It's not always about need. I've read (not about Sox) that teams also consider it a reward of sorts.
Since when are September call-ups about need? Generally teams bring up every warm body they have on the 40-man during September. I guess we could wonder why Travis was an immediate call up rather than waiting until Tuesday when the PawSox season is over, but it's not as though they are playing meaningful games where they need him. Travis gives them a presumably healthy option at 1B and occasional fill-in in the OF, the former being something they could really use right now.
Since always? The Red Sox badly need relievers. I don't believe most teams expand to the full 40 either. I think the Sox are usually around the low 30's.
Five of the eight players they brought up are pitchers. (Steven Wright was activated as well). And the minor league season still has a few games that someone needs to pitch.
They added five pitchers today...Poyner, Scott, and Cuevas recalled plus ERod and Wright off the DL. There's still three more pitchers on the 40-man, plus Sale on the DL, plus Austin Maddox ready to come off the 60-day DL. They've got plenty of pitching help en route. How does recalling Travis affect that?
To what end? I would think a team out of contention for the post-season would prefer to play their own guys, especially if they have young players that could use the experience. And a team in contention, unless they have a temporary hole Phillips would fill, probably aren't looking to add players that would be ineligible for the post-season.
Most recent thing I could find was this article from three days ago that says he was returned from his rehab assignment but was not transferred off the DL. No indication why, but unless he suffered a setback, the fact that he was rehabbing is a sign he might see action in September. None of the other players on the 60-day DL have even attempted to play in a game or taken any other steps toward returning.
Phillips was available, Pedrioa was not. He pretty much cost nothing and if he had anything at all left to give it would have been a great pickup. Sometimes you can catch a guy who might not be the player that he used to be, but still might be able to contribute with either his bat or glove. Classic no risk signing that the Sox thankfully didn’t have to press into action.
The Major League per diam is what normal people call "real money" and it makes a difference to career minor league players' bottom line.
Yep, I believe the prorated salary is something like $3500/game on an MLB roster so 26 games is about 90k. Most of these guys are making between 40k and 90k for the whole year if they're in the 40-man so it's doubling or quadrupling their annual salary. Quite a nice reward.
The money in professional sports is so big that we forget about the enormous compensation even the least players get for playing the game at the highest level.
At 43 days of service, every MLB player gets a $34,000 annual pension plan as well. Dan Butler isn't there yet, though. There are lots of people out there living off full time jobs that pay less.
I didn't know the cut off was that low. Basically 2 September call up years and you've got a pension. That's a huge thing, especially added to the health insurance.
Didn't coaches sometimes get get added to the 40-man in September to accrue enough time for a player's pension? Does that still happen?
Kinda surprised given the 9 games but then again, his job is back up catcher. Even 1 start every 5 days is 45 days.
By all reports, he was a good veteran clubhouse presence in Pawtucket. Likely a reward for that as well.
How does this work? Does this pension start at 65 years of age? Are you telling me, Cesar Crespo has a pension and lifetime healthcare? Good for him and good on the players union.
I think this is it. He'll be looking to stick with a team next year, so if he can even get into a few blowouts for a few innings to get Kinsler off his feet, at least it will give him a 2018 MLB stat line.
