Red Sox trade Bryce Brentz to Pirates, clear roster spot for J.D. Martinez
Bryce Brentz will be making a short trip from Fort Myers, FL to Bradenton, FL, as the Red Sox have traded him to the Pirates to clear a spot for J.D. Martinez
The Boston Red Sox announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to send Bryce Brentz to the Pirates in exchange for cash.
With the acquisition of J.D. Martinez, the Red Sox needed to clear a roster spot, and their need for outfield depth was lowered. Without any minor league options, Brentz would have likely been placed on waivers before Opening Day. Prior to signing Martinez, Brentz was the favorite to be Boston’s fourth outfielder.
The Red Sox picked Brentz in the first round of the 2010 draft, but he only ended up with 87 at-bats in the Majors. After being designated for assignment in 2017, Brentz made adjustments and ended up with a career year in AAA. He ended the season with the following numbers:
494 PA | 31 HR | 85 RBI | .271 BA | .863 OPS
There was consideration last year of calling up Brentz and using him vs. lefties. However, the Red Sox would have had to clear space on the 40-man roster to do so, and opted not to.
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With Brentz going to Pittsburgh, the outlook for the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster is becoming more clear. The trade allows the Red Sox to keep former top prospects Blake Swihart and Deven Marrero, who are also out of minor league options. Marrero has struggled offensively early in his career, while Swihart has dealt with injuries, but the Red Sox are not ready to risk losing them on waivers.
As for Bryce Brentz, the trade caps off what has been an unforgettable week for him. Brentz’ daughter was born just a week ago. He will now combine his first moths of fatherhood with trying to prove himself on a new team.
The situation is a reminder of the challenges associated with playing professional baseball. Fortunately, playing in Pittsburgh will present Brentz with a better opportunity to showcase his power. The Pirates have a thin outfield after trading Andrew McCutchen, and acquired the power hitting outfielder at practically no cost.
Next: Martinez may no be the answer
While the move was necessary for the Red Sox, Bryce Brentz’ career still has a promising outlook.