“Kristian Campbell didn’t ask to play first base. I talked with him about it, and he was willing to try it,” shared Red Sox manager Alex Cora following Rafael Devers’ exit. But the surprise didn’t end there. Because of his ice-cold bat and spotty defense, the club decided to send the $60 million infielder to Triple-A to reset. So, no solution to their first base problem!
After Triston Casas’ injury, Devers was asked to take up 1B. And the rest, there, is history. Now that Campbell is demoted to Triple-A Worcester, the Red Sox are again in the hunt. And as per rumors, one name linked with Boston right now is Rowdy Tellez.
The $5.5 million first baseman was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on Friday. So far this season, Tellez has blasted off 11 homers, batting at .208 with a .683 OPS. And now that he is DFA’d, MLB analyst Jay Pritchard of NESN thinks it has opened doors for the Red Sox to sign one of their favorite “punching bags.” The reason is hidden at the stellar record of Tellez against the Red Sox.
“Tellez has done serious damage against Boston throughout his career, batting .301 with 14 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 27 runs scored in 46 games,” Pritchard wrote in his article. Tellez had been excellent whenever he stepped into Fenway Park. Just like Rafael Devers’ stellar record against the Yankees, that made Bleacher Creatures hate him.
Rowdy Tellez boasts a massive .319 average while batting at Fenway Park, posting five runs and 10 RBIs along with a 1.001 OPS in just 27 appearances. Although the Red Sox have Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Tono currently covering first base, Tellez could be a perfect fit. More importantly, he hits great against right-handed pitchers, which can bolster Boston’s lineup down the stretch.
However, it cannot be denied that Tellez struggled with his walks and defensive skills. Now that the season has come to a point where there is little or no scope for error, his poor defensive ability and not walking enough might cast a dark shadow on the Red Sox, who might have considered him a long-term prospect.
Will the $5.5M Fenway menace be a good bet for the Red Sox?
Well, it’s too early to say… However, given the display of power Rowdy Tellez showed when facing the Red Sox, he may come as a great bet. He still possesses that raw hitting power, despite his lackluster defensive play and on-base performance. And if he gets to free agency, Boston will have nothing much to lose when adding him to the roster.
Throughout his career, the ”Red Sox killer” played for the Blue Jays, Pirates, Brewers, and Mariners. He amassed 116 home runs along with 346 RBIs across the 726 games he played. One of his best performances came in 2022, when he recorded 35 home runs in a season while scoring 89 runs.
So, despite the early-season struggles, Tellez has the potential to be a strong threat in the middle order for the Red Sox.
Plus, Tellez could turn out to be a low-risk, high-reward asset. And being a left-hander, he would be able to hit the righties quite well. At the same time, he could serve as a backup for any kind of injury to players like Romy Gonzalez, who is currently playing at first base.
Now, the Boston front office needs to assess Tellez’s proven track record and not just the recent struggles. If the deal takes place, having him on the roster will not only close the roster gap but also provide flexibility. Let’s hear it from you too: Do you think the Red Sox should get Rowdy Tellez?
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