But the Red Sox can’t play both.
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It’s a good bet Cherington will move on to one of the openings in baseball – Philadelphia, Milwaukee, LA Angels, possibly Seattle. Justin Masterson was released this week after spending time on the disabled list and in triple-A. Instead, he landed innings-laden Rick Porcello from Dombrowski’s Tigers for four-years and $82 million.
“It’s been an awkward week to say the least”, interim manager Torey Lovullo said.
On Tuesday night, the Red Sox issued a statement announcing that former Detroit Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski, relieved of his duties in Motown earlier this month, would become the president of baseball operations effective immediately.
Avila said he learned so much in his 24 years with Dombrowski, who likely will hold true to his team-building beliefs – an ace, power in the middle of the order and a strong bullpen, which he never had in Detroit.
At one point, in the 2013 season, ESPN’s Grantland estimated that Dombrowski had come out on top on 11 of his 15 deals.
An already terrible August for the Tigers got worse. My own suspicions from speaking with various parties in and around the Tigers is that the Ilitches thought that Dombrowski had made back-channel overtures to potential suitors for when his contract ended after the season. Perhaps his best trade came in 2007, when he traded Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller (then-prospects) to the Marlins for Miguel Cabrera. The Blue Jays, Mariners and other teams had shown interest, but Dombrowski chose to join the Red Sox after being given full authority over baseball decision-making.
This is something that should excite Red Sox fans everywhere.
Sure enough, Ramirez has cost the Red Sox 17 runs, according to FanGraphs.com, tied with San Francisco Giants outfielder Angel Pagan for the most of any player in the majors entering play last night. More recently, Victor Martinez, Porcello, Yoenis Cespedes, and Jose Iglesias have switched between the Red Sox and the Tigers.
“No, I mean, (Dombrowski) has been in the league for a long time, he knows what everybody can do”, said Ramirez, standing after batting practice in the tunnel that links the Red Sox’ dugout with the clubhouse. You look at the ballclub, it’s a situation where there’s a lot of great young talent breaking in at the Major League level at this time.
In Boston, he’s got plenty of minor-league talent, and he’s also got cash. “It’s a great opportunity”.
But will Ramirez still be with the Red Sox? “We have a history of success over the past 14 years, characterized by a certain boldness of objective”. “That’s very much alive here today”. “But Henry also acknowledged that one of the “central aspects” of the first extended sitdown meeting with Dombrowski – at the owners” meetings in Chicago last Thursday – was whether their philosophies would fit.
With a new president and general manager, the Red Sox are looking towards the future.
Pitching continues to be an issue for the team.
Farrell has a World Series title to his name, but Boston was 121-155 since then before his announcement last Friday. Next year’s roster will certainly be young. Meanwhile, David Ortiz is all but guaranteed to return next season after earning his player option, so DH is out of the question.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval led off the inning with a double to deep center field, and moved over to third base when right fielder Rusney Castillo smacked a two-out single to left field. There’s also infielder Josh Rutledge who was acquired in the Shane Victorino trade this season and Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada coming up through the farm system. When he sees a hole – and a last-place team is going to have a few – he’s going to throw prospects and/or money to make it go away. In Boston it can only be taken as a sign of utter incompetence.
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Jackson Haskins is fifteen years old and is a rising sophomore at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, NY. Barnes has gone 3-2 with a 5.64 ERA as a reliever for Boston this season.
