Red Sox Prospect Watch: Trade deadline shakes up the system

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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 14: Rusney Castillo #38 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on June 14, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /

Okay, so the Kinsler trade puts the Red Sox at the highest luxury tax penalty. That means no matter how much money they spend at this point, they won’t be penalized anymore. I think you can see where I’m going with this by now.

Rusney Castillo is finally out of a terrible situation. If the Red Sox need help in the outfield, he can be called up without it hurting their 2019 draft/money. Which means there’s nothing holding back a return to Boston – because his play certainly isn’t holding anything up.

Castillo is slashing .323/.366/.433 in Pawtucket, with 26 doubles and five home runs. The average and doubles both lead the team. Meanwhile, his 48 RBI and 50 runs are also team-highs, as well as his 11 steals.

There’s officially no reason for Castillo not to see the Majors this year.

Sam Travis has continued his season turnaround. The numbers are steadily improving as his average is now up to .244. He’s hit nine doubles and six home runs while driving in 26 runs and scoring 25 more. Although those aren’t great, they’re vast improvements from how his season was shaping out not that long ago. Travis even picked up his first steal on the season on Monday.

Matthew Gorst posted a 1.59 ERA over 28 1/3 innings in Advanced-A this year. He did so with a 0.95 WHIP while opponents hit .200 against him. Then he went to Double-A and posted a 0.00 ERA in 20 1/3 innings. This time he did so with a 0.84 WHIP and opponents hitting .141 against him.

Now Gorst is in Triple-A. The 23-year-old made his first appearance on Tuesday, and surprise – he threw two scoreless innings.

Gorst has risen through the ranks at an incredibly fast rate. Thanks to the departure of the prospects mentioned in the first slide (and his utter domination), he’s now found his way into Triple-A.

The right-hander is pitching his way to the Majors in rapid succession and could theoretically find a way there this year. While that’s unlikely he’s definitely positioned himself for a shot in Spring Training next season.

Travis Lakins has also been promoted to Triple-A but has yet to make an appearance there. The right-hander has also put himself in a position to see the Majors soon.

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