Red Sox Notebook: Top outfield prospect done for the year, Jorge Alfaro has a new home, selling at the deadline?
The Red Sox farm system was dealt a blow on Saturday when it was announced Miguel Bleis will need season ending shoulder surgery, per source. The team confirmed the announcement.
Bleis suffered a left shoulder strain on May 31 and was placed on the injured list by Single-A Salem. The 19-year-old will undergo surgery for a left shoulder subluxation but he is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2024 season.
Earlier this season, Baseball America listed Bleis as a potential breakout candidate in the Sox system.
“Bleis has tools, youth and production on his side. Now, he needs to shore up his approach and get a better handle on breaking balls to truly tap into his talents. How well he does that will largely determine his future, but the upside is there to be a superstar in the coming years," per Baseball America.
Bleis was off to a slower start to begin the season, he was hitting .230 with one homer, 16 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a .607 OPS in 31 games. Prior to his injury, he was playing center and right field for Salem.
The Dominican Republic native is currently ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Sox system according to Baseball America and was recently ranked as the No. 86 prospect out of 100. The Red Sox originally signed Bleis for $1.5 million in January 2021, effectively making him the highest-paid player of the international signing class that year.
Jorge Alfaro Found a New Home
Jorge Alfaro signed with the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, per the MLB transactions page. This comes on the heels of Alfaro being released by the Red Sox due to the veteran exercising his June 1 opt-out clause.
Boston had to add Alfaro to their 26-man roster, they failed to do so and he became a free agent.
The 30-year-old was having a great season with Triple-A Worcester posting a .320/.367/.520 batting line across 191 plate appearances. Alfaro had 13 doubles, two triples, six homers, 30 RBI, four stolen bases in 43 games.
Colorado assigned Alfaro to their Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, however his time in the minors maybe short lived. The Rockies’ Elias Díaz, the team’s primary catcher was removed from Saturday’s game after taking a foul ball his mask.
Alfaro could provide depth as his back up and could take advantage of playing in Coors Field with his offensive upside.
Should the Red Sox be Seller’s?
The Red Sox are sitting at 32-33 (.500) and in last place in the American League East.
The Sox are also sitting five games out of the last Wild Card spot.
There is still two months before the MLB trade deadline and time for the Sox to right the ship, but the loss of Chris Sale and lack of offense the last 30 games (3.7 runs per game) and terrible defense, Boston needs to get their act together fast.
If Chaim Bloom decides to sell off parts of his roster, the Sox have pieces that would be attractive to team’s buying as they position themselves for a playoff push.
James Paxton, Justin Turner and Kike Hernández are all on expiring deals and could yield a return. If the Sox wanted they could also explore deals for Kenley Jansen, he is signed through next season at $16 million.
"If indeed this is to be a seller’s market, the Red Sox may finally be in a good position to deal. James Paxton, Justin Turner, and Kiké Hernández are all on short-term deals and could attract interest in a competitive marketplace,” said Sean McAdam of MassLive.com. "Even Kenley Jansen, due another $16 million in 2024, would appeal to a team in need of a closer - both Texas and the New York Mets immediately spring to mind."
It’s still too early for the Sox to wave the white flag, but if Bloom was interested in hitting the reset button on this season, he has attractive pieces that could yield prospects in return.
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