By Corey R. Cunningham
Yesterday, we learned the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers exchange some major names in baseball. More so, they exchange major money as well. The Red sox received 4 minor league players Jerry Sands, Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and Ivan De Jesus, as well as major league 1B James Loney.
There are many different view points on this subject, and many people can point fingers at many others, however, we will not get into that subject, but we will focus on the minor league talent that was sent east.
Allen Webster, in his second year at AA Chattanooga Lookouts, is 6-8 with a 3.55 ERA, 122 IP, 120 H, 63 R, 48 ER, 1 HR, 117 K, 1.455 WHIP and a 8.7 SO/9. Looking at these particular stats, the ERA is feasible, along with allowing only 1 HR in 122 IP, which is probably more impressive stat I have seen in a while. Webster more than likely will be assigned to AA Portland, however, with 122 IP, the sox might want to see him in AAA action.
Ivan De Jesus is more of the Nick Punto Utility man involved in this deal. Thus far in 2012 he has appeared in 23 G, getting 33 AB batting .273 with 4 RBI, 5 R, and 1 SB. De Jesus will not play much in Bean town, yet perhaps may get assigned to AAA Pawtucket, to receive more playing time. The Red sox just called up top SS prospect Jose Iglesias, another downfall for De Jesus.
Jerry Sands, who was a 4th OF in LA, will be no more than that at the current moment in Boston, yet the staff will more than likely give Sands more playing time than De Jesus. Sands has spent most of the year in AAA Albuquerque where he has a BA of .303, 24 HR, 101 RBI in 416 AB. Sands has continued to hammer AAA pitching, yet has not proven to being able to handle MLB pitching. In 61 games in 2011 for the Dodgers, Sands batted just .253 and in 2012 he has 9 games with the Dodgers and only hit .174.
Rubby De La Rosa who is coming back off from an injury was sent to Boston, and should be able to take over a spot in the depleted bullpen. La Rosa will be a nice change of pace from what the Sox are use to, and gives them another option in the pen, since Alfredo Aceves has been suspended by the team for 3 games. La Rosa has only pitched 12 innings in the minors for a rehab start and is facing some groin injury setbacks from his last rehab start in early August.
The future is unclear in Boston, as they did unload $260 MM from the team payroll, and it is unclear how it will be used in the future to build this team back up. However, in my opinion the Red Sox have one of the best and deepest farm systems in the Major Leagues and have the talent to compete in the near future. Even though Zach Lee was a top prospect for the Dodgers, and they were able to hang onto him, I do believe Allen Webster can be a No 3 or 4 starter for the Sox. Sands has an advantage for a right handed hitter in Boston with the green monster playing favors to all right hander’s. This is a starting point for the Red sox and their fans.
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