Welcome to Read Sox. This week we compare the Red Sox’s and Mets’ rebuilding plans, examine Brock Holt’s trade value and Zack Greinke’s potential fit in Boston.
Going Deep
It took five long years, but Sandy Alderson’s plan finally came to fruition when the Mets clinched their first National League pennant since 2000 last week. Alderson took over as general manager in October 2010, and started from scratch by remaking the entire front office and roster. The result was an arduous rebuilding process that has culminated in a World Series berth this season. Alderson’s rebuilding strategy was successful, but, as The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier writes, it’s not a blueprint by which Dave Dombrowski and the Red Sox need to follow. Dombrowski, for his part, has already shown a desire to continue some of what Ben Cherington started. He promoted assistant GM Mike Hazen to Cherington’s old post, and has embraced the highly touted farm system he’s inherited. The Sox don’t need to tear down what they have. They just need to address their weaknesses, specifically pitching, while their system continues to produce potential everyday players. What the Red Sox can learn from the Mets, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal writes, is an effective approach to building a starting rotation. New York is in the World Series primarily because it has one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. The Mets owned the fourth-best team ERA (3.45) and ninth-best team DRA (4.14) during the regular season, while its four-man postseason rotation of Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz has excelled in October. This rotation isn’t a result of high price tags and free-agent signings, but rather good old fashioned homegrown development. Harvey, deGrom and Matz were all drafted by the Mets, while Syndergaard was acquired from Toronto for R.A. Dickey as a minor leaguer. Perhaps the solution to Boston’s search for an ace will also be found in its own organization as well in the form of Eduardo Rodriguez, or someone further down in the system such as Michael Kopech.
Brock Holt has developed into a fan and organization favorite over the last two years. He’s the consummate blue-collar player, he started off as an unknown thrown in the Joel Hanrahan trade with the Pirates and soon emerged as a hard-working, everyday utility player who’s also a pretty good hitter. Holt was recognized nationally for these efforts in 2015 when he represented the Red Sox in the All-Star Game. But where does Holt fit in with the 2016 team? MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith writes that Holt’s greatest value may not come as the team’s superutility man, but as a trade chip to acquire a reliever. Holt played seven positions in 2015 and slashed a solid .280/.349/.379 over 509 plate appearances. His trade value may never be higher, and it may be enough to bring in the late-inning arm the Red Sox need. Meanwhile, the Sox have starting positions solidified throughout the field and positional depth and versatility in Deven Marrero and Travis Shaw. Their progress over the final month of the season only strengthens the case to consider moving Holt before his value dwindles.
Quick Hits
The Red Sox will no doubt be looking for pitching this offseason. Given their struggles last year, they’d be best served finding a top-of-the-rotation arm, whether it be via trade or free agency. One potential target could be the Dodgers’ Zack Greinke. Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald examines whether or not Greinke, who is expected to opt out of his contract with LA, would be a fit in the Sox’s clubhouse. He certainly has the talent they’re looking for, posting a 1.66 FIP and 8.08 K/9 in a Cy Young-caliber season in 2015, but Lauber explains how Greinke’s past battles with social anxiety disorder and clinical depression may make Boston and its large media market far less appealing to the righty. That point, however, is moot given Greinke spent the last three years in LA’s maket.
Yoan Moncada has received nothing but high praise following an impressive first season in the Red Sox organization in which he posted a .315 TAv and .378 wOBA for Low-A Greenville. He donned the cover of Baseball America, was named the South Atlantic League’s top prospect and was considered by one scout to be the “closest thing” to Mike Trout he’s seen. But it appears this is the last anyone will see of Moncada until spring training. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports that the 20-year-old second baseman will no longer be participating in the Puerto Rican Winter League due to a hand injury suffered after being hit by a pitch in an Instructional League game earlier this month. The Red Sox have yet to release an official diagnosis, but Moncada is reportedly still feeling discomfort from the ailment.
The Red Sox received good news last week when it was announced that manager John Farrell’s cancer is in remission. CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam provides quotes from Farrell, who express relief and an eagerness to start preparing for next season.
In more surprising news, former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was named the Sox’s new first base coach. Although it’s an unusual transition for Amaro, a former major league outfielder, he told ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes that he had an “itch” to return to the field. Amaro will also be useful throwing batting practice, as he told reporters that he’s ambidextrous.
Longtime outfielder Torii Hunter announced his retirement on Monday. That’s good news for the Red Sox. Hunter slashed .321/.370/.482 in 113 career games against the Sox, although he’s most remembered in Boston for his tumble into the bullpen while chasing down David Ortiz’s game-tying grand slam in Game 2 of the World Series.
Photo by Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports Images
Mimicking
Game 2 of the ALCS, not World Series. Beating Detroit in the World Series would be like the Cubs beating Miami in the World Series in a certain discredited prophecy.