 While the Red Sox, like the Yankees, have been known for spending big dollars on free agents, they have also done a more than admirable job developing one of the more respected farm systems in baseball. Now that Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, and Jonathan Papelbon are now playing major roles, Boston has reloaded the lower minors with more players that are soon to make a major impact both for Boston and for fantasy owners alike.
The player most talked about leading up to Spring Training was Casey Kelly. Kelly is a converted infielder, whose mediocre offensive numbers led Boston to leave him on the mound for the time being. There is no denying his athletic ability. Kelly was recruited to play quarterback at Tennessee before signing with Boston out of high school. Many fans were hoping Kelly would be pushed into the Boston bullpen at some point this year, but that will not be the case. Kelly was assigned to minor league camp over the weekend.
At just 20 years old, Boston will likely start the pitcher at Double-A. He dominated Greenville last season, going 6-1 in nine starts prior to his promotion to the Carolina League. Kelly held opponents in the South Atlantic League to just 32 hits and nine walks in 48 innings and gave up only six earned runs. His numbers in Carolina are misleading. Though Kelly’s ERA jumped to 3.00 in eight starts covering 48 innings, he still allowed just 33 hits and seven walks while improving his K/BB rate to 5.00 from 4.33 with Greenville. With this in mind, it is easy to see why Boston likes him.
Boston will likely keep him as a starter, but could use him out of the bullpen if the situation dictates. He could get a cup of coffee late in 2010 if need be, but he should be ready to pitch full-time by 2012. It will be earlier if the situation dictates.
The Red Sox have a plethora of outfield talent that is not quite ready for prime time. When they are it should make for some good times near the Green Monster. While Jacoby Ellsbury is likely cemented in place for the foreseeable future, the players flanking him are subject to change. Though his health is suddenly a concern, one of the brighter prospects within the entire system is Ryan Westmoreland. Westmoreland is currently on medical leave following brain surgery and his recovery timeline is unknown.
He has battled other injuries early in his career. Westmoreland had labrum surgery in 2008 and needed another procedure to repair a broken collarbone last year. They are not expected to be setbacks, but it does raise some potential flags, especially for owners that are tired of dealing with another oft-injured Red Sox outfielder (yes, everyone is looking at you, J.D. Drew). All this in mind, there is no denying his talent. Westmoreland hit .296 in Single-A ball with seven home runs and 35 RBI at Lowell over 60 games. Want something more? He stole 19 bases without being caught.
Westmoreland is a true potential five-tool player. He has a solid swing and scouting reports indicate that he has shown tremendous patience at the plate for a young player. With potential 20 home-run power to go with a 30-steal threat, there is little doubt that he will have a home in Fenway when the time is right. Prior to the most recent surgery, Westmoreland projected to be in Fenway full-time in 2013, but all that is on hold until further notice. It is hoped that he will fully recover.
Two other outfielders show promise, and one could be ready sooner than fantasy owners might think. Though Ryan Kalish has greater potential in terms of offensive production, Josh Reddick has a shot to get some time this season and be a major player in 2011. Though Boston has signed Mike Cameron to a one-year deal and have Jeremy Hermida in their back pocket, neither are long-term solutions. Listen to everyone in Boston breathe a sigh of relief at that last statement. Reddick, though, could fill one of the voids.
Reddick is above-average defensively, and his arm is consistently ranked as his best asset in most scouting reports. With a big right field in Fenway Park, he would fit in nicely and could be very similar to Dwight Evans on both sides of the ball. His ISO in the minors has been .235, not too bad for the position, but not outstanding. Reddick hit 23 home runs between Single-A and Double-A in 2008. In 2009, he added 15 between Double-A, Triple-A, and a stint with Boston. He does not have the same speed as Westmoreland, and likely projects out closer to a .270 hitter at best.
Boston has had major issues filling the hole at Shortstop since the departure of Nomar Garciaparra. While many have tried, none have stuck. One that has the chance is Jose Iglesias, a slick fielding infielder that has the organization filled with anticipation. Iglesias is not going to join Boston this season, especially with Marco Scutaro having been signed. Those watching him should not be afraid of Jed Lowrie, who has already shown that he not only cannot stay healthy, but that his brief show of success was more sizzle than steak.
It is obvious that the Red Sox think highly of Iglesias; they signed him to a four-year deal worth over eight million dollars in total. Some have started to question his offensive ability. Iglesias is just 5’10” tall and would therefore be considered a long-shot to hit 30 home runs, even in Fenway. Baseball Prospectushas described him as Ryan Theriot with better hands. Not a bad projection, and one that could be useful in many mixed leagues. For certain, it would give him a roster spot in AL-only formats.
Look for Boston to see what the 19-year-old can do with a full season in the minors before making any future plans for him. Iglesias has the ability in the infield, the only questions he will have to answer will be at the plate. Boston will certainly be ready to bring him up at some point in 2011, and he jumps on this list as a result.
This list would not be complete without a quick discussion on Lars Anderson. The first baseman has gone from darling of the organization to bust all because of a poor season. Straight to the point, players do not just forget how to hit. The idea of writing him off entirely is unfair. Anderson is a big target, and still a potential solid bat in the middle of the Boston lineup at First Base. He has struggled with injuries over the early part of his career as well, and they likely contributed to a sub-par 2009 season.
Anderson came on to the scene quickly in 2008 thanks to dominating performances in the California League and with Double-A Portland. In those stops, he hit .316 and knocked 18 home runs with 80 RBI in 118 games. Not bad numbers by any stretch. Last year was a different story. His average fell to .233 in 119 games while hitting only nine home runs. Nothing about that should give potential owners confidence in his ability. That said, he will still only be 22 years old at the start of this season.
For him to get to Boston, other things will need to fall in to place. First, Boston will need to move Kevin Youkilis to Third Base full time, something that could happen after the one-year deal for Adrian Beltre expires. The team would also need to make sure Victor Martinez stayed entirely behind the plate. There is also the answer to the question of what Boston will do with David Ortiz. All these could certainly happen, and Anderson would then be free to step in to one of two positions in the lineup. Expect that he gets a chance this season at some point with a full-time position in 2011.
Boston has plenty of other players. Mark Wagner will be ready to step in as a platoon mate with Martinez. Wagner may not hit much, but he can certainly fill the defensive void. Think of him as Jason Kendall (the good one), but with less speed. Junichi Tazawa already had a cup of coffee with Boston last season, and he is a much better prospect than Michael Bowden at this point. If you are looking at Bowden, it is time to cut the cord. Watching him this Spring continues to show that he does not hide the ball well enough and has a fastball that is too straight to be a force in the big leagues.
The Red Sox may not have players ready to go in 2010, but they certainly have depth in the system. These names will bring fantasy owners satisfaction if they are willing to wait and let the team bring them on at the right pace.
Spring Notes: Madison Bumgarner is suddenly in a race for the fifth and final spot in the rotation for the Giants. Bumgarner has shown diminished velocity compared to where he has been the last two seasons in the minors. While he looked better in his more recent outing, he hit just 89mph with his fastball. The Giants may not want to trust Todd Wellemeyer, but Bumgarner needs to improve quickly or he will start down in Fresno.
Austin Jackson has continued to impress early in camp with the Tigers. Any fears that he may not be ready to handle full-time duty with the team have been put to some rest. Jackson has been hitting well over .400, and has impressed manager Jim Leyland with his pitch recognition ability. Leyland noted that Jackson has not swung at many bad pitches all Spring.
Although the Nationals released Elijah Dukes, do not look for them to open a spot for Ian Desmond. Jim Riggleman has said that Desmond will not be considered for the created roster opening. Still, keep an eye on him as we move forward. With another road block out of the way, Desmond could be ticketed soon rather than later.
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