Chris Sale aside, the Boston Red Sox are in need of starting and relief pitching help now.
The Red Sox Are in Immediate Need of Pitching
While the starting rotation is the main concern, relievers are not performing well either. The experiment of sending two starters, Corey Kluber and Nick Pivetta, to the bullpen has been dismal. Kluber allowed seven runs and 11 hits in three-and-a-third innings, in last night’s 10-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Kluber came on in relief of MLB journeyman Matt Dermody, who started for the Sox, going four innings and allowing three runs; he was designated for assignment after the game to make room for Adam Duvall’s return. Pivetta last pitched on June 4th, going two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit and a run while walking three, in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Starters
While keeping in mind that the majority of the Red Sox starters are relatively young, their ability to pitch at an MLB-caliber level has been erratic. Tanner Houck is 3-5 with a 5.46 ERA in 11 appearances. Garrett Whitlock is 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA in five starts. The youngest member of the five-man rotation, Brayan Bello (24), Has started nine games, going 3-4 with a 3.97 ERA. Recently added to the rotation, James Paxton, the only other pitcher besides Sale who is not in his 20s, is 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA, in five starts. While each pitcher has shown spurts of promise, none have shown consistency, aside from Sale.
Relievers
The revolving door that is relief pitching is known all too well to Red Sox fans this season. Kutter Crawford was highly touted at the beginning of the season. He is currently 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 12 appearances. In his latest outing on June 7th, Crawford went three innings allowing five hits and two runs, before getting the hook from manager Alex Cora. Admittedly, newly called-up, Chris Murphy, showed flashes of promise. In the same June 7th game, Murphy went three-and-a-third innings, allowing two hits, no runs, and five strikeouts, while only walking one. Even though effective in his outing, Murphy was optioned back to Triple-A Worcester the next day.
What Should the Red Sox Do
The latest strategy the Red Sox have employed is to bring up mainly relievers from Triple-A Worcester, to see what they can do. This strategy can be a double-edged sword. Like the aforementioned Murphy, a pitcher can have a great appearance, but whether they can be effective long-term has to be proven over and over again. This takes time. Time in a season that is quickly coming to the midway point. The other side of this coin is a new pitcher from Triple-A is sometimes at an advantage, which can be misleading to their actual potential.
The Clay Buchholz Effect
Clay Buchholz was called up from Triple-A (then Pawtucket, RI), in 2007. In only his second start for Boston, Buchholz threw a no-hitter. The immediate reaction was “he is going to be a Hall of Fame pitcher!” The reality was not many of the major league hitters he faced that night knew much about him because, to that point, he had been in the minors. In other words, they did not know what or how he pitched. Buchholz had a solid 12-year career as a Major League pitcher. For those who thought he would be a Hall of Famer, zero Cy Young awards, one no-hitter, two all-star selections, and being part of a World Series-winning team, will not get him into Cooperstown. The strategy the Red Sox are currently employing is not an effective one if they are trying to make the playoffs this season.
Trade Players
With the surprising designation of assignment of Raimel Tapia on June 5th, it is fairly evident that the Red Sox have an overabundance of offense. Enough so that they could use players to trade for proven pitching talent; that is players who have pitched at the Major League level who do perform effectively, and consistently. The Red Sox could still trade Tapia until June 12th, otherwise, he can either go to Triple-A Worcester or be released. With the Red Sox this season, expect the unexpected, which means Tapia will likely be released without being traded. If the Red Sox are to part ways with any players on their roster, some names stick out more than others
Justin Turner
Turner is on the list, largely because of his age (38). Turner could be a valuable asset to a team that could use a utility infielder or designated hitter, who has had a pretty good season to this point (.256, seven home runs, 26 RBI). With Triston Casas a lock at first base, and Adam Duvall (who has played first base before ), returning, Turner may be one of many Red Sox players who could be traded before the August 1st deadline.
Kiké Hernandez
While a fan favorite, and as versatile as they come, Hernandez of anybody on the Red Sox roster has the most return value, if he were to be traded. While he is not having his best season offensively (.229, five home runs, 26 RBI). Hernandez’s potential to perform for a team at multiple positions down the stretch, also makes him a valuable trade target. A change of scenery may get Hernandez back to his typically productive self, as well.
Christian Arroyo
Christian Arroyo is recently coming back from the injured list and also has a lot of potential to produce offensively. Throughout his Red Sox career, Arroyo has been either hot or cold when it comes to hitting. He can go on a tear at some point during the season or can find himself in a deep rut. His performance can be unpredictable. A team who may be comfortable with that construct and seeing his upside, should he go on a tear, may be willing to trade talent for Arroyo.
Yu Chang
In his first season with the Red Sox, he is not performing as well as he did during the World Baseball Classic when he was selected to the All-World Baseball Classic Team. He is currently, still listed on the injured list. On the season, Chang is batting .183, with three home runs, and eight RBI in 44 plate appearances. A team who thinks that he may get back to his World Baseball Classic form may be willing to acquire him.
Pablo Reyes
The player the Red Sox acquired from the Oakland Athletics Triple-A club in May might be of interest to a team who needs a consistent hitter. Reyes is currently hitting .289 with zero home runs, and six RBI. He is not a power hitter, but his fielding and consistent bat may lead a team to take a chance on him, maybe for a low minor-league prospect.
Rob Refsnyder
Much like Tapia, Refsnyder is more of a role/platoon player for the Red Sox; which makes him expendable. With Adam Duvall’s return and Jarren Duran, Alex Verdugo, and Masataka Yoshida locked in as starters, Refsnyder is on the outside looking in. For the season, Refsnyder is producing at the plate (.289, one home run, 18 RBI). If he continues to produce like this up until August first, he could yield, via trade, a consistent pitcher, in return.
Corey Kluber
The move to the bullpen experiment is not working. That said, a team who feels they can revitalize Kluber may give the Red Sox something in return, which is better than releasing him and not getting anything.
Nick Pivetta
*See Corey Kluber
Reese McGuire
This only happens if the Red Sox can get another catcher in a separate trade. McGuire has been relegated to backup behind starter Connor Wong. When he joined the Red Sox last season he produced better than anyone could have predicted. He is still producing at a high level offensively (.286, zero home runs, 10 RBI). He could be a role player for a team looking to make a playoff push, much like Christian Vazquez was for the Houston Astros, last season.
Bobby Dalbec
If he can get back to the power-hitting dominance he showed in 2021, Bobby Dalbec may yield a high return value if the Sox were to trade him.
Ryan Fitzgerald
This guy deserves at the least a chance to show what he can do at the Major League level and if Boston is not going to give him an opportunity, then they should send him to a team that may give them what they need in return. For example, Ryan Fitzgerald to the Kansas City Royals for Zack Greinke. While he appears to be having a horrid season it could also be the team around him. A change of scenery with a better offense may help get Greinke back on track.
Any of the Three Catching Prospects at Triple-A Worcester
A baseball team at any level rarely, if ever, needs three catchers; the WooSox have three. Ronaldo Hernandez would likely yield the highest return. He is batting .200, with seven home runs and 23 RBI. Caleb Hamilton is batting .183, with three home runs, and 13 RBI. Oscar Rangel is a minor league career .243 hitter, with one home run and 50 RBI, in 247 plate appearances. As has been said before, the Red Sox catching prospects throughout the organization leaves a lot to be desired. That said, what one individual sees as inadequate, another may see as a diamond in the rough.
Takeaway
If the Red Sox want to contend for the playoffs, they need to address their pitching issues immediately. Using a revolving door of one-off appearances from Triple-A Worcester is not an effective or efficient strategy. The Red Sox have just a little under two months to make changes. The best way to address their pitching is to try the overabundance of offensive players at the Major League and Triple-A levels. Are the Sox looking to make the playoffs in 2023? Fans will know that answer come August 1st.
Photo Credit: © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned:
Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Nick Pivetta, Matt Dermody, Adam Duvall, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, James Paxton, Kutter Crawford, Chris Murphy, Clay Buchholz, Raimel Tapia, Justin Turner, Triston Casas, Adam Duvall, Christian Arroyo, Yu Chang, Pablo Reyes, Rob Refsnyder, Corey Kluber, Reese McGuire, Connor Wong, Christian Vazquez, Bobby Dalbec, Ryan Fitzgerald, Zack Greinke, Ronaldo Hernandez, Caleb Hamilton, Oscar Rangel, Jarren Duran, Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida
