team is in need a swap could open Marrero to a more productive opportunity elsewhere.
Third base in Pawtucket may be a position that is assigned to only those with the surname Dominguez. In 2016 Chris Dominguez played some third for the PawSox and this season 27-year-old Matt Dominguez may start the season at the hot corner for Pawtucket.
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Dominguez is a former first-round pick by the Marlins who has a .231 career average in 321 major league games. Matt D. has some clout with 42 career home runs for the right-handed hitter. Since his Miami days, Dominguez has gone to the Astros, Brewers and Toronto organizations with Toronto letting him go the free agent route.
The current status of Pablo Sandoval certainly puts a damper on Dominguez within the Boston organization. That, however, does not mean a dead-end for a player that should be in his prime. The track history may open up a pathway to the majors. A concern could be a -6.8 UZR/150 for his career, but Dominguez did have two full seasons with Houston that produced 37 home runs.
Dominguez will eventually get another call to “The Show” providing he hits with authority at Pawtucket. For Boston, the depth chart at third provides far more viable options so that is in all likelihood closed.
The history of Allen Craig is well-known as this one-time All-Star just saw his hitting prowess vanish like a box of donuts at a police convention. Craig was good – very good and now he is – to be kind – not as good. Compared to his former status it is not slipping down the ladder, but taking the express elevator to the bottom.
In spring training Craig has shown an occasional glimpse of his once productive bat. One may claim that the deterioration of Craig’s skill set is directly related to a series of injuries. In 2016 at Pawtucket Craig missed most of the season with injuries. In 22 games Craig hit .173. Craig’s last toe dipping at the MLB level was 2015 in Boston and that was another well under the Mendoza Line at .152.
Craig easily passed through waivers in 2016 and was shipped off to Pawtucket. The reasoning is simple: contract. This season he will be paid $11 Million to play first base, designate hit, or wander the outfield. Boston could just cut him loose, but, hey – he still gets paid.
Craig is worth the risk for any team – someone may be reasonably impressed that his skills are ticking upwards, but that will mean nothing since no team, GM or living saint is going to spend the money. Craig’s only option will be playing with a level of panache that may make him valuable somewhere in 2017 or in 2018 when the Red Sox are off the hook.
Boston is not a baseball backwater and every nuance, injury, questionable play in spring training is analyzed to the nth degree. Boston fans will not tolerate laziness, indifference, and sloppy play since that will send a player to a special verbal purgatory be it Fenway Park or McCoy Stadium.
Rusney Castillo has been called out rather pointedly by manager John Farrell for his abuse of acceptable baseball standards. The 29-year-old Castillo has shown the occasional talent that now has Boston on the fiscal hook for $46 Million through 2020. Castillo’s contract is unmovable and even if he shreds the International League the Red Sox would be fortunate to get ten cents on the dollar.
The options for Castillo are rather bleak to get an extended return to Boston. Lights out this season at Pawtucket could open up a role as the fourth outfielder in 2018. A Castillo superlative season at Triple-A could make Jackie Bradley available for a trade. If Ebola sweeps through the clubhouse Boston may have a need for Castillo.
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What is certain is the unforgiving memories of Boston fans regarding the differences displayed by Castillo this spring. That is an almost unforgivable sin, so Pawtucket fans can enjoy watching the most expensive twosome in minor league baseball for 2017 – Castillo and Craig.