Red Sox acquire Wyatt Mills for Jacob Wallace, DFA Eric Hosmer

Rasputin

Will outlive SeanBerry
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 4, 2001
29,421
Not here
Explain to me why DFAing a thoroughly mediocre, but dirt cheap guy makes sense.

I mean, none of us think it's going to happen, but Triston Casas could crater like Bobby Dalbec, then where the fuck are we? Having to trade for Hosmer and actually give something up?

And we've gone from having a shitty DH to not having one at all?

There's gotta be another shoe to drop soon that gets us some kind of hitter.
 

Doc Zero

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2007
12,435
I mean, Hosmer as a platoon 1B/DH wasn't my first choice, but... no one wanted him at the league minimum?
 

Rusty13

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 3, 2007
5,347
Mills looks like he has promise based on his minor league track record. Only 41 innings so far in his spotty majors appearances. He is already 27 though. Worth trading for and dumping an effectively "free" Hosmer? I need some convincing.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,375
So in effect, the Sox gave up two players and got one (a thoroughly mediocre reliever) in return.
 

AB in DC

OG Football Writing
SoSH Member
Jul 10, 2002
13,619
Springfield, VA
Mills looks like he has promise based on his minor league track record. Only 41 innings so far in his spotty majors appearances. He is already 27 though. Worth trading for and dumping an effectively "free" Hosmer? I need some convincing.
Better question for me is why they didn't just DFA one of their other fungible relievers, like Darwinzon Hernandez.
 

johnnywayback

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 8, 2004
1,421
Mills is an intriguing guy -- throws sidearm, had a decent pedigree (third-round pick), can get righties and grounders. Plus he has an option. Throw him in the "Find Me Another John Schreiber" pile with Ort, Kelly, etc. Well worth the roster spot over someone who isn't going to play.
 

DeadlySplitter

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 20, 2015
33,249
I don't think another shoe is dropping as the 40-man roster size remains the same. They just like Mills more than Wallace, who admittedly has meh WHIPs of 1.356 (A+) and 1.482 (AA) last two years but still is only 23, and the fallback cheap option in Hosmer.

I think Mills for Wallace is defensible, the continued existence of Darwinzon Hernandez on the 40-man is the real sticking point for me.
 

AlNipper49

Huge Member
Dope
SoSH Member
Apr 3, 2001
44,852
Mtigawi
Wallace was a $1 lottery ticket bought at a bodega. He was not super impressive the times that I saw him. I ended up paying attention to him as he played in the same league as LTF's oldest, but that was honestly the only real point of interest with him.
 

Big Papi's Mango Salsa

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2022
1,176
There must be another trade lined up for Hosmer. I’m not a fan of what Bloom is doing / has done but there is no way he is dumb enough to have the $5.7m AAV luxury tax hit for Hosmer on the books for the next 3 seasons to just let him go for nothing.

I disagree with his plan (execution of his plan) but I don’t believe he is a moron.
 

SouthernBoSox

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 23, 2005
12,084
With every transaction I become more perplexed on what Ryan Braiser has over ownership to remain on the 40.

This is about the 16th time he’s been an obvious DFA and they just won’t do it.
 

nvalvo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
21,479
Rogers Park
I just posted basically the same thing in the other thread, but Mills is interesting to me. Crazy release point — tall pitcher, low arm slot, and a delivery that sees him leaping towards the third base line. Really unusual, low spin four seamer with 9-3 spin.

As optionable bullpen depth, I love it. Wallace was similarly a guy whose pitch metrics were more interesting than his stats, but Mills can pitch for Boston this season.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,432
I would have DFA’d one of the many crap relievers on the 40 instead of a cost controlled real MLB player
 

TheYellowDart5

Hustle and bustle
SoSH Member
Apr 16, 2003
9,276
NYC
Beyond weird to me that Hosmer was disposable enough that he could be DFA'd in an inconsequential reliever swap but not disposable enough to be booted last month in lieu of the three Rule 5 guys who got taken. The process and timing by which guys get moved off this roster continues to be inscrutable.
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,017
Oregon
He'll be traded in the next day or two.
That’s my guess as well. This seems procedural to me.
According to mlbtr, Hosmer has a full no-trade that kicked in after the deal from San Diego. He can reject any trade they try to make. He also can reject any waiver claim put in on him, should it come to that, and thus become a free agent able to sign anywhere.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,053
Alamogordo
Beyond weird to me that Hosmer was disposable enough that he could be DFA'd in an inconsequential reliever swap but not disposable enough to be booted last month in lieu of the three Rule 5 guys who got taken. The process and timing by which guys get moved off this roster continues to be inscrutable.
Agreed. I still think this can be a good offseason, but some of these 40 man moves (or lack thereof) are really weird.
 

RicoPfan

New Member
Sep 8, 2012
12
Wow, that was a nice add in for Hosmer on the contract. Wonder if he had already rejected a trade?
 

curly2

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 8, 2003
4,887
With every transaction I become more perplexed on what Ryan Braiser has over ownership to remain on the 40.

This is about the 16th time he’s been an obvious DFA and they just won’t do it.
Chaim Bloom to Mookie Betts: Who needs you?

Bloom to Andrew Benintendi: Good riddance!

Bloom to Xander Bogaerts: Don't let the door hit you on your way out!

Bloom to Ryan Brasier:

 

Harry Hooper

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 4, 2002
34,368
Seems like pretty criminal roster management given they just had Ward taken 1.1 in the Rule 5.
But once one of your players is selected, you are allowed to protect 3 more. Oh, wait, it's not an expansion draft?

To me, Darwinson and Ort seem the most expendable on the 40-man roster currently.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2021
11,921
I think it’s really difficult to find a useful role for a LH 1B who isn’t good enough to be a starter and who only plays first. There’s just minimal utility there, especially in a world where teams carry only a few bench players.
 

chawson

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
4,660
He'll be traded in the next day or two.
Probably quite soon, like deal-is-in-place soon. He’d be able to choose where he goes if he clears.

My guess is Miami, but the Cubs and Phillies look possible. Maybe a straight trade for J.D. Davis on the Giants, who seems crowded out with Wilmer Flores still around? It has to be a plausible contender for him to agree, and I can’t imagine trading him to an AL Wild Card rival.
 

chawson

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
4,660
He can choose where he goes now, because of the no-trade
He can assent to where he goes, probably functionally the same thing to him. But since the AAV hit would be ours if he’s DFA’d, I think we’d keep him aboard into spring training sooner than straight cutting him.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,714
Beyond weird to me that Hosmer was disposable enough that he could be DFA'd in an inconsequential reliever swap but not disposable enough to be booted last month in lieu of the three Rule 5 guys who got taken. The process and timing by which guys get moved off this roster continues to be inscrutable.
I feel like people generally misunderstand this little corner of baseball maneuvering. If Ward was protected and then DFAd now, BOS almost certainly loses him for good. As it is, there's still a solid chance that WAS chooses to return him at some point mid-season rather than carry him all season. The argument against this is that WAS is going to be bad anyway so they will just keep him no matter what, but BAL returned Nestor Cortes Jr to NY in April one season after taking him in April.
 

Hee Sox Choi

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 27, 2006
6,133
I wonder if he'd want to go back to KC. They don't really have a DH and their backup 1B OPS'd .679 last year.
Wouldn't they just rather have Pratto hit .220 and hit 28 jacks than play Hosmer? But you might be on to something. Give Pratto a few months in AAA to get his sh*t together. He was bad upon returning to AAA last season. Hosmer is projected for a 109 wRC+ this year, so he has some value. Plus veteran leadership! ;)
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,017
Oregon
He can assent to where he goes, probably functionally the same thing to him. But since the AAV hit would be ours if he’s DFA’d, I think we’d keep him aboard into spring training sooner than straight cutting him.
Yeah, which is why you'd think they would have run this past him before the DFA move. I mean, I'd like to think they did ... but, then again, I like to see the best in people
 

mikeford

woolwich!
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2006
29,517
St John's, NL
Wouldn't they just rather have Pratto hit .220 and hit 28 jacks than play Hosmer? But you might be on to something. Give Pratto a few months in AAA to get his sh*t together. He was bad upon returning to AAA last season. Hosmer is projected for a 109 wRC+ this year, so he has some value. Plus veteran leadership! ;)
They got Hunter Dozier listed as their backup 1B right now so yeah. I mean the guy is making no money so whats the harm in having him as a seat warmer?
 

HangingW/ScottCooper

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2006
2,493
Scituate, MA
What does this mean for Hosmer's cap hit?

Hosmer's Salary was $13 mil, San Diego is paying $12,280,000 of it, the cap hit is $18 mil. I believe we were getting hit for $5,720,000 for the AAV. If Hosmer is traded or signs as a free agent elsewhere does that go away?
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,017
Oregon
One aspect of these deal ... Does this mean they hang onto Dalbec?
 

RicoPfan

New Member
Sep 8, 2012
12
The Royals must not have an interest in Hosmer or they could of had him in this deal. (Or maybe Hosmer has no interest t in KC)
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,432
So 80% of the hot stove additions are relievers and the other 20% is a DH (or LF with poor defense at best) with zero MLB at bats?
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not always 100% on point when it comes to the "be better" standards that we try to adhere by here, but Jesus Christ is every fucking thread going to devolve into criticism of Bloom? Differing opinions? Sure and I appreciate so much of what has been offered here in the past week, but much of what's been happening here on the main board is little more than drive by, pile on bullshit that has somehow become acceptable.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,840
With every transaction I become more perplexed on what Ryan Braiser has over ownership to remain on the 40.

This is about the 16th time he’s been an obvious DFA and they just won’t do it.
Brasier's FIP last year was 3.61, with a good K/W ratio and struck out a hitter an inning. He was unlucky with a .335 babip.

I'm not saying he's great or anything, but he's not an obvious DFA if they believe in his peripherals.
 

TimScribble

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
1,474
In the end, the Hosmer trade was effectively Jay Groome for Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier. Groome ended the season going 3-2 over 5 starts with a 3.16 ERA in the hitter friendly PCL. Ferguson and Rosier both played 23 games for Greenville with a .181 and .163 BA.

I’d add this had been Groome’s most successful season with Boston since his TJ surgery. Dug up the trade article and Bloom’s comments feel oddly familiar:

On Monday, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom clarified that Boston still had work to do. “The puzzle is incomplete right now,” Bloom said, per MassLive — following the Christian Vázquez trade with the Houston Astros.
 

simplicio

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2012
4,719
Groome took up a 40 man spot and wasn't close to contributing. Compare his AAA lines to any of the Wooster guys who actually pitched (and mostly sucked) in Boston last year; maybe he'll eventually get to the majors but he doesn't look particularly close atm.
 

billy ashley

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,228
Washington DC
In the end, the Hosmer trade was effectively Jay Groome for Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier. Groome ended the season going 3-2 over 5 starts with a 3.16 ERA in the hitter friendly PCL. Ferguson and Rosier both played 23 games for Greenville with a .181 and .163 BA.

I’d add this had been Groome’s most successful season with Boston since his TJ surgery. Dug up the trade article and Bloom’s comments feel oddly familiar:

On Monday, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom clarified that Boston still had work to do. “The puzzle is incomplete right now,” Bloom said, per MassLive — following the Christian Vázquez trade with the Houston Astros.
I get folks are frustrated, but this is just silly.

Groome was a DFA candidate. Almost every scouting report listed Groome as having seen his fastball decline, and his one 70 curveball falling behind his average to average plus change up.

I like Groome a lot: I think he got a raw deal during the draft, teams leaked all sorts of character issues about him hurting his draft stock and he was a model prospect in terms of behavior, even when his family was dealing with a truly awful situation with his drug dealer father.

But yeah, he's a bad body SP, who lost his stuff after a series of injuries. I hope he regains the luster, but he is more of an emergency depth guy than anything at present time.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,714
In the end, the Hosmer trade was effectively Jay Groome for Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier.
It's not done, Hosmer will still likely be traded in the next week, I think anyway (this is a very unusual case).