Red Sox Cut Prospects (3/20/24)

As we head toward Opening Day, a lot of guys have been cut from Spring Training back to the minors including standouts like Kyle Teel and Luis Guerrero. However, some guys were released completely including a few familiar faces. Let's take a look at the casualties.

On March 1st the Sox released former Lowell Spinners ace Yusniel Padron-Artiles, 2022 20th round pick Connor Butler, 2022 undrafted rookie free agent Bryant Zayas and 19 year old Dominican Emmanuel Martinez. Martinez hit .154 in 12 games for the Florida Complex League last year so Sox brass figured they'd seen enough. Padron was arguably Lowell's best pitcher in 2019 but was straight batting practice ever since, going 3-12 for Greenville in 2022. Zayas was a head scratcher as he hit .242 in his first pro season last year but guess they figured they can sign another rookie free agent this year to put up his numbers. "Father" Butler allowed 10 runs in 9 innings last year for Salem. Unlike other general managers that will allow a guy a few years to develop, new Sox GM Craig Breslow is saying "Oh you stunk last year, GET OUT!"

On March 3rd the Sox released 2021 Chaim Bloom Dominican signing Wandy Abreu. He allowed 18 runs in 34 innings for the Complex last year, not exactly setting a good standard. Again, Breslow is clearing out anyone who underperformed.

On March 11th, the Sox released five more players. The most surprising was Luis De La Rosa, one of the prospects the Sox got from the Andrew Benintendi trade. He was 2-7 but had a 2.94 ERA and looked to be turning a corner. Oh well...life moves on. Jorge Rodriguez had Tommy John Surgery in late 2022 and didn't pitch at all this year, so much for a big comeback. Nate Tellier was one of the rookie free agents signed in 2020 since there was only a 5 round draft that year. He was AWFUL for the SAL champion Greenville Drive allowing 37 runs in 41 innings despite going 6-1. Not much you can expect from a guy not even drafted. Jordan DiValerio was another undrafted rookie in 2020 and he allowed 56 runs in 72 innings.  Finally 17th round pick Deundre Jones was let go after hitting just .191 for the Complex last year. Once again Sox GM Craig Breslow is going "Bad season last year? SCRAM!"

Lastly, on March 18th, Jaret Godman simply retired. The 19th round pick in 2022 allowed 7 runs in 7 innings last year for Greenville and didn't pitch again. He did the smart thing by saying "I'm good" before being released or getting hammered again.

So to recap, that's THREE 2022 draft picks, two undrafted rookies from 2020, an undrafted 2022 rookie, a Dombrowski Dominican draftee, a couple of Bloom Dominican draftees and one of the pieces of the Benintendi trade.

To put an exclamation point on how bad Bloom was as GM of the Red Sox.....not a single draft pick has made the majors yet. Draft picks from 2020 (Spencer Torkelson) and 2021 (Henry Davis) have made it from other teams but not the Red Sox. Hopefully Breslow has better success this coming June.

Opening Day is just 8 days away and Brayan Bello has been named the starter for that night in Seattle.