Ben Cherington pulled off the biggest salary dump in MLB History in 2012, with his clearing the deck of Gonzalez, Crawford and Beckett. He replaced them with saavy, playoff tested Veterans – on lower value, and year contracts. His club won the 2013 AL East with the revamped squad – that improved almost 30 Wins from 2012. So how did the entire roster of hitters all come to be Boston Red Sox Property. We will tell you.
How All Of The Red Sox Hitters Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @mlbreports
At the MLB Reports, we intend to show you the Roster Tree for the Colorado Rockies – and how they assembled their current roster for hitting and Pitching. It will work in a six degrees of separation like format.
Once we figure out the origin of how many trades going back in time it takes to see where the tree started, it will be time to dissect how the team fared on the deals.
If a player has never left the organization at all, the tree will be easy – as it will just be the year they were drafted or signed. Today, we will cover the Hitters.
For all of the Rosters, Depth Charts, State of the Unions and Salaries that we do, please visit our dedicated page link here.
David Ortiz Talks Up The Boston Crowd After The Boston Tragedy – Warning: Explicit Word Used – Parental Discretion Is Advised
Ortiz has hit for a 3 Slash Line of .292/.390/.962 with 373 HRs and 1191 RBI in that time frame. You can also chalk up 14 HRs and 35 RBI in 221 Career Post Season AB thus far for the Beantowners.
“Cookie Monster” has devoured pitching in the AL for over a decade, and what is better, is that he is a beloved figure in the game. Ortiz has been the preeminent Designated Hitter in the league – taking the mantle from Edgar Martinez when he retired.
David Ortiz (37) DH/1B: January 22, 2003: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
“Big Papi” has now been with the club for 11 years, 2 World Series Titles, 9 ALL – Star Selections, 5 Silver Slugger Awards, and is one of the best clutch hitters of ALL – Time.
Ortiz is signed through 2014 Not bad for Boston only doling out a few years – plus a couple of Million to start in order to sign the guy. the 37 Year Old has since earned over $100 MIL in Red Sox colors.
Dustin Pedroia (30) 2B: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2nd round of the 2004 amateur draft.
“The Little Big Man” swings a mighty stick, and has been terrorizing opposing Pitchers since 2006. Pedroia is a former AL “Rookie of The Year” (2007) – and he followed that up with an MVP Award the next season.
The 4 Time ALL – Star also has 2 Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger Award attached to his name in the 1st 8 years of his career. Pedroia has a Career Slash Line of .302/.370/.823 – and averages 194 Hits and 104 Runs Per 162 Games Played.
The Red Sox Second Baseman has also plated 21 RBI in just 123 Career Post Season AB. With Ortiz and he doing the damage after Manny Ramirez left, the team has remained quite competitive over the last 5 seasons.
The “Laser Show” is signed through the 2021 campaign, and will likely go down as an ALL – Time Red Sox great by the time he is finished playing.
Mike Napoli (31) 1B/DH: January 22, 2013: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
Napoli was a crucial signing to the clubs fortunes this year. While he goes in hot streaks and cold spells, he can carry a team when he is on fire. He is really clutch for the team when the team seems to need a lift.
Ben Cherington finagled a great deal in prying his services to just a one year deal. Napoli responded with 23 HRs and 92 RBI in his 2013 campaign for Boston.
His best value be yet to come and Napoli was a key cog on the 2011 Texas Rangers, where he clubbed 2 HRs and added 10 RBI – with an OPS of 1.164 in the 7 game 2011 World Series vs the Cardinals.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (28) C/1B: July 31, 2010: Traded by the Texas Rangers to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later, Roman Mendez (minors), Chris McGuiness and cash. The Boston Red Sox sent Michael Thomas (minors) (August 14, 2010) to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade.
“Salty” has been the main backstopper for the team over the last four years, averaging a .762 OPS – while knocking out about 20 HRs and 60 RBI per campaign.
Chris McGuiness was Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2009 amateur draft. So far with the Rangers, he has netted just netted 34 AB with the big club (all in 2013) – and is only hitting .176.
McGuiness has shown some flair for offense in the Minor Leagues, as he smacked 23 HRs and added 77 RBI with AA Frisco during the 2012 Year.
Roman Mendez (23) SP: was signed as a non-drafted Free Agent by Boston in 2007. He is now in AA Frisco with the Rangers organization. The man is 25 – 18 in the Minors – with a collective 3.59 ERA
Michael Thomas (24) was Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft from Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA).
Thomas went onto be released from the Texas Rangers on June.15/2011.
I am going to give this trade to Boston for now, but there is always that chance that McGuiness or Mendez will flourish, although as a betting man, I don’t foresee it.
Stephen Drew (30) SS: December 26, 2012: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
The Veteran Shortstop inked a 1 Year Deal prior to last year. He has flourished in the second half of the year, and was well worth the $9.5 MIL investment. He posted a .777 OPS – with 13 HRs and 67 RBI in 501 AB.
Whether or not he will be back is sketchy with the young talent the team possesses at his current position.
Will Middlebrooks (24) 3B: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round of the 2007 amateur draft.
Middlebrooks gave the club an option to trade away franchise 3B Kevin Youkilis – when he burst onto the scene it 2012, dazzling the club with an OPS of .832, among 15 HR and 54 RBI in about a half season worth of games.
2013 was not as kind to the sophomore as he even was sent down to Pawtucket. The 24 Year Old responded on his callup after the Jose Iglesias trade, putting up .276/.329/.805 – with 8 HRs and 24 RBI in his last 145 of the season.
The future looks bright for the player.
Jonny Gomes (32) DH/OF/PH: December 1, 2012: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.(2 YRs/$13 MIL)
The Red Sox were smart enough to bring in Gomes for depth, team veteran leadership, and a guy who is money off of the bench. The man originally from Petaluma, CA delivered an OPS of .771 – with 13 HRs and 52 RBI in just 315 AB.
More impressive was his flair for the dramatic, knocking 4 Big Flies and 7 RBI in 21 Pinch Hit AB in the 2013 year, good for an OPS of 1.415. Again, he could really help the club for the remainder of the 2013 Post Season.
Jacoby Ellsbury (29) CF: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 2005 amateur draft.
If this is the swansong for the 7 year veteran, than Ellsbury was certainly worth his 1st Round Selection with the franchise 8 years ago.
The 29 Year Old has led the AL in Stolen Bases on 3 separate occasions (2008, 2009 and 2013), and finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year Voting in 2008.
Ellsbury had his best campaign during the 2011 year, where he was a 30/30 guy (39 SB and 32 HR), while he took home a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and finished 2nd in AL MVP Voting. He also had 212 Hits and 105 RBI – out of the Leadoff spot.
Ellsbury has a Career 3 Slash of .297/.350/.789 – and averages 57 XBH, 55 SB, 198 Hits and 108 RBI for every 162 Games Played. He is bound to have some team throw some cash his way this winter.
The Center Fielder is in the last year of his contract – and is a pending Free Agent heading into the winter.
Shane Victorino (32) OF: December 13, 2012: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
Boston made some great Free Agent Signings last winter, but where entirely flogged by writers and teams alike, for giving the “Flying Hawaiian” a 3 YR/$39 MIL from 2013 – 2015.
The Red Sox brass were hoping he would regain his previous form with the Phillies. Victorino did just that, the OF 3 Slashed .294/.351/.801 (all over his career averages), with 21 SB in just 122 Games Played.
Now that he has played well for the club, he is right in his domain of the playoffs. Victorino has an OPS of .796 in 183 AB – spanning 11 Playoff Series and 48 Games Played in the Post Season.
This club knew what is was doing when signing “playoff tested” FA’s last winter.
Daniel Nava (30) LF/1B: January 17, 2008: Purchased by the Boston Red Sox from Chico (Golden Baseball League).
It is looking like a brilliant move to have signed the then 25 Year Old Slugger. Nava stepped up huge when the team needed a bat to step up in absence of a slumping Middlebrooks, and also when Ortiz spent the 1st few weeks on the DL.
Nava 3 Slashed .303/.385/.831 for the year, with 12 HRs and 66 RBI in just 458 AB. He was one of the best players on the club for the 1st few months of the season, leading the charge to an early run to the AL East lead.
With the trade of Iglesias, and a lack of spare OF, Nava’s versatility between the Infield and OF is extremely valuable. He is under team control until 2018, and is great insurance at 1B in case Napoli doesn’t resign with the team.
Mike Carp (27) 1B/LF: February 20, 2013: Traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Boston Red Sox for player to be named or cash.
With the team releasing Lyle Overbay with just days left in Spring Training, it was evidently clear that Carp had more of the teams faith.
While Overbay provided value for the Yankees later, Carp did spade work with his opportunities this campaign. 3 slashing .296/.362/.885 – with 9 HRs and 43 RBI during your 216 AB – is a sure fire way to make sure you stay on the team.
Carp has 3 years left of Arbitration, and who knows what the Mariners will have to give for compensation, but so far it looks like a steal for the Boston franchise.
David Ross (36) C: November 14, 2012: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.(2 YRs/$6.2 MIL)
The club was smart enough to also secure a back up Catcher with some pop. This is the 12 Year Veteran’s second tour of duty with the team.
Ross only netted 102 AB, but clubbed 4 HRs and 10 RBI, power numbers that are respectable. With Saltalamacchia being a Free Agent, he provides good depth in case they can’t resign him.
Jackie Bradley JR. (23) OF: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (40th pick) of the 2011 amateur draft.
With the likelihood of Ellsbury leaving, Bradley JR could be the new CF for the big club next season. It was a year to get his feet wet at the Majors n 2013.
The native of Richmond. VA was ranked #32 by Baseball America heading into 2013. He has a MInor League 3 Slash of .297/.404/.876 – which bodes well with the team philosophy of wearing out other teams pitchers.
Ryan Lavarnway (26) C/DH: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 6th round of the 2008 amateur draft.
If you look up this man’s work in the Minor Leagues, you will find a consistent hitter at every level. Now a keeper of 254 big league AB, Lavarnway showed his best promise ever in 2013, slashing .299/.329/.758 in 77 AB.
He can serve as an extra DH and 3rd or 2nd Catcher.
Xander Bogaerts (21) 3B/SS: Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 2009.
Bogaerts is another beneficiary of the Jose Iglesias trade this past year. He was promoted and has seen playing time, registering 44 AB batting .250. He is slotted to probably be the future SS of the club next year.
The just turned 21 Year old (Oct.01) was ranked #8 by Baseball America prior to this year.
Quintin Berry (28) LF: August 27, 2013: Traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Boston Red Sox for Clayton Mortensen
Berry proved to be a nice little addition for September with a late season trade. He is quite often inserted as a Pinch Runner for his blazing speed. He stole 3 Based and scored 5 Runs in his 8 AB for the Sox.
Clayton Mortensen January 21, 2012: Traded by the Colorado Rockies to the Boston Red Sox for Marco Scutaro.
Marco Scutaro December 4, 2009: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
This one is easy to peg as Scutaro had a decent half season – before he exploded with the Giants in the second half of 2012 (hit 362 in the 2nd half and was the NLCS MVP, while hitting .338 for the entire playoffs), after a trade between Colorado and San Fran went down.
Where we just assessing the value between Colorado and Boston, the Rockies still won the trade. Although the tree ends between with Berry being in Boston and Mortensen in KC. Time will tell who won that specific trade.
Mortensen was 2 -3, with a 4.11 ERA during 50 Career Appearances for the 2012 – 2013 seasons for the Red Sox.
Scutaro still carried a .271 BA for the Rockies in his 95 Career Games there. The Boston Red Sox may have been able to use him in their horrific 2012 year.
Brandon Snyder (28) 1B/3B/PH: April 2, 2013: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
Just another depth guy for the team, and never really made his presence felt – with a .572 OPS in 50 AB in 2013.
Brock Holt (25) 3B/2B: December 26, 2012: Traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with Joel Hanrahan to the Boston Red Sox for Ivan De Jesus, Mark Melancon, Stolmy Pimentel and Jerry Sands.
Stolmy Pimentel (23) RP: Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 2006.
Pimentel was in 5 Games in the 2013 Reg Season for the Pirates, having a 1.93 ERA.
Ivan De Jesus (26) INF: Was picked up in the LAD deal, cracked 36 HRs and added 97 RBI for Indianapolis (AAA affiliate for Pittsburgh). He never got a hit in his only 8 AB for the Red Sox.
If this guy clubs like that for much longer, he will be with Pittsburgh sooner or later.
Jerry Sands (26) OF/1B: Spent the year in the Minor Leagues with the Pirates, before being put on the Injured reserved list.
Mark Melancon (28) RP: This guy was and ALL – Star in 2013 with the BUCS, featuring a 1.39 ERA in 72 APP between the setup and Closers Role (16 Saves).
Joel Hanrahan (32) RP: had a 9.82 ERA in 9 Appearances, before requiring year ending surgery. Not good when the club traded away 4 players, for he and Holt.
This trade looks ugly for Boston right now, unless Holt turns out to be awesome. Boston loses this one.
December 14, 2011: Traded by the Houston Astros to the Boston Red Sox for Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland.
Jed Lowrie was Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (45th pick) of the 2005 amateur draft.
Lowrie has a pretty good half of a season in Houston during 2012, hitting for a .769 OPS, with 16 HRS and 42 RBI in 340 AB, before being traded to Oakland in 2013.
Kyle Weiland was Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 3rd round of the 2008 amateur draft.
Weiland was 0 – 3, with a 6.62 ERA, before being shipped all over the Minor Leagues, and is still part of the Astros farm team.
Melancon was bad for the Red Sox, so advantage Houston.
Jerry Sands: August 25, 2012: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with players to be named later, James Loney and Allen Webster to the Boston Red Sox for Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Punto and cash. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Rubby De La Rosa (October 4, 2012) and Jerry Sands (October 4, 2012) to the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade.
Josh Beckett November 24, 2005: Traded by the Florida Marlins with Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota to the Boston Red Sox for Jesus Delgado, Harvey Garcia, Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez.
Anibal Sanchez (29): Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 2001.
The “Animal” was 44 – 45 – with a 3.75 ERA in his time with Miami, before he was traded to Detroit last year.
Hanley Ramirez (29) Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 2000.
Ramirez hit .300./.379/.873 – with 148 HRs and 482 RBI in 3671 RBI – spanning 7 years with MIA, before he was traded with Randy Choate to the Dodgers for Nathan Eovaldi in 2012.
Ramirez was a 3 Time ALL – Star, a Rookie of the Year, a two time Silver Slugger and won a Batting Title in 2009 with the Marlins. He also finished in 2nd for the NL MVP Voting for the 2009 year.
Mike Lowell played 5 years for the Boston Red Sox, slashing .290/.345/.814 – with 80 HRs and 374 RBI. He saved his best year for the 2007, where he hit .324 – with 21 HRs and 120 RBI.
Lowell was also pivotal on the 2007 Red Sox World Series squad, knocking in 17 RBI during the 14 Games Played in the Post Season that year. He was a quality defender on the team, and enabled Youkilis to move over to 1st.
Josh Beckett may have ended in Boston with a sour note, however he authored 3 ALL – Star years with the club, and recorded a 89 – 58 W – L Record (.605), that included and 84 – 47 mark prior to 2012.
Beckett went 2 – 7, with a bloated ERA before he was cast off for the rest of the year with injury.
Carl Crawford (31) OF: December 11, 2010: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
Beckett led the AL in 2007 with 20 Wins, and finished 2nd in AL CY Young Voting. He was also money in the bank during the 2007 Playoffs, going 4 – 0, with a sparkling 1.20 ERA.
Judging this trade is unique in some aspects as the club only has Brock Holt and Allen Webster left in the chain, while the Marlins used the assets to acquire young chuckers’ Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob Turner.
But for the purpose of analyzing this trade with the specific teams, I got to go with Boston. Ramirez gave Miami 3 or 4 great years, but so did with Beckett with the Red Sox.
You add Lowell’s contributions, and I am not sure the 2007 World Series doesn’t happen without the addition of these two players.
Sanchez never found his groove until he left Detroit.
Harvey Garcia (29) (June 14, 2002: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox. He only threw 12.1 IP for the Marlins, registering a 4.38 ERA.
Jesus Delgado was Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 2001. For the Fish, he only appeared in 2 Innings, and yielded one run.
James Loney (29) 1B: only played two months for the club – before he headed to the Rays in Free Agency.
Allen Webster (23) SP: Was 1 – 2, with a 8.31 in 7 Game Starts and 30.1 IP so far.
Rubby De La Rosa SP/RP: Was 0 – 2, with a 5.56 ERA in 11 Appearances for the Boston Red Sox this year.
Nick Punto (35) UT INF: Punto hit for an OPS of .655 in 295 AB this year.
While having a bounce back season with the Dodgers, Crawford cost the team $21 MIL per year, and buried the club fiscally for 2 years.
Between he, Beckett and Gonzalez, the team used that cash for Napoli, Gomes, Victorino, Ryan Dempster, David Ross and you can put in adding Jake Peavy, than it is a steal. Beckett is still going to be paid for 2014.
Even with CC and A-Gon playing, well, the proof is in the pudding.
When you look at this in those terms, getting under those terms is great
Adrian Gonzalez (31): December 6, 2010: Traded by the San Diego Padres to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later, Reymond Fuentes, Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo. The Boston Red Sox sent Eric Patterson (December 16, 2010) to the San Diego Padres to complete the trade.
Eric Patterson (30) 2B: Patterson was released in Dec. of 2011 – after hitting .180/.272/.564 in 89 AB for the Padres for the 2011 campaign. He has toiled with the Tigers and now is with the Brewers in their Minor League Syste
On June 26, 2010 Eric Patterson Traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Boston Red Sox for Fabian Williamson (minors).
This trade is pretty much a wash since Williamson has never played in the Majors either.
January 20, 2009: Aardsma was Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Seattle Mariners for Fabian Williamson (minors).
As one sided as Minor Trades go, Aardsma Saved 69 Games – and carried a 2.90 ERA in 121 IP. Williamson was in the Minors the whole time.
January 28, 2008: Aardsma was Traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Boston Red Sox for Willy Mota (minors) and Miguel Socolovich.
Willy Mota (28) CF: He has not played organized baseball since 2008. He was originally signed as a 16 Year Old from the Dominican.
Miguel Socolovich Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 2004.
Socolovich has made it to the Majors, however nothing significant.
For the trade of Aardsma for these two guys, he pitched in 47 Games, and had a 5.55 ERA for Boston. I will give the slight edge to Boston for this, however only slightly.
Anthony Rizzo was Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 6th round of the 2007 amateur draft. Player signed August 15, 2007.
Anthony Rizzo (24) 1B: He only had 128 AB with San Diego, and he really struggled. The club ultimately traded him to the Cubs for Andrew Cashner.
Casey Kelley (24) SP: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (30th pick) of the 2008 amateur draft.
Kelley was ranked 45th by Baseball America this year.
Reymond Fuentes (22) CF: was Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (28th) of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft. He has played in the Major Leagues in 2013, hitting just .152 in 33 AB. He has put forth and OPS of .861 between AA and AAA during the 2013 year.
Ellsbury missed 88 Games in 2012 (and also missed 144 Games in 2010), which brings into question his long – term durability. Heck, even this year, he was seen with a walking boot only a few weeks ago. You can’t however, deny the man of his statute with the club in the annals of time. He hit .360 during the 2007 World Series run that saw him assert himself onto the franchise as a permanent every day player in the Outfield.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
Chuck Booth - Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames: To learn more about my “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .
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