Breslow: Boston Red Sox Will "Continue to Look" at Arms for the Bullpen

[Matthew Lenz]

Following the trade that netted them Caleb Durban and three other assets, the Boston Red Sox reportedly are not done, making moves that could impact the opening day roster. Most notably, having dealt away from their big league pitching staff, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is looking to reinforce one area of that pitching staff.

Tim Healey of the Boston Globe is reporting that  Breslow is "continuing to look" at bullpen additions. He adds that they could still dig into their starting pitcher surplus to fill that need.

Bolstering the bullpen has been a secondary goal of the front office all offseason, and they prioritized chasing middle-of-the-order bats and players who could fill the void at third base. Following the acquisition of Caleb Durbin, they can now hone in on improving their group of relievers. Check out Alex Mays' article on how they could accomplish that via a trade. Otherwise, the free agent market is filled with names that have a track record of being solid but may be past those years, such as a David Robertson or Rafael Montero.

The most realistic outcome feels like an internal move that sees a starting pitcher transition into a relief role. Whether that would mean an experienced starter like Brayan Bello, or Johan Oviedo, or possibly a high-ceiling prospect like Payton Tolle or Connelly Early remains to be seen.

How do you think the Boston Red Sox should improve their bullpen internally, in a trade, or via free agency? Let us know in the comments!

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[mvp 78]

Tolle would be a great reliever temporarily while he's still working on his secondarie

Kutter was pretty good in the pen, I'd throw him there. 

I'd keep Early in the rotation.

Coming off TJS, I don't know if you can put Sandoval in the pen. Not sure what they'll do with him. 

Oviedo has the stuff to be a great reliever, but I like his ceiling as a starter. 

I think a pen of Chapman/Whitlock/Slaten/Tolle/Weissert/Crawford/Moran/Watson could be pretty good TBH. I just think it'll take a little bit for Tolle to get there. If they swapped out Moran for Justin Wilson or a different lefty, it'd look a lot better. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I think a pen of Chapman/Whitlock/Slaten/Tolle/Weissert/Crawford/Moran/Watson could be pretty good TBH. I just think it'll take a little bit for Tolle to get there. If they swapped out Moran for Justin Wilson or a different lefty, it'd look a lot better. 

That looks like a damn good pen. Sandoval, Kelly, Samaniego and maybe Uberstine or Early could be enough depth, but usually a team uses 20+ pitchers a season.

 I agree on your choices for who starts in the pen vs the rotation (MLB & AAA)

soxprospects.com has been all over the map on who starts the season on the IL, pen or rotations. They now list Sandoval as not on the IL, but in the MLB pen. They have the staff at 14 pitchers.

AAA rotation: Tolle, Early, Uberstine + Sikkema & Gamboa as NRIs.

AA bullpen: Samaniego plus 9 NRIs, including Noah Song, Hobie Harris  & Osvaldo Berrios.  Jake Bennett is the lone AA player on the 40.

[notin]

Danny Coulombe needs work

[mvp 78]

25 minutes ago, notin said:

Danny Coulombe needs work

He didn't sign until 2/7 last year. 🕰️

[notin]

15 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He didn't sign until 2/7 last year. 🕰️

It’s 2/10!! He’s late!

[notin]

17 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Tolle would be a great reliever temporarily while he's still working on his secondarie

Kutter was pretty good in the pen, I'd throw him there. 

I'd keep Early in the rotation.

Coming off TJS, I don't know if you can put Sandoval in the pen. Not sure what they'll do with him. 

Oviedo has the stuff to be a great reliever, but I like his ceiling as a starter. 

I think a pen of Chapman/Whitlock/Slaten/Tolle/Weissert/Crawford/Moran/Watson could be pretty good TBH. I just think it'll take a little bit for Tolle to get there. If they swapped out Moran for Justin Wilson or a different lefty, it'd look a lot better. 

That bullpen looks good, but that leaves the rotation with very little depth beyind the starting five, with just Oviedo, Early, Uberstine and Bennett.  And Uberstine scares me, since I was not a huge fan of his work in AAA.   Also his name sounds like a monster built from re-animated corpse tissue that was made for the purpose of driving me home…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, notin said:

That bullpen looks good, but that leaves the rotation with very little depth beyind the starting five, with just Oviedo, Early, Uberstine and Bennett.  And Uberstine scares me, since I was not a huge fan of his work in AAA.   Also his name sounds like a monster built from re-animated corpse tissue that was made for the purpose of driving me home…

I like it. Though I was thinking of a really big beer mug -- spun out of sturdy earthen material and not thin fragile glass that shatters as soon as it comes into contact with utensils in the sink. 

[moonslav59]

There is a little bit of an issue needing to keep Moran & Watson on the 26, but there is always the phantom IL stint to buy some time.

Without using any SP'ers in the pen, it has very little depth, and the depth it has is concerning. We only have 8 pitchers considered RP'ers only.

The sure 4: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten & Weissert (if healthy)

The 2 that can't be optioned to the minors: Moran & Watson

The last 2: Kelly and Samaniego (both could begin the season in AAA.)

We are heavily dependent on using SP'ers in the pen. Cora might have an idea on who fits best and may begin ST'ing with one or two in the pen, or he may decide during ST'ing who his starting 5 will be and work from there on who begins the season in the pen and AAA.

The starters:

The sure 4: Crochet, Suarez, Gray & Bello (if healthy) Houck on 60 Day IL.

The 5th slot contenders: Oviedo, Crawford & Sandoval. My guess is the other two begin in the pen as long RP'ers. (Kelly & Samaniego begin at AAA.)

Tolle and Early might get the SP first call over one of those pen arms.

 

[mvp 78]

31 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

There is a little bit of an issue needing to keep Moran & Watson on the 26

DFA Moran, it doesn't matter. 

With 8 bullpen arms, it's easier than ever to fit a guy like Watson onto a staff. Not a big deal to carry him at all. 

[mvp 78]

32 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

The last 2: Kelly and Samaniego (both could begin the season in AAA.)

Kelly has always been an up and down guy. He's a completely DFA'able. 

Samaniego has never pitched above AA. Why would we project him onto the BOS roster before the ASB? 

[moonslav59]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Kelly has always been an up and down guy. He's a completely DFA'able. 

Samaniego has never pitched above AA. Why would we project him onto the BOS roster before the ASB? 

Agreed, so basically our 7 & 8 guys in the pen are uncertainties at best and DFA material at worst.

Maybe the plan is to use SP'er, but we will likely be adding a pen arm or two to the roster- maybe some on minor league deals.

Could Justin Wilson return?

[drewski6]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed, so basically our 7 & 8 guys in the pen are uncertainties at best and DFA material at worst.

Maybe the plan is to use SP'er, but we will likely be adding a pen arm or two to the roster- maybe some on minor league deals.

Could Justin Wilson return?

Are you already including Kutter Crawford in the top 6?

[drewski6]

28 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

DFA Moran, it doesn't matter. 

With 8 bullpen arms, it's easier than ever to fit a guy like Watson onto a staff. Not a big deal to carry him at all. 

Especially if guys like Sandoval/Crawford start on like extended spring training.  And Tolle and Early will be up at some point in some role.  I agree.  The most important thing about our #7,#8 BP pitchers is that they have options to be sent to and fro worcestor. I-90

[moonslav59]

44 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

DFA Moran, it doesn't matter. 

With 8 bullpen arms, it's easier than ever to fit a guy like Watson onto a staff. Not a big deal to carry him at all. 

I've always felt Moran might amount to something, but I've been wrong on those types of feeling enough to be able to let it go.

He had that one nice season with MN back in '22. (1.78 FIP and 1.06 WHIP.) Lots of RP'ers have moments like that (40 IP)

He's going to get a look in ST'ing, IMO. He won't be cut before that.

IMO, Cheng is the first DFA guy. Gasper might be next, as Seigler can catch.

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Especially if guys like Sandoval/Crawford start on like extended spring training.  And Tolle and Early will be up at some point in some role.  I agree.  The most important thing about our #7,#8 BP pitchers is that they have options to be sent to and fro worcestor. I-90

I agree, but keeping Duran until or after ST'ing gives us one more pitching option. DFA'ing him lessons the choices.

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree, but keeping Duran until or after ST'ing gives us one more pitching option. DFA'ing him lessons the choices.

Im all about not makig decisions when you dont have to.

[mvp 78]

56 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed, so basically our 7 & 8 guys in the pen are uncertainties at best and DFA material at worst.

Maybe the plan is to use SP'er, but we will likely be adding a pen arm or two to the roster- maybe some on minor league deals.

Could Justin Wilson return?

I already said the pen should be:

Chapman 

Slaten/Whitlock

Tolle/Weissert/Wilson

Crawford/Watson

I think Sandoval gets dealt at some point. Kelly can hang out in AAA. Moran can be DFA'd. 

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Im all about not makig decisions when you dont have to.

Yes, so put off having to decide now. Keep Moran and one more option.

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I've always felt Moran might amount to something, but I've been wrong on those types of feeling enough to be able to let it go.

He had that one nice season with MN back in '22. (1.78 FIP and 1.06 WHIP.) Lots of RP'ers have moments like that (40 IP)

He's going to get a look in ST'ing, IMO. He won't be cut before that.

IMO, Cheng is the first DFA guy. Gasper might be next, as Seigler can catch.

Seigler can catch, but he's mainly an IFer now. Gasper has continued to catch much more than Seigler has. Seigler will probably turn his mitt in at some point. 

[moonslav59]

42 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Are you already including Kutter Crawford in the top 6?

Oviedo, Crawford or Sandoval will be the 5th starter. The other two might be in the pen. That's assuming the top 8 SP'ers are all healthy on opening day- which is unlikely. 

Assuming all healthy. We have to sure 4 RP'ers.

2 from Oviedo, Crawford and Sandoval

Moran & Watson

(AAA: Kelly & Samaniego)

This keeps all options on the table, until we find out more about Moran and Watson.

If we add someone like Wilson, I may start Crawford in AAA, if he's not sharp, or put Sandoval on the IL, so we can keep all options alive, for a while.

Now, if Moran sucks in ST'ing, I'm fine with a DFA. I trust Cora & Brez to know if he looks promising or not.

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Seigler can catch, but he's mainly an IFer now. Gasper has continued to catch much more than Seigler has. Seigler will probably turn his mitt in at some point. 

We also can use Contreras, so I'm fine cutting Gasper. If we end up needing a catcher, we can add Thaiss to the 40.

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We also can use Contreras, so I'm fine cutting Gasper. If we end up needing a catcher, we can add Thaiss to the 40.

Sox have added enough guys with catching experience than I'm not worried what happens with Gasper or Seigler TBH. I think Gasper is a great AAA culture guy, but really wouldn't want him in BOS too long. 

If I had to rank the IFers on the 40 man, I'd have to do it in tiers.

Story/Mayer/Durbin/Conteras

KC/IKF/Casas

Monasterio/Romy/Eaton

Sogard/Seigler/Gasper

Cheng

KC - transitions to OF fulltime

Casas - transitions to DH fulltime

Seigler/Gasper/Cheng are moved off the roster at some point. Maybe Sogard instead of Seigler.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Seigler can catch, but he's mainly an IFer now. Gasper has continued to catch much more than Seigler has. Seigler will probably turn his mitt in at some point. 

Are we sure Siegler is going to make it to the season without having to ride the DFA carousel?  I understand the other guy we got in the deal cuz of the lefty splits and Romy being dinged up.  Other guy might fill in for Romy, but Im not sure I would keep Siegler on 40 man vs say, Masa

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Samaniego has never pitched above AA.

Just a 'real baseball' type of question.  Do RPs need the same level of development as SPs do?

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Are we sure Siegler is going to make it to the season without having to ride the DFA carousel?  I understand the other guy we got in the deal cuz of the lefty splits and Romy being dinged up.  Other guy might fill in for Romy, but Im not sure I would keep Siegler on 40 man vs say, Masa

The post above this states that I think Seigler is likely to be moved off the roster at some point. If he sticks around, Sogard is gone (just because there is now a bunch of other pure UTIL guys that are now better than he is). 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Just a 'real baseball' type of question.  Do RPs need the same level of development as SPs do?

Relievers could be rushed if they have the goods, but Sameniego was coming off the internal brace procedure last season and probably needs at least a pit stop at MLB before he goes straight from AA to MLB. No reason to rush him as he's not a Watson/Whitlock/Slaten Rule 5 guy. He could be good enough to make the roster, but he's not on the 40 man, so other guys are going to get a crack at it first. 

[drewski6]

8 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Just a 'real baseball' type of question.  Do RPs need the same level of development as SPs do?

Most guys come up relievers get pushed out by failed starters who are still better than the RP prospects at RP'ing.  Only rare exceptions (guys who come up relief pitchers, make it to majors and stick as relief pitchers).  But if a guy is coming up as a reliever, most of the time that just means "chump"

In our case, I suspect very much that we'll have SP overflow into BP.  Because we invested in Oviedo and Sandoval and I just cant see the team overlooking that and putting them in AAA or IL just so we can have more actual RP prospects (again, chumps) in the pen (after the big 3 of Chapman, Whitlock (who is a failed SP turned great RP himself) and Slaten).  Think like Andrew Miller couldnt make it as a starter but when he became a reliever he was the best reliever.   This stuff happens all the time.  
 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Sox have added enough guys with catching experience than I'm not worried what happens with Gasper or Seigler TBH. I think Gasper is a great AAA culture guy, but really wouldn't want him in BOS too long. 

If I had to rank the IFers on the 40 man, I'd have to do it in tiers.

Story/Mayer/Durbin/Conteras

KC/IKF/Casas

Monasterio/Romy/Eaton

Sogard/Seigler/Gasper

Cheng

KC - transitions to OF fulltime

Casas - transitions to DH fulltime

Seigler/Gasper/Cheng are moved off the roster at some point. Maybe Sogard instead of Seigler.

Sounds about right. Maybe we keep Seigler or Gapser, so we don't have to DFA someone to add Thaiss in an emergency. One can easily be DFA'd.

Seigler had a nice year (300 PAs) in AAA, last year, but was under .740 at every other level. Was it a fluke? Maybe Brez wants some time to find out. Gasper is more of the known commodity.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Sounds about right. Maybe we keep Seigler or Gapser, so we don't have to DFA someone to add Thaiss in an emergency. One can easily be DFA'd.

Seigler had a nice year (300 PAs) in AAA, last year, but was under .740 at every other level. Was it a fluke? Maybe Brez wants some time to find out. Gasper is more of the known commodity.

Seigler hits the ball very hard. I think pitch recognition is the issue when he got to MLB. Maybe he can adjust, maybe he's just a AAAA masher.