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New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Craig Breslow isn't shy about dealing Red Sox top prospects. Here's who may be next
MINNEAPOLIS – With a deep prospect pool and a desire to hold onto their young big-league core, the Boston Red Sox may opt to trade from their farm system this week. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has shown in the past he's willing to do so. On the final day of Winter Meetings, Breslow swung the Garrett Crochet trade, sending the club's two most recent first-rounders at the time in catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery, both top 100 prospects, to Chicago as part of a four-player package for Crochet. It marked a deal that's shaped their 2025 season in many ways. Advertisement That same December day, he sent one of Boston's top-20 pitching prospects, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, to the Yankees in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, who at the time was a little known rookie. Narváez has had a breakout season and become Boston's starter behind the plate. At the deadline last summer, Breslow traded multiple Rule 5 eligible players, including 2020 first-rounder infielder Nick Yorke. Even with Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell graduating from prospect status, the Red Sox system is still viewed by many evaluators as one of the league's strongest. Meanwhile, Boston's trade-deadline strategy may have shifted in recent days. Though the club has a surplus of young, big-league outfielders, there's some debate whether the team is still willing to trade from that group, particularly now that infielder Mayer's wrist injury has forced outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela to second base. That has made Jarren Duran, whose name has been popular in trade rumors, even more valuable to the Red Sox, with one National League evaluator suggesting an offseason trade of Duran may be more likely. The Red Sox had been rolling with wins in three of their last four games before a walk-off, 5-4 loss to the Twins on Monday in a rain-delayed game. What they acquire at the deadline remains to be seen, but they are likely to trade from their minor-league pool between now and Thursday at 6 p.m. Here's a look at who might in the mix: Tolle, Boston's second-round pick in 2024, has emerged as the best arm in the system, and owns a 1.96 ERA in five games, four starts, since being promoted to Double A earlier this year. In High A, he had posted a 3.62 ERA across 11 starts. A big, physical lefty, Tolle is the type of pitcher the Red Sox would love to further develop and have in their rotation for years to come. But Breslow has noted the desire to make the postseason this year. If trading Tolle can help get the Red Sox a proven, big-league controllable starter, it's something they'd have to consider, but likely the only situation in which they'd consider trading him. Advertisement Likelihood: low If the Red Sox are hesitant to trade from their group of big league outfielders, Garcia has little pathway to the majors. But as the No. 46 prospect in baseball per The Athletic's Keith Law, he's likely to garner significant interest from teams. The 22-year-old has an OPS close to .900 in roughly 50 games since being promoted to Triple A. He may be Boston's biggest trade chip for any team seeking a close-to-big-league ready position player. Likelihood: high Campbell could use more of a chance to prove himself after being demoted to Triple A in June, especially after signing a team-friendly eight-year, $60 million deal this spring. The Red Sox may still give him that chance. However, it was telling that they decided not to call him back up from Triple A when Mayer went on the injury list. Campbell wouldn't be traded easily, but as part of a package to a team looking for young, big-league ready position players, Campbell could fit. Likelihood: medium Law's No. 9 overall prospect, Arias is the highest Red Sox player in his current rankings. He has immense potential but is at least two or three years away from the majors. For a rebuilding team looking to sell, Arias would be a key trade piece. The 19-year-old is hitting .280 with a .714 OPS in 81 games between Single A and High A. Again, trading him wouldn't be easy, but with Mayer expected to be the shortstop of the future, the Red Sox could use Arias now to headline a package for a controllable starter. Likelihood: medium Early is another promising young starter in the system, drafted in the fifth round in 2023. After posting a 2.51 ERA in 15 games, 12 starts, with a 32 percent strikeout rate, he was promoted to Triple A this week. If the Red Sox don't want to budge on Tolle, there's likely to be plenty of interest in Early. Likelihood: medium Similar to Early, Sandlin was promoted to Triple A this week after posting a 3.61 ERA in 17 games, 13 starts, with a 25 percent strikeout rate at Double A. The caveat here, though, is that Sandlin is Rule 5 eligible this offseason, meaning he would have to be added to the 40-man roster or be subject to the Rule 5 Draft. He's the type of pitcher the Red Sox are likely to add to the roster for pitching depth – if they don't trade him this week. Advertisement Likelihood: medium Though the Red Sox have needed first base help much of the season since Triston Casas' injury, they've yet to promote Jordan, which suggests trading him is on the table. That's especially the case since he's Rule 5 eligible this winter. Jordan is known for his raw power, but his offense dropped off a bit when promoted to Triple A earlier this year. He had posted a .928 OPS in 44 games in Double A but has an .808 OPS through 43 games in a very hitter friendly Polar Park at Triple A. Likelihood: high As a Rule 5 eligible outfielder, Bleis also seems likely to be traded. Injuries have interrupted his career at multiple points, but he once was a top 5 player in the system. He's still just 21 and in High A, but could be part of a big package for a team looking to take a flier on a player with equal parts risk and potential. Likelihood: high (Top photo of Kristian Campbell: Eric Canha /Imagn Images)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox hurt by another weird play at plate: ‘Stuff I've never seen in my life,' Alex Cora says
PHILADELPHIA — The Red Sox had less than a day to stew on a bizarre catcher's interference call that ended Monday's game against the Phillies in walk-off fashion. Then, almost instantly the next time they took the field, something even stranger happened. In the first inning Tuesday, Carlos Narváez — who had his glove clipped by Edmundo Sosa on the winning play Monday night — was ruled for another catcher's interference, this time on an attempted straight steal of home by Bryce Harper. With runners on second and third, two outs and Brandon Marsh batting, Harper broke toward home for a straight steal attempt. He was awarded the base (and a run) on a very confusing play. It was ruled that Narváez interfered with Harper's path home and the catcher — not pitcher Richard Fitts — was charged with an automatic balk. A crew chief review confirmed the ruling. 'In the beginning, we thought he called blocking the plate. After that, they got together and explained me what happened,' said manager Alex Cora. 'Just weird, man. Two nights in a row, stuff I've never seen in my life, to be honest with you. Speaking to a pool reporter, crew chief Quinn Wolcott explained that home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez made the call even with Narváez being in front of home plate in the direction of the mound. Though Marsh stepped out of the box to let Harper try to steal, Fitts' 0-1 offering was still considered a pitch and therefore, Narváez technically interfered with Marsh's ability to hit it. "He had Narváez stepping on or above the plate before the pitch was received, essentially...," Wolcott said. "I would say that that constitutes a violation, because the purpose of the rule is to protect the hitter striking at the pitch, right? So he can't invade the hitter's space, either. Even if he were to come around the plate, it would still be a violation." 'No reference in the rule about the hitter maintaining a hitter stance or anything like that,' Wolcott added. 'It's pretty cut-and-dried that the catcher just can't go that far forward before he receives the pitch.' Narváez was charged with an error that gave Marsh first base and a catcher balk that allowed Harper to advance home and Castellanos to take first. The catcher argued to no avail. 'I just went up,' Narváez said. 'Maybe I went up a little early. I just wanted to catch the ball and tag. I saw the video. I wasn't over the plate or something. 'I didn't know that rule... I was arguing with him because I knew I wasn't covering the plate. Then he told me that. First time I've seen that play.' Narváez, who thought it would be a bang-bang play at the plate had he not been charged with interference, credited Harper for having high baseball IQ and taking advantage of the struggling Fitts going to the windup with men on. Fitts also took blame. 'I saw him out of the corner of my eye, kinda leaning towards it,' Fitts said. 'As soon as I see him going, I was just making sure I didn't balk. I have enough baseball knowledge to be able to react like that and I didn't react as fast as I should have.' Narváez said if a similar play were to happen again, he'd try to remember quickly that he had to stay in a normal catching stance. 'Probably stay back behind home plate,' he said. 'Probably don't get up, just stay low, catch it and tag. The only thing I think I did wrong, which I didn't know, is step up and try to get it. Next time, if that happens, I'll just stay low.' The confusing sequence wasn't the difference in the game, though, as Phillies lefty Cristopher Sánchez struck out 12 Red Sox in a complete game win and the Phils scored four early runs off Fitts en route to a 4-1 win. Two came on long homers by Max Kepler and Kyle Schwarber. 'I hate it,' Fitts said of his outing. 'I feel like I let everybody down tonight, set the tone. That play in the first inning gives them the momentum and their guys just keep rolling. I don't feel anything good about tonight.' The most memorable moment, though, came in another turn of events that had Boston's rookie catcher shaking his head in disbelief. 'That was my thought after this: 'Man, what is going on?'...,' Narváez said. 'Two weird plays in two straight nights. It's not a fun spot to be.' More Red Sox coverage Fenway Insider Live: Submit questions for MassLive's Sean McAdam Why Alex Cora isn't worried about Red Sox offense striking out 28 times in two games Red Sox reactions: Offense has 28 Ks in last two games, weird play contributes to another loss Rafael Devers makes first base debut for Giants on Tuesday, five weeks after Red Sox traded him Red Sox sitting three key players — including Jarren Duran — vs. Phillies lefty Tuesday night Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox reactions: Carlos Narváez the hero in dramatic, back-and-forth win catalyzed by shocking grand slam
PHILADELPHIA — Instant reactions as the Red Sox (55-49) fight and claw to a landmark, sweep-avoiding 9-8 victory in a back-and-forth, dramatic game in which Carlos Narváez won it with a two-run homer in the top of the 11th inning: 1) In what was perhaps Boston's most dramatic game of the season, the Red Sox erased a 5-0 deficit (after Lucas Giolito gave up four home runs) with a six-run, two-out fifth-inning rally that was capped off by Romy Gonzalez's grand slam off Jesús Luzardo. That lead lasted until the eighth, when Aroldis Chapman allowed just his third homer of the year as J.T. Realmuto tied it with a solo shot. The teams then traded runs in the 10th as Greg Weissert blew a save chance by allowing an RBI single to Kyle Schwarber. It was fitting, then, that Narváez — the center of two bizarre catcher's interference plays in the first two games of the series — was the hero. In the 11th, Narváez launched a two-run, go-ahead homer off reliever Seth Johnson that barely cleared the left field wall and won the game. The Red Sox, after losing their first seven chances, finally won an extra-inning road game. It's the kind of win that can propel a team. Suddenly, a 2-4 road trip to Chicago and Philadelphia feels much better than it was. 2) Long before extras, Gonzalez looked like he'd be the hero when he delivered perhaps the biggest swing of Boston's season to that point. After falling behind by five runs, Boston clawed out of the hole thanks to Luzardo's wildness — and the first grand slam of Gonzalez's career. Working with a five-run lead and two outs in the fifth, Luzardo completely lost the strike zone, walking Marcelo Mayer to load the bases, then Rob Refsnyder and Jarren Duran to force in two runs. In what was suddenly a 5-2 game, Luzardo left an 88 mph changeup over the plate and Gonzalez didn't miss it. The slam went 415 feet at an exit velocity of 107.5 mph. 3) Gonzalez said he was 'tremendously locked in' during a 13-game stretch from June 22-July 9 in which he hit .409 with four homers, five doubles, two triples and a 1.315 OPS in 49 plate appearances. But he had cooled off significantly in recent days. The lefty-masher, after grounding out in his first two plate appearances, was in an 0-for-20 rut with eight strikeouts. It was the first grand slam of Gonzalez's career and his four RBIs tied a career-high. 4) Alex Cora managed quite aggressively after the Sox took the lead. That strategy included employing Aroldis Chapman before the eighth inning for the first time all year. Once Trea Turner hit a two-out double off Jordan Hicks in the seventh, Cora immediately went to Chapman to face fellow lefty Kyle Schwarber. He got him to pop out to end the threat. Chapman, attempting to record four outs for the first time, almost got there without faltering. But with two outs in the eighth, Realmuto took him deep to straightaway center to tie the game, 6-6. It was just the third homer the All-Star lefty has surrendered all season — and his first since May 7. Chapman's 1-⅓ inning outing was his longest of the year. Garrett Whitlock handled the ninth before Greg Weissert came in for the 10th and blew a save chance when Schwarber matched Trevor Story's RBI double with a run-scoring single that tied it, 7-7. 5) Giolito, riding an elite seven-start stretch, took a major step back before all the dramatics. Four Phillies — Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the first inning, then Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott later on — tagged him for homers to open up the big lead. Giolito had only given up a quartet of homers once before, pitching for the White Sox against the Twins on July 25, 2019. Giolito has done a good job making sure bad starts don't bleed into his next outings and will look to continue that trend early next week in Minnesota. 6) Luzardo was untouchable before the fifth. He retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced (with six strikeouts) and had a no-hitter through four innings before Masataka Yoshida led off the fifth with a double. The avalanche came quickly for the left-hander, who departed having walked five batters. 7) Mayer, after coming around to score on Gonzalez's slam, left the game with 'right wrist discomfort,' according to the team. He was replaced at third base by Abraham Toro. A downcast Mayer, wearing a brace on his right wrist after the game, said he expects to have an MRI and is hopeful the injury is not a serious one. 8) Some unheralded relievers helped the Red Sox win, too. Making his first appearance of the second half — and first in 10 days, veteran fireman Justin Wilson had his longest (and potentially best) outing of the season. Covering two innings for the first time all year, Wilson faced the minimum six batters in relief of Giolito, pitching a 1-2-3 fifth before getting a double play to erase a leadoff single in the sixth. Wilson needed just 24 pitches. Weissert, despite the blown save, deserves some credit for striking out Harper and then getting out of the 10th on a caught stealing of pinch-runner Weston Wilson. It was ultimately Brennan Bernardino on the mound when the game ended after Jorge Alcala allowed an RBI single to Otto Kemp that made it a one-run game again. Bernardino's first career save — which was of the one-out variety — came when he struck out Max Kepler looking to end the game. 9) The Sox were out-hit significantly in the win, 13-7. BETTING: The Red Sox are +120 to make the playoffs over on DraftKings. If you're interested in learning more about how to bet on sports, take a look at our Massachusetts sports betting guide. 10) The Red Sox have Thursday off before beginning a key home series (and a very quick homestand) Friday night against the Dodgers. Here's the schedule (plus pitching probables): Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET — RHP Emmet Sheehan (1-1, 4.41 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (6-4, 3.23 ERA) Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET — LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 3.27 ERA) vs. LHP Garrett Crochet (11-4, 2.19 ERA) Sunday, 1:35 p.m. ET — RHP Dustin May (6-6, 4.73 ERA) vs. RHP Walker Buehler (6-6, 5.72 ERA) More Red Sox coverage Former Red Sox superstar might miss return to Boston Red Sox righty said he'd be the janitor to stay in MLB; now he's a 'dude out of the bullpen' again Red Sox rookie finds redemption with game-winning HR after 'crazy' calls ruined two days Red Sox get 'hero moment' from lefty-masher, grind out 'signature win' after trailing by 5 Marcelo Mayer in wrist brace after leaving big Red Sox win, hopes to 'get back on the field soon' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox rookie finds redemption with game-winning HR after ‘crazy' calls ruined two days
PHILADELPHIA — Carlos Narváez spent the first few minutes after back-to-back Red Sox losses explaining his side of two separate bizarre calls on plays at the plate on Monday and Tuesday. So on Wednesday, when a pack of reporters approached his locker after he launched a game-winning two-run homer in one of Boston's most dramatic wins of the season, he couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. 'It's way better talking right now after this game,' Narváez laughed. A player who could have been rightly characterized as a goat in the first two games of the series emerged as the savior in Wednesday's 9-8 win, when he launched a two-run, go-ahead homer off Phillies reliever Seth Johnson in the top of the 11th. The Red Sox, coming back from an early 5-0 deficit, escaped Philadelphia with a win, avoiding a sweep against one of the National League's better teams. Romy Gonzalez's grand slam was dubbed the 'hero moment' in what Gonzalez called a 'signature win.' But Narváez's homer, which barely cleared the left-field wall at Citizens Bank Park, was the difference. 'I'm sure it's a huge moment for him,' said Gonzalez. 'The boys were fired up for him.' Monday's series opener ended on sudden terms when Edmundo Sosa's swing clipped Narváez's glove with the bases loaded in extra innings and the play was ruled a catcher's interference that handed Philadelphia a walk-off win. Tuesday's sequence, in which Narváez was charged with another interference (and a balk) after he stepped too far in front of home plate with Bryce Harper racing toward a straight steal of home. Narváez had spent much of the last two nights confused — and in sheer disbelief. He shifted to elation before boarding the team flight back to Boston. 'Everything that happened in the first two days was crazy,' he said. 'Like I said yesterday, you've got to move forward. It's 162 games. It's a long season. We're not going to win every game and we're going to lose crazy ways like we did. 'We've got two months left and a lot of fun baseball coming. We've got to keep doing it.' Coincidentally, Narváez's blast off Johnson was reviewed, just like the two interference plays were. The umpiring crew ruled that the 100.3 mph, 370-foot blast that left the ballpark in a hurry... actually left it. 'He works hard and (expletive) happens in this game, right? He put good at-bats today, shooting the ball the other way for the double and then got on top of a fastball with two strikes,' Cora said. 'He's having a great season and we trust him.' Narváez's late heroics were set up by a back-and-forth sequence in the late innings. After Gonzalez's grand slam put the Sox up by a run in the fifth, the usually unflappable Aroldis Chapman was tagged for his first homer since May 7 when J.T. Realmuto tied it in the eighth. Trevor Story and Kyle Schwarber exchanged RBI hits in the 10th, with Greg Weissert unable to close out the game for the Red Sox. Johnson took the loss, in just his seventh big league appearance, as the Red Sox won their first extra-inning road game of 2025 — in their eighth try. 'Narvi had a hell of a game,' said starter Lucas Giolito. 'We've had some troubles in extra innings this year, so for us to score a run, and then they tie it up, we kept on fighting. Narvi with a huge home run, that was massive for us' Two nights after the Phillies stole a win — and a night after Harper stole a run — manager Alex Cora said his team stole the finale. Narváez was center stage in the heist. 'Baseball's a crazy game,' Gonzalez said. 'Obviously, we saw it the previous two nights with the obstruction call and the stolen base at home plate by Bryce. This game's crazy. The boys put together some great at-bats. We were grinding it out. It was a great, great win tonight.' BETTING: The Red Sox regular season wins line is set at 84.5 on FanDuel. Our comprehensive list of the best sportsbook promos will help you determine which sportsbook to use. More Red Sox coverage Former Red Sox superstar might miss return to Boston Red Sox righty said he'd be the janitor to stay in MLB; now he's a 'dude out of the bullpen' again Red Sox get 'hero moment' from lefty-masher, grind out 'signature win' after trailing by 5 Marcelo Mayer in wrist brace after leaving big Red Sox win, hopes to 'get back on the field soon' Red Sox reactions: Carlos Narváez the hero in dramatic, back-and-forth win catalyzed by shocking grand slam Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox turn clocks back on Phillies with improbable comeback
The post Red Sox turn clocks back on Phillies with improbable comeback appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Boston Red Sox are playing in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, making interleave series like this one against the Philadelphia Phillies extra important in their chase for a playoff spot. Coming into Wednesday night, Alex Cora and company were looking to salvage the series against one of the top teams in the National League after losing the first two games. The Red Sox were on the ropes once again on Wednesday night, as the powerful Phillies lineup ripped off four home runs in the first four innings to take a commanding 5-0 lead. However, the Red Sox continued to battle and came all the way back, eventually getting a dramatic 9-8 win in 11 innings thanks to a two-run homer by Carlos Narváez in the top of the frame. This was a stunning loss for the Phillies, who lost a game where they hit five home runs for the first time since June 10, 2019 according to Todd Zolecki of All of the stars were out early for Philadelphia, which got big swings from Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper to jump out to the big early lead. However, after Boston chipped in a few runs to cut the deficit down, Romy González swung the game in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, González crushed a grand slam off of Jesus Luzardo to give Boston a temporary 6-5 lead. J.T. Realmuto hit the fifth home run of the game for Philly to tie things up and force extra innings, but the Red Sox came through in the clutch to avoid the sweep. Now, Boston is just six games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East and is hanging onto the final wild card spot in the American League. On the Philadelphia side, Rob Thomson's club is still firmly in the playoff picture in the National League but has struggled to find some of the same consistency that it did earlier in the season. After missing out on this opportunity to do so, the Phils have not won three games in a row in over a month since June 18-20, per Zolecki. If they want to make noise in the postseason, that will have to change quickly. Related: Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer gives initial update on concerning wrist injury Related: Red Sox make baffling MLB history in Phillies win
