Red Sox plan to convert Masterson into reliever after Triple-A stint

[Spring~Fields]

Red Sox plan to convert Masterson into reliever after Triple-A stint

BOSTON -- The Red Sox optioned starting pitcher Justin Masterson to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, with plans to convert him into a relief pitcher.

Manager Terry Francona said the team is preparing to recall right-hander Clay Buchholz, who will take Masterson's spot as the fifth starter. Buchholz was sent to the minors to work on his fastball command after spending the last two weeks of May on the disabled list.

"We think getting Justin getting acclimated to the bullpen has a chance to really help our ball club," Francona said. "There's a couple of ways to do it. You could just give him the ball and send him out there. I don't think that's the best way to develop somebody to pitch meaningful innings. So we sat him down and talked about it."

Buchholz, who threw a no-hitter in his second major league start on Sept. 1, against Baltimore, struggled in his first eight starts this season for Boston. He was 2-3 with a 5.53 ERA before tearing the nail on his right middle finger.

For now, the Red Sox recalled first baseman Jeff Bailey from Pawtucket to take Masterson's place on the roster.

"We wanted to, at some point, get Clay back here and get him in the rotation and I think we've been alluding to and talking about that," Francona said. "We'll go from there.

"There's not a firm timetable but the idea is to get him acclimated to where he can help us. In the meantime, Jeff Bailey will be here until we can activate Clay."

The team later said Buchholz is expected to start Friday against Baltimore.

The right-handed Masterson has been impressive as a rookie starter, going 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA in nine starts. He lost his last two starts, including Saturday, when he allowed two runs in six innings at Yankee Stadium.

With a sinking fastball and slider, Masterson is considered a weapon against right-handed batters, who are batting just .170 against him.

The Red Sox have been looking for consistency from their middle relief corps as a bridge to closer Jonathan Papelbon. Relievers Mike Timlin, Craig Hansen, Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen have all struggled at times in the seventh and eighth innings.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3477015

Somebody send a wakeup call to Jocketty and Castellini, for gods sake Walt Jocketty, how long are you going to sit on your glorified past and backside?

Get up, get moving, the boss is in no mood to continue losing, if you can believe him, I can't.

Jocketty you have nothing, but relievers outside of Volquez, Cueto and Harang, surely you, with your dyamic history, you could make a deal with Boston for Masterson and more than fulfill their needs for a reliever.

Send them a compliment a Arroyo, Affeldt and one of your DH's in the form of a Griffey or Dunn (big pappi and Manny occasionally have problems) that are going to be heading off to greener pastures and winning organizations next year anyway. Of course I would not pretend to have your negotiating skills, or eye for talent, I know that you can make a better arrangements here than I could.

Since when has a Reds organization had enough starting pitching?

Get up Jocketty, :deadhorse show us some due dilligence and proactive demonstration of your abilities. Money should be no object to an ownership group that is motivated to win. This kid is young and cheap, and would look nice next to Volquez and Cueto next year. The Reds could close the gap on becoming a winning team this year for the first time in many years with the addition of Masterson.

What? someone is going to tell me that Masterson would not at least be the answer to the Reds problem finding a fifth starter? :ughmamoru I think not.

Justin Masteron
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...playerId=28977

What a disgrace he lost his last two games to the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay, 2-1 and 5-4

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...playerId=28977

[oneupper]

Burton for Masterson?

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by oneupper

Burton for Masterson?

I would like to see Jocketty unload some salaries off in making a deal here, so bad, hm.

I think I see your point with Burton, quality for quality etc., makes it kind of ouchy for the Reds bullpen though, doesn't it?

[blumj]

Originally Posted by Spring~Fields

I would like to see Jocketty unload some salaries off in making a deal here, so bad, hm.

I think I see your point with Burton, quality for quality etc., makes it kind of ouchy for the Reds bullpen though, doesn't it?

Well, then you could just use Masterson as a reliever for the rest of this season, then convert him back into a starter in spring training. Of course, the Red Sox could just do that themselves instead of trading him for one, too. Seems like a pretty good plan to me.

[Spitball]

Nice post, Spring, but I think the Sox are just too proud of their young pitching and not desperate enough to gamble away Masterson. They did move Kason Gabbard last year, but that was to win a spirited competition for Eric Gagne who was a legendary closer having a very good year to that point. With Gagne being such a fiasco in Boston, I don't see them throwing away a Masterson for any of the Reds' relievers and Cordero has a no-trade clause for this year.

As I see it, the Masterson conversion isn't a move of desperation. They simply have starting depth. Making Masterson a reliever is simply using their resources as needed.

[flyer85]

starter in the pen ... blasphemy.

[REDREAD]

Send them a compliment a Arroyo, Affeldt and one of your DH's in the form of a Griffey or Dunn (big pappi and Manny occasionally have problems) that are going to be heading off to greener pastures and winning organizations next year anyway.

Let's put ourselves in the Red Sox shoes.. if we were contending, would we trade Ceuto for starting pitcher due about 25 million over the next 2 years who has been very inconsistent (Arroyo) and a half year rental of a ho-hum reliever (Affedlt) plus a rental of a defensively challenged OF (Dunn/Jr) (especially when you already have highly paid and productive DH and LF ?)

I don't think there's a single person on this board that would advocate a trade like that.

Sure Walt has work to do, but you can't expect him to pull off a blantant steal like that.

[lollipopcurve]

Good move by the Sox. Masterson's delivery does not look like it would wear well for long under a starter's workload.

I doubt the Sox want to move him, but keep in mind that if the Reds acquired him, they're getting a guy Boston did not believe in as a starter, long-term.

[Always Red]

Originally Posted by lollipopcurve

Good move by the Sox. Masterson's delivery does not look like it would wear well for long under a starter's workload.

I doubt the Sox want to move him, but keep in mind that if the Reds acquired him, they're getting a guy Boston did not believe in as a starter, long-term.

If we had Willie Mo Pena around to trade for him, I'd say let's do it.

[blumj]

Originally Posted by lollipopcurve

Good move by the Sox. Masterson's delivery does not look like it would wear well for long under a starter's workload.

I doubt the Sox want to move him, but keep in mind that if the Reds acquired him, they're getting a guy Boston did not believe in as a starter, long-term.

I don't think that's necessarily true. They have at least 6 quality starting pitchers, a shaky bullpen, and a lot more off days in the 2nd half schedule than they had in the first half. They're hoping to avoid making this season's version of a Gagne trade. It's the right move, but it's not necessarily a permanent one. That depends more on how much Masterson's stuff plays up in the bullpen and what their needs are for pitching in the future.

[lollipopcurve]

I don't think that's necessarily true. They have at least 6 quality starting pitchers, a shaky bullpen, and a lot more off days in the 2nd half schedule than they had in the first half. They're hoping to avoid making this season's version of a Gagne trade. It's the right move, but it's not necessarily a permanent one. That depends more on how much Masterson's stuff plays up in the bullpen and what their needs are for pitching in the future.

Perhaps. I'm reading between the lines to a certain extent. Masterson has had real trouble lately vs lefties -- that, combined with his violent 3/4s delivery, does not profile well in the rotation.

[blumj]

Originally Posted by lollipopcurve

Perhaps. I'm reading between the lines to a certain extent. Masterson has had real trouble lately vs lefties -- that, combined with his violent 3/4s delivery, does not profile well in the rotation.

Most sinkerball pitchers have trouble with lefties until they develop more consistent secondary pitches, and I doubt the Red Sox have decided this soon that he can't. And his delivery doesn't look particularly violent to me. But, if the Red Sox were looking to sell high on Masterson, I think they'd avoid moving him to the pen before the trade deadline.

[lollipopcurve]

But, if the Red Sox were looking to sell high on Masterson, I think they'd avoid moving him to the pen before the trade deadline.

Agreed. I don't think they have any intention of trading him now.

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by flyer85

starter in the pen ... blasphemy.

What a waste of this kid to put him in the bullpen, while he could have spent the rest of this year in Cincy winning ballgames as starter.

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by Spitball

As I see it, the Masterson conversion isn't a move of desperation. They simply have starting depth. Making Masterson a reliever is simply using their resources as needed.

There is always something that they want.

Masterson would be a good pickup for a Reds team.