On Monday, I started a series of articles that rank the top-20 players on the Red Sox in terms of who offers the most value to the team for next season. With the rankings of 20 through 16 already posted, here are 15 through 11:
15.) Alejandro De Aza – Outfielder
When the Red Sox acquired De Aza at the end of May, after he serviced the Baltimore Orioles for no more than half of one season, the team was still well within reach of claiming the top spot in the American League East. Boston was having historically bad performances in the batter’s box throughout the entire month, so it went out and grabbed a versatile outfielder with a decent bat, all in the hope that he could help spark the offense to reach its anticipated heights.
As it turned out, De Aza surely brought everything the Red Sox needed out of him, and more.
The outfield situation in Boston before his arrival was ugly; Shane Victorino was stuck on the disabled list for what felt like the hundredth time, Mookie Betts was hitting for a weak .246 batting average, Hanley Ramirez had just six extra-base hits in May while playing horrific defense in leftfield, and Jackie Bradley Jr. was yet to record his first hit of 2015. Enter Mr. De Aza, and he hits for a .318 average in June through about 70 at-bats right out of the gate, tagging along with three home runs and 12 RBIs in the span.
In his seven-year career, De Aza has hit above a .300 average after a minimum of 150 at-bats for one team twice, and has shown flashes of power with a 17 home run filled season in 2013. Right now with Boston, he is hitting .305 since coming to the city, which includes a spectacular .346 average with runners in scoring position after nearly 60 plate appearances. With the ability to play all three outfield positions, as well as the ability to drive in runs (25 RBIs through 164 at-bats), De Aza gives the Red Sox tremendous depth at the outfield position. Not only does that allow the team to substitute him in for the dreadful Ramirez in leftfield at the end of games for a fielding boost, but it also gives it a chance to start him often to keep the outfield well rested. De Aza is a must have in 2016, if not traded for a valuable pitcher instead.
14.) Pablo Sandoval – Third Baseman
It pains me to see a guy who just signed a contract worth about $90 million before the season began so low on my list, but you write what you observe.
The three-time World Series winner, in short, has been a huge disappointment for the Red Sox so far in his debut season. At the plate, “Panda” has hit for a mediocre .259 batting average, an even more mediocre .307 on-base percentage (OBP), all while hitting a measly 10 home runs and 41 RBIs. Weighing at 245 pounds, a size worthy of hitting for impeccable power, Sandoval’s .393 slugging percentage is far short of the production coming from the rest of the team, as he ranks third-worst among the club’s regular starters in the category. It doesn’t help that the 155-pound Mookie Betts, who serves as the team’s leadoff hitter at 90 less pounds, is posting a .442 mark himself, and carries one more home run and 18 more RBIs on the season.
Whatever deficiencies Sandoval’s batting has, his glove has been even more problematic. His defensive wins above replacement (DWAR) mark of -0.9 is the third-worst in the majors of all qualified starters at third base, and his .948 fielding percentage ranks third-worst as well. Therefore, he’s not what you could call a reliable fielder either.
I know what you’re thinking; if he is so bad, than why is he even on the list?
Well for starters, the man can flat out play in the playoffs, which is evident through the fact that he holds onto just as many World Series rings as David Ortiz. In 39 postseason games played, the two-time all-star is hitting .344 with six home runs, which includes a three-homer effort in Game One of the 2012 World Series. That obviously doesn’t help the team much in getting to October play, but if the Red Sox reach the playoffs while Sandoval is still on the roster, look for them to make a deep run on his shoulders.
The other reason stands at the fact that he could just be adjusting to a change in scenery. After all, this is the worst season he has had in his entire career, and it is also the first season he is not with the Giants, or even in the National League for that matter. You can call it coincidence, but I’m going to say the two go hand-in-hand. As a .290 career hitter, I have faith that he can turn himself around in 2016.
13.) Wade Miley – Starting Pitcher
Miley has been a tough case all year long.
In 26 starts this season, Miley holds onto a less than impressive 4.51 ERA with a 10-10 record. But then when you look deeper, you’ll see that he has 14 starts in which he has allowed less than three earned-runs while lasting at least five innings, and has six of those same starts while cruising through at least seven innings. The tough part to swallow with him though is that fact that he has eight starts in which he has allowed five-plus runs, and didn’t make it past the fourth-inning in four of those occasions.
As a starting pitcher, your number one goal is to minimize the amount of runs you allow while trying to pitch for seven-plus innings. If such pitcher is pitching just five or six innings in more than half of his starts, he is bound to be pitching from the back end of the rotation. That is where Miley belongs.
Overall, Miley isn’t having a terrible season, as he currently leads Boston’s starting pitching staff in wins, ERA and strikeouts. While that feat isn’t too impressive, as the Red Sox aren’t exactly the epitome of stellar pitching, it’s safe to say that Miley serves more value than most of the pitchers on the roster. It’s just unfortunate that he is pitching in the three-hole of the starting rotation, as he isn’t going to put up the numbers a man in that position should post.
If the team can add one or two more pitchers to allow Miley to occupy the four or five spot in the starting order, he will excel at the role he is given.
12.) Henry Owens – Starting Pitcher
There isn’t much to say about Owens other than the fact that he shows tremendous potential.
For a couple years now, the tall-framed rookie has been one of the top pitching prospects in the club’s organization. Well this year, finally, Owens was called up for a chance to pitch against big league batters at the start of August. The 23 year-old pitched decently for his first start, allowing three earned-runs through five innings, all while striking out five in a loss.
In the three starts following his debut, Owens has held opponents to one earned-run twice, most recently accomplishing that feat against the American League’s top team – the Kansas City Royals. The real only downfall he has come across was a seven-run showing against the Seattle Mariners, but even in that game he managed to strike out 10 batters, and lasted six innings.
For right now, it’s tough to say how Owens will fare next year, as we have only seen a small sample size of what he can do in the majors. The fact that he was able to pitch so well after a random call up to this level is promising in its own right. So far, he looks comfortable enough to be able to take over the middle ground in the starting rotation for 2016 if it comes down to it, and potentially could become an ace in a few years.
11.) Junichi Tazawa – Relief Pitcher
Let me start off by saying that Tazawa is not a closer. Taking on such a role is tough challenge both mentally and physically, and some relievers just aren’t built for it, which of course doesn’t make such a reliever a bad pitcher.
Well, for the past three years, the Japanese product has served Boston as the team’s setup man, which is a duty designed for a pitcher to hold onto a lead in the eighth-inning to allow the closer to come in the ninth with a save opportunity. Tazawa has excelled in that role, holding onto a 3.06 ERA with 56 holds since taking on the responsibility.
This season, Tazawa has run into some trouble, sporting a 3.67 ERA through 54 innings of work. However, the team’s normal closer – Koji Uehara – went down from a wrist injury and was declared done for the season on August 11. Of course, the Red Sox made their setup man the closer, which is a mistake. Before being named the closer, Tazawa was sporting a 2.60 ERA. Since then, the five-year man has blown two of his five chances so far, which includes a four-run shelling just recently against the Royals.
Like I said, Tazawa is not a closer, and the forced role has done nothing but hurt both the team and Tazawa himself.
Tazawa is a great setup man, and one to hold onto for next year. His value to the team’s bullpen can’t be described in words, as he is the most proven talent the team has in relief, especially if the aged Uehara (40) decides to retire after his injury. He is only 29 years-old, so it’s not like he is going to run out of gas next season. Bring him back, Boston, you need him.
