The Boston Red Sox are officially in sell mode, as they have sent a pair of relievers to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Boston Red Sox fire sale was inevitable. They had entered Friday at 8-18, tied with the Angels for the second worst record in the American League. With ten days before the trade deadline, and rumors swirling around the roster, something was going to happen.
The first salvo has been fired. The Red Sox have sent relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree to the Philadelphia Phillies for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold.
Phillies have acquired RHPs Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for RHPs Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold. pic.twitter.com/onrxWB1zFN
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 22, 2020
After a rough start to the season, Workman has been back to form as a dependable bullpen arm. Serving as the Red Sox closer, he has allowed three runs on eight hits and four walks over his 6.2 innings, striking out eight. However, a large portion of that damage came against the Yankees on August 14, when he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk.
Hembree, likewise, has had his struggles this season. He has allowed six runs on nine hits and three walks, including two homers, in his 9.2 innings. Hembree has struck out ten batters however, and has a track record of being a dependable middle reliever in Boston.
Seabold was considered to be the Phillies’ 23rd best prospect entering the 2020 season. A third round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, he had reached AA in 2019, posting a 2.25 ERA and a 1.125 WHiP in his 40 innings, issuing ten walks and striking out 36 batters. He is not considered to have one particularly eye catching pitch or elite command, but Seabold does throw strikes and gets the most out of his stuff. Chances are, he is a back of the rotation arm with the potential for more.
Pivetta is another intriguing arm. He had been considered to be one of the constant stream of ‘starters of the future’ for the Phillies, but had been unable to fulfill expectations, having spent the past four years between the minors and majors. Overall, he has a 19-30 record with a 5.50 ERA and a 1.433 WHiP, striking out 421 batters with 148 walks in 396.1 innings.
The Boston Red Sox have begun their fire sale. Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree are heading to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for a pair of intriguing arms.