Crimson Sox Notes: Anthony, Yoshida, Bregman
There was a variety of extension hypothesis surrounding Crimson Sox outfielder Roman Anthony however he tells Rob Bradford of WEEI that no actual progress has been made on that entrance. “There hasn’t even been a single peep about it since I’ve been right here,” Anthony stated. He additionally stated “either side have dealt with that properly by way of simply letting me go and play.”
The Sox got here into the 12 months with three prime prospects in Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell. There have been extension rumors surrounding all three within the winter and Campbell finally did put pen to paper, signing an eight-year, $60MM deal in early April.
A deal for Anthony may be a bit trickier than one for Campbell, as he’s two years youthful and was extra of a highly-touted prospect on his means up the ladder. Anthony is presently solely 21 years previous. If he stays up within the minor leagues for good, he’s slated at no cost company after the 2031 season, which might be his age-27 marketing campaign.
That offers him an amazing quantity of incomes energy down the road, if he is ready to develop as hoped. He has solely hit .219/.345/.356 up to now, however in a tiny pattern of 87 plate appearances. If the Sox place confidence in his means to hit his ceiling, they are going to be motivated to lock him down as quickly as attainable. In any other case, his incomes energy will solely improve as he will get extra established and nearer to arbitration and free company.
Although from the angle of Anthony and his representatives, they absolutely see a path to a wholesome free agent market a couple of years down the road and would want sturdy motivation to surrender on that. For now, based mostly on Anthony’s feedback, it appears he’s primarily targeted on his gameplay. Maybe there might be extra of a deal with contract talks within the offseason.
Elsewhere in information surrounding the Crimson Sox, Masataka Yoshida began a rehab task yesterday as he appears to lastly return from ongoing shoulder issues. A part of that rehab seems to be some first base drills, although supervisor Álex Cora downplayed the importance of that work.
Per Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Cora framed the work as principally Yoshida getting ready for an emergency. “I don’t anticipate him beginning at first base,” stated Cora, “but when one thing loopy occurs, no less than he can catch throws and knock down a floor ball.”
Yoshida has solely performed the outfield in his profession, each in North America and in Japan. Nevertheless, the Sox presently have a reasonably crowded combine on the grass consisting of Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Rob Refsnyder. In the meantime, the membership has been making an attempt all kinds of issues at first base because the Triston Casas harm. Rafael Devers didn’t need to play there, which led to his commerce to San Francisco. Utility gamers Abraham Toro and Romy González have been splitting the time at first these days.
That offers some logic to having Yoshida get some work there. It additionally aligns together with his harm, as he has largely been in a position to hit this 12 months, however throwing has been the issue. With Devers having been within the designated hitter spot for a lot of the 12 months, the lack to throw basically made Yoshida unrosterable. Now that Devers is gone and Yoshida is getting wholesome, he’s not fairly as blocked from enjoying time as earlier than, however including first base to his repertoire nonetheless is sensible.
Talking of roster shuffling, third baseman Alex Bregman may very well be again from the injured listing quickly. Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Cora hopes Bregman can return within the membership’s homestand previous to the All-Star break, which matches from this Monday to subsequent Sunday. Mayer has largely been overlaying that spot just lately, so he may get moved to second base when Bregman returns. Campbell has been optioned to the minors, leaving David Hamilton on the keystone most nights. Hamilton is hitting simply .174/.215/.278 this 12 months, so he ought to get bumped to the bench or the minors.
Bregman was having an excellent season earlier than a quad pressure despatched him to the IL, having hit .299/.385/.553 for a wRC+ of 158. That made him very more likely to set off his opt-out on the finish of this season and return to free company. If he can decide up the place he left off, he would supply an enormous increase to the Boston lineup and in addition get again on observe for triggering that decide out.
His contract scenario has led to current hypothesis in two totally different instructions. Along with his looming potential return to free company, there was a little bit of smoke on the commerce entrance, whereas it additionally appears attainable that the Sox may use a few of the cash saved within the Devers commerce to lock up Bregman for the long run. They’re presently 44-45 and a pair of.5 video games again of a playoff spot.
Photograph courtesy of Joe Nicholson, Imagn Photos