Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Papel-Gone
Meet your new closer, Washington.
Jonathan Papelbon, previously the world’s most disgruntled Phillie, is headed to the nation’s capital. The Nationals acquired Papelbon Tuesday for minor league right-hander Nick Pivetta.
Dealing Papelbon to a divisional rival probably wasn’t the Phillies’ first choice. In fact, it wasn’t even the Nationals’ first choice. Washington inquired about Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman but ultimately felt the price for each was too high. So instead they settled on Papelbon, a six-time All-Star with one year left on his contract. To make the trade happen, Papelbon agreed to take a $2 million pay cut in 2016.
The Nats are far from a postseason lock, but they do hold a one-game lead over the Mets for first place in the NL East. A return to the playoffs would give Papelbon a chance to redeem himself after blowing a save that ended Boston’s season in 2009. That was Papelbon’s last trip to the postseason.
Papelbon hasn’t had much to do this year, but when the Phillies have been ahead in the ninth inning, he’s been lights out. The 34-year-old is a perfect 17-for-17 in save chances and boasts a stellar 40-to-8 K/BB. Pap’s 1.59 ERA is his lowest since 2006 when he finished second to Justin Verlander in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
The Phillies had to get something for Papelbon and they could have done a lot worse than Pivetta. The 22-year-old was Washington’s 12th-ranked prospect according to MLB.com. In 18 games across two minor league levels this year, Pivetta is 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA. His fastball tops out at a respectable 96 mph.
The Phillies, who have nothing to play for this year, are going to be sellers at the deadline. Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur have both been attached to rumors but the most prominent Phillie on the trading block is stud left-hander Cole Hamels. The former World Series MVP tossed a no-hitter against a solid Cubs lineup in his last start and could really help a contender like the Astros or the Dodgers. The Giants, winners of 12 of their last 14 games, are also in the hunt for Hamels.
Papelbon’s addition comes at the heavy expense of Drew Storen. The right-hander had been a dominant closer for the Nationals but will now shift to setup duty. Storen hasn’t allowed a run since June 24 and has struck out hitters at a rate of 10.9 K/9 this year. Three hours north, Ken Giles is set to take over the ninth inning in Philadelphia. Giles leads the Phillies with 12 holds in 45 appearances.
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Pedro Honored
No Red Sox player will ever wear No. 45 again. The Sox made it official Tuesday at Fenway Park by retiring Pedro Martinez’s number before a sellout crowd of 38,063.
Many former Sox including Orlando Cabrera, Carlton Fisk, Trot Nixon, Jim Rice, Curt Schilling, Luis Tiant, Carl Yastrzemski and Tim Wakefield were on hand for the ceremony. Martinez, who was officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, is one of eight Sox to have his number retired and the only pitcher to receive the honor. His .760 winning percentage is the highest in team history.
Ralph Avila, the Dodgers scout who discovered Pedro and his brother Ramon in the Dominican Republic, was also present. So was Felipe Alou, Pedro’s manager when he played for the Expos. The scene concluded with Pedro throwing out the first pitch to his former catcher Jason Varitek.
Unfortunately, the Red Sox had to play a game after that. Like most Red Sox games this season, it didn’t go well. The visiting White Sox roughed Wade Miley up for five runs in the first inning and grabbed two more on a controversial home run by Jose Abreu in the sixth. Mookie Betts made a running catch on the warning track but his momentum sent him over the right field fence. The ball fell out of his glove, landing in the bullpen for a home run. Betts left the game with a head injury and is likely headed to the 7-day concussion disabled list.
Melky Cabrera paced the White Sox with four hits, finishing a single shy of the cycle. The left-fielder’s batting average has gone up 21 points during his seven-game hitting streak (16-for-31 over that stretch). The Red Sox have lost 10 of 12 since the All-Star break.
Royals Acquire Zobrist
The Royals keep buying and the A’s keep selling. Tuesday Kansas City acquired utility man Ben Zobrist from Oakland in exchange for pitching prospects Aaron Brooks and Sean Manaea.
Let’s pump the brakes, Royals fans. Before you get excited about your new toy, realize this isn’t the same Zobrist who slugged 27 homers in 2009, or even the one who swiped 24 bags in 2010. With just six homers and 33 RBI this year, Zobrist is firmly on the decline.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a useful piece on a winning ball club. The 34-year-old can play anywhere on the field and still makes plenty of contact (only 26 strikeouts in 235 at-bats). He’ll see most of his playing time in left field while Alex Gordon recovers from a groin injury. When Gordon returns, Zobrist could force himself into a platoon with light-hitting Omar Infante at second base.
Meanwhile the A’s seem to be bottoming out. Oakland shipped left-hander Scott Kazmir to Houston last week before sending Tyler Clippard to the Mets. The A’s would need a miracle to get back in the race (11 games behind first place Los Angeles in the AL West), so it makes sense for them to build up the farm system and hope a few of their seeds blossom into future stars.
That’s the opposite of Kansas City’s approach. By adding Johnny Cueto and Zobrist before the deadline, the Royals are essentially telling the rest of the league, “We’re winning the World Series this year and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Only time will tell if they’re right.
American League Quick Hits: Jose Bautista left Tuesday’s game with a hamstring injury but should be good to go on Wednesday … Russell Martin subbed in at second base after Bautista left the game. It’s his second time playing there this year … LaTroy Hawkins made his Blue Jays debut on Tuesday. He’s now pitched for 11 teams in 21 major league seasons … The Red Sox are retiring Pedro Martinez’s No. 45 throughout the entire organization. Case in point: Pawtucket outfielder Carlos Peguero was asked to change his number from 45 to 44 … Brock Holt missed Tuesday’s game with a hyperextended knee. Jemile Weeks got the start in his place … Emilio Bonifacio left Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox with a left rib injury. Carlos Sanchez pinch-hit for Bonifacio in the fifth inning … Geovany Soto crushed a home run WAY over the Green Monster. The 400-foot blast smashed the windshield of a Volkswagen parked on Lansdowne Street … The Indians stole six bases off Chris Young Tuesday night. Dude, ever heard of a pickoff move? … Chris Davis homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs Tuesday in a win over Atlanta. It was his 10th multi-homer game …David Price looked out of sorts Tuesday against the Rays (6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER). Maybe the trade rumors are getting to him … Curt Casali homered twice Tuesday for his second multi-homer game in a row. Six of his last eight hits have been round-trippers … Shane Victorino went 1-for-4 with a bunt single in his Angels debut. The Red Sox traded him for Josh Rutledge on Monday … The Angels also traded for David Murphy and David DeJesus. That leaves Matt Joyce about 7,000th on the team’s outfield depth chart … An MRI on Mike Trout’s injured wrist came back negative. He should be back in the lineup Wednesday versus Houston … Jose Altuve plated a career-high five runs in Tuesday’s victory over the Angels. The teams are now locked in a dead heat for first place in the AL West … Didi Gregorius led the Yankees with four hits Tuesday in a win over Texas. He’s hitting .500 against the Rangers this year and .241 against everyone else … The Yankees scored 11 runs in the second, the most by any team in an inning this year … Chris Capuano couldn’t make it through the first inning Tuesday (42 pitches, 3 H, 5 ER, 5 BB in 2/3 IP) but the Yankees still managed to win by 16 (21-5).
National League Quick Hits: In what could be his last start for Cincinnati, Mike Leake scattered four hits over eight scoreless frames for his ninth victory. Stephen Piscotty broke up Leake’s no-hit bid in the fifth inning … The Reds will hold Pete Rose Bobblehead Night September 12 at the Great American Ballpark. September 12 marks the 30th anniversary of Rose passing Ty Cobb for first place on the all-time hits list … Noah Syndergaard retired the first 18 hitters he faced on Tuesday. Will Venable spoiled the perfect game with a single to lead off the seventh … Lucas Duda’s 462-foot blast Tuesday was the longest by a Met at Citi Field … Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the Padres in his Mets debut … Jenrry Mejia, who just finished serving an 80-game ban for PEDs, was handed a new 162-game suspension Tuesday after testing positive for Stanozolol and Boldenode. When will he learn? … Jose Reyes will wear No. 7 for the Rockies, just as he did for the Blue Jays, Marlins and Mets … Dee Gordon went 2-for-3 in his return to action on Tuesday. He dislocated his thumb in a game two weeks ago … Jose Fernandez threw 99 pitches Tuesday in his longest outing of the year. He’s gone 4-0 with a 2.53 ERA since returning from Tommy John surgery … Henderson Alvarez is headed for shoulder surgery. Dr. James Andrews recommended the procedure after looking at his shoulder earlier this week. He’s done for the year … Jayson Werth (wrist) and Ryan Zimmerman (foot) both returned Tuesday after lengthy stints on the disabled list. They went a combined 3-for-7 with two singles and a double … Ryan Braun missed his second game in a row on Tuesday night. He’s been battling a bad back … Randal Grichuk missed Tuesday’s game with a sore groin. Fortunately his MRI came back clean, so it’s nothing serious … Big thanks to Drew Silva for covering my Daily Doses while I was away at grad school. I’ll be back for my normal Dose Sunday morning, bright and early.
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