Rusney Castillo continuing to find success in Winter League

(September 26, 2014 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

There has been much hype surrounding 27-year old outfielder Rusney Castillo, after the Red Sox inked him to a record seven-year, $72.5 million contract back in August.

The Cuban defector made his organizational debut with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, who would go on to defeat the Yankees for the GCL title. Castillo went 1-for-5 with a walk and a RBI, while playing in games two and three of that series.

His next stop would be the Eastern League playoffs with the AA Portland Sea Dogs, where he hit .357 with two doubles, two runs batted in, four runs scored with a walk and a stolen base while playing CF and DH.

After Portland was eliminated by the Binghamton Mets in the five game series, Castillo was promoted to the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox where he would start all five games in the Governor's Cup series, winning his second championship in a month.

Castillo would play in 11 minor league games before making his major league debut, and hit .293 with five extra-base hits (including a home run), five RBI, seven runs scored, five walks and two stolen bases.

He was promoted to the major league club on September 17 for a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and went 1-4 in his debut.

Albeit a small sample size, Castillo certainly impressed in his short time with the big league club in 2014.

In 40 plate appearances he owned a .333/.400/.528 batting line, good for a .928 OPS with two home runs, 6 RBI,  three steals and three walks - all while looking very comfortable playing center field.

Before making his organizational debut with the Red Sox, it had been over a year since Castillo had played in a professional baseball game. Due to his limited number of at bats in 2014, Boston sent Castillo to the Arizona Fall League, where he was named to the AFL rising stars team.

After the conclusion of the AFL season, Castillo was then assigned to the Puerto Rican winter league where he is having himself quite a month.

Castillo's manager in Puerto Rico is 14-year MLB veteran infielder Alex Cora, who spent four seasons playing for the Boston Red Sox.

Cora has made it no secret how impressed he with Castillo, both on and off the field.

“When you have a high-profile import, usually they show up, they play, they leave," Cora said. “They don’t mingle, they could care less about teammates. With Rusney, it’s the total opposite. He’s been like an independent league pitcher who really cares about winning. He pays attention to the game, he wants to win. He’s doing everything possible to help us win games."

Rusney suffered a small setback when he injured his thumb in the AFL, but has rebounded nicely according to Cora.

“Defensively, he's been very impressive in center field," Cora said. “His instincts are great, the jumps he gets. He’s very light on his feet. Luis Matos, who played center field for Baltimore, is my hitting coach and outfield instructor, and he’s very impressed. Luis was a good outfielder. 

“Offensively, he's still learning, still working on a few things. It's tough to come here midway through it. The range of stuff he’s facing goes from north to south. There are guys throwing 95 and guys throwing 82 with sinkers and sliders. But he adjusts. I really like [that] he hasn't tried to pull the ball. The only ball he tried to pull was a breaking ball that he hit for a home run to left-center. He’s been strong to the right-center gap. Of his eight hits, six have been up the middle. That’s the sign of a good hitter not trying to do too much"

With both Castillo and Mookie Betts as potential lead off options, it is uncertain where Castillo will hit in the lineup to begin 2015. One thing is for certain however, with the addition of Castillo, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval - the Red Sox lineup is already much better than it was in 2014.

Red Sox introduce newly acquired Rick Porcello

(Source: Elise Amendola/Associated Press)

The Boston Red Sox officially introduced newly acquired starting pitcher Rick Porcello at Fenway Park on Friday.

After losing out to the Cubs in the Jon Lester sweepstakes and still in need of rotation help, Boston traded Yoenis Cespedes (who was acquired in the Jon Lester trade at the July 31 trade deadline) to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Porcello.

The New Jersey native is coming off a season with the Tigers in which he went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.231 WHIP while striking out 5.7 batters per nine innings.

When asked about the opportunity to play with the Boston Red Sox:

"I'm thrilled," he said. "I couldn't have asked for a better organization to get traded to. The winning tradition here, and everything that they're trying to do going forward, I'm extremely excited. It's a great opportunity.

"I want to just meet everybody and familiarize myself with the clubhouse and really just fit in and get to know everybody on the team and let them know that I'm here to work and here to win."

Although only 25 years old, Porcello already has six full seasons under his belt. In 184 career games, Porcello owns a 76-63 record to go with a 4.30 ERA, 1.359 WHIP and 2.49 K/BB ratio.

"Coming to the big leagues at a young age, it took me a little while to develop into the pitcher that I was going to be," explained Porcello. "I think the use of my curveball has been a big plus for me, changing speeds -- especially against left-handed hitters -- and also changing eye levels with a four-seam fastball and not just pounding the bottom of the zone with a sinker. I think those different looks, they make my sinker better."

The Red Sox hope that Porcello, in addition to the newly acquired Wade Miley and Justin Masterson, can solidify a starting rotation that was blown up at the trade deadline.

Some may remember Porcello as the pitcher who surrendered a walk-off single to Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the infamous Game 2 of the 2013 American League Championship Series:

David Ross to sign with Chicago Cubs

 (August 26, 2014 - Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America)

Per Ken Rosenthal, former Red Sox catcher David Ross has signed with the Chicago Cubs for two years and $5 million dollars.

Ross hit .184/.260/.368 in 50 games for Boston in 2014 to go with seven home runs and 50 RBI.

The veteran catcher has played for the Dodgers, Pirates, Reds, Braves, Red Sox and Padres in his 14-year career. In 744 career games has hit .233/.318/.435 with 95 home runs and 273 RBIs.

Some speculated that the 37-year old veteran may follow former Boston teammate Jon Lester to the Chicago Cubs. During the winter meetings Lester inked a 6-year/$155 million deal with the Cubs and former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein.

Ross was a big part of the 2013 World Series Championship team, including a huge RBI double in Game 5 of the series:

Red Sox nearing deal to send 3B Will Middlebrooks to San Diego Padres

(September 20, 2014 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)

Per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports,  the Boston Red Sox are nearing a deal that would send 26-year old third baseman Will Middlebrooks to the San Diego Padres in exchange for 34-year old veteran catcher Ryan Hanigan.

The deal comes on the heels of the Wil Myers blockbuster that sent Hanigan from the Tampa Bay Rays to San Diego.

Middlebrooks took over at third base for Kevin Youkilis in 2012, but has largely failed to live up to the high expectations many have placed on him.

In 232 career games, Middlebrooks has hit only .237/.284/.411 to go with 238 strikeouts and just 48 walks. Injuries limited Middlebrooks to just 63 games in 2014 for Boston, where he posted a horrific .191/.256/.265 hitting line.

However, injuries have largely limited Middlebrooks' time on the field in two of his three major league seasons.

After a hot start to the season that saw Middlebrooks hit .288/.305/.509 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI, the rookie third baseman broke his wrist when he was hit with a 95-MPH fastball.

After struggling for much of 2013 bouncing between the AAA club and the majors, Middlebrooks found himself on the disabled list shortly after the start of the 2014 season with a strained calf, and again in May with a fractured finger.

However, if Middlebrooks can stay healthy he is an excellent defensive catcher and possesses a high offensive ceiling:

Hanigan spent the first seven years of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, before being traded to Tampa Bay alongside Heath Bell before the 2014 season. The Washington D.C. native signed a 3-year, $10.75 million contract extension after being acquired by the Rays. Known as an above-average defensive catcher, Hanigan owns a .256/.353/.324 line in 558 career games with 25 home runs and 172 RBIs.

Red Sox trade Yoenis Cespedes to Tigers for Rick Porcello

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Ed Zurga/Getty Images North America)

The Boston Red Sox have have traded slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for starting pitcher Rick Porcello. Reliever Alex Wilson and minor-league pitcher Gabe Speier will also head to Detroit as part of the deal.

Cespedes was acquired by the Red Sox at the July 31 trading deadline from the Oakland Athletics, who received left-handed pitcher Jon Lester, as well as outfielder Jonny Gomes.  

Cespedes played in 51 games for Boston and managed to hit .269/.296/.423 with five home runs and 33 RBIs. In 416 career games between the Athletics and Red Sox, he owns a .263/.316/.464 line with 71 home runs and 262 RBIs.

The 29-year old Cuban defector has won the previous two Home Run Derby contests:

The 25-year old Porcello went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA for the Tigers in 2014, with 5.7 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9. He owns a career record of 76-63 with a 4.30 ERA and a 2.49 SO/BB ratio.

Some Boston fans may remember Porcello from the benches clearing brawl he was involved in after plunking Kevin Youkilis in 2009:

After losing out to the Cubs in the Jon Lester sweepstakes, the Red Sox have wasted no time acquiring acquiring some much needed rotation help. Shortly before acquiring Porcello, Boston traded for southpaw Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for starting pitchers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster.