Red Sox have acquired 2B Aaron Hill from Brewers

[moonslav59]

There is THAT too. Wilkerson may not have had what it takes to make it in the majors, but his ERA at Pawtucket indicated that he was deserving of a chance before he got shipped away. I hope we don't read the box scores and see that Wilkerson is tossing goose eggs for some other team in the near future.

 

I totally agree, but I guess had he come up to the bigs for us and stunk, we wouldn't have Hill right now.

[moonslav59]

"Because Travis Shaw is hitting .211 with a .620 OPS and 21 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances against lefties, Hill will likely slot in as the third baseman against southpaws.

 

Hill is hitting .283 with a .780 OPS and eight home runs overall. He has a .725 OPS against lefties.

 

“Travis, recently he’s had good at-bats, but his numbers against left-handed pitching have not been that good this year,” Dombrowski said. “How (manager John Farrell) decides to (handle the workload), that’s of course up to him.”"

 

Despite the contradicting chatter on this board, this is how DD views Shaw. And he counts more than any of us. Shaw has been anemic against left handed pitching. The game where Kimbrel blew up in the 9th comes to mind. We could have used Hill to pinch hit for Shaw with bases loaded (?) in late innings against a left hander.

 

I'm sure DD knows about Shaw's struggles vs LHPs throughout his minor league career. He's not fooled by a flash small sample size. It's Shaw's full portfolio, not just this season's struggles vs lefties, that brought about the search for a RH'd hiting 3Bman.

 

Hill has been pretty good vs LHPs and RHPs, which is nice to have. Over his career he's .762 vs LHPs and .741 vs RHPs.

[Nick]

I'm sure DD knows about Shaw's struggles vs LHPs throughout his minor league career. He's not fooled by a flash small sample size. It's Shaw's full portfolio, not just this season's struggles vs lefties, that brought about the search for a RH'd hiting 3Bman.

 

Hill has been pretty good vs LHPs and RHPs, which is nice to have. Over his career he's .762 vs LHPs and .741 vs RHPs.

 

I guess that begs the question what's the long term implication for Shaw? Is he always going to require platooning? I do like him as a player.

[FredLynn]

I totally agree, but I guess had he come up to the bigs for us and stunk, we wouldn't have Hill right now.

 

I can understand why DD did this: our bench really stinks and Hill is an improvement that is sorely needed. Still......our bench is not the major issue with this team, and we just gave up a SP with an ERA under 2.5 at AAA ball without even giving him a shot at it in Boston. I think this was a mistake. Yes, Wilkerson could have flopped, but given how bad our #4-5 SPs are he was worth a shot....unless DD has more up his sleeve in terms of addressing the pitching issue.

[Nick]

Will we see Hill tonight due to Shaw being not 100%? Surely he'll get the start tomorrow night vs lefty Moore.

 

I'm anxious to watch him.

[moonslav59]

I guess that begs the question what's the long term implication for Shaw? Is he always going to require platooning? I do like him as a player.

 

My opinion?

 

Shaw was my sleeper prospect pick many years ago, but then I gave up on him after his yo-yo'ing in AA and AAA that led to unimpressive numbers at those levels. In my opinion, his nice start to MLB is more "flash" than an incite into what will follow. He made some early adjustments that got my hopes up like everyone else, but I think I have held doubts longer than most posters. I still have serious doubts he will ever be a full time plus 3B or 1Bman. You have to be a damn good hitter to be a plus at those positions, although 3B isn't what it used to be offensively.

 

If I had to bet, I'd say he will be a decent platoon corner IF'er and capable bench guy/PH'er. If he played for a team that could afford to play him FT, he might end up with numbers like this: .240 to .255 20-25 HRs and 70+ RBIs. As a platoon, his numbers would look better.

[moonslav59]

I can understand why DD did this: our bench really stinks and Hill is an improvement that is sorely needed. Still......our bench is not the major issue with this team, and we just gave up a SP with an ERA under 2.5 at AAA ball without even giving him a shot at it in Boston. I think this was a mistake. Yes, Wilkerson could have flopped, but given how bad our #4-5 SPs are he was worth a shot....unless DD has more up his sleeve in terms of addressing the pitching issue.

 

I'd have given him a shot, but I know DD and company know more about Wilkerson than I do, and I trust they felt they were selling "high", or that the need for Hill was much greater than what they felt the best Wilkerson could have given us. They may also have some cheap trade option on the table to get someone they view is better than Wilkerson.

[Kimmi]

I am hoping that you are right about this, but I am not connecting the dots about how this move makes it more likely that we will obtain pitching.

 

I'm not saying that this move naturally leads to us getting a pitcher. I'm saying that I don't think Dombrowski would be willing to part with Wilkerson for Hill if he weren't very certain that he would be able to obtain another starter.

[Maxbialystock]

My opinion?

 

Shaw was my sleeper prospect pick many years ago, but then I gave up on him after his yo-yo'ing in AA and AAA that led to unimpressive numbers at those levels. In my opinion, his nice start to MLB is more "flash" than an incite into what will follow. He made some early adjustments that got my hopes up like everyone else, but I think I have held doubts longer than most posters. I still have serious doubts he will ever be a full time plus 3B or 1Bman. You have to be a damn good hitter to be a plus at those positions, although 3B isn't what it used to be offensively.

 

If I had to bet, I'd say he will be a decent platoon corner IF'er and capable bench guy/PH'er. If he played for a team that could afford to play him FT, he might end up with numbers like this: .240 to .255 20-25 HRs and 70+ RBIs. As a platoon, his numbers would look better.

 

I also have my doubts about Shaw as a defensive 3B--too many errors, not much range.

[mvp 78]

I'm not saying that this move naturally leads to us getting a pitcher. I'm saying that I don't think Dombrowski would be willing to part with Wilkerson for Hill if he weren't very certain that he would be able to obtain another starter.

 

I think he was very certain that Wilkerson would have no success at the MLB level. He doesn't typically get burned on trades involving prospects. Wouldn't expect this one to be any different.

[illinoisredsox]

I thought Hernandez was doing real fine! Maybe he's in a package for another trade.

 

When I first saw the headline, I thought, "wow, we got Hill back!" Alas, wrong Hill!

 

Hernandez hits lefty; they needed and wanted someone from the right side.

[bowman]

Shaw is a true first baseman. Shaw has has a sweet swing and will figure out as he matures the lefties. Almost 50 RBI's at the all-star break, you guys gotta be kidding me. A f... platoon player. Give me a break..

[Bellhorn04]

I also have my doubts about Shaw as a defensive 3B--too many errors, not much range.

 

He's got a UZR/150 at 3B this year of 5.6, so a little better than average.

[croc]

I also have my doubts about Shaw as a defensive 3B--too many errors, not much range.

 

Since he's a first baseman that's not horribly surprising. I think we've seen who Shaw is. He's okay. Overall he'sadequate at 3B, decent at IB he'll be ~ an .800 OPS hitter who will get about 20 HR, drive in ~80 and bat around .270. If he's not dealt next year he and Hanley will split duties at 1B and DH with a little 3B mixed in for Shaw

[Kimmi]

I think he was very certain that Wilkerson would have no success at the MLB level. He doesn't typically get burned on trades involving prospects. Wouldn't expect this one to be any different.

 

That could very well be.

 

I'll be very surprised if Dombrowski doesn't add at least one solid starter. Then again, I felt that way before he traded Wilkerson.

[cp176]

I'm not saying that this move naturally leads to us getting a pitcher. I'm saying that I don't think Dombrowski would be willing to part with Wilkerson for Hill if he weren't very certain that he would be able to obtain another starter.

 

I agree with you here. I think that Dombrowski knows what we really need. Everybody knows what we really need. Safe to say that he did not see Wilkerson really filling any need now or later. I think that it is calculated. Something else is going to happen.

[harmony]

Shaw is a true first baseman. Shaw has has a sweet swing and will figure out as he matures the lefties. Almost 50 RBI's at the all-star break, you guys gotta be kidding me. A f... platoon player. Give me a break..

Travis Shaw is a 26-year-old whose long history of struggles against lefthanders dates back to his minor league days.

 

The Red Sox should be grateful for Shaw's contributions to date but we should all temper our expectations going forward.

[Nick]

Mr. Hill...welcome to Fenway

[Bellhorn04]

Nice start indeed.

[Nick]

Big hit and insurance run by Hill....Bryce comes in for Holt and gets two hits....

 

JF wanted right handed infield bat and he got it...

[mvp 78]

Nice start indeed.

 

Stink. Stank. Stunk!

[Nick]

Just hold your breath and hope no one gets hurt Sat/Sunday Edited July 9, 2016 by Nick

[Kimmi]

Just hold your breath and hope no one gets hurt Sat/Sunday

 

I'm sure all teams do, but we really need this All Star break to somewhat heal.