The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey supplied an replace on a handful of Pink Sox prospects at present, headlined by high shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer. A consensus top-15 prospect within the sport headed into the 2023 marketing campaign, Mayer hit effectively sufficient in 35 video games with Boston’s Excessive-A affiliate final season to earn a promotion to Double-A, although his transfer to the higher ranges of the minors was met with difficulties. Over 190 journeys to the plate on the stage, Mayer slashed simply .189/.254/.355 with a 25.8% strikeout price earlier than finally seeing his 2023 marketing campaign come to an finish attributable to a nagging shoulder damage originally of August.
Mayer has been been doing rehab work for the reason that season ended, per McCaffrey, and is predicted to have a traditional offseason this winter. It’s absolutely a big aid for the Pink Sox, as Mayer may very well be on the radar to succeed in the majors someday subsequent 12 months given the membership’s lack of certainty within the center infield. Boston figures to make use of Trevor Story as their on a regular basis shortstop subsequent 12 months, although he slashed simply .203/.250/.316 in 43 video games this 12 months after getting back from surgical procedure midseason. Alongside Story, the membership sports activities a handful of choices together with Enmanuel Valdez, Luis Urias and high prospect Ceddanne Rafaela as potential contributors up the center.
Additionally mentioned in McCaffrey’s piece is right-hander Noah Music, who was returned to the Pink Sox by the Phillies again in August after the Phillies chosen Music within the Rule 5 draft final offseason. Whereas McCaffrey notes that the membership could determine to guard Music from the Rule 5 draft this 12 months to keep away from an analogous scenario, she suggests it’s additionally doable that Music’s incapability to stay on the roster in Philadelphia in 2023 might go away him unlikely to take action in 2024, even when chosen for a second time. As a member of the naval reserves, Music has sure obligations to the US army which have impacted his capacity to play baseball professionally up to now. That being stated, McCaffrey relays that Pink Sox director of participant improvement Brian Abraham believes Music’s army duties will be fulfilled through the offseason, permitting him to have a traditional 2024 marketing campaign.
Extra from the American League…
- Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney mentioned his choice to register Texas final winter lately with Rob Bradford on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast. Heaney acknowledged that he mentioned potential offers with a number of groups, together with the Pink Sox, including that he spoke with the group remotely and met with a member of the membership’s medical workers throughout negotiations final offseason. In the end, Heaney notes that his choice to register Texas was influenced by the Oklahoma Metropolis native desirous to play for his hometown group. Heaney can decide out of the ultimate 12 months and $13MM on his take care of the Rangers this offseason. If he decides to take action on the heels of a season the place he posted a 4.15 ERA in 147 1/3 innings of labor it’s no less than doable that the Pink Sox, who determine to lose lefty James Paxton and righty Corey Kluber to free company later this month, may very well be a suitor for his companies as soon as once more.
- Lengthy-time Twins TV broadcaster Dick Bremer is stepping away from the sales space after 40 years because the membership’s play-by-play announcer, per an announcement by the membership yesterday. Bremer, 67, will stay as a member of the Twins group as a particular assistant to the entrance workplace. Per the membership’s press launch, the Twins are at present “assessing potential broadcast choices in addition to a expertise lineup for 2024 and past” with bulletins anticipated later this offseason. Minnesota, after all, is among the many groups impacted by Diamond Sports activities Group submitting for chapter again in March. The break up with Diamond has left the membership’s broadcast scenario up within the air headed into the 2024 marketing campaign.
