Boston Red Sox lose four players at non-tender deadline
December 2 was the deadline to tender a player a contract and the Red Sox lost two players. Lets analyze the three players cut from Boston’s roster.
With Alex Speier of the Boston Globe confirming that the Red Sox chose to non-tender Marco Hernandez and Josh Osich, that now makes four players lost at Monday’s deadline to tender offers to arbitration-eligible players.
Trevor Kelley was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies today, while Sandy Leon was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Adenys Bautista.
Red Sox non-tender Marco Hernandez and LHP Josh Osich
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 3, 2019
Hernandez missed the majority of the 2017 season and all of the 2018 season due to injury. While Chad Jennings reports that the Red Sox have interest in bringing him back, for the time being he has been cut from the roster.
I'm told the Red Sox have interest in bringing Marco Hernandez back, just on different terms. Maybe a split contract that doesn't pay as much if he needs more time in the minors (he's missed a ton of time the last few years).
— Chad Jennings (@chadjennings22) December 3, 2019
He was viewed by many as the follow up to Brock Holt as he hit free agency this year. With Hernandez being non-tendered, this means a few things. Either the Red Sox feel that they don’t need a utility player or they are in contact with another player such as Howie Kendrick or Holt.
The White Sox placed Osich on waivers earlier this offseason. Boston claimed him back in early November only to cut him a few weeks later. To say the least, the reliever had quite the Red Sox tenure.
Kelley made 10 appearances out of the bullpen for the Red Sox this season. He pitched pretty well and had a strong case to be a part of the 2020 bullpen as he posted an ERA below 2.00 in Pawtucket in 2019, despite not pitching well at the major-league level.
The transaction that kicked off the day, Leon, Boston’s 2019 backup catcher was dealt to the Indians. Many thought the Red Sox wouldn’t tender him a contract, but it was good they did. Trading him to the AL Central Indians, they also acquired a prospect while also cutting his salary from the payroll. Good move by Chaim Bloom.
Next. Top 5 Red Sox pitchers from this decade. dark
Overall, there were lots of moves made today in baseball as teams had to make their final decisions whether to tender a player a contract or cut him from their roster. Losing Kelley to the Phillies stings, but the way Leon was handled was proficient. Hernandez was a shock to not be tendered, but it’s good the Red Sox have a desire to bring him back.