TRADE: Steve Pearce dealt to Red Sox for minor leaguer Espinal

[dagger]

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[Fenris-77]

I like this.

[Schad]

So there's the answer to the question of who will play SS in NH when Bichette moves to AAA, heh.

Soxprospects.com, a site that apparently exists, named him their minor league player of May 2018, and 15th on their rankings. It is worth nothing that Soxprospects.com looks like it was made in 1998. No other site has him ranked that I can see, though he was a "other player of note" on Sickels rankings.

He's a bit of an advanced metrics darling, albeit a bit overage at A+, as Carson Cistulli notes here:

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fringe-five-baseballs-most-compelling-fringe-prospects-107/

Plays solid defense at SS, not much swing-and-miss, doesn't hit the ball on the ground a tonne.

[phillipmike]

Would have thought Pearce would have got future considerations.

A few boston fans don't like giving up Espinal after the season he has been having.

[Schad]

This also means that Pearce's last five clubs are as follows: Yankees, Baltimore, Tampa, Baltimore, Jays, Red Sox. I wonder if any other player has ever gone through all five teams in a division without playing for a team outside the division during that span. Probably not?

Edit: nope, Kelly Johnson did it as well. I thought he left the AL East for a spell in there, but apparently not.

[vaff87]

Dude had a 15 game hitting streak snapped because of the trade. He had one AB tonight, and was pulled.

[vaff87]

I’m not sure this trade exactly means anything about the Jays intentions. They clearly had too many outfielders.

[BigLeagueChew]

Hanley Ramirez replacement although Moreland has somewhat figured out how to hit lefties, Pearce can also pinch hit for Bradley Jr or Nunez if he stays healthy.

[dagger]

I’m not sure this trade exactly means anything about the Jays intentions. They clearly had too many outfielders.

Yes, I think the nice thing is that it makes room for turnover to accelerate.

[Schad]

Would have thought Pearce would have got future considerations.

A few boston fans don't like giving up Espinal after the season he has been having.

Yeah, I mean, there's every chance that Espinal is just a guy who is a bit too old for his level having a good BABIP year. That's okay, when it's the return for a guy who has posted 0.4 fWAR over 1.5 seasons and has been consistently injured.

[Schad]

I’m not sure this trade exactly means anything about the Jays intentions. They clearly had too many outfielders.

It'd make sense even in isolation, but our intentions have to be clear at this point.

Couple of good things underlying it, though: we made a trade within the division, and we were willing to eat a (small) amount of money, so Rogers isn't yet in payroll panic mode.

[emptytheclip]

Looks like we’re opened for business

Santiago Espinal
Red Sox 2016 10th rounder.
SS/2B Age 23, 5’10” 170lbs R/R

Currently at A+ 64G 280PA, .314/.364/.478
OPS .843 wRC+ 136 wOBA .382
80 H, 15 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR
9 SB/1 CS
35 SO/18 BB

Played most of his games at shortstop. Seems like Smith and Warmoth has some competition. His numbers weren’t this solid at A, so it’s a bit of a breakout year for him. Hitting for a bit more power this year, his ISO jumped from .077 to .165.

Has an OPS of 1.046 against lefties.
Average April, strong May & June

[vaff87]

Would have thought Pearce would have got future considerations.

A few boston fans don't like giving up Espinal after the season he has been having.

Yeah, I mean, there's every chance that Espinal is just a guy who is a bit too old for his level having a good BABIP year. That's okay, when it's the return for a guy who has posted 0.4 fWAR over 1.5 seasons and has been consistently injured.

His BAPIP is only 23 points higher than last year, but his iso is 88 points higher. He’s basically turned a bunch of ground balls into line drives. LD% 20.5 last year, GB 46.2%. This year, LD% 32.7, GB 31.4%

[polo007]

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[Schad]

His BAPIP is only 23 points higher than last year, but his iso is 88 points higher. He’s basically turned a bunch of ground balls into line drives. LD% 20.5 last year, GB 46.2%. This year, LD% 32.7, GB 31.4%

Yeah, the high-ish BABIP is supported by his components, so there's something to dream on there. He might go straight to

[manjusaka]

great ! lets keep it going. I want to see more trades.

[Tanner]

Wasn't expecting much for Pearce given he's been hurt most the year and expires after this season, so can't complain. A lotto ticket with possibly some upside if his more LD/FB approach this year is sustainable as he moves up.

[polo007]

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Espinal, listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, is a 23-year-old was batting .314/.364/.478 in 64 games with high-A Salem.

The Blue Jays believe the athletic infielder has a chance to stick up the middle with the potential for everyday upside. He’s described as a tough out at the plate with good feel for the strike zone and strong bat-to-ball skills, as well as being a hard worker with the aptitude to make adjustments.

He’s the type of down-the-system, lottery-ticket-type player that rental veterans like Pearce typically move for at this time of year. Sending some cash with Pearce to the Red Sox likely gave the Blue Jays a better choice of prospect, and their chances of getting value back depends on their scouting.

The Blue Jays have plenty of other pending free agents they can move, with J.A. Happ likely to bring back the biggest return with Josh Donaldson’s status uncertain. Also on expiring contracts are Marco Estrada, Curtis Granderson, Seunghwan Oh (club option), John Axford, Tyler Clippard and Aaron Loup.

[rotty]

Espinal is having a good season right now. Looking good. Lets ship out some more geezers.

Favorite Pearce memory were those grand slams against the Angels lol.