But don’t let that exclamation point fool you…
Things have gotten a little quiet since the end of the Winter Meetings, with names like Corbin Burnes, Alex Bregman, and Roki Saski still on the market. But the Red Sox are making some moves. Yesterday, Craig Breslow traded quad-A infielder Enmanuel Valdez to the Pirates for minor league pitcher Joe Vogatsky. These are two unremarkable players, and this move is more about roster maneuvering than anything else. Valdez had recently been designated for assignment, so getting anything for him is a good move, even if Vogatsky is likely to be nothing more than an organizational filler arm. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
As for that other trade for a pitcher the Sox recently made, we’ve now heard from Garrett Crochet himself… and he sounds pretty excited. That’s to be expected, given that the White Sox were historically bad last year, but he also seems genuinely happy to play baseball in Boston. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
Someone who was probably less excited about the trade? Kyle Teel, who went from preparing to make his MLB debut in a big market alongside some of the top prospects in baseball, to baseball purgatory on the South Side of Chicago. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
There still is some smoke around a Red Sox-Mariners trade, with Luis Castillo being the name that’s discussed the most. But according to sources, Triston Casas has not been discussed as a potential return. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
And, speaking of a potential trade that could shake up the corner infielders, Craig Breslow doesn’t actually seem so eager to move Rafael Devers off third base, anyway:
“Rafael Devers is our third baseman, and we’re really excited about that.”
Craig Breslow makes it clear Devers won’t be playing anywhere defensively other than third base. pic.twitter.com/GUdZ76xzMe
— Jones & Keefe (@JonesandKeefe) December 12, 2024