Podcast Ep. #346: Closing 2024 with a Buehler Signing

Ian and Chris wrap up 2024 with a look at the latest Red Sox moves, including the Walker Buehler signing and some minor trades from the back of the 40-man roster. Plus, takes from Craig Breslow's media availability and a slew of your emails!

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Fall/Winter Roundup: Newly acquired Narvaez performs well in playoffs

Three players saw action this past week for their respective winter league clubs. The playoffs are in full swing for the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, while the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League is getting toward the end of the regular season. 

 

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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)

Eduardo Rivera (pictured) made one start this past week and he made it a good one. The southpaw tossed 4 1/2 innings while allowing just one unearned run. He only gave up two hits and two walks while punching out five. He now has a very impressive 1.09 ERA across 24 2/3 innings this winter with 41 strikeouts and just six walks. Juan Montero got into two games but didn't start either. He pinch-hit in one game, going 0 for 1, and then pinch-ran in another and came around to score a run. He is 4 for 14 in six games this winter. 

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Help Wanted: Staff Writer & Social Media Specialist

We are opening two new positions at SoxProspects.com! For both of these positions, we're seeking a commitment through the end of 2025, but ideally, we’re looking for someone who will want to stick around with us long term if there’s a mutual fit. Here are the details of the positions:

Staff Writer: The Staff Writer will write our daily Cup of Coffee column once or twice per week, author our Weekly Notes column at least once per month, and otherwise chip in to help on SoxProspects News as needed. We also usually ask for some extra help during draft week, which is happening in the July 13-15 time range in 2025. The time commitment for this position will be roughly 2 hours per week during the season, with significantly less in the off-season.

Social Media Specialist: The SMS will join our existing social media team helping to assist with our Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok feeds, both during the day and in the evening during games. The overall time commitment will vary. The primary task for this position will be to help post to our social media accounts in real-time during Red Sox affiliate games in the evenings, so an ideal candidate will be someone who can regularly – but not necessarily every single day – follow games and post noteworthy content. We also are all ears on ideas for new and interesting content to add to our social media accounts!

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Fall/Winter Roundup: Playoffs begin in Venezuela

After a busy week during the Winter Meetings, things slowed abruptly toward the holidays. No Red Sox prospects saw game action during the week of December 16-22. The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League saw its regular season end on the 21st, and the playoffs started on the 22nd. Bryan Mata and Carlos Narvaez saw their teams qualify for the playoffs, but neither player is guaranteed to play. Magallanes is looking for a permit to extend Mata's time with the club, while Narvaez has not played since the Red Sox acquired him on December 11. In Puerto Rico, the regular season is scheduled to end on January 4, with the playoffs running from January 5-15. 

Our Fall & Winter Leagues page updates throughout the offseason with statistics and rosters for the Red Sox prospects appearing in these leagues. 

Photo Credit: Bryan Mata by Kelly O'Connor

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Podcast Ep# 345: Patrick Sandoval signs and answering your questions

Ian is joined by SoxProspects Founder and Editor in Chief Mike Andrews this week to talk about the latest happenings with major league free agency, including the Red Sox signing of Patrick Sandoval. After that they discuss the first batch of non roster invitees to spring training and the changes to the SoxProspects rankings as a result of the recent trades. To wrap up the show, they answer a bunch of questions from Twitter/X, including what the future holds for Marcelo Mayer and Miguel Bleis, what would go into a Roman Anthony extension and who are their breakout prospects for 2025. Thank you as always for listening and Happy Holidays from all of us at SoxProspects!

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Fall/Winter Roundup: Valdez traded to Pirates; Rivera shines again for Santurce

The annual Winter Meetings brought about some change within the Red Sox organization. In addition to acquiring Garrett Crochet from the White Sox for four prospects, Boston brought in a pitcher (via the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft) and a catcher (via a trade with the Yankees) who are currently playing winter ball in Puerto Rico and Venezuela, respectively. This update covers all the action in the Caribbean from December 9-15. Please also visit our SoxProspects.com Fall/Winter page, updated daily.

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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico)

Darvin Garcia, acquired from the Pirates in the minor-league phase of last week's Rule 5 Draft, has spent his winter with Carolina. In nine relief appearances for the Gigantes, the 25-year-old righty out of the Dominican Republic has posted a 6.97 ERA and 1.74 WHIP with 14 strikeouts to six walks over 10 1/3 innings. Eduardo Rivera turned in another solid start for Santurce on Saturday, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, one walk, and 11 strikeouts over five innings to lower his ERA on the season to 1.09. Brian Van Belle recorded his first hold of the winter on Wednesday by firing two scoreless frames of relief in Caguas' 3-1 win over Mayaguez. Mickey Gasper has not appeared in a game for Caguas since being placed on the inactive list on December 4. Juan Montero appeared in two games for Ponce, going 1 for 5 with one run scored and one walk.

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Podcast Ep #344: Garrett Crochet and a Busy Rule 5 Day

The Red Sox finally made their big move, dealing four of their top 20 prospects for White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet. Ian and Chris broke down the deal, looking at the players going both ways and whether either team came out on top. Plus, Elmer Rodriguez was dealt for Carlos Narvaez and, oh yeah, the Rule 5 Draft happened, with one Sox farmhand getting picked in the MLB phase while the team came out even in the minor league phase, with four new players replacing four more players who will be moving on to other teams.

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Trade Analysis: Scouting the prospects dealt for Garrett Crochet

On Wednesday afternoon, the Red Sox finally secured the high-end starting pitcher they have been after for years, acquiring 25-year-old left-handed starter Garrett Crochet from the White Sox for a package of four prospects: catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez. Crochet is coming off an All-Star season during which he had a 3.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 146 innings with 209 strikeouts to 33 walks. He is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make roughly $2.9 million next year in his second year of arbitration. The 146 innings was more than he had thrown in his prior three MLB seasons combined, which were marked by a variety of injuries including Tommy John surgery in 2022 and shoulder inflammation in 2023, and during which he worked out of the bullpen. Still, his stuff, when healthy, is electric, and he finally showed what he is capable of in a starter's role in 2024. 

To acquire Crochet, the Red Sox gave up quite the trade package, sending four prospects in their (very strong) top 20 as ranked here by SoxProspects. Here is a look at the former Red Sox farmhands changing the color of their hosiery today: 

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Fall/Winter Roundup: Rivera shines for Santurce

While the free agent machinations dominated baseball news over the weekend, the Caribbean Winter Leagues continued their play. They reached the All-Star game in Puerto Rico, while some old friends popped up in the Nicaraguan Winter League. This week's update covers the period from December 2 through 8. Please also visit our SoxProspects.com Fall/Winter page, updated daily. 

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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico)

Nobody from the organization was selected to the circuit's All-Star game on Sunday, but all four players did see game action this week. Eduardo Rivera (pictured) turned in a strong start for Santurce on Friday, allowing just one run on two hits across five innings against Mayaguez, striking out nine against two walks. He departed with a 4-1 lead that the bullpen could not hold, resulting in a no decision. Brian Van Belle got the start on Monday for Caguas, taking the loss with six runs on nine hits in three innings. He pitched out of the bullpen Friday, allowing one run in two innings. Mickey Gasper (Caguas) was 1 for 4 in his only appearance of the week, while Juan Montero was 2 for 4 with a strikeout on Saturday for Ponce.

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Dominican Winter League

Enmanuel Valdez was the only player in action in the Dominican this week. The infielder appeared in four games for Estrellas, making three starts. He was 1 for 13 with three walks (one intentional), bringing his line to .175/.274/.272 on the season. Bryan Gonzalez (Escogido) did not appear in a game.

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Venezuelan Professional Baseball League

Bryan Mata pitched a scoreless fourth inning for Magallanes in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, allowing one hit.

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Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League

No current Red Sox players are playing in Nicaragua, but readers may be interested in the All-Star rosters: former outfielders Rusney Castillo and Gilberto Jimenez were recognized. They were managed by Luis Sumoza (pictured), who played in the system from 2005 through 2008 and was dealt to Atlanta in the deal that brought Mark Kotsay to Boston.

Photo Credit: Eduardo Rivera, Luis Sumoza by Kelly O'Connor

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Podcast Ep. #343: Waiting on Soto

Ian and Chris are back to discuss the latest hot stove news and rumors. Of course, things start with the latest on Juan Soto and how it is the primary inflection point for the rest of the offseason. They then dig in on the Red Sox' signing of Aroldis Chapman and other big news around the game, including Willy Adames signing with the Giants and Tyler O'Neill signing with the Orioles (in real time). Finally, they warp with your email questions, including a discussion of Marcelo Mayer and the upcoming MLB Draft Lottery and Rule 5 Draft.

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Fall/Winter Roundup: Valdez belts clutch homer

With three leagues going on, a few players had big performances both on the mound and at the plate. This recap covers seven Sox players that saw action this past week. 

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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC/Puerto Rico)

Young lefty Eduardo Rivera had another good week on the mound for Santurce. He started one game and went five innings, surrendering just five hits and one earned run. He punched out five and walked one. Rivera now has a 1.23 ERA in 14 2/3 innings this winter. Brian Van Belle was also terrific in his lone start of the week, tossing five shutout innings. He only allowed one hit, struck out five, and did not issue a free pass. His ERA lowers to 1.93 in 14 innings this winter. 

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