Aug 23, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (31) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Which players should the Red Sox DFA to open roster spots for promising prospects before the 2022 season ends?
The Boston Red Sox haven’t been mathematically eliminated from the 2022 Wild Card race yet, but the writing is on the wall and has been for a while.
Coming into Thursday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers, the Sox were 63-68, last in the American League East, and eight games out of a Wild Card spot.
They still have a slim chance, but presuming September turns into a time of treading water until the season wraps up, the Sox should get proactive. Instead of holding on to players they don’t plan to bring back in 2023, they should use this time wisely. Call up their most promising prospects – only the ones who look ready – and see how they do.
Here are three expendable players whose roster spots should be opened up to get a first look at top prospects…
Jeurys Familia
Jeurys Familia has accrued enough service time to refuse a demotion, so the Sox don’t have a choice but to designate him for assignment.
This is the most obvious of all possible roster moves; since Familia should not be part of the team’s future, there’s really no reason to keep him around for the present season. The Sox signed him to a minor-league depth deal after the Philadelphia Phillies released him, so he was an inexpensive chance to take, but never an appealing addition.
Familia actually hasn’t been as unreliable as he was in Philly, but that’s in part due to the Sox not using him in high-leverage situations, which kind of says it all. He’s made three scoreless appearances and allowed an earned run in each of the other three games. The Sox don’t trust him in tough spots, and there should be no chance of him coming back in 2023, so why is he still here? This is an opportunity for the front office to get a first look at prospects who could be part of next year’s big-league roster, which can help them formulate their offseason acquisition plans. Why waste innings on Familia that could be a first look at someone like Frank German?
Another former Yankees prospect, German began the season with 11 games at Double-A Portland before getting promoted to Triple-A Worcester, where he’s posted an impressive 2.88 ERA over 28 relief appearances, including 20 games finished and five saves. He’s struck out 43 batters and issued 16 walks across 34 1/3 innings.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 20: Ryan Brasier #70 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Houston Astros in the sixth inning of Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 20, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
Ryan Brasier
Ryan Brasier was an excellent addition to the 2018 championship team, but he’s not that pitcher anymore.
He’s been coasting on that 1.60 ERA from the glory days for most of the last four years (he was solid over a very brief stint in 2021), and it’s time for the Sox to cut their losses. He’s currently holding a career-worst 6.62 ERA and 7.15 RA/9 over 55 appearances, significantly outpacing his previous worst season, when he posted a 4.85 ERA and 5.34 RA/9 over 62 games in 2019.
Brasier has thrown 25+ innings four times in his six big-league seasons. Among those four campaigns, 2022 is his worst year for strikeout and hard-hit rates, as well as Win Probability Added. His home-run rate is the second-worst of his career. He’s actually posted his best walk rate since 2018, but opposing lineups are hitting batting title-esque numbers against him: .309/.339/.525.
Brasier is another bullpen arm the Sox can’t trust, which makes him the perfect DFA candidate to open a roster spot for someone like German or Triston Casas.
It’s hard to see the Sox finding a trade partner for him (maybe in a package deal), and they shouldn’t be paying him or keeping him in 2023, so now’s the time.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – APRIL 12: Kevin Plawecki #25 of the Boston Red Sox high fives Garrett Whitlock #72 of the Boston Red Sox after winning the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 12, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
Kevin Plawecki
Unlike Familia and Brasier, who are taking up roster spots without contributing in return, Kevin Plawecki has been a solid addition to the club. However, he’s also a free agent after this season, and with the club-controlled Reese McGuire and Connor Wong now on the 28-man roster, he could be a DFA candidate.
While he’s not hitting as well as he did last season, ‘Weck is a solid catcher. He hasn’t made an error all season and he’s above league-average in framing runs. Among catchers with at least 1,000 pitches called this season, his 48.5% strike rate is tied for 17th-best. McGuire has a 34.3% strike rate, but the Sox are more likely to trade him this season than DFA a guy with so much club control.
Plawecki is definitely the least likely of these three players to actually be on the chopping block, but with this front office, you never know.
