For all those teams’ success, there’s a notable local organization lagging behind in terms of hype: the Red Sox. Few people seem to be talking about them right now. It’s been an unusually quiet offseason across the MLB, but perhaps the only Red Sox talking point of note right now is the extended stare-down with free agent J.D. Martinez. After that, it’s… Mitch Moreland’s two-year deal? Yikes.

I’m not used to feeling so unenthused about the Red Sox. They were the team that brought me into Boston sports, after all. In a manner of speaking, I suppose I’m sort of a bandwagon fan, but it wasn’t one of the championship teams that brought me here. No, it was the 2009 team that did that — if you remember, that’s the one that got swept by the Angels in the ALDS.

It was a simple decision: “Maybe I’ll give baseball a shot.” I was in high school, and football wasn’t quite cutting it for me, so I felt it was time to branch out. The Red Sox and Angels were on, and it didn’t take long for me to get hooked. I loved Dustin Pedroia’s fiery demeanor, David Ortiz’s easy confidence, and most of all, Kevin Youkilis’ completely absurd batting stance. Jon Lester’s triumph over lymphoma was incredibly cool, and Josh Beckett looked liable to beat up an opposing hitter at a moment’s notice, which was also pretty cool in its own way.

The season ended too soon after, but it was a busy offseason for me; I needed to learn more about these players, this franchise, this city. I knew about The Curse and the legendary 2004 team that finally ended it. I didn’t know about the comeback against the Yankees, or Kevin Millar’s endless quotability, or Manny’s tendency to always be Manny. I didn’t know they went back and did it again in 2007 with plenty of new faces, including the undefinable Pedroia, the Laser Show and the Muddy Chicken, who I did know was a man after my own heart as soon as I read about his “Ask Jeff Francis who the fuck I am,” quote.

I’m on my ninth year with the Boston Red Sox now, and I’ve seen my fair share of highs and lows, from fried chicken and beer to getting a chance to watch a Boston championship myself. I got to see David Ortiz’s famed postseason heroics live before my eyes, as he was engulfed in flames against the Cardinals and drove the team of beards and Koji Uehara high fives to their third title in ten years. Those 2013 Red Sox rebounded from the worst record in the AL East the year before, which in some ways encapsulates what its been like to follow this team over that time.

If the Red Sox built my Boston fandom, then the Celtics cemented it. My timing wasn’t any better with them — I started following just late enough to miss the dominant 2007-08 championship team. Still, over the next several seasons, I was hooked. The “Big Three” Celtics were a team of dominant personalities — Paul Pierce’s unshakable confidence, Kevin Garnett’s frenzied barking, Ray Allen’s unflappable consistency — and even as they all began to grow old, there was a pridefulness to them. The decrepit Celtics were an annoyance, the team that would give too much effort every night and use their veteran saavy to frustrate younger, more athletic teams. They took LeBron James and the eventual champion Miami Heat to seven games in the 2011-12 Eastern Conference Finals, and it was sort of a last hurrah for the group. LeBron might have buried them, but they went out swinging.

Since the Celtics’ loss to Miami and the Red Sox win over St. Louis the next year, the two franchises have seemed to trend in different directions. The Celtics hit rock bottom in 2013-14, going 25-57 and finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference. They’ve made the playoffs and improved their record in every season since. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have been, to some extent, treading water. They’ve posted two losing seasons since the championship, followed by consecutive 93-win campaigns where they never really felt like a legitimate contender.

It feels as though there’s just more of a plan behind the Celtics than the Red Sox. Danny Ainge has spent years meticulously compiling and flipping draft picks, capitalizing on undervalued players, and finding the right opportunities to spend. The two most significant free agent signings in franchise history — Al Horford and Gordon Hayward — came in the past two offseasons. Ainge avoids panic moves and trades from a position of strength as well as any GM in professional sports, to the point where he’s often teased for his reluctance to part with his assets. This past summer, the Celtics passed on a number of potential deals for superstars who changed teams. Paul George was available, but is also on the final year of his contract, likely to bolt for Los Angeles this coming summer. It was a bad bet for Ainge to pay up for a player he couldn’t guarantee he could keep, so he didn’t.

On the flip side, the Red Sox have seen three executives in charge of baseball operations since 2011, and few baseball executives are more different than one another in terms of philosophy than the latter two — Ben Cherington and Dave Dombrowski. Cherington, though he had his own faults, was more similar to Ainge — building up the farm system and avoiding bad contracts that would kill flexibility… right up until he signed two awful contracts that destroyed his flexibility in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.

The Red Sox have seen three executives in charge of baseball operations since 2011, and few baseball executives are more different than one another in terms of philosophy than the latter two.

Enter Dombrowski, who, to a fault, loves the big splash. Dombrowski was hired in August of 2015, and by November, he’d already shelled out $217 million to David Price and shipped four prospects away in exchange for Craig Kimbrel. That’s not to say these deals were the wrong things to do at the time, but considering Dombrowski’s body of work, it’s a fair critique to say that he often opts to throw money and assets at problems until they go away.

Subsequently, this current offseason isn’t terribly surprising. Dombrowski is locked in a staring contest with J.D. Martinez, who is a player this lineup desperately needs. The Red Sox are starved for power, and previous deals have left the farm system depleted enough to make trades for top-end talent difficult. If Martinez ends up elsewhere, there may not be another move to be made right now.

And in some ways, that’s the point. Danny Ainge didn’t need Paul George. He was building on a team that made the conference finals the year before and months later is sitting in first place in the conference right now, all while sitting on a treasure hoard of draft picks and young talent. He’s a strong, independent GM who don’t need no blockbuster trade. There were dozens of pathways open to the Celtics this past summer, and all Ainge had to do was find the one he liked the best. The one he chose has the Celtics competitive right now without sacrificing virtually any long-term upside.

This kind of result is difficult to achieve without consistency, and, in essence, the Red Sox have been an organizational roller coaster. Cherington took charge and immediately had to address missteps by Theo Epstein, most notably the infamous Carl Crawford contract. Since his departure, Cherington’s carefully cultivated farm system has largely either graduated or been shipped off by Dombrowski. Conversely, Dombrowski has had to struggle with those albatross contracts for Sandoval and Ramirez, the latter of which is still owed $44 million over the next two years, assuming his option vests. They’ve been tying knots and challenging the next guy to unravel them. Is Dave Dombrowski the guy to lead a franchise to sustained, long-term success? Tigers fans of the past three seasons might have some thoughts on the matter.

This is all a long way of saying that, as a fan, the Red Sox don’t give me that feeling of utter confidence the way the Celtics do. Remember the feeling we all had when that large contract for Pablo Sandoval looked likely, even though the case against that signing was obvious? It’s certainly unrealistic to expect any team to operate as efficiently and with as high of a success rate as the Celtics have over the past 10+ years, but there’s an unavoidable aura of “I hope this doesn’t blow up in our faces” in place.

My point is not to predict doom and gloom with the current state of the Red Sox. Far from it. They’re more likely than not to win 90+ games again this season, and they have a collection of young stars like Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Rafael Devers that will be anchoring the lineup for years to come. They have two Cy Young winners in their starting rotation, and those guys aren’t even as good as their ace. If you’re going to have problems with your baseball franchise, these are probably the ones to have — it certainly beats being the Derek Jeter-led Marlins.

But following the Red Sox transformed my sports fandom, and not long after that, the Celtics did it again. It’s impossible not to compare the two. I love watching Mookie Betts and Chris Sale, but on the macro level, something’s just fundamentally off with the Red Sox right now, and it’s never more apparent than when the Celtics are on TV. With as much as the team has going for it right now, it’s telling that they’re receiving so little buzz — and that’s without mentioning how the Yankees appear to be rising fast.

I can’t say for sure how good the Red Sox will be this season — too much depends on Martinez’s status, first and foremost. Players like Price, Ramirez, and Pedroia are aging, Chris Sale has two years remaining on his contract, and younger contributors like Betts and Bogaerts are into their arbitration seasons. Jason Groome and Michael Chavis are nice prospects, but even Groome is still a-ways off, and the system around them is thin. Major roster decisions are coming in the next few years, and it’s hard to divine the greater plan in place here — if in fact there is one.

I know the Celtics will be very good, though. They already are, and there isn’t much reason to think they won’t continue to be for years to come. Danny Ainge has put together a well-oiled machine that has missed the playoffs only three times since the 2003-04 season. For a Red Sox franchise in need of some year-to-year consistency and sustained success, looking to their sibling franchise for some ideas might not be the worst idea.

Photo by Greg M. Cooper — USA TODAY Sports

I don’t need to sell you on Stanton the player, I hope, but here’s the Cliff’s Notes version just in case. He was worth 8.6 WARP last season (around seven WAR via other measurements). He has monster power, a career slugging percentage of over .600, and he’s a fine defensive right fielder who could, you would think, easily move to left field at Fenway Park. He gets on base well and he’ll be only 28 years old next season so it’s easy to imagine him being around and productive for a long time to come. So that’s all great and you can see why teams want him.

The complicating factors though are many, and this is where things get fun. First, Stanton has a long-term contract that will pay him $295 million over the next 10 seasons. That’s a lot of money to take on. You could make the argument that if he were a free agent right now that some team would give that to him, and you might be right, but there’s two more factors that compound things. The first is Stanton has an opt-out clause that he can use to become a free agent after the 2020 season. However, the team that deals for him doesn’t know if they’re getting Stanton for three years and $77 million, or 10 years and $295 million, and they don’t get to pick which and they don’t get to know which until likely the last second (and if they know sooner it’s probably not a good thing). It’s not hard to imagine those two hugely different amounts of time and money representing very different values to teams.

The second complicating factor is Stanton’s no-trade clause, also included in his contract by the Marlins. This isn’t one of those where the player can pick 10 or 15 teams he doesn’t want to be traded to. This is a full no-trade. Stanton can’t be dealt without his permission, period. This means if Stanton doesn’t want to come to Boston then he doesn’t have to come to Boston. But it also means Stanton can pick a team he wants to be dealt to and tell the Marlins that’s it, deal me there or nowhere. Or, Stanton could be less hard-headed about it and give the Marlins multiple teams with which he will accept a trade. Or he could tell them that he’ll approve a deal anywhere. The thing about all these possibilities is we just don’t know what he’s thinking. Presumably the Marlins do, or will, but as of now, nothing has come out about Stanton’s desires nor his level of desire to engineer his own destination.

Stanton’s no-trade and the liberality in which he uses it will greatly affect what the Marlins can get for him in return. If Stanton says “I’m only going to the Red Sox,” then the Red Sox aren’t going to give the Marlins very much and Marlins will have to decide how badly they want to get Stanton’s money off their books. Is it worth just being rid of Stanton even if they get very little in return for their most marketable player? If there are two teams involved, then at least they can be pitted against each other in the deal and the Marlins would presumably get more back. But even then the total money committed by the acquiring team, who must be prepared to pay all of Stanton’s salary even if he ends up opting out, and the uncertainty created by the opt-out are massive barriers to the Marlins getting a good return.

Typically a trade involves satisfying two people: the GM of the first team and the GM of the second team. Trading for Stanton involves satisfying the GM of both teams, the owner of the acquiring team (because of the massive amount of money that team is taking on), the owners of the Marlins (because this is Stanton, and he’s hugely important to the public relations of franchise), and Stanton himself.

Beyond all that, we’ve got the question of where Stanton fits in on the Red Sox. Presumably he would play left field which would mean the Red Sox will have dealt one of the players from their major league outfield. It doesn’t make sense to keep Andrew Benintendi or Jackie Bradley unless Stanton is going to spend most of his time at DH. That could be the plan, but spending $30 million annually on a DH goes strongly against the current thinking about the value of the DH, so likely Stanton would take a permanent place in the outfield.

If the Sox had Stanton for the next 10 years at a discount, you might be able to talk yourself into one or more of those possibilities. But that might not be the situation. And this gets to the heart of this problem.

So what would it take to acquire Stanton? That’s incredibly hard to say. Are the Red Sox taking on all of his salary, or is Miami helping out in some fashion? Are the Red Sox the sole bidder or are they bidding against other teams, and if so how many other teams? These questions are virtually impossible to answer right now.

There’s also the longer term view with which the Red Sox need to consider. David Price and Drew Pomeranz will be free agents after this coming season, and will need to be replaced (unless Price doesn’t opt-out in which case, uh-oh). Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts are getting into their arbitration seasons and getting closer to free agency. The Red Sox have lots of money, but not endless amounts, so spending big money on Stanton could mean losing some of the young talent Boston has on hand currently. It could mean filling holes in the starting rotation become more difficult.

There’s a question I’ve been thinking about all throughout this column, and it is this: what if I, Matthew Kory, were the GM of the Red Sox. What would I trade for Stanton? Would I trade Andrew Benintendi and Eduardo Rodriguez? That’s a tremendous amount of young talent to deal. What about Benintendi, Rodriguez, and top prospect Jay Groome? Would you throw Chavis in there also? If the Sox had Stanton for the next 10 years at a discount, you might be able to talk yourself into one or more of those possibilities. But that might not be the situation. And this gets to the heart of this problem.

Any player can be dealt. We’ve seen it before with huge contracts trading hands in deals that, before their consummation, would have been thought impossible to pull off. So even though this seems daunting, it could absolutely happen. And Stanton is an amazing player who would look fantastic in the middle of the Red Sox batting order. So the Red Sox should explore things with the Marlins. And they will. But in the end, wouldn’t it be easier to skip all the above and give J.D. Martinez $175 million, check off that box, and move on with your offseason?

It’s not hard to see a rebound for a majority of the key position players in 2018 after 2017’s squad. Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Xander Bogaerts all had down years for one reason or another. Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia were hampered by injuries, and are getting up there in years. But here’s a thought: what if they don’t rebound as well as you think? You obviously want them to bounce back to their best selves, but the reality is that not all of them will come back strong. I don’t mean they’ll reproduce their 2017 to the letter, however. Some might just show a marginal improvement, or just produce a season that’s blandly decent and nothing particularly special. It happens. Baseball loves toying with your expectations.

We’ve got to talk about the old guard when bringing this up, so that means putting the magnifying glass on Ramirez and Pedroia. Both of them will be 34 years old come Opening Day, and both of them fought through debilitating injuries in 2017, be it Pedroia’s knee or Hanley’s shoulder. With their age and recent injury history, it’s hard to convincingly think that they’ll be right as rain in 2018. Since his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez has acquired a reputation for not being the healthiest of players, and apart from 2016, he’s either sat out half a season or attempted to soldier through whatever injury has plagued him. Pedroia himself has been part of the walking wounded. He broke a finger towards the end of the 2012 season and played through it, then tore a thumb ligament in 2013 and played through it, had issues with his right hamstring in 2015 and played through it until it forced him onto the 15-day disabled list, and finally, he attempted to play with a bum knee several times in 2017 until he was placed on the 10-day DL. I’m sensing a distressing pattern here.

The Red Sox’s disastrous injury management aside, that isn’t encouraging for two players in their mid-30s. Pedroia might finally be hitting the downturn of the aging curve, as second basemen don’t age very well in general, and his gritty, energetic style of play might be wearing him down faster than usual. With Hanley, it’s all about how the shoulder responds. Ever since crumpling his right shoulder against the left field wall in 2015, his shoulders have been aching one way or another. That doesn’t exactly portend success. I do want these two to succeed, but odds are they won’t come back as strongly as you might think. Age and injuries tend to damper one’s expectations.

The Killer Bs are a different story. Andrew Benintendi will probably be fine, since he’s only 23 and coming off a good first full season in the bigs. Xander Bogaerts had a bum wrist, and those can put a freeze on your bat really quick. Bogaerts is also only 25 years old. He should be back to normal, and even kept a lot of the power he showed in 2016. With Mookie Betts, it’s a little more complicated. He tried to pull the ball more often and it ended up with more pop-ups and fewer good results. That’s more of a change in approach than an injury or regression, and should be fixed. The real wild card here is Jackie Bradley.

Bradley’s only 27, but he’s also the oldest of the perceived core players of the Red Sox. Despite having nearly 2000 plate appearances, there’s no real baseline for him. He’s so mercurial that just looking at season numbers masks how dramatically he oscillates from power-hitting star outfielder to dead weight in a lineup. Could he come back strong? Sure he can! He could also produce the exact same season where the stellar defense is still stellar, but the hitting only appears infrequently. The best expectations to have here are no expectations. Trust me. It’s better that way.

The pitching carried the Red Sox in 2017, and it’s probably a safe assumption to say they might be just as good again. Chris Sale probably won’t post historic numbers again – and this isn’t a slight against Sale, but more a realistic view on how difficult it is to actually repeat a Cy Young-caliber year – but he should still be excellent. David Price will be back, so at the very least, he’ll be good. Drew Pomeranz has entrenched himself as a solid number-two/number-three starter. Rick Porcello could improve, but his pitch-to-contact ways make him much more volatile. The fifth starter is going to be a merry-go-round of who can throw five innings of two-run ball. Relievers should be good as a group, with “should” being the key word here, because projecting relievers is a lesson in futility. In general, the pitching might be the most stable thing on this team.

So let’s look back at the offense, and imagine the possibility that it lags behind the other contenders’ lineups again. What do the Red Sox do now? Well, in the short run, they can’t really do much. Eduardo Nunez could help, and maybe whomever they put at first base hits a fair amount, but the Sox’s hands are tied if this happens. Outside of Michael Chavis, the high minors aren’t exactly filled with MLB-ready bats, and it’s even thinner on the pitching side. A trade could help, but the farm is getting pretty sparse in terms of value. All the team can do is hope for the best and project realistically.

I’m in no way saying all of the problems of 2017 will continue to be problematic. I want them all to be good, don’t get me wrong! But the realistic side (and probably the pessimistic side as well) of me sees some pretty glaring weak points ahead, even with the optimism surrounding this team going forward. People have gotten so caught up in how good the core (and this team) can be, instead of seeing what they probably will be. If they all reach their 90th percentile PECOTA projections, that’ll be unquestionably incredible. I’ll even eat a few servings of crow. Realistically, they won’t, and the team will have its fair share of players either treading water or falling below expectations next year. Again, that’s just how it goes.

Photo by Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports

Ben Cherington has received maybe more than his share of criticism from the internet, especially so when you consider that he turned the 2012 Red Sox into the 2013 Red Sox, but if there’s one aspect of his legacy that continues to haunt the franchise, it’s the top of his drafts. Cherington had seven first round draft picks in his four years running the draft. That’s a lot. Given the inherent uncertainty involved, perhaps his record isn’t so bad — he did draft Andrew Benintendi after all — but he also spent first round picks on Deven Marrero, Brian Johnson, Trey Ball, Pat Light, and, the subject of this article, Michael Chavis. To-date analysis: yeesh. 

What went right in 2016

After struggling in 2015, Chavis started the season on fire, hitting .356/.415/.576 over 59 at-bats for Greenville in A-ball before tearing a ligament in his thumb. Rats! I almost made it one whole sentence before going negative. Let’s be positive: Before the injury Chavis showed off the power scouts had always hoped his strong lower half and quick wrists could create. It was the beginning of the break-out season the Red Sox wanted to see from the 20-year-old third baseman after a rough 2015. 

You will notice the number of words under this heading are many fewer than under the next heading. This should give you a good if general handle on how Chavis’ 2016 season went.

What went wrong in 2016

Pretty much everything after that. The injury caused Chavis to miss development time and then, after returning from the injury, he hit a weak .214/.296/.341 from early June through late August. After that he was called up to High-A for seven games to end the season. By then the hot start was a distant memory left to those who can navigate the deeper caves of Baseball Reference. 

We know hand injuries can sap a player’s power even after they are “healthy.” Chavis isn’t a special fielder, though he can handle third base, and he’s not shown himself to be extraordinarily patient at the plate either, all of which is to say he needs that power to show up in games. He struggles with pitch recognition, which isn’t entirely unusual for a player his age and at his level, but when you’re a first round pick more is expected. To this point, more hasn’t been delivered. Chavis wasn’t able to put his batting practice power into games other than those 59 ABs to start the year. While that may be his carrying skill, no carrying skill can go without some assistance, which is what makes Chavis‘ inability to improve his plate discipline, pitch recognition, or penchant for pulling the ball so concerning.

What to expect in 2017

He’ll be just 21 years old in 2017 so this isn’t and should not be his baseball epitaph, but to date we haven’t seen much from Chavis that indicates he’ll be a regular major leaguer, let alone an above average one. Chavis still has a long way to go make an impact in Boston (or elsewhere). It’s not impossible that the proverbial light goes on and he figures things out, but when nebulous cliches are all that we have to fall back on, well, that’s probably not all that encouraging. 

The baseball draft is a notoriously unpredictable thing, and being a first-round pick, while delivering recognition, is no protection against that. We can see that in Boston’s three first round picks before Chavis, which were Marrero (quad-A player), Johnson (who knows), and Light (used to trade for a guy who A) was a borderline non-tender candidate, and B) has “bad” right there in his name). Chavis isn’t at the point where he can fairly be lumped in with those guys yet, but to date that’s the path he’s on. Sink or swim time in High-A this year will give us a good handle on how this story plays out.

Photo by Kelly O’Connor/www.sittingstill.smugmug.com

Triple-A Pawtucket: Pat Light (RHP) and Henry Owens (LHP)

Despite not receiving the same amount of attention given to Boston’s top prospects, Pat Light could have an impact on the big-league team this season. Light throws hard – his fastball routinely reaches 95mph – but has had difficulty honing his secondary offerings, so the Red Sox shifted him to a relief role for 2015. He excelled as a reliever at Double-A, striking out 32 batters and walking 11 in 29.2 innings pitched. His next promotion, to his current level at Pawtucket, proved more trying. He still struck out plenty of batters (35 in 33.0 innings), but a lack of control or lower comfort against the better hitters led to 26 walks.

Heading into the offseason, Light knew he needed to prepare for life as a reliever, a first for him in his young career. He focused on developing a physical and mental routine to support pitching out of the bullpen and worked hard to improve his fastball control. Consistently locating his overpowering fastball will be a main focus in 2016 and help shape his secondary pitches (splitter, curveball, changeup) into more dangerous weapons – a combination that could help earn him a promotion to Boston later this year. If Carson Smith’s rehab takes longer than expected or something else unforeseen presents the Red Sox with a need in the bullpen, Light could be called upon. In his first action of the 2016 season this past weekend against Buffalo, Light completed a shaky inning of work, allowing two runs on two walks, and one hit, while striking out a batter. Based on this one outing, it seems like his control issues still loom.

We have already seen Henry Owens in Boston, as he made 11 starts for the Red Sox last season with uneven results. Nevertheless, he still represents an important part of the team’s future. Owens had a chance to grab a spot in Boston’s rotation this spring, but a generally poor showing (five starts, 13.1 innings, eight runs allowed, 14 strikeouts, nine walks) coupled with Steven Wright’s solid performance, left Owens ticketed for Pawtucket to start the year. He was given the honor of starting the PawSox’s opener last Friday and pitched very well (6.0 innings, no runs, one hit, eight strikeouts, and three walks). More lines like that will get Owens to Fenway sooner rather than later, or at least have him at the front of the line for promotion when an (inevitable) injury or prolonged struggle strikes someone in the Red Sox rotation. This is something of a make-or-break year for Owens’ career in Boston.

Double-A Portland: Williams Jerez (LHP)

An area in which the Red Sox organization is a wee-bit thin is left-handed relief arms. Beyond Robbie Ross Jr. and Tommy Layne, there is not much depth on the horizon, though this partially depends on the development plan for players like Henry Owens and Brian Johnson. Williams Jerez, a converted outfielder and Boston’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015, is an option to fill this lefty-reliever void. Jerez is still a work in progress but has shown an ability to pitch in relief that, with sustained success, could have him move through the system quickly.

He made 22 appearances for the Sea Dogs in 2015 (37.0 innings), finishing with a 3.65 RA9 and a 31-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio that will need improving. Cutting down on the walk rate will be an area of focus for Jerez this season. The good news is that in his two outings this season, he has yet to issue a walk, though he has given up two runs, including a homer, on four hits over his 3.1 innings. Jerez allowed only two home runs at Double-A in 2015, so hopefully this early-season dinger does not portend bad things to come.

High-A Salem: Mauricio Dubon (SS)

On a Salem Red Sox roster packed with potential stars of the future in Yoan Moncada, Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi, shortstop Mauricio Dubon may be less heralded, but he offers considerable upside. In fact, in BP’s write-up of the Red Sox system, Dubon was mentioned as “a real candidate to shoot up the list next year.” Able to play anywhere in the infield, Dubon has shown the contact skills and speed to post a decent offensive line, even if he lacks much in the way of power potential. In line with this suggestion, his opening weekend was excellent. He collected five hits (one triple), two walks and only struck out twice in his 18 trips to the plate. This season is Dubon’s second opportunity at the High-A level. He was promoted there midway through last season after beating up Low-A pitching to the tune of a .301/.354/.428 line. He took time to adjust to the pitching at the advanced level, posting a paltry .217/.287/.261 line over his first 131 PA, but then caught on and performed very well in his final 138 PA (.328/.397/.385). Having Dubon in the mix with the Moncada-Devers-Benintendi big three will make Salem a fun team to watch this season.

Low-A Greenville: Michael Chavis (3B)

Last year, in his age-19 season, Chavis led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 16 home runs. Unfortunately, that tremendous power came with a major expense in strikeouts. Among players with at least 400 PA, Chavis finished with the fourth-highest strikeout rate (30.6%) at the Low-A level. When he makes contact, the ball tends to be hit hard and go far. Almost half of his 97 hits went for extra bases (29 doubles, one triple to go with the 16 bombs). He just needs to make contact more often to really cash in on the power he possesses. Being more selective at the plate and focusing on attacking quality pitches should help Chavis in this area; it should also drive up his lowly walk rate. Red Sox farm director Ben Crockett told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe that the club wants Chavis to work not only on his approach at the plate, but also his defense.

For now, the 2014 first-round pick will be the Drive’s primary third baseman, but if his defense on the infield proves to be a limitation, then Chavis could be moved to a corner outfield spot. Regardless, in the early goings of the 2016 season, Chavis has been up to his usual tricks. In 15 PA for the Drive, he has six hits, two of which went for extra bases, three strikeouts and has yet to earn a walk. Hopefully the plate discipline tool develops as the season progresses. At 20-years-old, Chavis is still young for the level, so he has time to make the necessary adjustments and earn advancement through the system.

Photo by Kelly O’Connor/www.sittingstill.smugmug.com

In most sports, there are certain expectations that come with being a first-round draft pick. In baseball, there is about as much certainty in the first round as there is in Clay Buchholz’s durability — unless Bryce Harper is in the draft. Michael Chavis epitomizes that point as much as any other player. Chavis was drafted No. 26 overall by the Red Sox in the 2014 amateur draft. BP’s Tucker Blair labeled him a professional with plus raw power and raw tools, but lacking in athleticism and inconsistent with both his bat and glove. Essentially, he’s a great unknown.

One thing we do know is Chavis has a long way to go. The 20-year-old third baseman had a disappointing first full season in Low-A Greenville in 2015, largely due to a lack of offensive production. Chavis used a free-swinging approach that brought him some success power-wise, but led to greater failures in the form of a high strikeout rate. He showed he has much to learn as a hitter and fielder before he’ll be major-league ready, or even ready for the High-A level. However, he was also just a teenager playing professional baseball for the first time. This could just be the beginning of a long journey.

What Went Right in 2015

Chavis was lauded for his power coming out of the draft. He has strong forearms and muscular legs, and, as Blair’s scouting report states, possesses a leveraged swing with above-average bat speed and easily generates backspin. Chavis didn’t disappoint in that category, tying for fifth in the South Atlantic League with 16 home runs, ripping 29 doubles and finishing with a .182 ISO. Chavis improved as the season went on, particularly in power as he hit six home runs in August and September (the season ended Sept. 7). That gradual progression, highlighted by a nine-game stretch in which he collected 12 hits and rode a six-game hitting streak, provides reason for hope that he can carry that into 2016 and make his case for a promotion.

Another positive in Chavis’ 2015 season was his eight stolen bases. It’s not a spectacular number, but it’s solid given the average speed scouts have noted. It shows a strong instinctual element in his game (as well as showing just how bad many Low-A catchers are).

What Went Wrong in 2015

Chavis’ big swing paid dividends in terms of home runs, but left him whiffing far too often. He had a whopping 30.6 percent strikeout rate, going down swinging three or more times in 15 games. In fact, most of his offensive numbers were low. He posted a .244 TAv, .223/.277/.405 slash line and rarely pieced together multi-hit efforts. Blair’s 2014 analysis tells us those numbers aren’t surprising, as he has trouble with his timing and his swing can be inconsistent. Those flaws were most prevalent against hard-throwing pitchers. As Sox Prospects writes, Chavis’ swing tends to get long, which exposes the inner half of the plate. By contrast, Chavis walked at a 6.2 percent rate as his patience and strike zone knowledge still needs to develop.

Chavis’ glove could use some work as well. He committed 19 errors in 68 games at third base, and posted an ok 3.5 FRAA. Blair writes that Chavis is an aggressive defender with inconsistent footwork. His plus arm strength is nice, but it may not be enough to make up for the sloppy technique. Chavis started off as a shortstop in rookie ball before being moved to third base. His struggles at third could mean a short future there as well, and we may see him DH more often. Don’t rule out a move to the outfield, either.

Outlook for 2016/MLB ETA

Sox Prospects projects Chavis to be Greenville’s starting third baseman once again this season. Where he goes from there hinges on how he performs at the plate. What’s clear is he needs to hit better, even at the expense of some of those power numbers. Perhaps that means shortening his swing, or just getting his timing down. He could have a real chance to move up this season with Rafael Devers in High-A Salem and primed for another promotion if he picks up where he left off last year. More struggles at third could lead to Chavis trying new positions, though as Chris Crawford noted in BP’s 2016 Red Sox Top-10 list, Chavis has the tools to stick at the hot corner.

BP puts Chavis’ ETA at 2019. It looks unlikely he’ll advance sooner than that. This year is an important one in terms of establishing how quickly he can climb through the organization. The good news for Chavis is he’s still ripe at 20 years old. His frame is bound to fill out more, and he’ll have ample opportunity to improve his approach at the plate, and sharpen his glove. For now, it’s far too early to worry about Chavis. It’s still just the beginning.

Photo by Kelly O’Connor/www.sittingstill.smugmug.com

Triple-A Pawtucket

Player of the year: Deven Marrero, INF — This selection is telling of the kind of year it was in Pawtucket. The team’s lineup this season consisted primarily of major league castoffs such as Allen Craig and Jackie Bradley Jr., and then there was Marrero trying to earn his first big league callup. Although his numbers weren’t impressive — a .250 true average and .309 wOBA in Triple-A isn’t exactly major league-caliber — the 2012 first-round pick did enough to earn multiple opportunities with the Red Sox this season and should see more as we get deeper into September. Marrero was at his best at the plate toward the end of the season, hitting .306 over his final 24 minor league games, and by playing shortstop, third and second base continued to show the kind of defensive versatility that’s invaluable to a big league club.

Pitcher of the year: Brian Johnson, LHP — This distinction could’ve just as easily gone to Henry Owens. However, Johnson’s season-long consistency stood out in 2015. The 24-year-old made 18 starts in Triple-A, posting a 3.22 FIP and 8.44 K/9 while giving up more than two runs in just four of those starts. The highlight of Johnson’s year came May 29 when he tossed six perfect innings and struck out a season-high nine batters. He did get one forgettable spot start with Boston in July before returning to Triple-A, but the lefty’s season ended abruptly Aug. 2 when he experienced elbow tightness in the fourth inning of what would be his final start of the year. The Red Sox shut Johnson down soon after. Although there was no ligament damage found, it’s unclear what kind of impact the injury will have on him going into next season.

Biggest surprise: Dayan Diaz, RHP — Diaz’s major league dream seemed all but over after an ugly 2013 season in the Cubs organization. But his two years in the Sox’s system have revitalized his career, with this season being his most impressive yet. The righty posted a 1.94 ERA and 7.76 K/9 in 27 appearances out of the bullpen for Pawtucket, using his hard fastball to overpower hitters and a late-breaking slider to keep them off-balance. The 26-year-old’s performance this season propelled his stock within the system and could make him a viable candidate for a spot in next season’s Red Sox bullpen. Diaz’s command starts to fade as he pitches later into games, but he has the type of stuff to be a serviceable back-end arm out of the bullpen.

Biggest disappointment: Garin Cecchini, 3B/1B/OF — Unfortunately for Cecchini, this was an easy choice to make. One year after making his major league debut, Cecchini endured the worst season of his professional career, finishing with a .209 TAv and a 21.3 percent strikeout rate. He did show signs of a turnaround at the plate in August and eventually earned a brief callup to the big leagues again, but the overall product was ugly, especially after a brutal first two-plus months of the season. Cecchini dabbled with left field this season along with his primary spot at third base, but that was about all he did well in 2015. At 24, Cecchini still has time to turn his career back around, but there’s no doubt this year was a major setback.

Double-A Portland

Player of the year: Sam Travis, 1B — Travis’ 2015 got off to an impressive start in High-A Salem, and he hardly slowed down when he was promoted to Portland in late June. The first baseman played 65 games in Portland, sporting a .297 TAv and .376 wOBA, and improving his BB% to 11.7 percent. Travis didn’t take long to adjust Double-A. He struggled over the first week, but hit .318 from July 2 onward, proving his rapid ascension through the system is no fluke. Travis was drafted in the second round out of Indiana in 2014 and has been impressive in his professional career to this point. If Travis can continue to hit at this rate and improve his power, there’s no reason to think he can’t — at 22 — earn a promotion to Triple-A at some point next season.

Pitcher of the year: Jorge Marban, RHP — Pat Light may be the bigger name with greater potential, but Marban’s Double-A numbers were much more impressive over more innings of work. The 26-year-old wasted no time proving he belongs in the Red Sox’s organization after pitching in the Independent League and in Australia from 2012 through 2014. Marban made eight appearances for High-A Salem before being promoted to Portland, where he posted a 1.36 ERA and 3.78 FIP in 24 relief appearances. Those efforts earned him a callup to Triple-A in mid-August and have him on his way to a shot at the big leagues.

Biggest surprise: Marco Hernandez, INF — Hernandez was nothing more than compensation for dumping Felix Doubront off to the Cubs. Expectations were never high for the 23-year-old shortstop, but boy has he shattered those bestowed upon him. Hernandez boasted a .290 TAv, .375 wOBA and led the team in OPS (.832). Meanwhile, he was an everyday shortstop in a farm system loaded with talented infielders. By mid-July, Hernandez was playing in Triple-A Pawtucket, where he’s yet to match his Double-A production offensively. Hernandez has still been solid defensively, however. He’s seen time at second and third base in Pawtucket and has increased his utility potential.

Biggest disappointment: Manuel Margot, OF — It may be unfair to judge a 20-year-old for poor production in Double-A, but given the expectations and where Margot ranks among prospects within the organization, it’s still a disappointment. The fact that he was even promoted from High-A in June was surprising enough. He posted a respectable .273 TAv with Salem, but certainly didn’t seem ready for bigger challenges. Things, of course, only got worse in Portland as he finished the season with a .268 TAv while his K% ballooned to 12.8 percent over 63 games. The good news is he finished the season strong, batting .325 (29-for-89) over the final 22 games, so his status as a top-flight prospect is safely intact.

High-A Salem

Player of the year: Wendell Rijo, 2B — Rijo powered his way into this spot with a strong finish to 2015. The 20-year-old second baseman hit .283 after Aug. 3 to raise his TAv to .264 for the season and make his case for a promotion by some point next year. Rijo isn’t a standout prospect, but he’s young and has plenty of room to grow. One thing that could help Rijo going forward is limiting his strikeouts. He sported a .321 BABIP this season, but also struck out at a 20.7 percent rate. If he can make more consistent contact and improve his plate discipline the rest of his numbers should go up as well. But that’s just one criticism. Overall, there’s much like about Rijo and this season was a step in the right direction.

Pitcher of the year: Ty Buttrey, RHP — This was an important season for Buttrey. The righty was signed to a $1 million overslot deal after being drafted in the fourth round in 2012, but had yet to live up to the promise that came with it. Buttrey, at 22 years old, finally changed that in 2015. He made four dominant starts in Low-A Greenville before being promoted to High-A, and continued to pitch well, finishing with a 3.71 FIP over 21 starts in Salem. One slight on Buttrey heading into the season was that he had yet to fill into his 6-foot-6 frame. He wasn’t exactly overpowering hitters this season — his 6.30 K/9 was down from previous seasons — but his command improved and his walks decreased.

Biggest surprise: Aaron Wilkerson, RHP — Wilkerson is 26 years old and threw his first minor league pitch in 2014, yet he’s quickly become a player worth watching over the coming years. He was signed by the Red Sox out of the independent leagues during the 2014 season. Since then he’s shown the kind of command and strikeout ability that could one day turn him into a major league reliever. The righty started this year in Low-A Greenville, but after five appearances was promoted to Salem and shined, sporting a 1.90 FIP and 9.68 K/P over 17 appearances, 12 of which were starts. He was at his best in May when he posted a 0.71 ERA in 25.1 innings in which he allowed just 11 hits and six walks. Performances such as that earned him a promotion to Double-A Portland in August. He finished with a 2.58 FIP over seven starts.

Biggest disappointment: Trey Ball, LHP — It’s too early to judge Ball as a 21-year-old prospect, especially after just two full seasons as a pro. But Red Sox’s fans concerns over the 2013 seventh overall pick’s performance thus far are justified. Ball’s struggles in 2014 were well-documented. This season was actually worse. Ball owned a 5.13 FIP over 25 starts, and saw an increase in walks and decrease in strikeouts compared to 2014. And unlike last year, he didn’t get better as the season progressed. Ball was solid in his final outing of the season, allowing two runs and striking out six over five innings. However, he posted a 10.80 ERA in his six starts prior. The lefty still has time to fill out his lanky 6-foot-6 frame and further develop his secondary pitches, particularly his curveball, which he started throwing as a junior in high school, but he has much to prove going into next season.

Low-A Greenville

Player of the year: Rafael Devers, 3B — Watching Devers, at 18 years old, blossom into one of the top prospects in the Red Sox’s organization was fun. The third baseman made a name for himself after a scalding hot start to the season in which he hit .382 through June 1. Since then his stock has risen. He garnered much attention on the interwebs and even drew comparisons to Robinson Cano — not bad company at such a young age. Devers eventually leveled out, finishing with a .282 TAv and .352 wOBA, and struck out at a 16.5 percent rate, but there’s no denying his potential. His solid build, fluid swing and plus power make for a nice offensive player. He his a defensive liability, so perhaps a move to first base or to a full-time DH role is in his future.

Pitcher of the year: Michael Kopech, RHP — Kopech’s season was cut short due to a 50-game suspension for illegal use of a stimulant, but it was an exceptional year for the 19-year-old nonetheless. The 2014 first-round pick showed overpowering stuff that could one day put him atop a major league rotation, posting a 9.69 K/9 to go with a 3.34 FIP over 15 starts. He allowed just two total runs over 15 innings in the three starts before his suspension, and gave up no more than three runs — a number he reached in just three outings — in all of his starts. Losing Kopech for the final 50 games was a disappointment for Greenville, but shouldn’t be a setback for the righty as he tries to make quick work of the minor leagues.

Biggest surprise: Javier Guerra, SS — Guerra entered the season as a mid-tier Red Sox prospect, but his value rose considerably after an impressive 2015. It was well-established that Guerra is an outstanding shortstop with good range, instincts and plus arm strength. But his bat was supposed to be his downfall. Well, turns out he can hit, too. Guerra far exceeded offensive expectations both from an average and power standpoint, posting a .280 TAv to go with 15 home runs and a .171 ISO. Guerra’s power numbers stood out the most given he’s still undersized. And at 19 years old, he’s bound to add more strength.

Biggest disappointment: Michael Chavis, 3B — It was a rough first year for Chavis, the team’s top pick in 2014. He struggled both in the field and at the plate this season. But especially at the plate. Chavis held a .244 TAv and struck out at an absurd 30.6 percent rate — 30.6 percent!!! — the latter being by far the most alarming. It’s something that needs to change in the coming years. He did hit 16 home runs and finished with a .182 ISO, but that swing-for-the-fences approach hindered his overall production. Chavis needs to shorten his swing and take more of a line-drive approach in order to improve his baffling average and strikeout numbers.

Top photo by Kelly O’Connor/www.sittingstill.smugmug.com

Triple-A Pawtucket: Allen Craig, 1B and Deven Marrero, SS 

Allen Craig, perhaps unsurprisingly for a guy with major league experience, is getting on base in Pawtucket. That’s never a bad thing, but that might be the only positive we can say for him as of this moment. Over the last seven days, Craig has gone 9-for-24, which is good – until you realize all those hits were singles. His OBP is higher than his slugging percentage, and that rings true for the entirety of Craig’s 2015 season. That’s not good for a guy whose primary position is first base. He’s gotten one extra-base hit over the last month, which was a two-run double off Norfolk Tides starter Tyler Williams on July 23rd. There’s no power there anymore.

Combine that with Craig’s startling inability to hit right-handed pitching (.214/.340/.252 in 250 PA), and you’ll see why Travis Shaw has gotten the call to the majors rather than Craig this year. The Lisfranc injury he suffered in 2013 might have just sapped the power that would’ve have made him a solid first baseman. He’s just not the same hitter, and the Red Sox can only hope that he regains any of that lost thunder in his bat sometime soon.

It can’t be easy being in the shadow of Xander Bogaerts, but Deven Marrero keeps plugging away. What first sticks out about the former Arizona State Sun Devil is his fielding. It’s not flashy, but you get the sense that glovework comes naturally to Marrero. Fundamentally sound and able to make just about every play, he’s widely regarded as a plus defensive shortstop. However, as is the case with many glove-first middle infielders, he’s an unremarkable hitter as well. To his credit, Marrero hits tons of liners, but he’ll get beat on the inside half when he can’t get his hands inside the ball. At this point, it’s safe to say he’s ticketed for a utility infielder role in the majors, and his fielding will keep him there for a long while.

Double-A Portland: Manuel Margot, OF

It seems like a long while since Manny Margot was mentioned in the webpages of BP Boston. If you were worried about the man who set fire to the Carolina League, fear no more: Margot’s been hard at work adjusting to Double-A baseball. The one thing we can definitively say about him so far in Portland is that he’s still getting used to it. In the long run, that’s quite alright for a guy like him, since he’s four and a half years younger than the average age in the Eastern League. He already has the same number of extra-base hits in Portland in 160 PA than he did at Salem in 198 PA. On top of that, when you combine his time at both Salem and Portland, Margot has had a grand total of five plate appearances against pitchers younger than him. The pitches are going faster and breaking sharper, but Margot keeps on getting better.

High-A Salem: Yoilan Cerse, OF and Jose Vinicio, SS

Another Cuban import, Cerse was seen as a future super-sub for the Sox. He’s a sign that the Red Sox see value in having prospects learn several positions to increase versatility and up their chances for success. While fellow Cuban Yoan Moncada is a fantastic hitter, what Cerse brings to the table is his speed. His stats from Cuban leagues won’t explicitly show this, as he hit in the three-hole for the majority of his time there. As a guy who has been out of organized baseball for a year, Cerse has been tasked with getting his plate discipline and baserunning instincts up to snuff. He’s done pretty well with the former so far, as he’s walked almost as much as he’s struck out in Salem. The latter is a bit of an issue, since he’s been caught stealing a tad bit too much for someone whose best tool is his speed. Nevertheless, it’s only been 44 games for the 28-year-old, so he’s got plenty of time to sort things out before he moves up.

Vinicio’s not really been talked about lately, due to the fact that he got placed on Salem’s disabled list on July 19th with an undisclosed injury. It’s a real shame, as Vinicio had been red-hot for most of July, posting a .333/.364/.405 line in 12 games. Rail-thin and a mere 160 pounds, Vinicio’s game is built around his superb fielding and good speed, but he’ll tend to rush plays in the field when he doesn’t have any reason to do so. His hit tool is decent, but he needs to put on more weight so he can utilize it more effectively, and that’s where the problems lie – Vinicio has had issues putting on pounds since his debut in the minors. Where he goes from here is strongly connected to how he can physically grow and develop, and if Vinicio cannot add strength, he might be stuck in the minors for a while.

Low-A Greenville: Michael Chavis, 3B

In almost any other minor league system, Chavis would be getting all of the reps at third base. In the Red Sox system, however, there’s this Rafael Devers dude taking his spot. So not only will he get reps there every now and then, he’ll reportedly play some outfield as well. Chavis is a solid fielder, and so as long as he sticks in an OF spot long enough, there’s every reason to believe he’ll get it down. What’s more important here is that he’s trying to fine-tune his approach at the plate in Greenville. A 113-20 K/BB ratio looks bad on the surface, but Chavis was drafted right out of high school, and he’ll need time for his pitch recognition skills to be refined. It’s the one facet of his game that needs a ton of work. Mechanically, there’s almost nothing wrong with his swing at all – good bat speed, quick hands, and he’s able to get a lot of backspin when he hits with power. So while the stats might look worrisome, don’t fret – this is just the case of a very talented 19-year-old getting his reps.

Photo by Kelly O’Connor/www.sittingstill.smugmug.com

Triple-A Pawtucket: Garin Cecchini, 3B and Deven Marrero, 2B

At the end of the 2014 season, Cecchini got a brief stint in the majors, appearing in 11 games. There was at least some discussion this offseason that Cecchini could be the starting third baseman for the 2015 season. Then the Red Sox signed Pablo Sandoval to a five-year contract in November, blocking Cecchini’s advancement to the major leagues within the Red Sox organization. This season at Pawtucket, Cecchini has only played in 22 of the team’s 32 games, a result of a shoulder injury that landed him on the disabled list. Generally, Cecchini has not performed very well. In 92 plate appearances he has a .171 TAv. A real issue is that he is striking out a lot, 28 times so far this year, and only has three walks.

One potentially positive development is that Cecchini has moved around the diamond more this season, including accumulating some experience in the outfield. He has played nine games at third base, three games at first base, and nine games in left field. This is certainly a test of Cecchini’s versatility, and for a team that is already flush with outfielders this seems like an effort to show potential trade partners what Cecchini can do in the outfield. It is also possible the Red Sox are grooming Cecchini for a role as a bench player. Regardless of where he is playing defensively, Cecchini’s hitting numbers are going to need to dramatically improve for him to get another chance in the majors, as he’s always been viewed as a bat-first player.

Deven Marrero.

Marrero is in a similar developmental place as Cecchini. He is one of the top Red Sox prospects, ranked 9^th by Baseball America, and considered a strong candidate to impact the major league team by the Baseball Prospectus team. Unfortunately, he is blocked by Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, and Dustin Pedroia at second base. He is projected as a plus defender, but there are plenty of questions surrounding his bat. This season at Pawtucket, however, he is hitting well: .281 TAv, 8.6% walk rate, and nine extra base hits in 105 PAs. These marks are all better than they were last season, when he had a .190 Tav, 5.9% walk rate, and 12 extra base hits in 202 PAs. This improvement at the level is nice to see and if he keeps hitting like he is so far this season, he could be a really intriguing player for a team that is looking to acquire middle infield help.

Double-A Portland: Simon Mercedes, RHP

Mercedes was used as a starting pitcher while at High-A Salem last year, but this year at Portland has only been used as a relief pitcher. Things have not been going smoothly thus far. In seven appearances (20.1 innings pitched) he has allowed 11 runs, nearly equaled his hits allowed (11) and walk (8) totals, and only struck out 14 batters. I say only 14 batters because on a rate basis, his current rate is lower than the rate he posted in Salem last season by a little over three percent. The advancement in levels likely accounts for much of that decrease but I would expect that his moving to a relief role would increase the strikeout totals. Though he has served as a reliever, Mercedes has been used in extended outings, typically 2-3 innings, so it is not necessarily the case that he can just come in for an inning and let his fastball burn. With that said, if he is going to end up with a role in the major leagues he will needs to start showing swing-and-miss stuff. His 4.00 FIP suggests that he has pitched better than his 4.43 ERA, but the 4.00 FIP still leaves something to be desired. It is still early days, so the 23-year old Mercedes certainly has time to get things on track.

High-A Salem: Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP, and Ty Buttrey, RHP

Thus far, Stankiewicz has shown that his promotion to High-A was justified. In six starts he has a 3.86 ERA and 2.98 FIP, has struck out 19 batters, and only walked seven, which is a fine ratio. His rates (14.0 K%, 5.2 BB%) could use some improvement, but still look promising. He has yet to allow a home run this season, and has only given up eight extra-base hits. Stankiewicz is only 21-years old, so he is still slightly young for the level, or at least on an appropriate developmental track.

Stanky refuses to allow homers.

Stankiewicz’s new teammate, Buttrey, made the jump from Low-A Greenville to Salem after making just four starts this season. But those four starts were excellent. In 22.0 innings pitched he posted a 2.45 ERA, 3.24 FIP, struck out a batter per inning, and only walked three. Since joining the Greenville squad Buttrey has made two starts: a rough debut (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 HR, 6 BB, 3 SO) and a solid second outing (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 6 SO). All told he is currently sitting with a 2.25 ERA and 3.32 FIP, which looks pretty nice. Buttrey is eight months older than Stankiewicz, and so is again on a reasonable developmental track. If he can consistently look like the pitcher in his second outing for Salem, he could move up another level later this season.

Low-A Greenville: Michael Chavis, 3B

Michael Chavis is 19 years old and his performance thus far shows some of the struggles that can be expected from players his age. In 99 PAs Chavis has a .207 TAv, and is striking out a third of the time. These marks place him well below league average as an offensive contributor (77 wRC+). Half of his 18 hits have gone for extra bases (six doubles, three homers) which seems promising, except for his only having 18 hits which sort of limits the excitement. Chavis will have time to develop at this level and, as noted in his scouting report at SoxProspects.com, may see his position change to second base or the outfield.

Photos by Kelly O’Connor, sittingstill.smugmug.com