SoxProspects.com Red Sox Podcast
The most comprehensive Red Sox discussion, from the minor leagues up to Fenway, on the web.

Sound the emergency podcast siren! Dealin’ Dave was at it again today, acquiring Tyler Thornburg from Milwaukee for Travis Shaw, Mauricio Dubon, and Josh Pennington, then coming back hours later and landing the white whale from the White Sox in Chris Sale, giving up the system’s top prospect, Yoan Moncada, along with Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz. In all, four of the team’s top nine prospects coming into the day, with two more on the fringes of the top 20, are headed out, but for a couple of major pieces. What did Chris and Ian think? And how did they answer your questions? Listen in!

Direct download: 2016-1206.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:21pm EDT

Making his fourth appearance on the podcast, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe and Baseball America joined the guys to discuss his recently released Red Sox Top 10 list. How did he pick between Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada? Michael Kopech and Jason Groome? Plus we hit on some other topics, like a potential Mookie Betts extension and what players might be trade fodder for the next Dave Dombrowski deal.

Direct download: 2016-1116.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:09pm EDT

Chris, Ian, Matt, and the returning Mike Andrews marked the end of the season by breaking down the debates that led to our end-of-season rankings! Topics discussed included ranking Yoan Moncada over Andrew Benintendi at number 1 and Jason Groome over Michael Kopech as the system’s top pitching prospect, how the system looks compared to past seasons, and highlights from each of the guys’ top 60 rankings.

Direct download: 2016-1107.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:17am EDT

On what proved to be the final day of the Boston Red Sox 2013 season, Chris and Ian recapped the latter’s trip to Instructs. Scouting reports included Jason Groome, CJ Chatham, Victor Diaz, Roldani Baldwin, Bryan Mata, and others… even Pablo Sandoval! Plus, we answered a slew of listener questions: Which players might get surprising, aggressive assignments next year? What will the Sox do with all of their minor league third basemen, and will Rafael Devers move off of the position? Who is the next Robby Scott… and what do you take that question to mean? These and more discussed herein!

Direct download: 2016-1011.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:18pm EDT

Coming down the stretch in MLB, that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to talk about in the world of SoxProspects! In this episode, the guys wrap up each affiliate’s season, discuss the Fall Instructional League roster, and the Padres trade scandal. Plus your emails! Which players might get protected from the Rule 5 draft this offseason (take 2)? What mechanical flaws are immediate red flags? What’s the deal with Rafael Devers’ 18 steals? Plus, thoughts on Jake Cosart, Austin Glorius, Matt Kent, and more!

Direct download: 2016-0919.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:09pm EDT

Moncada to the majors? September call-ups? First-hand Jason Groome, Bobby Dalbec, CJ Chatham, and Mike Shawaryn reports? And even new rankings? Sounds like a recipe for a podcast, so Chris and Ian got into the kitchen to cook up some prospect talk.

Direct download: 2016-0909.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:29pm EDT

Since the last episode, we've seen Andrew Benintendi make his debut in the majors and Yoan Moncada make his debut at third. Could the latter join his former Portland teammate in Boston, and is anyone else in the minors ready to come up and help the big league club? Like say... in the bullpen? Plus quick hits on why Rafael Devers and Michael Kopech won't get promoted, the trade of Pat Light, Arizona Fall League assignment predictions, and first-hand reports from Lowell. Plus your emails led to discussion of Kyri Washington, Nick Hamilton, Christopher Acosta, Luis Alexander Basabe, and more.

Direct download: 2016-0821.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:11pm EDT

In this week’s episode, we have new first-hand updates on Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers, and Michael Kopech! Plus, we hit a ton of listener emails: Why can’t the Red Sox develop starting pitching? Which Travis - Sam or Shaw - is more likely to be the club’s first baseman in two years? How might the Red Sox break in Andrew Benintendi when he gets called up? All this and more await, so hit the download button!

Direct download: 2016-0725.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:40pm EDT

So a few things have gone down over the past 10 days, eh? The guys had a ton to talk about - the trades of Luis Alejandro Basabe and Jose Almonte for Brad Ziegler and, more importantly, Anderson Espinoza for Drew Pomeranz showed why the Prez of Baseball Ops is becoming known to many as Dealin' Dave. Plus, the Red Sox were able to get Jason Groome signed before the July 15 deadline, along with fellow draftees Bobby Dalbec and Mike Shawaryn, so the guys ran down what they thought of the full draft haul and how the Groome signing may have played into the club's willingness to move Espinoza. And with the deadline past, the SoxProspects Rankings were updated - where did all of the new guys fall? And who moved based on what the guys have seen in Lowell, Greenville, Salem, Portland, and Pawtucket over the past few weeks? Listen for all this and more!

Direct download: 2016-0718.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:42pm EDT

The news in this episode was big enough to take up most of the conversation. First, just hours before we recorded, RHP Aaron Wilkerson and 2B Wendell Rijo were dealt to Milwaukee for infielder Aaron Hill and cash. And earlier in the week, Major League Baseball imposed unprecedented penalties on the Red Sox organization for rules violations relating to their acquisition of several international amateur free agents last season. Between those big stories, a draft signings update, and the Top 4 Update, we've got a packed episode!

Direct download: 2016-0707.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:59pm EDT

With all of that draft craziness out of the way, it's time to get back to the grind, and with promotions afoot and new seasons beginning, there was plenty for the guys to talk about. In the Top 4 Update, Yoan Moncada (and his friends Mauricio, Jalen, and Ben) got promoted, Andrew Benintendi is getting his footing, and Rafael Devers is finally coming out of his funk. Meanwhile, the Lowell and GCL seasons have started, and Ian sat on the Spinners' first five games, giving him plenty to report about the best pitching staff that team has had in recent memory. And of course, we read and answered your emails!

Direct download: 2016-0627.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:27pm EDT

With the 2016 MLB draft in the books, our friend Jim Callis of MLB.com came on the podcast to dissect the draft as a whole and the selections made by the Red Sox over the event's three days. Why did Jason Groome fall, will he sign, and what other team might he have had a deal with before the Red Sox plucked him at number 12 overall? How do the five college juniors selected by the Red Sox in rounds 2-6 compare to their selections in that range in past years? Will any of the well-regarded late-round picks sign? Jim answered these questions and more!

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Direct download: 2016-0616.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:56pm EDT

Chris, Ian, and Senior Staff Writer Will Woodward got on the horn quickly to react to the Red Sox selecting prep lefty Jason Groome out of New Jersey and Florida Atlantic shortstop C.J. Chatham in the first two rounds of the MLB Draft on Thursday night. Given that Groome was ranked by many as the top talent in the draft and reportedly fell due to signability and makeup concerns, there was plenty to talk about (and will be in the coming weeks).

Direct download: 2016-0609.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:06am EDT

It's draft week! To prepare for this year's MLB First-Year Player Draft, which starts on Thursday, June 9, Chris spoke to Baseball America Managing Editor JJ Cooper about a number of topics, including BA's history of draft coverage, the general strengths and weaknesses of this year's draft class, some players who could be on the radar for the Red Sox at pick 12, and whether the club might re-draft some past selections. Plus, in lieu of the Big 4 Update, we spoke with JJ about his thoughts on their starts to the season. Remember, during the draft, be sure to check out our News Page at http://news.soxprospects.com for up-to-the-minute news throughout the draft's three days!

Direct download: 2016-0606.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:12pm EDT

As the calendar turns to June, we've got a new set of rankings to dissect and a bunch of listener emails to answer! We check in on the Big 4, chat about the hard luck that has taken the top two prospects on the Pawtucket Red Sox out of action, analyze Josh Ockimey's great start to the season and corresponding climb to the top 20, review the bullpen arms in Pawtucket and Greenville, and more!

Direct download: 2016-0602.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:59pm EDT

In the unofficial second part of the crew's roundup of the first month-plus of the season, the guys looked at the goings-on in Portland and Greenville. The Sea Dogs are struggling in the standings, but noteworthy mound performances by Aaron Wilkerson and Chandler Shepherd merit discussion and further looks at Williams Jerez, Luis Ysla, Henry Ramos, and Jake Romanski were undertaken. Greenville has been home to many of the season's early pleasant surprises. Among the members of the Drive discussed are Michael Chavis, Josh Ockimey, Roniel Raudes, the Basabe twins, Kyri Washington, Tate Matheny, Austin Glorius, Jake Cosart, and Bobby Poyner. And in the Big 4 Update, the topics included which days - precisely - we might see an Andrew Benintendi promotion (could it be this week?), how much longer Yoan Moncada might spend in Salem (longer than Benintendi, at least), and Anderson Espinoza's record-tying start for the Drive (he gooooood).

Direct download: 2016-0508.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:18pm EDT

It's been a month, but Chris came back from being a big shot andgot back on the horn with Matt and Ian to discuss the season'sfirst month. Things kick off with the first edition of the Big 4Update, looking at whether Yoan Moncada's strikeouts are a concernand why Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers flipped in the siterankings update on May 1. Then the guys gave us their notes fromthe field from the first month. Chris had the latest from Salem,with reports on Moncada, Benintendi, Devers, Trey Ball, and others.Then Ian and Matt responded with the word from Pawtucket on SamTravis and Deven Marrero. Finally, the guys aired it out on whetherit is a good idea for Blake Swihart to start getting reps in leftfield, and what's gotten into the big riser in the May 1 rankings,Teddy Stankiewicz.

Direct download: 2016-0502.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:43pm EDT

Another successful trip to minor league spring is in the books for the SoxProspects.com crew. With fresh scouting and other intel to share, Chris, Matt, Ian, and Chaz got on the horn to talk about what they saw, as well as the All-New, All-Different SoxProspects Rankings! How did the big four of Moncada, Devers, Espinoza, and Benintendi look? What led to big jumps in the standings from Travis Lakins, Christopher Acosta, and Luis Alejandro "Not Just the Other" Basabe? Why has Yankory Pimentel made Chaz rethink everything he knows about scouting? All of this and more await in this episode.

Direct download: 2016-0324.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:36pm EDT

In preparation for our trip to Fort Myers, the guys cleaned out the mailbag, answering your questions about the state of the farm system! Who would they pick for their All-Underrated Red Sox prospect team? How well would Mookie Betts do if he were to go down to A-ball? Conversely, what if Anderson Espinoza were called up to the majors right now? Is Travis Shaw a hall of famer? How does a team develop power arms? These questions and more await!

Direct download: 2016-0316.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:07pm EDT

The guys are pumped that their trip to Spring Training is drawing near, but first, they got on the horn with Friend of the Site Jim Callis of MLB.com to talk about the state of the farm system! MLB.com released its Top 30 Red Sox prospects last week, so we had plenty of questions for Jim, and he had answers. Do the Sox have the best quartet of prospects in the game? Where was Andrew Benintendi on the club’s draft board last June? How will his hand injury affect Michael Kopech’s development and prospect stock? This and more await in another great episode!

Direct download: 2016-0310.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:09pm EDT

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe has had all the coverage of the early stages of spring training, and he joined us for a conversation about what's been going on! What minor leaguers have already caught Pete's eye? How much work has Yoan Moncada been doing with the major leaguers? Are there really competitions for spots in the rotation and the back of the bullpen? Plus, Peter had a great story about his introduction to covering minor league baseball.

The SoxProspects.com Podcast is sponsored by SeatGeek. Download the SeatGeek app and use our code, SP20, to get a $20 refund on your first purchase!

Direct download: 2016-0302.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:54pm EDT

Pitchers and catchers have reported, so it must be time to fire the podcast machine back up! Chris, Matt, and Ian got back on the horn to discuss the (current and former) Red Sox prospects ranked among the game's top 100 prospects by various outlets. Can we learn anything by the rankings of Yoan Moncada, Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintendi, Anderson Espinoza, and Michael Kopech? Also, we got some great reader questions about Moncada, Henry Owens and Brian Johnson, Austin Glorius, Karsten Whitson, the 2016 draft class, and more! Who were our picks for sleeper breakout seasons? Who from last year's draft class are we excited to see in 2016? Listen to find out!

Direct download: 20160224.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:03am EDT