BOSTON -- Jeter Downs’ short-lived promotion to the majors earlier this week was notable because it meant that one of the Red Sox’ most well-known prospects had finally reached the big leagues. But it also represented an important milestone for Boston’s front office.
Downs’ debut meant that all three players the Red Sox acquired from the Dodgers for Mookie Betts and David Price in Feb. 2020 have reached the majors. Outfielder Alex Verdugo has been in the big leagues since debuting in 2020. Catcher Connor Wong has made eight big league appearances over the last two years. And Downs, who had a higher ceiling than the other two players at the time of the deal, took the field for the Red Sox on Wednesday. None of the three players are finished products. But the fact they all have at least gotten a taste of big league action is meaningful to the organization.
“I was thinking about that, the three of them, they made it to the big leagues,” said manager Alex Cora. “We do believe that Wong and Jeter have potential. They’re really good. Wong is swinging the bat a lot better in Triple-A. Jeter, obviously, the power numbers and the running. The average is not where we want it. At one point, everybody talked about this guy like he was going to be a good big league player and we still believe that.”
Two-plus years after the trade, it’s fair to say that the Red Sox have not gotten as much as they likely would have hoped out of their end of one of the most important trades in franchise history. While the salary aspect of the deal allowed them to reset under the competitive balance tax, the player portion of the return has been a bit underwhelming. Verdugo has shown flashes over three big league seasons but has yet to establish himself as a consistent producer. Downs’ stock has fallen drastically thanks to two poor offensive seasons at Triple-A (.190 average in 155 games). Wong was always the wild card of the group and profiles as a fringe big leaguer whose versatility (he can play some infield spots in addition to catching) might help him carve out a role.
This week, a rival executive assessed Boston’s haul.
“Very rarely are you ever able to obtain even close to similar value when you trade a superstar,” the executive said. “Verdugo is a solid everyday guy. Never going to be a star, but solid. Downs is a better hitter than he’s shown the last two years but it’s always a concern when a hitter struggles like he has. Wong can be a utility type/backup catcher.”
Luckily for the Red Sox, there’s still time for all three players to reach their ceilings. Downs is 23 and both Wong and Verdugo are 26. Verdugo is under team control through 2024 and seems like he’ll get ample chances to be a long-term solution in the team’s outfield. After a stellar debut season in 2020, Verdugo went backwards offensively last year and enters Sunday’s action with a .666 OPS. The hero in Saturday’s win, Verdugo -- who has hit the ball hard all season -- attributes some of his struggles to bad luck.
“I know who I am,” Verdugo said earlier this week. “I know that I’ve got a long way to go and that I’m not even near my ceiling yet. It’s crazy because I feel like I’ve had some good years, I’ve had some OK years as well. I know the way I feel. I know how I can play. I know what I can bring.”
Since the trade happened, Verdugo has shied away from comparisons -- or even mentions -- of Betts. He bristled at questions about replacing the former MVP in 2020. For Verdugo, it has been important to not think about the fact he was dealt for a franchise icon and fan favorite.
“Mookie is Mookie. That’s a really good player,” Verdugo said. “That’s one of the best players in the game. He’s one of those guys. You can go and dwell over the trade or, ‘Man, I’ve got to live up to the trade and do this or that.’ Nah. For me, play my game.
“Honestly, I was upset about the trade,” he added. “I didn’t think I was going to get traded from the Dodgers and I didn’t feel like I should have been the guy to get traded. Obviously, being traded, you do sit back and say, ‘At least, I got traded for (expletive) Mookie Betts.’ But yeah, I never had that ‘Holy (expletive)!’ (moment). I just figured, (expletive), I got traded, man, this sucks. Then I came over here and was like ‘Holy (expletive), this was a blessing.’ I love it over here. The Red Sox have been nothing but great to me, have taken care of me. From the teammates to the staff to the coaching, it has been amazing.”
The Dodgers drafted Verdugo out of high school in 2014 and brought him up to the majors for the first time as a 21-year-old in 2017. Injuries limited to only 158 games in Los Angeles but that was enough time for the Arizona native to fall in love with his first organization.
“I had a good connection with the fans there,” Verdugo said. “I was feeling like I was really starting to plant some roots, getting comfortable and getting ready. I know I still had some stuff to learn and things but I felt like I could have done some really good things over there. But it is what it is. When you’re young, you don’t ever think you’re going to get traded. But it happens and it’s better that it happened.”
Verdugo still pays attention to what the Dodgers are doing and is looking forward to his first chance to play them, which will come in 2023 thanks to MLB’s reconfigured schedule.
“I still have positive feelings about them but if we ever play them, I want to definitely go off and stick it to them,” he said. “Be like, ‘You guys got rid of me.’ At the end of the day, I think the trade worked out for both teams.”
Now, in the middle of his sixth big league season, Verdugo is focused on doing what he can to fulfill his potential. He’s not worried about becoming Betts or trying to “win” the trade for the Red Sox. He believes more consistent off-seasons will help his production. And he still feels like there’s time left to turn around his 2022 season.
“This year has been a tough one because it has been ups and downs,” Verdugo said. “Even with my batting average being where it’s at right now (.251), it’s like, I feel like it’s not true. When I go up there and I’m hitting, I’m like, ‘Damn, I’m in the .240s.’ It doesn’t feel like that. I feel like I’m having really good at-bats. I’m making pitchers work. I’m hitting the ball hard. I’m doing a lot of good things. I’m just not getting a lot of results.
“We have a little under 100 games left so we still have a majority of the games,” he added. “All I’ve got to do is keep doing what I’m doing and by the end of the year, I’m gonna be right where I normally am.”
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3 UP, 3 DOWN
Thoughts on the last week for the 41-31 Red Sox:
UP: OF Rob Refsnyder (continues to produce and deserves a longer opportunity)... C Christian Vázquez (hitting .357 with a 1.089 OPS in the last week and is quietly lining himself up for a big payday in free agency)... OF Alex Verdugo (.300 with a homer and six RBIs in the last five games, suggesting his luck is beginning to turn)
DOWN: DH J.D. Martinez (quietly slumping to the tune of a .167 average in his last five games, RP Tyler Danish (not getting many opportunities and might not be long for the roster), OF Jackie Bradley Jr. (riding an 0-for-14 into Sunday’s action)
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STORIES YOU SHOULD READ
You should read...
Related: Check out all of MassLive’s WooSox coverage here.
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THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL
Five thoughts from around the league...
1. A Red Sox-Daniel Bard reunion would make an unbelievable story come full circle. Selfishly, I’m rooting for it.
2. Interesting that the Yankees and Aaron Judge were able to find common ground ahead of one of the most highly anticipated arbitration hearings in history. And yes, Judge’s decision to bet on himself sure looks smart now.
3. Some talk about the Red Sox pursuing Judge over the winter. To me, it makes sense only if Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts are clearly going elsewhere. There’s probably not enough money to go around otherwise. But the Red Sox don’t have many long-term solutions in the outfield and Judge would be just that.
4. There was some talk in April that the storyline about unvaccinated Red Sox players was overblown by the media because only two players (Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford) missed that first series. Well, look now. In Houck, Jarren Duran, Chris Sale and potentially others, the Red Sox will be missing a bunch of key pieces when they play there at the end of the season (and potentially in the postseason).
5. I was shocked to read this stat Sunday morning: The Red Sox have the third-best record in the American League at 41-31.
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK
Three things I’m looking forward to seeing in the upcoming days...
1. Connor Seabold likely getting a chance to pitch in the majors Tuesday. Seabold has been great at Triple-A all season and will be the latest young pitcher to get a chance to start this season (Josh Winckowski and Kutter Crawford have already been up).
2. Boston’s first visit to Wrigley Field since 2012. Should be a lot of Red Sox fans in Chicago next weekend. It’ll be a blast.
3. Rob Refsnyder continuing to get a chance to produce -- and shine. Jarren Duran’s vaccination status, which was first reported by MassLive, will give Refsnyder an even better shot of sticking on the big league roster long-term.
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PODCAST TIME!
On this week’s episode of the Fenway Rundown podcast, host Chris Cotillo is joined by fellow MassLive Red Sox beat writer Chris Smith to debate if the surging Red Sox are really contenders and touch on a bunch of other team-related topics. The two writers discuss the evolving bullpen (with Tanner Houck as closer), Jeter Downs’ promotion, Jarren Duran’s future, which Red Sox should make the All-Star team and more
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