Red Sox Rumors: Could Tanner Houck follow Nick Pivetta to bullpen?
Earlier this week, despite Nick Pivetta seemingly getting testy with reporters who suggested the possibility in previous weeks, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora made the move to put the starter in the bullpen.
This isn't the first time that we've seen the club make that type of move this season. Josh Winckowski started games for the Sox last season but has been a stud long reliever this year. Meanwhile, Kutter Crawford didn't lose his spot in the rotation but got pushed out by players returning from the IL and has been in a imilar long relief role too. Now Pivetta is heading into something similar.
Could that not be the end of it, though?
It's no secret that the Red Sox have long been trying to find any kind of a solution for a bullpen that has been an absolute problem holding the club back from winning games. Recently, though, it seems as if Cora has taken it upon himself to try and remedy that, along with the front office. Ryan Brasier is goine and the long relief options have seemingly been in favor.
In the case of Tanner Houck, one has to wonder if that becomes an option for him, something floated on Twitter in this context by Red Sox Stats.
Soon enough, Garrett Whitlock is set to return from the IL. The team just got James Paxton back. Chris Sale appears to be healthy. Brayan Bello is starting to come into his own. When you then factor in a near two-year trend now of Houck struggling more often the second and third times through the order, perhaps a long relief role is where he could thrive the most and help the Red Sox the most substantially.
There's nothing concrete in this regard yet but, given the situation and the moves with Pivetta, Winckowski and Crawford, it can't be ruled out as a possibility for Houck.
Red Sox Rumors: Marcelo Mayer promotion to Double-A only a matter of time
There were a number of scouts who believed that the Boston Red Sox were the luckiest team in the 2021 MLB Draft when shortstop Marcelo Mayer from Eastlake High School in California fell into their laps with the No. 4 overall pick. Basically since that time, Mayer has been the top prospect in the organization.
And it's safe to say that he's living up to the billing.
Mayer was promoted to High-A ball near the end of last year, which is where he started the 2023 season. With the way he's playing so far this year, though, he won't be with the Greenville Drive much longer as there's a spot with the Double-A Portland Seadogs waiting on him.
In 28 games so far this year — three more than he played last season — Mayer is slashing an impressive .316/.391/.547 with five home runs, 10 doubles, one triple and 27 RBI while also stealing four bases and scoring 20 runs himself. Suffice it to say, he's been the good.
Projections from many have Mayer making his MLB debut some time next season when he'll be just 21 years old still. For now, though, it's going to be soon when he takes the next step closer to seeing the big leagues as he's more than living up to the hype right now.
Red Sox Rumors: Angels gift Boston bullpen help with Ryan Tepera release
Ryan Tepera was one of the hottest trade commodities of the 2021 season at the end of his contract at the time. After that year, though, he ended up with the Los Angeles Angels on a two-year deal prior to the 2022 season. Last year, though he was inconsistent, he still ended the year solidly with a 3.61 ERA, 113 ERA+ and a 1.081 WHIP.
It's been a disaster this year, though, as he's posted a bloated 7.27 ERA and 2.077 WHIP over 10 appearances, which led to his being DFA'd by the Angels. On Saturday, the club announced he'd cleared waivers and is now a free agent.
And now he should be on the Red Sox radar.
Look, no one is ignoring the fact that Tepera has been downright bad this season. But in many instances, so too has been the case for the Red Sox bullpen.
As mentioned with Houck, Cora seems to be looking to experiment with moving some guys around into long relief roles as we've seen past starters like Kutter Crawford and now Nick Pivetta take that route recently. But in terms of back-end guys that could come in, there are few outside of Kenley Jansen who inspire a ton of confidence.
Subsequently, with the low, low price the 35-year-old Tepera, a righty with an established track record prior to this season, could make him a worthwhile gamble and cost-effective option for Chaim Bloom to explore to help fortify the bullpen, an area the Red Sox have notoriously been unable to rely.