The Boston Red Sox appear to be heading toward a fire sale as the trade deadline approaches. Which three prospects should get their major league call-up?
The Boston Red Sox seem as though they're ready to concede their pursuit of the playoffs in 2022. After reaching the American League Championship Series last season, this has to be a devastating blow for Red Sox Nation.
J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi, and others may be on their way out of Beantown by Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline. If that occurs, there'll be some spots to fill on the major league roster. These three prospects should be first in line when the time comes.
1. Red Sox should call up Ronaldo Hernandez after the fire sale
Ronaldo Hernandez is running out of options. Literally, the catching prospect has just one minor league option remaining according to FanGraphs. Hernandez signed an international free agent with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014 and has been in the Red Sox organization since last season.
Hernandez has spent the entire 2022 season at Triple-A Worcester. He's hitting .279 and haas 10 round trippers on the season. While Hernandez doesn't get a lot of free passes (3.3% walk-rate), the 24-year-old has a slugging percentage of .462 with 33 extra-base hits.
Christian Vazquez may be on his way out of Boston at this year's trade deadline. The catcher is in the final year of his deal with the Red Sox and with an OPS+ 108, Vazquez could offer a cheaper alternative to Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.
If the Boston Red Sox move on from Vazquez, Chaim Bloom needs to elevated Ronaldo Hernandez to the team's big league roster. If Christian Vazquez is dealt, the only other catchers on the 40-man roster would be Kevin Plawecki and Connor Wong; neither of whom should be starting over Hernandez.
2. Red Sox should call up Triston Casas after the fire sale
Triston Casas, not Bobby Dalbec, is the Boston Red Sox first baseman of the future. It's high-time the Sox make the transition to their top prospect. Casas must be added to the 40-man roster this winter anyway in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, so the Red Sox might as well do it now.
Casas has been biding his time down on the farm. The 22-year-old was Boston's first-round draft pick in 2018 and has plus, plus-power from the left side. Casas was part of Team USA's silver medal-winning team during the Olympics last year and smashed three home runs in six games for the red, white, and blue.
Casas can bring that same type of power to a Boston Red Sox lineup that may soon be without longtime slugger J.D. Martinez. Boston's DH has been rumored to be on the move for several days and a contender like the New York Mets might be willing to sacrifice a few high-end prospects for his services.
Triston Casas isn't a burner on the base paths, but that's about the only knock that scouts have on him. MLB Pipeline sees Casas as the Red Sox second-best prospect behind only Marcelo Mayer and the 13th prospect in all of baseball. Casas' time is now.
3. Red Sox should call up Connor Seabold after the fire sale
Jeter Downs got a taste of the big leagues earlier this season, but was just sent back to Triple-A to work on some things. Connor Seabold made his first appearance since hitting the 15-day IL back in mid-July. The right-hander was sidelined due to a forearm injury, but just pitched in four innings at Triple-A this past week.
Seabold allowed two runs on four hits and struck out four batters during his first return to action since being placed on the IL. If all goes well in his next scheduled start, the right-hander should rejoin the Red Sox active roster.
Nathan Eovaldi is said to be available in a trade. If that happens, the Boston Red Sox will need a replacement for the veteran in the starting rotation. Seabold doesn't have the best track record in the majors (11.91 ERA) during his first few starts, but at this time, the Red Sox need to find out what they have in the former third-round draft pick.
The Boston Red Sox should evaluate asa many young prospects as possible over the next couple of months. With a spot in the playoffs all but out of reach in the very difficult AL East, Boston should set their sights on next season and commit to a full-on fire sale at the trade deadline.