The “The Off-Season” thread is starting to get a little unwieldy, so as we get into the teeth of the hot stove I figured it made sense to diversify some. Here’s one specialized thread, on the bullpen, presented to catch everyone up. I'll lay off editorializing/analyzing here -- just setting things up.
With Tazawa, Uehara and Ziegler subtracted as unrestricted free agents, the state of the Red Sox bullpen is… incomplete. Here’s what’s left, sorted by MLB innings pitched in 2016:
CRAIG KIMBREL (RHP) -- $13.25MM in 2017, $13MM option in 2018
MATT BARNES (RHP) –Arb eligible in 2019
ROBBIE ROSS JR. (LHP) – Arb eligible
HEATH HEMBREE (RHP) – Arb eligible in 2019
JOE KELLY (RHP) – Arb eligible
ROENIS ELIAS (LHP) – Arb eligible in 2019
CARSON SMITH (RHP) – Arb eligible in 2018. Likely not ready for Opening Day.
Not included are Steven Wright and Clay Buchholz, one of who will likely land outside the Opening Day starting rotation and could fill a bullpen seat cromulently.
Not included above are Williams Jerez, Kyle Martin, Noe Ramirez, Robbie Scott, Brandon Workman and Luis Ysla – all are shuttle fodder, and ideally would start the year in the minors.
Also not included is Fernando Abad*, because I just can’t.
Roughly speaking, the Sox should probably be looking to add 3 arms. Need at least one reliever capable of holding down the 8th inning, on the assumption that Smith won’t be available for a while. Kelly could be in the mix for later innings, hopefully.
I scanned the Off-Season thread and saw these names mentioned as prospective additions…
FREE AGENTS:
TOP-DRAWER TIER: Kenley Jensen, Aroldis Chapman (L)
8th INNING TIER: Brad Ziegler, Mark Melancon, Greg Holland
7th/8th INNING TIER: Sergio Romo, Koji Uehara, Travis Wood (L)
COMPETENT SEAT FILLERS: Junichi Tazawa, Santiago Casilla, Trevor Cahill, Jordan Walden, Joe Blanton
A FEW MORE TO THROW ON THE FIRE: Joaquin Benoit, Joe Smith
TRADE CANDIDATES:
SERIOUS TRADE COST: Wade Davis, Andrew Miller (L) (c’mon, he’s not available)
MODEST TRADE COST: David Robertson
A FEW MORE TO THROW ON THE FIRE: Hector Neris
* -- okay, so maybe I editorialized just a little
With Tazawa, Uehara and Ziegler subtracted as unrestricted free agents, the state of the Red Sox bullpen is… incomplete. Here’s what’s left, sorted by MLB innings pitched in 2016:
CRAIG KIMBREL (RHP) -- $13.25MM in 2017, $13MM option in 2018
MATT BARNES (RHP) –Arb eligible in 2019
ROBBIE ROSS JR. (LHP) – Arb eligible
HEATH HEMBREE (RHP) – Arb eligible in 2019
JOE KELLY (RHP) – Arb eligible
ROENIS ELIAS (LHP) – Arb eligible in 2019
CARSON SMITH (RHP) – Arb eligible in 2018. Likely not ready for Opening Day.
Not included are Steven Wright and Clay Buchholz, one of who will likely land outside the Opening Day starting rotation and could fill a bullpen seat cromulently.
Not included above are Williams Jerez, Kyle Martin, Noe Ramirez, Robbie Scott, Brandon Workman and Luis Ysla – all are shuttle fodder, and ideally would start the year in the minors.
Also not included is Fernando Abad*, because I just can’t.
Roughly speaking, the Sox should probably be looking to add 3 arms. Need at least one reliever capable of holding down the 8th inning, on the assumption that Smith won’t be available for a while. Kelly could be in the mix for later innings, hopefully.
I scanned the Off-Season thread and saw these names mentioned as prospective additions…
FREE AGENTS:
TOP-DRAWER TIER: Kenley Jensen, Aroldis Chapman (L)
8th INNING TIER: Brad Ziegler, Mark Melancon, Greg Holland
7th/8th INNING TIER: Sergio Romo, Koji Uehara, Travis Wood (L)
COMPETENT SEAT FILLERS: Junichi Tazawa, Santiago Casilla, Trevor Cahill, Jordan Walden, Joe Blanton
A FEW MORE TO THROW ON THE FIRE: Joaquin Benoit, Joe Smith
TRADE CANDIDATES:
SERIOUS TRADE COST: Wade Davis, Andrew Miller (L) (c’mon, he’s not available)
MODEST TRADE COST: David Robertson
A FEW MORE TO THROW ON THE FIRE: Hector Neris
* -- okay, so maybe I editorialized just a little