Latest news with #JorgeAlcala
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Red Sox Lose 100 mph Reliever to Rival Club For Nothing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Red Sox bullpen has been one of the best in baseball, with a collective 3.38 ERA ranking Boston relievers fifth overall and third in the American League. Their 1.25 WHIP ranks eighth in MLB, and opposing hitters have managed just a .226 batting average against the Red Sox 'pen, good for third overall. But in June, chief of baseball operations Craig Breslow thought the bullpen needed help, so he swung what at the time seemed like a low-risk, high-upside deal, swapping low-minor league infielder Andy Lugo to the Minnesota Twins for seven-year veteran bullpen power arm Jorge Alcala. WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: Jorge Alcala #71 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after the final out of the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 5, 2025 in Washington, DC.... WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: Jorge Alcala #71 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after the final out of the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. MoreLess than two months later, Alcala is gone to the St. Louis Cardinals and in return the Red Sox received — nothing. The 30-year-old Alcala started off his brief Red Sox career in promising fashion. In his Red Sox debut June 18, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Seattle Mariners, topping out at 99.7 mph with his four-seam fastball. He would later go on to reach 100.3 mph in Red Sox uniform, as he held opponents to just one earned run over his first 11 outings for an 0.87 ERA. It looked like the Red Sox had made a real find, while surrendering only a long-shot prospect who was not ranked in the organization's top 30. And then, for reasons that remain unclear, Alcala began to falter. After a disastrous outing against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday in which Alcala allowed three hits including two home runs for three runs while recording only one out, Breslow and the Red Sox had seen enough. They designated Alcala for assignment. More MLB: Red Sox Whiff on Trade For 36-Year-Old Righty Who Was Drafted 3 Times When a player is DFA'd, he goes on the waiver wire where any other team can simply claim him outright. Prior to 2019, waivers were revocable, meaning that if a team claimed a player, his original team could "revoke" his waivers and try to arrange a trade. But that rule was changed. Waiver claims since then have been "outright," meaning any team that places a player on waivers risks losing that player for nothing. That is exactly what happened with Alcala, who now joins one of the Red Sox' longest-standing interleague rivals. In regular season play, the two teams have each won 14 games. But more importantly, of the 13 World Series in which the Red Sox have appeared since 1903 — when, under the name Boston Americans, they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series ever played — four have been against the Cardinals, more than against any other team. The Red Sox lost in seven games to the Cardinals in 1946 and again in 1967. But in 2004, the Cardinals were the opponent when the Red Sox won their first World Series championship since 1918, in a four-game sweep. The two franchises met again in 2013, when the underdog Red Sox sent the Cardinals home in six games. More MLB: Red Sox' Shocking Offer Revealed For Twins' Joe Ryan At Trade Deadline
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals claim Jorge Alcala
Cardinals claim Jorge Alcala originally appeared on The Sporting News Despite trading away three of their top relief pitchers at the trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals have added an arm they believe can give them depth, via John Denton. That arm is Jorge Alcala, who was recently DFA'd by the Boston Red Sox after a struggling season. This year, Alcala has appeared in 41 games, compiling a 6.64 ERA across 40.2 innings of work. He has exciting stuff, like his ability to throw a fastball above 100 mph, but his walk rate has always held him back. Alcala currently sits with a 12.1% walk rate this season, which is not ideal for relievers. That does not compare to some other relievers in the league, like Emmanuel Clase's 6% walk rate or Josh Hader's 7.6%. Alcala made his MLB debut back in 2019 as a member of the Minnesota Twins. He stayed with the organization until earlier this year when he was flipped to the Boston Red Sox. The hard-throwing righty will earn $1.5 million this season, and if he does well enough, he can be retained for the 2026 season via arbitration. However, that is not the only relief pitcher that the Cardinals have brought in recently. St. Louis was also able to grab Anthony Veneziano from the Miami Marlins a few days ago. Veneziano appeared in 24 games for the Marlins this year, compiling a 4.74 ERA across 21 innings pitched. For now, Veneziano will make relief appearances in Triple-A, with JoJo Romero being the only left-handed relief pitcher on the big league roster after John King's trip to the 15-day IL with an oblique strain.
Reuters
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Red Sox make bullpen move with DFA of RHP Jorge Alcala
August 5 - The Boston Red Sox recalled right-hander Isaiah Campbell from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, while right-hander Jorge Alcala was designated for assignment. Campbell, 27, had one appearance with the Red Sox earlier this season and has made 36 relief appearances over parts of three seasons for the Seattle Mariners (2023) and Red Sox. Alcala, 30, had a 3.31 ERA in 19 relief appearances with the Red Sox this season and was charged with three runs while recording one out Monday against the Kansas City Royals. He is 9-13 with a 4.24 ERA in parts of seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2019-25) and Red Sox. Alcala was traded from the Twins to the Red Sox in June. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boston Red Sox trade for ‘another good fastball in the bullpen'
BOSTON — Right-handed reliever Jorge Alcala, who the Red Sox acquired from the Twins in a trade Wednesday, is here at Fenway Park. He will be available out of the bullpen for Boston's series opener against the Yankees on Friday. Boston sent minor leaguer Andy Lugo to Minnesota. Advertisement 'Having another good fastball in the bullpen will benefit us,' manager Alex Cora said. 'Another breaking ball. Obviously (the bullpen is) a little bit banged up — not only the guys who are active but with (Justin) Slaten down, it makes sense to keep adding good arms.' Alcala has struggled this season with an 8.88 ERA in 24 ⅓ innings after posting a 3.24 ERA in 58 ⅓ innings last year. His average fastball velocity (96.9 mph) ranks in the 88th percentile among major league pitchers. Opponents have gone 8-for-39 (.205 batting average) with a .143 expected batting average against his four-seam fastball, his most often used pitch. Opponents have gone just 3-for-21 (.143) with a .155 expected batting average against his curveball, his third most used pitch. Advertisement His slider — his second most used pitch — has been an issue though. Opponents are 7-for-18 (.389 batting average) with a .295 expected batting average against it. 'I feel with the slider just missing the location of the pitch and I haven't been able to execute that pitch,' Alcala said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. Alcala said the trade took him by surprise and he's looking forward to a new opportunity. 'He's ready to go today,' Cora said. 'We'll see how we use him. But happy that he's with us.' Cora said Alcala has struggled with his command behind in counts. "The velocity's good," Cora said. 'The curveball is a good one. Texted with a few people I know in Minnesota. Great kid. There's a few things — probably lost a little confidence throughout the season. But you saw the year he put (together) last year." Advertisement Cora was asked if this trade was made because setup man Justin Slaten will be out longer than expected. Slaten (right shoulder inflammation) still has not begun throwing. Right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks, who's also on the IL with right hip inflammation, has begun throwing. 'I think it's adding another arm,' Cora said. 'That's important. Yeah, it's gonna take longer than expected (with Slaten). But it was just an opportunity that came up and we like the arm. We like the fastball.' More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox trade pitcher recently designated for assignment
BOSTON — Days after they designated him for assignment, the Red Sox Saturday dealt righthanded pitcher Brian Van Belle to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations. Van Belle, 28, had been promoted from Triple A Worcester to Boston last Monday. On Wednesday, with the club in need of a roster spot following the Wednesday night acquisition of reliever Jorge Alcala from the Minnesota Twins, he was DFAd. Advertisement He had appeared in 12 games — eight of them starts — for the WooSox this season, posting a 2.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.06 with 41 strikeouts in 51 innings of work. Van Belle was signed by the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami in 2020, he was 37-19 with a 4.41 ERA over the course of 115 minor league appearances. He's a native of Fort Lauderdale. Though not part of the team's 40-man roster at the time, Van Belle got into some major league spring training games back in March. More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
