1. Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree sent to Phillies for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold: I had really come around to Workman in the last year. He had a terrific season in the bullpen in 2019, going 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA, 16 saves and 104 strikeouts in just 71.2 innings pitched. But he was going to be a free agent, so better to deal him and get something in return. Hembree has been an adequate reliever over the years and was actually acquired in a trade deadline deal back in 2014 when he was picked up from San Francisco in exchange for Jake Peavy. I was actually a little surprised he was still on the team coming into this season. Boston received Pivetta, who is a cost-controlled young pitcher who has generally not put up great numbers, despite having good stuff. Pivetta is the only player Boston acquired who has a chance to appear in the Majors this year. Seabold is the prize here as he could be a mid-rotation starter with upside. He has a chance of appearing in the Majors next year.
2. Mitch Moreland sent to the Padres for Jeisson Rosario and Hudson Potts: Moreland was having a huge season for Boston before he was dealt to San Diego. He was hitting .328/.430/.746 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs. He has been with Boston since 2017 and was an All Star in 2018 and had some big moments in the postseason that year. Moreland will be missed, but this was probably the most impressive haul Boston received this year. Potts has some big power, but has some work to do with his swing. He also does not seem to have a true position. Rosario looks like a future center-fielder/leadoff hitter with plus speed and a capable bat. Rosario is the highest-rated prospect Boston received this year.
3. Kevin Pillar sent to Rockies for a player to be named later and international bonus slot money. Pillar was having a good season in his only year with Boston. I could see him being re-signed in the offseason because he seemed to enjoy it in Boston. Pillar was hitting .274/.325/.470 with four home runs and 13 RBIs. Of course there is no way to analyze this trade as we do not know who Boston will be receiving. The way the deals are working is that anyone not on the 60 man player pool can not be traded during the season. So, this could still be a decent prospect, we just do not know yet. The bonus money will be helpful in acquiring highly-ranked international prospect Miguel Bleis.
4. Josh Osich sent to Cubs for a player to be named later. Osich was Chaim Bloom's first acquisition since joining Boston. He was a decent lefty out of the pen, going 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA and 20 strikeouts versus five walks in 15.2 innings. His ERA was inflated due to one bad outing. This does not kill the Red Sox as having Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez back means having Osich was kind of redundant. Again, there is no clear way to analyze this trade. I would expect a lesser prospect than the one they get for Pillar though.
It does feel odd that the Sox are sellers (and that they're in the cellar) but I trust Chaim Bloom to rebuild the farm and 2020 is as good a year as any to hit bottom considering the strange half-season and no fans.
ReplyDeleteAll things told I think the Red Sox had about as good a trade deadline as they could've as sellers in a weird year.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I was impressed with what the Red Sox got from Philly and San Diego. Seeing how crazy this year was between the short season and the constant threat of Covid, I was expecting more PTBNL type deals.
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