Rumors are spreading that the Boston Red Sox are hiring Greg Morhardt to act as the Canada scout. What would this mean for the team?
The Boston Red Sox are reportedly making adjustments to their talent acquisition staff.
NBC Sports Evan Drellich broke the news that Greg Morhardt will be joining the Red Sox as the Canada scout. At this time the Red Sox and Morhardt have not yet confirmed or denied the joining of forces. However, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe has stated that a major league source has confirmed the signing. According to Speier, Morhardt will be replacing Adam Stern. Stern has decided to step away from scouting.
The Red Sox have hired Greg Morhardt, the scout who signed Mike Trout for the Angels. https://t.co/zz2awbrXXy
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 14, 2018
Morhardt was a minor league first baseman. In 1981, Morhardt was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He decided to forgo playing to attend school. In 1984, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins. Morhardt played for a total of five seasons in the minors. Morhardt experienced an offensive decline. During this time, he pitched in a few games. Over the course of seven innings, Morhardt allowed two hits and two runs. This displayed his athletic abilities and understanding of the game.
Morhardt has baseball blood flowing within him. He is the son of the 1962 Chicago Cubs first baseman, Moe Morhardt. In addition, his brother Darryl Morhardt played in the minors and his son Justin Morhardt was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2017.
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The Red Sox need to focus on redeveloping their minor league system. As Drellich mentioned, third baseman Michael Chavis is the only player within Boston’s farm system that is identified on the top 100 prospect list. Chavis served an 80-game suspension this season for testing positive for a PED. The negative spotlight that this brought to the young prospect might play a role in hindering his future. The Red Sox have first/third baseman Triston Casas who is listed as number 8 on the MLB’s top 10 by position for his abilities at first base.
The Red Sox had a powerful farm system that consisted of players such as Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers, Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Travis Shaw, and Blake Swihart.
In 2016, the Red Sox and the White Sox engaged in a well-known trade. Chris Sale became a Red Sox in exchange for four prospects. The prospects included Luis Alexander Basabe, Victor Diaz, and top prospect Yoan Moncada. As Ian Browne of MLB.com recants,
"“The deal marks the first time in at least 25 years that baseball’s No. 1 prospect has been traded, based on the rankings done by MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.”"
The trade generated a lot of attention because of the magnitude of the decision. The Red Sox made a calculated choice to get the player needed to assist in leading the team to the World Series. Boston focused on the present and near future.
It’s crucial that the Red Sox focus on mending their broken farm system if they want to remain a top contender in the MLB for years to come. Bo Naylor was the first Canadian chosen in the 2018 MLB draft, picked by the Cleveland Indians in the first round as the 29th overall pick. Notably, 16 Canadians were selected on the third day. Baseball Canada highlights the following Canadian players in 2018: Jim Adduci, John Axford, Russell Martin, Tyler O’Neill, James Paxton, Nick Pivetta, Dalton Pompey, Mike Soroka, Joey Votto, and Rowan Wick.
Bringing Morhardt onto the team gives the Red Sox a fresh pair of eyes in the Canadian market which has an increasing number of impressive young talent.