Things just a MAJOR TURN...

Things just took a major turn as the Boston Red Sox have just made another move, less than 24 hours into their offseason. I'm here to break down the newest move and who was traded from this Red Sox team, who was brought back in, or at least what was brought back in, and what this means and why all these moves are being made less than 24 hours in to this up-and-coming offseason. We'll break down all of that on this episode of Red Sox Digest, so let's not waste any time and get right to it, breaking down how Sung Chae Chang was just traded by this Red Sox organization and why it actually took place, as Chang highlighted great abilities all season long when given the opportunity to actually play, especially during that 15 game winning streak during the dog days of summer for the Boston Red Sox. As Trevor's story was out, Arias never got his opportunity to be called up to the major leagues, and Chang was given the keys at the shortstop position, and he simply Exceeded all expectations as there weren't really many placed upon him because of how fresh of a name he was, how young he was, and really the lack of MLB experience that he had. He stepped into a premier defensive position and simply exceeded all expectations, not only defensively, but as well as offensively for this Red Sox organization, which is exactly what they needed in that time frame. Let me set the context for you and why the Red Sox, and specifically Breslow, are making all of these moves. The first one is this tweet from Chris Colito. The Red Sox have, to clear, four 40-man roster spots within five days of the World Series ending because they have a ton of 60-day guys on their IL-7 and not many free agents, which is three. How would you do it? And I will leave that question to you guys. Despite the moves that have already been made that have been broken down on this channel, including the move that involves Chang to the Detroit Tigers, let me know down below, how would you guys handle this? How would you guys clear that roster space if you were Craig Breslow leading as the CBO of this Red Sox organization? But now we continue again to elaborate and continue to break down what is actually taking place and why the Red Sox are making all of these moves so early in the offseason. This is now the third move they have made, and we are less than 24 hours into this offseason. This from Boston Sports Go-To. The Red Sox have to free up four 40-man roster spots by Monday when they have to add their 60-day IL players to the roster. That number increases if they want to protect any minor leaguers from a potential or possible Rule 5 draft or minor league free agency. And Eaton Trade is the first of what will be a few different moves by Monday for the Boston Red Sox. If you have not seen it, go check out the last episode of Red Sox Digest as we broke down the Nate Eaton trade to the Athletics, who they got back in return, and why this trade was actually made. But this is, again, breaking down why exactly these moves in its entirety are being made before Monday. Because the Red Sox have so many guys on the 60-day aisle that have to be accounted for before this actually takes place and that deadline does expire. So the Red Sox trade Chang to Detroit. What was this trade? Why did it happen? To start, the Boston Red Sox traded Chang to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations. They give up trying a young shortstop that showcased great defensive ability and good offensive upside, especially during a 15-game win streak for this Red Sox team during the dog days of summer, and they only got back cash considerations. Why did they do it? Because the IL guys, the 60-day IL guys, are going to then have to be added to the 40-man roster by this up-and-coming Monday. If that is not the case, they are going to be stuck in a very difficult situation. Trading Chang is one of the available options they have available. In doing so, opens up another roster spot to add one of the seven guys on the 60-day IL back to the actual 40-man roster before that time actually does expire. So who is Chang? What did he bring to this Red Sox team in the very limited amount of at-bats and opportunities he got? He batted .256 and really slashed .256, .318, .282 with a .600 OPS. Overall, not a great amount of opportunity for him in this Red Sox organization because he only had 14 games played. He only had a total of 30 at-bats during that time frame. And overall, the offensive abilities were not fantastic by any means, but defensively, he was phenomenal. He was stable, to say the absolute least, for this Red Sox team in the midst of a 15-game historic winning streak that flipped this Red Sox season on its head as they went from the number 15 team in the AL below teams like the Angels, below teams like the Athletics, and various others that were considered Underwhelming and mediocre to say the absolute least, especially at that time frame in the middle of this Major League Baseball season to being a playoff team and not only a playoff team, but obviously definitively a wildcard team. And Chang was someone that was at the forefront of all of that. No, he wasn't a world beater by any means. He was not on the level of Mickey Gasper in what we saw from him in that historic month that we saw in, I believe, August. But he was a stable, realistic, and respectable option for this Red Sox team that brought a form of stability to this team, not only offensively, as he was extremely consistent A shock to not only Red Sox Nation and the fan base, but also the team in itself as they're playing without Trevor Story. They did not bring up the top prospect in their system in Franklin Arias to fill that void at shortstop, but obviously the just surplus of platoon options that they utilized in Eaton and various others to get the job done at a premier position to say the absolute least. He stepped in, he played a high, high quality game. Both on the offensive and defensive end, it made the final out in that 15th consecutive win for the Red Sox, robbing a hit away from I believe a Detroit Tiger, I could be wrong there. But again, in 14 games with the Red Sox, he batted 256 with a 600 OPS. He had no home runs, but he did have five RBIs. And defensively, he was stable and reliable, which was huge to see. If you look at the underlying metrics, he did not qualify across the board for the vast majority. And the reason being is because of the lack of games played. But the sprint speed, top percentile. If you look at the sweet spot, top percentile. Everything else, way below league average. But again, the lack of reps and lack of games played is a huge contributing factor to that reason. If you look at his underlying metrics in the entirety of the season as well, specifically in minor league baseball, the dude was really consistent. He was really reliable to say the absolute least. Had a lot of more opportunity down in the minor league system. For this Red Sox team, but now at the age of 25 with no clear path to the major league system as a reliable everyday starter, it was appropriate to make a trade and get cash back for the Red Sox in order to have more availability. This offseason in the ability in the sense of the ability to spend cash and spend capital to then improve their roster going into this MLB season. Down in the minor leagues, he batted 241 with a 345 OBP and a 735 OPS. Numbers across the board were much, much better despite the amount of reps being exponentially higher. And again, the underlying metrics down in the minor leagues again. We're not going to jump off the page at you, but he was above average in the majority of categories, if not at league average, and now Detroit gets someone they can rely on and hope to develop at the shortstop position, which we all know is an absolute premier position. So what Boston got back? They got cash considerations. The dollar amount was not disclosed, at least not as yet. And there's one fewer players left on the 40-man roster, allowing them more ability to add the guys on. 60 Day IL back to the actual 40-man roster without going through huge problems and just complicated situations to then fix things. They're trying to do this before Monday, which will be... What is that? November 1st, November 2nd. So again, they still have some time, but they're trying to get it done now so they're not in a panic trying to make moves get done in a very limited amount of time. Chang, unfortunately, was with Nate Eaton and various others that are going to be involved in this huge situation for the Red Sox as they try to get trades done and moves done overall to open up more roster spots. So let me know down below. Do you think this is necessary housekeeping or... They gave up too early on Cheng. Is this someone that you would have liked to see the Red Sox continue to bet on, give them opportunities to continue to play, and prove their worth as what we saw in a limited amount of reps, but again, still. The overall abilities that he showcased in, again, a limited amount of reps during a very, very stressful time for this Red Sox season. Was that enough to continue to bet on him? Or are you okay with the move that they made, moving him to the Detroit Tigers for cash and cash alone? This is not the first trade they made. Again, check out the last episode of Red Sox Digest as they traded Nate Eaton to the Athletics. In order to, again, open up more roster spots before that deadline does expire and those guys on the 60-day IL do return to the 40-man roster. This is going to be one of the many trades that the Red Sox as an organization make before that deadline does expire. So stay tuned on this channel for more updates surrounding various names and possibly even Christian Campbell, a young prospect that has already been taken care of financially by this Red Sox team. As he seems and appears to be one of the upcoming names that could be involved in these guys that are traded, waived, or flat out just gotten rid of by this Red Sox team before that deadline does expire. Thank you guys for watching this episode of Red Sox Digest. Do remember to keep us updated with your thoughts and opinions on these moves. And I will see you guys on the next episode. Thank you guys for watching.