The Purple Sox added some much-needed center infield assist Tuesday, buying shortstop Adalberto Mondesi and a participant to be named later from the Royals in trade for left-handed reliever Josh Taylor. Each groups have introduced the commerce.
In Mondesi, Boston is buying an immensely proficient 27-year-old infielder — but in addition one of the crucial steadily injured gamers in MLB over the previous few seasons. Courting again to the 2018 season, Mondesi has appeared in solely 40% of the Royals’ doable video games, lacking time as a consequence of a proper shoulder impingement, a groin pressure, a pair of left shoulder subluxations, a left hamstring pressure, an indirect pressure and, most not too long ago, a torn ACL that worn out his 2022 season. Each the left shoulder harm and ACL tear required surgical procedure.
It’s a frightening record of accidents for Mondesi, however it’s however troublesome to not be enticed by Mondesi’s mix of energy, velocity and protection. In 1366 Main League plate appearances, Mondesi has 38 house runs, 54 doubles, 20 triples and 133 stolen bases. He’s additionally amassed 23 Outs Above Common and a 13.3 Final Zone Score in 2126 profession innings at shortstop.
Past the accidents, that mixture of uncooked abilities can be undercut by an aggressive method and sub-par bat-to-ball abilities that commonly result in sub-par OBPs. Mondesi has fanned in 30.2% of his plate appearances towards only a 4.4% stroll charge, and he’s a profession .244/.280/.408 hitter within the large leagues. That features a tough .140/.204/.140 displaying in 2022, although that got here in a tiny pattern of simply 54 plate appearances.
Mondesi has tantalized scouts, followers and evaluators for years now, however the Purple Sox would be the first workforce apart from the Royals to attempt to each preserve Mondesi wholesome and maximize the return on these uncooked instruments. They’re solely buying a 12 months of his providers, as regardless of his struggles to stay on the sphere, Mondesi has racked up over 5 years of Main League service time by means of his varied stints on the injured record. He and the Royals averted arbitration by agreeing to a $3.045MM wage again in December.
Boston’s want for up-the-middle assist has skyrocketed over the offseason, with Xander Bogaerts heading to the Padres through free company and Trevor Story now sidelined for not less than a good portion of the 2023 marketing campaign following inner brace surgical procedure in his proper elbow. Boston signed Adam Duvall to play middle discipline, thereby pushing Enrique Hernandez to the center infield. With Mondesi now on board, he can possible deal with the majority of the workload at shortstop, when wholesome, whereas Hernandez slides over to second base. Christian Arroyo stays available as a utility choice who may play second base commonly, ought to Hernandez want to slip over to shortstop within the occasion of a Mondesi harm.
As for the Royals, the commerce of Mondesi represents a disappointing final result concerning a participant they as soon as considered as a possible foundational piece. The long-term outlook of the infield now accommodates a brand new forged of characters, highlighted by Bobby Witt Jr. and defensive standout Nicky Lopez. The commerce of Mondesi ought to open up some further enjoying time for 24-year-old Michael Massey, whom the group hopes is usually a distinguished piece of the infield for years to come back.
Kansas Metropolis is buying three years of Taylor, an inexpensive and proficient lefty reliever who missed the 2022 season as a consequence of a again harm. When he’s been wholesome, Taylor has pitched 102 1/3 innings on the MLB stage, logging a 3.69 ERA with a powerful 29.4% strikeout charge towards a extra troubling 10% stroll charge. Taylor averages practically 95 mph on his heater, has common ground-ball tendencies and owns a hefty 15% swinging-strike charge in his profession — a doable portent for much more strikeout upside. He’s set to earn $1.025MM in 2023 and is controllable by means of 2025 through arbitration.
Gifted as Taylor is, he’s had his personal share of well being troubles in his professional profession. The lefty missed time with shoulder tendinitis in 2020 earlier than coping with a again pressure late in 2021 after which lacking the 2022 season as a consequence of a continuation of that again difficulty. He’s additionally struggled towards right-handed hitters, yielding a .283/.375/.429 batting line versus a .173/.247/.228 slash towards lefties.
It’s the second commerce in as many days for the Royals, who’ve now trimmed a bit greater than $6.5MM off their 2023 payroll by buying and selling Mondesi and middle fielder Michael A. Taylor. The newly acquired Josh Taylor and lefty Evan Sisk, acquired in final evening’s commerce with the Twins, give Kansas Metropolis a pair of lefties who may influence the bullpen this season. It additionally frees up some further assets for the Royals to proceed their reported pursuit of a Zack Greinke reunion or maybe one other bat so as to add elsewhere within the lineup.
Univision’s Mike Rodriguez first reported that the 2 sides have been getting near a Mondesi commerce. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported {that a} deal sending Mondesi and a PTBNL to the Purple Sox in trade for Taylor was in place (Twitter link).
