Feb 2020, the Red Sox agreed to a three-team trade with the Dodgers and Minnesota Twins, sending Mookie Betts and David Price to LA. After some back and forth over compensation and questions on Brusdar Graterol medicals the Sox and Dodgers agreed on Betts – David Price and a huge sum of cash to offset the 96 million still owed David Price. Coming back to Boston ? Alex Verdugo, Connor Wong and Jeter Downs. Everyone in the Sox front offices were ecstatic Downs was coming to the Red Sox.
Nephew’s Alex Verdugo costume looks freakin awesome. Happy Halloween, y’all. pic.twitter.com/947clhV5YF — Red (@SurvivingGrady) October 31, 2021
We all know how well Verdugo has done since coming here to Boston; he has embraced the city and the city fell in love with him. Connor Wong has been a serviceable catcher for the organization and should be the backup to Christian Vazquez when camp breaks and the team heads north.Â
Jeter Downs has the ceiling of an impact everyday player if he can retool his swing and show he can handle advanced pitching. Defensively, he profiles best at second base, but could also play short, third, and even the outfield. More in the link- https://t.co/N13cd3oNnq pic.twitter.com/gjy8hBMgSc — SoxProspects.com (@SoxProspects) March 31, 2022
But what about Jeter Downs ? Downs is knocking on 24 years of age and took a deep dive last season when being pulled up from double to AAA. he struggled mightily at the plate as better pitching carved him up and exposed holes in his swing. Did Bloom make a mistake rushing the young prospect up hoping to look good ? Was he blinded by his own ego ? After cracking the top 100 MLB prospects list in 2019 .269/.354/.507 mark, Downs bottomed out last season at Worcester slashing .190/.272/.333. After a hot start he didn’t fare much better in the Arizona Fall League .228/.389/.419 .Â
The Book is far from closed on Jeter Downs but this could be a make or break season for the soon to be 24 year old. As a prospect with limited range in the field, a suspect arm even from second base and a shift ban on the horizon: downs needs to right his own ship. As he will be back in AAA to start this season. Bloom seems not to have learned from past experience.Â
As always you can follow / give me grief on Twitter @Tmurph207Â