Matt Barnes saved issues diplomatic in his first media availability since being traded to the Miami Marlins earlier this week, however regardless of telling Marlins and Red Sox reporters that he felt “very fortunate for everything the Red Sox have given (him)” and wasn’t trying again on his time “with any animosity,” stress and disappointment mingled with professionalism.
The 32-year-old righty revealed that he and his spouse have been in Las Vegas for a buddy’s marriage ceremony when chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom known as to let him know that he was being designated for task. He described the information as “a complete blindside.”
Six days later, he was ready out a five-hour flight delay on the Vegas airport when he heard from Bloom once more, this time, concerning the commerce.
Letting his actions communicate for him, Barnes declined to touch upon his retweet of a tweet about being “run into the ground” after the DFA, however acknowledged that his shoulder “flared up” when his workload elevated.
Barnes admitted that it’s “going to be weird” to go well with up for the Marlins, however gave an optimistic body to the scenario, saying, “Weird’s not a bad thing. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and obviously looking forward to getting down there. It’s going to be different. I’m going from an organization where I know everybody. You go from something like that where that’s all you’ve known for 12 years, there’s absolutely going to be an adjustment process. There’s absolutely going to be things I’m going to have to learn.”
To say that is unfamiliar territory is an understatement on condition that he not solely spent his total skilled profession with the identical group, however was additionally born and raised within the area. The veteran reliever is a Connecticut native who performed baseball with Sox hitting coach Pete Fatse at UConn, and spent two summers pitching within the historic Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2011, Barnes was the group’s first-round choose within the MLB Draft, and by 2022, he was the longest-tenured member of the bullpen by far. His 429 regular-season appearances rank third in franchise historical past behind Bob Stanley (637) and Tim Wakefield (590).
Barnes leaves Boston with a World Series ring, however he opened up about how tough the final two years have been. In July 2021, the Sox signed him to a two-year extension inside days of his first All-Star sport, however he fell aside within the second half and solely discovered his manner again late within the ’22 season:
“I go from being an All-Star closer to not making a postseason roster to being terrible for two months then on the IL for another two … from the highest to the lows in the blink of an eye, it felt like. That’s not easy to deal with, honestly, especially since I felt like it was my responsibility to be the guy at the back end when all else failed.”
It’s “kind of a bitter sweet ending,” however Barnes can have a recent begin in Miami and an opportunity to make the Sox remorse the commerce; the Marlins come to Fenway June 27-29.
No WBC for Casas
Chris Cotillo experiences that Triston Casas received’t be collaborating within the World Baseball Classic, however the Sox anticipate ‘about 10-12’ gamers to partake:
Kiké Hernández (Puerto Rico), Rafael Devers (Dominican Republic), Masataka Yoshida (Japan), Alex Verdugo (Mexico), Nick Pivetta (Canada), Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands), Jorge Alfaro (Colombia), Richard Bleier (Israel) and Ryan Sherriff (Israel) are anticipated to play. Christian Arroyo (Puerto Rico) and Kenley Jansen (Netherlands) are maybes.
More non-roster invitees
The Red Sox have added 10 non-roster invitees to the 2023 spring coaching roster: RHPs Dan Altavilla, Taylor Broadway, Durbin Feltman, Victor Santos, and Chase Shugart, INFs Christian Koss and Matthew Lugo, INF/OFs Ryan Fitzgerald and Nick Sogard, and catcher Stephen Scott.
Rafaela skyrockets
Prospects guru Keith Law ranked Ceddanne Rafaela No. 37 on his Top 100 prospects record for The Athletic.
It’s a big departure from how different evaluators view the group’s 2022 breakout star; Rafaela at present sits at No. 3 within the Sox system, however ranks 86th in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 and 71st by Baseball America.
While Law echoed the group’s considerations concerning the 22-year-old’s plate self-discipline, he praised Rafaela’s velocity and “elite” protection. Rafaela hasn’t reached Triple-A but, however Law nonetheless positioned him simply forward of Casas, whose September debut prompted the Sox to assemble the 2023 roster with him because the projected on a regular basis first baseman; he slotted in at No. 40.
Law additionally moved Marcelo Mayer, Boston’s No. 1 prospect, from No. 18 to No. 11, and has a excessive opinion of 19-year-old Miguel Bleis; he listed him at No. 72, in comparison with No. 93 within the pipeline and No. 88 for Baseball America.
Ockimey retires, rejoins Sox
Josh Ockimey, a Triple-A PawSox/WooSox fan-favorite, introduced his retirement from skilled baseball this week.
After spending the 2022 MiLB season along with his hometown Phillies, he’s rejoining the Sox group of their skilled scouting division.
The Sox drafted Ockimey as their fifth-round choose within the 2014 draft, and he opted to forgo his school dedication and start his skilled profession. In 2017, Baseball America ranked him the group’s No. 10 prospect. He was promoted to Triple-A in August 2018, however remained on the penultimate stage till the top of the 2021 season.
Competing with higher-ranked first-base prospects akin to Michael Chavis, Bobby Dalbec and Casas, Ockimey’s path to the majors was constantly blocked. But given how Chavis and Dalbec panned out, it’s unlucky Ockimey by no means bought a shot within the majors. He usually displayed critical energy potential throughout spring coaching and in Triple-A, hitting 11 doubles and 15 house runs in 98 video games for the WooSox in 2021.
Over his seven seasons within the Sox system, Ockimey turned a well-respected member of the group. At the top of the inaugural WooSox season in 2021, he was the first-ever recipient of their “Heart of the Heart” group service award.
New Truck Day custom?
Over the previous 20 years, Truck Day has turn into an eagerly-awaited custom, the primary glimmer of hope {that a} lengthy winter will quickly result in a brand new baseball season.
At 7 a.m. on Friday, the 53-foot truck might be loaded up with tools, together with 20,400 baseballs, 1,100 bats and 60 circumstances of sunflower seeds, and Al Hartz will chauffeur the products from Fenway Park to Fenway South, the group’s spring coaching advanced in Fort Myers, Fla.
This is Hartz’s twenty fifth consecutive yr making the journey, however for the primary time, the truck will make a pit cease on the group’s Triple-A Polar Park, which opened in Worcester in May 2021.The WooSox plan to greet the Milford native with their mascots and a care bundle stuffed with native treats to tackle the 1,480-mile drive.
Fans are invited to attend the Fenway departure (12 p.m.) and the Polar cease (roughly 1 p.m.).
Source: www.bostonherald.com