Internal Options for Relief Pitching

[BrewerBall13]

So, it's no secret that guys like Rauch and Fuentes are the vogue names being tossed around that the Sox may want to go after for bullpen help this season. However, they are rare bright spots on otherwise dismal staffs, and will likely command such a price in trade as to make them difficult to acquire. While looking for internal options is hardly a novel concept, it does merit discussion, IMO. Below are the minor leaguers I think we're most likely to see either making a return to the big club, or coming up for the first time:

Player Team W L ERA G GS SV IP H ER HR BB K WHIP
Devern Hansack Pawtucket 4 9 4.45 17 17 0 91 88 45 10 28 77 1.275

Lincoln Holdzkom Pawtucket 5 3 5.74 26 0 0 31.1 40 20 1 23 12 2.011

Eric Hull Pawtucket 1 3 3.12 28 0 0 34.2 41 12 1 11 38 1.500

Chris Smith Pawtucket 1 3 2.15 25 4 9 46 37 11 3 8 42 0.978

David Pauley Pawtucket 11 2 3.24 18 18 0 105 105 38 8 30 70 1.278

Daniel Bard Portland 2 1 3.07 18 0 2 29.1 19 10 3 15 33 1.159

Hunter Jones Pawtucket 5 2 3.16 20 0 5 31.1 34 11 1 6 34 1.277



Of these guys, Bard and Jones are not on the 40-man, so someone would have to be moved off if either were to pitch in Boston. And Hansack, Smith, and Pauley are primarily starting pitchers. But if Masterson can be sent to the pen, surely one of them could go also. Smith, in particular, started pitching in relief with Portland last season, and pitched pretty well in relief up in Boston, sporting a 2.84 ERA and a respectable 1.26 WHIP over three games. Obviously the sample size is small, and his fastball could use a few more MPH, but his MiLB numbers are good, and I wouldn't mind seeing him in the pen.

Bard might be a little too green for the bigs, but Jones is an intriguing option, though he would necessitate movement on the 40-man roster. Jones has reverse splits, however, making me wonder if it's worth bringing up a lefty who excels more at getting out righties.