Red Sox Looking to Add Reliever

The Boston Red Sox are on pace to set a franchise record in wins. But that doesn’t mean they are completely satisfied with their current roster.

Bolstering their bullpen—which has been shaky in recent weeks—remains the top priority for Boston, according to multiple reports. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports and Jim Bowden of The Athletic claim that the Red Sox are keeping their eyes on many relief pitchers with the non-waiver trade deadline approaching on Tuesday afternoon.

Red Sox still determined to add relief help. Looking into yates, kela, ziegler and many, many others. Have some luxury tax concerns as they are at an MLB high $238M already (not that they haven’t spent well; they have by far baseballs best record)

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2018

#Phillies #RedSox #Astros #Mariners “in” on practically every reliever available from Kela to Barraclough to Rodney to Norris to Clippard to Yates to Romo to Stammen to Parker to Conley to Diekman to Ziegler should be an interesting last 36 hours until trade deadline 4pm et  Tues

— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) July 30, 2018

The Red Sox are said to have significant interest in San Diego Padres relievers Craig Stammen and Kirby Yates. Boston recently scouted both pitchers, according to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo. Stammen, who has posted a 2.63 ERA with 58 strikeouts on the season, and Yates, holding a 1.6 ERA with 50 K’s in 2018, are on affordable contracts. Stammen signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract before the season. Yates is earning just over $1 million and has a few arbitration trips remaining.

Bud Norris could be another target for Boston, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A free agent at the end of the year, Norris has registered a 3.14 ERA with a 41 percent ground-ball rate with the St. Louis Cardinals this season.

Bud Norris is having arguably the best season of his career. (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Miami Marlins reliever Brad Ziegler has also been linked to the Red Sox. Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports that Ziegler (3.98 ERA) has received interest from the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians, as well. He is also a free agent at season’s end.

The Red Sox boast a 74-33 record and a 5.5 game lead over the second-place New York Yankees in the AL East. They are on pace to win 112 games, which would be their fourth 100-win season in franchise history and first since 1946. The 1912 Red Sox hold the team-record for most wins in a season with 106.

But the postseason presents another challenge for a Boston team that has won just one playoff contest in their last two playoff series. Given the recent struggles of Joe Kelly, adding another arm in the pen may be necessary to get the Red Sox over the hump in late-October.  

Raptors Interested in Signing Greg Monroe

The Toronto Raptors are looking to add frontcourt depth and free agent big man Greg Monroe could fit the bill.

According to a report from Josh Lewenberg of TSN, the Raptors are interested in signing Monroe for one of their remaining roster spots.

After trading away center Jacob Poetl—who played in all 82 regular-season games and nine of 10 playoff contests—in the Kawhi Leonard blockbuster deal, the Raptors covet another big man on the roster. The Raptors have 13 players on guaranteed or partially-guaranteed contracts and are looking to fill the 14th spot with a frontcourt player.

Monroe could give the Raptors depth at center and power forward. The 28-year-old began last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in November. He was waived by Phoenix after 20 games, before ultimately signing with the Boston Celtics. He averaged 10.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in 26 games for Boston, but fell out of the rotation in the postseason.

Greg Monroe is a free agent option for Toronto. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

The Celtics have shown no interest in retaining Monroe. They are fully stocked at center with Aron Baynes re-signing, Daniel Theis returning for a second season, in addition to selecting Robert Williams in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Monroe is a talented scorer and rebounder with underrated passing skills, but he does not provide a defensive presence in the middle. He especially struggles when defending the pick-and-roll.

Still, he would be worth taking a flier on if he agrees to a veteran’s minimum contract. If Monroe wants more money, he will likely end up elsewhere as the Raptors are unlikely to use the smaller mid-level exception ($5.3 million) to sign him as they are already projected to pay a hefty luxury tax bill, according to Lewenberg.

J.J. Redick was 'Hour Away' from Joining Pacers

Before reaching an agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year, $12.3 million contract, J.J. Redick seriously considered signing with the Indiana Pacers.

On the most recent episode of The J.J. Redick podcast, the 34-year-old revealed how he contemplated leaving Philadelphia for Indiana in free agency.

"I almost signed with Indy, I mean I was an hour away, two hours away," he said. "I was very close, I had a 5 p.m. deadline and it was basically 12:30-1 o'clock in the afternoon when Philly changed the offer."

The 76ers likely sweetened their contract offer after learning of Indiana’s interest in the shooting guard. With both teams on the rise, Philadelphia couldn’t afford to lose a member of its starting lineup to a top-notch Eastern Conference foe.

J.J. Redick considered joining Victor Oladipo and the Indiana Pacers in free agency. (USA Today Sports)

Philadelphia desperately needed to maintain the sharpshooting Redick—who averaged a career-best 17.1 points per contest and shot 42 percent from three-point territory in 2017-18—after losing Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli in free agency.

While the Pacers were unable to pry Redick away from the 76ers, they managed to address their shooting needs by signing Tyreke Evans and Doug McDermott.

Redick indicated last year he wants to retire with the 76ers. He will play under a one-year deal for the second straight year—after signing a 1-year, $20 million with the franchise in the summer of 2017—and will rejoin a team that won 52 games in the regular season and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.   

Craig Kimbrel on Hall of Fame Path

Craig Kimbrel has been everything the Boston Red Sox could have hoped for and then some.

Acquired in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres before the 2016 season, Kimbrel has recorded 96 saves and 271 strikeouts as a member of the Red Sox. He was particularly deadly last season, striking out 126 batters—a rate of 16.0 K’s per nine innings—en route to winning the 2017 American League Reliever of the Year.

Making his third consecutive All-Star appearance in as many seasons with the franchise, the closer owns a 1.77 ERA with 30 saves in 2018.

Craig Kimbrel has made the AL All-Star squad in all three seasons with Boston. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

Even before his trade to Boston, Kimbrel was the king of the ninth inning. He won Rookie of the Year in 2011 and made four All-Star appearances with the Atlanta Braves from 2011-14—leading the National League in saves in each of those seasons. He was named NL Reliever of the Year in 2014.

The only year Kimbrel failed to reach the All-Star game was 2015, his lone season with the Padres. He was still effective that season, recording 39 saves and 87 K’s with a 2.58 ERA.

Already ranking 18th all-time in saves with 321, Kimbrel is on pace to become a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest relievers ever. He will be moving up on the saves leaderboard this year and for seasons to come. He has already established himself as a closing legend, who could one day earn an enshrinement in Cooperstown if he is to maintain this dominance for much of his remaining career—something he would like to finish in Boston.

“I’ve loved my last three years here. The city’s provided me and my family a lot,” Kimbrel, a free agent at season’s end, said to MassLive.com. “And we’re very grateful for that. And we’d love to stay. And we love the city. But the way the game works, we’ll see how things go when we get there.”

Rockets Sign James Ennis, Add Much-Needed Defense

After losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency, the Houston Rockets needed to add a versatile 3-and-D wing defender. The Rockets believe they found that in James Ennis, who signed a two-year contract with Houston on Wednesday, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. The deal includes a player option for the second season.

Ennis will be tasked with replacing some of the length and athleticism the Rockets lost from the departures of Ariza and Mbah a Moute. Ennis, a 6-foot-7 forward, appeared in 45 games for the Memphis Grizzlies last season before being shipped mid-season to the Detroit Pistons—where he played in 27 contests. He averaged 7.1 points and 3.1 rebounds last season.

James Ennis is the newest member of the Houston Rockets. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Houston will rely on Ennis to knock down three-pointers, as Ariza did in past seasons. Ennis shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range in 22.3 minutes per game last year.

In hot pursuit of Carmelo Anthony in anticipation of the 10-time All-Star’s release from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Ennis could be delegated to the bench in Houston. If so, Ennis would serve in a reserve role similar to Mbah a Moute did last season—but Houston believes Ennis is an even better fit because of his superior speed and his potential to become a catch-and-shoot threat from behind the arc.

Yahoo Sports reports that Ennis will compete for a starting job in Houston. However, if Anthony signs with the Rockets—as most pundits have speculated—it’s tough to envision Ennis receiving the starting nod, even if he is better fit with Houston, as Anthony has made it clear he refuses to come off the bench.

We will always have this Melo Thunder moment and there is nothing you can do to take it away from us pic.twitter.com/oBwbrJZVA0

— Scott Wobstein (@World_Wide_Wob) July 6, 2018

Heat Struggling to Trade Hassan Whiteside, Tyler Johnson

Miami is looking to trade center Hassan Whiteside and sixth-man guard Tyler Johnson. According to a report from the Miami Herald, the Heat has yet to find any takers for either player, both of whom carry lucrative contracts for the next two years.

Johnson has a player option in 2019, but will almost certainly not opt out of his contract that will pay him over $19 million in each of the next two seasons.

As a restricted free agent in 2016, Johnson signed a four-year, $50 million offer sheet from the Brooklyn Nets, before the Heat matched the deal to keep the guard in Miami. He has spent his entire four-year career with the Heat. Johnson’s contract is back-loaded—as the first two years of the contract has paid him roughly $11.5 million, whereas the next two years he will collect close to $38.5 million. This makes Johnson, who averaged 11.7 points per game last season, an unattractive trade asset.

The only Heat player who will earn more money than Johnson next season is Whiteside, who is signed through 2020. Whiteside, set to make $24.5 million in 2018-19, appeared in just 54 games last regular season, but posted impressive per-game averages of 14 points and 11.4 rebounds in 25.3 minutes. However, he was a no-show in the Heat’s short-lived five-game playoff run, averaging just 5.2 points and 6 rebounds as he was reduced to 15 minutes per contest.

Miami has yet to find a trade market for Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

It’s no secret Whiteside is frustrated in Miami. His willingness to get traded lowers Miami’s leverage—which is already low given his hefty contract for the next two years—in a potential deal.

Miami wants to rid itself of Johnson and Whiteside and is seeking expiring contracts in a deal, according to the Miami Herald. If they are to move Johnson and Whiteside, they could become buyers in the 2019 free agency market—the only method of success Pat Riley has achieved as Heat team president.

More than likely though, teams will resist trading for Johnson and/or Whiteside, both of whom are undeniably overpaid. This means the Heat won’t be active in free agency until the summer of 2020, when both players’ deals are off the books.

Mitch Moreland Earns All-Star Nod to Continue Improbable Season

Mitch Moreland wasn’t supposed to be the starting first baseman for the Boston Red Sox in 2018. And yet, the 32-year-old will be representing the American League in the 2018 All-Star Game.

The deck has long been stacked against Moreland after being selected in the 17th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Only two players (Moreland and the retired Brandon Gomes) picked in that round reached the big leagues.

Moreland defied odds to earn a trip to the Mid-Summer Classic after beginning the year as the backup to Hanley Ramirez. He provided a steady bat and excellent defense in the games he played at the start of the season. Once Ramirez was designated for assignment on May 25, Moreland assumed the role of the everyday first baseman and maintained his success at the plate.

In 71 games played, he has posted a .288 batting average with a .358 on-base percentage, .525 slugging percentage, .884 OPS, 11 homers, 15 doubles, four triples and 43 RBIs.

Mitch Moreland was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career. (Steven Senne/AP)

Earning his first All-Star nod as a part of the players’ vote, Moreland was in disbelief of his accomplishment.

“I didn't know if it would ever be quite possible,” Moreland said after learning the news before Boston’s win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

It was Red Sox manager Alex Cora who revealed in the clubhouse which of his players will taking part in the All-Star Game on July 17 from Nationals Park in Washington D.C. He announced Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez (both of whom were voted in by fans to start the contest), ace Chris Sale and closer Craig Kimbrel together—before mentioning Moreland’s name last to accentuate the first baseman’s honor.

“I'm very proud of all of them (the five Red Sox players selected to the All-Star Game) but to tell the team that he's [Moreland] an All-Star, that was amazing,” Cora said. “The reaction, you should see like David Price got up right away and gave him a hug. And it was a huge standing ovation.”

Cora recognized Moreland’s ascension from a reserve role to an AL All-Star selection.

“In the offseason, a lot of people didn't think he was going to be here for X or Y reason,” Cora said. “We decided to make a commitment with him. He didn't start the season as an everyday player. He earned it. We made a huge move because we wanted him to play every day.”

The first-time All-Star Moreland called his wife and father before Sunday’s game to let them know the terrific news. He received plenty of love from his teammates as well.

“Obviously everybody coming up and giving you hugs, and excited,” Moreland said. “They were just as excited as I was about it. Special.”

Anthony Davis Reportedly Wanted DeMarcus Cousins off Pelicans

Anthony Davis wore DeMarcus Cousins’ jersey in the All-Star Game—but he reportedly will not miss his former teammate, after all. According to Andrew Doak, a New Orleans sports anchor for WWL-TV, Davis did not want Cousins—who signed with the Golden State Warriors on Monday—to re-join the New Orleans Pelicans in free agency.

The Pelicans went on a roll after Cousins tore his Achilles in January. Davis, in particular, thrived in the absence of Cousins, posting 30.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per contest for the remainder of the regular season.

Davis shifted to the center position and led the Pelicans to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and spearheaded an upset over the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. The Pelicans then lost to Golden State in the Conference Semifinals. In nine playoff games, Davis averaged 30.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and two steals.

Anthony Davis donned DeMarcus Cousins' uniform at the 2018 All-Star Game. (TNT Photo)

Playing far better without Cousins, it makes perfect sense that Davis steered the Pelicans away from re-signing the controversial big man, especially if he felt the locker room was in better shape when Cousins was away from the team.

Cousins has long been seen as a locker room enigma going back to his days with the Sacramento Kings. He played for six coaches in his six-plus seasons with the franchise. He got the infamous label of “coach killer” and was viewed as a difficult player to get along with for the front office and the coaching staff.

The improved play of the Pelicans in the wake of a season-ending injury to Cousins, a toxic locker room presence, coupled with the fact that Davis heavily recruited newly-signed power forward Julius Randle to New Orleans, gives credence to Doak’s report. Davis could have urged management to bring back Cousins, but he clearly had no interest in re-uniting.

Cousins will not be returning from his Achilles tear until December or January at the earliest. Coming back from an injury of that magnitude is an arduous task for any player—and the reclamation process back into the fold of the team's offensive and defensive strategies would have been even more challenging for New Orleans (had they re-signed him) with a contentious figure like Cousins. It’s no wonder why Davis wanted him out of New Orleans.