Red Sox: Grading trades, free agent signings of Dave Dombrowski
Dave Dombrowski is the Boston Red Sox man in charge for the foreseeable future. Just what type of grade should DD get for his moves? Here is a personal look.
On August 18, 2015, Dave Dombrowski was appointed president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox. Dombrowski had an extensive resume of management in baseball with some dismal failures that were outweighed by the successes.
This is certainly not unusual since it goes with the territory of being either a general manager or another lofty created title. The Red Sox have an extensive list of creative titles on their organization chart.
To the fans, the only item of ultimate interest is how the team performs. Cursory interest does exist regarding the minutia of layered management within the organization that runs the gamut from medical staff, fiscal issues, public relations and so on with the most important being baseball operations.
Within the operational structure, some changes may not be apparent for several years such as the farm system, but the most visible are the one that garners all the attention and that is the shuffling of players, free agent signings and trades. Dombrowski made an immediate impact on both those areas within a few short months. So what about the early returns?
What may be a tepid grade now could go lower or significantly higher as the years go by.
DAVID PRICE SIGNING
David Price had spent his career with Tampa Bay before being traded to Detroit since there was no way that noted parsimonious Rays franchise would shell out the money needed to keep him. The Red Sox had a unique opportunity presented to them with the free agency of the left-handed hurler.
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Price already had a Cy Young Award and finished second in two other seasons. At 30-years-old Price represented a risk since pitchers do wear out and wear out quickly. Price had a long history of taking the ball consistently and racking up innings. The Red Sox simply blew the competition away with a $217 Million contract.
Last season Price did not live up to expectations – at least from my view. The record was excellent at 17-9 and Price led the American League in innings pitched. The early disappointment disappeared as in the second half of 2016 the “old” Price surfaced.
The problem came once again in the playoffs as Price apparently is someone who can get you there but then vanishes. Another start and another pounding as the Red Sox were sent packing by Cleveland. This is certainly not Curt Schilling.
Where it is now starting to crumble for this signing is an injury. The ongoing elbow miseries may be a precursor to a more serious injury that could result not in missed games, but a missed season. So far Boston has simply taken the risk and not seen the expected reward. This signing has all the indications of ending badly.
EARLY GRADE – B
CRAIG KIMBREL TRADE
The idea for a productive farm system is to supply talent to avoid enormous contracts when a player hits free agency, fill in holes when necessary and to acquire players that may have an immediate impact for your team. The last is why Craig Kimbrel came to Boston.
The Red Sox sent four minor league players to the Padres for Kimbrel. The centerpiece was Manuel Margot, a promising center fielder who was roadblocked in Boston by several others and became expendable. Margot is now doing rather well for the Padres and eventually – at least from my perspective – will be an All-Star. But what about Kimbrel?
In 2016 I hated this deal and in 2017 I love this deal. What one year and a world of fewer walks can do. Kimbrel was a four-time All-Star in the National League with the Braves and had also led the NL in saves four times. Kimbrel’s calling card was and is heat. But in Boston?
In 2016, Kimbrel had a 5.1 BB/9. Awful. The earned run average came in at 3.40 and that was a warning sign since his last season in San Diego he had registered a career-high 2.40 ERA. The plus was when Kimbrel was “on” he was virtually unhittable. Now he is unhittable in just about every game. The 1.1 BB/9 tells a nice story for 2017.
This was a great trade for both teams. The Red Sox have one of the best closers in the game and the Padres have some promising young talent. A win-win situation.
EARLY GRADE – A
DREW POMERANZ TRADE
Drew Pomeranz has been a disaster for the Red Sox. The number that leaps out is at 1.8 HR/9 since Pomeranz appears to enjoy life as a batting practice pitcher. His 20 starts for Boston there is nothing really memorable and a lot that was forgettable. Now Pomeranz has an injury and the magnitude is unknown.
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The Red Sox sent their top pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza to the Padres for Pomeranz and what eventually surfaced was the Padres had simply not been open and honest about Pom-Pom’s medical history. Espinoza is also being treated with caution by the Padres and has yet to pitch in 2017.
This deal is one that I simply could not come to grips with and then came the information on the Padres withholding medical history. The Red Sox had an opportunity to negate the trade, but chose not to act. That is all in the hands of Dombrowski – who I imagine has no comprehension of The Lemon Law.
What was there in Pomeranz’ history to show he would be a legitimate middle of the rotation starter? Never a complete game and a record skewered by playing in big ballparks in Oakland and San Diego. This deal certainly aroused ire within the media and Red Sox Nation.
Pomeranz will eventually be gone from Boston and probably this season or the next. I have no illusions about his ability to contribute as a positive for the Red Sox.
EARLY GRADE – D-
CHRIS SALE TRADE
Chris Sale may be the second coming of Pedro Martinez. Enough was written about this perpetual candidate for a Cy Young Award and his statistical and tailoring accomplishments. When this level of talent becomes available you simply cannot pass it up no matter what the price.
Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech were the price and both will be at the MLB level eventually. Moncada is the real deal and a projected five-tool player. The mercurial Kopech owns a heater that tops 100 MPH. Both will fill long-term needs for the White Sox.
Sale has been a delight for Boston in what is transpiring to be a miserable season. Even on the rare occasion when Sale is less than extraordinary he will still be his customary 10+ strikeouts and keep the Sox well in the game. This deal is another win-win for both teams and quite possibly the best move of the Dombrowski early going.
EARLY GRADE – A
CARSON SMITH AND TYLER THORNBURG
The two relief pitchers are attached, as both Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg have done absolutely nothing for Boston. Smith underwent arm reconstruction and may be back in June or July. For Thornburg, his health is like the mystery of dark matter. Just what is wrong? MRI machines are being overworked as his reported shoulder impingement persists.
Why do the Red Sox have such unfortunate outcomes with pitchers? Price, Pomeranz, Smith and Thornburg. All down. With Thornburg, it is a disaster since Travis Shaw was the player shipped to the Brewers. Shaw is lighting it up for the Brewers and the Red Sox have a gargantuan hole at third base.
Smith and especially Thornburg were supposed to give the one – two punch out of the bullpen for 2017, but now it is Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree and several others who should be in secondary and not primary roles. Maybe both will return by the second half and solidify the ‘pen? I will not count on it.
Both these deals are developing into an extended version of the Pomeranz trade, but not based on performance. We have no idea of the pitching competency of either since they are both on the DL and not the mound.
EARLY GRADE – F
MITCH MORELAND SIGNING
Mitch Moreland is certainly not David Ortiz, but the Red Sox have gotten in the early going exactly what they expected. Moreland has never been a great hitter – expect 20+ home runs, 80 RBI and somewhere in the vicinity of .250. Moreland does offer excellent defense – although he has been unusually sloppy in the early going.
This is a one year deal and the money fits for Boston to keep them well under the luxury tax threshold. What may be expected in the replacement department is Sam Travis, but Travis has hit a wall and not the ball at Pawtucket.
This was – on the surface – a smart move, but the reality is with Ortiz gone the Red Sox did not need some gold plating, but solid gold and that was one of the free agent bats on the market. The Red Sox needed Edwin Encarnacion and a hit on the luxury tax would have been far better than an offense in reverse.
Bottom line – a good signing, but not the right signing.
EARLY GRADE – C+
Dombrowski was given the keys to a Maserati and not a Yugo. The Red Sox were loaded with young and productive talent. The farm system was ranked the best in baseball or close to the best. Dombrowski surprised me by retaining manager John Farrell as I thought he would be dismissed. Other changes did take place, but they were management changes such as the promotion of now gone Mike Hazen
The farm system has been quickly depleted with the above-mentioned trades. How that eventually develops will have a lasting impact on the legacy of Dombrowski. The window of opportunity is somewhere between three and five years and so far his first full season saw the Red Sox blown out in the playoffs.
Next: Drew Pomeranz goes for MRI
If the Red Sox win a World Series in the next few years the Dombrowski legacy will be set. Certainly not as lofty as Theo Epstein, but still a flag gets you cred in Boston. Right now Red Sox fans are not content with playoffs, but championships and this season it does not look good.
CURRENT GRADE – C+