Weekly Notes: Trade deadline madness ripples through affiliates

This week's minor league notes:

• It's surprising that, in what some are calling the most active trade deadline in Red Sox history, there were not an exorbitant amount of additions to the minor league system. That does not mean, however, the effect of the trades were not felt throughout almost every level of the organization. For a comprehensive look at all the deals and what they mean check out this breakdown from SoxProspects.com's Chris Hatfield. 

• The newsworthy addition to the system was 21-year-old Venezuelan left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (Pictured), who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the Andrew Miller trade. Despite having an up-and-down season -- he had a 4.79 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 16 starts for Double-A Bowie -- Rodriguez was highly regarded within the industry and was consistently ranked as the Orioles #3 prospect.

• In a scouting report on ESPNBoston.com, SoxProspects.com's Ian Cundall writes that Rodriguez projects as a back-end of the rotation starter. Cundall writes that Rodriguez has a smooth, repeatable delivery and sits in the low-90's with his fastball. He needs to improve on his consistency and command of his secondary pitches, a slider and curveball, Cundall writes. Rodriguez impressed in his first start in the Red Sox organization; he allowed only one run and struck out seven batters in 5 1/3 innings for Double-A Portland. 

• Right-hander Corey Litrell was dealt to St. Louis in the John Lackey trade. Litrell likely profiles as a middle reliever, and his departure could be a good thing for the organization, according to Cundall. He writes that the vacancy created from the trade will help the glut of Class A arms.  

• The guys discuss all the angles from the deadline on the SoxProspects.com podcast, appropriately titled "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Trade Deadline."

• As a result of the deals, the Red Sox made a flurry of internal moves. Top prospect Mookie Betts was promoted to Boston one day after the deadline. In his final game in Triple-A, Betts hit a walk-off two-run homer. Right-handed pitcher Alex Wilson was also promoted to Boston. Catcher Dan Butler was also called up to Boston this week.  

• Top pitching prospect Henry Owens (Pictured) was promoted from Double-A Portland to Pawtucket. Owens, 22, had nothing left to prove in the Eastern League where he dominated opposing lineups. In 20 starts he's posted a 2.60 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 121 innings pitched. He's also struck out 126 batters and walked 47 batters. SoxProspects.com's Chaz Fiorino broke down a recent start of Owens's in The Write-Up. 

• Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo made his big league debut Friday filling one of the rotation spots vacated during the deadline. Ranaudo, 24, defeated the New York Yankees 4-3. He allowed two runs over six innings striking out four on his way to his first Major League win. Nick Carfardo from the Boston Globe talked to the New Jersey-native about his start including what is was like to have Derek Jeter, his boyhood hero, be his first big league strikeout. 

• Sam Travis, one of the Sox's top picks in the 2014 draft, earned a promotion to Low A Greenville this week. Travis, 20, produced a .330/.364/.448 line in short-season Lowell. 

• The Players of the Week for the week of July 21 to July 27 were Pawtucket first baseman Travis Shaw and Portland left-hander Brian Johnson.  Shaw had nine hits and four doubles in five games, and Johnson struck out 12 and yielded only one hit in his lone start, which lasted seven innings. 

Photo Credit: Eduardo Rodriguez by MLB.com and Henry Owens by the Portland Press Herald. 

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