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| Nate Jones |
It's never a good sign when you get swept at home in a three-game series by the sub-.500 Mets, but that's where the Sox are right now.
Good job, good effort.
If the players were feeling any anxiety about the trade deadline, they don't need to anymore. July 31 came and went with the Sox making only one deal, and it was a minor one at that.
Reliever Nate Jones, who is out for the season with a forearm injury, was traded to the Texas Rangers along with international pool money and cash considerations. In return, the Sox received fringe prospect pitchers Ray Castro and Joseph Jarneski.
It's unclear whether we will ever mention Castro and Jarneski on this blog again. This was a money move. The Rangers were seeking international pool money, and the Sox were willing to send some their way on the condition that they take Jones' contract.
Jones is owed $1.5 million for the remainder of this season, and it will cost the Rangers $1.25 million to buy him out for 2020, which they most certainly will.
For the Sox, this is a cost savings of $2.75 million, should they ever decide to start investing money into the Major League team.
The most notable thing about the trade deadline? The Sox didn't trade either of the high-leverage arms in their bullpen, Alex Colome or Aaron Bummer. I'm taking that as a good sign -- the Sox decided they'd rather have those two men on the roster for 2020 than trade them for "lotto tickets" and assorted other Class-A garbage that will never see the light of day.
The past two years, the Sox have simply sold off any veteran with value to accumulate future assets. Right now, we're seeing a shift in strategy. They held onto a useful reliever in Colome, apparently believing he can be part of a winning team next season.
Now, will the Sox actually spend money to make that winning team happen? It remains to be seen, and given the team's 46-60 record, it's clear that there is a lot of work to do between now and next March.
But general manager Rick Hahn was quoted in James Fegan's article on The Athletic today as saying, "Heading into this offseason, based on the progress of some of these young players, based on the progress of other young players that will be joining this roster over the coming months, I think it’s very logical for us, you’re going to see a heightened level of aggressiveness come this offseason.”
A heightened level of aggressiveness? Good. I want to see it, and I intend to hold Hahn to this comment when I see him at SoxFest in January.
Moncada injured
In bad news, as soon as Tim Anderson and Eloy Jimenez came back from injury, Yoan Moncada suffered a hamstring strain in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Mets. The Sox are expected to be without their third baseman and best overall player for about two weeks.
Outfielder Ryan Cordell, who was just optioned to Triple-A Charlotte at the start of the week, was recalled to take Moncada's spot on the roster. It looks as though Ryan Goins is going to get the majority of starts at third base, with Leury Garcia possibly seeing some infield time when he's not playing somewhere in the outfield
Reed optioned
A.J. Reed went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts in Thursday's loss, and he was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte after the game. Mercifully. This is one waiver claim that predictably isn't working out.
Reed went 6 for 44 with one home run during his three-week audition. That will pencil out to a robust .136 batting average. Almost makes you yearn for the return of Yonder Alonso, doesn't it?
The Sox will add a man to their roster before starting a three-game weekend series in Philadelphia against the Phillies. I'm hoping they give Zack Collins another shot. There are left-handed at-bats available at designated hitter, and I wouldn't mind seeing Collins behind the plate on days when James McCann is not playing. I don't need to see any more Welington Castillo, thank you very much.
