9:19PM: Wingenter has an project clause in his contract, in keeping with Chris Cotillo of MassLive, and as such will should be added to the membership’s 40-man roster within the coming days. No corresponding transfer has been introduced by the Crimson Sox so far.
8:36PM: The Crimson Sox have acquired right-hander Trey Wingenter from the Tigers in change for minor league righty CJ Weins per an announcement from each golf equipment. Wingenter was within the Tigers group on a minor league deal and doesn’t should be instantly added to the membership’s 40-man roster.
Wingenter, 30, has pitched in elements of three MLB seasons and most just lately appeared within the majors as a member of the Tigers final yr. The correct-hander was a Seventeenth-round choose by the Padres within the 2017 draft and made his debut with the membership in 2018. Over two seasons with San Diego, the righty posted a lackluster 5.14 ERA in 70 innings of labor, though his peripheral numbers recommended a stronger underlying efficiency that these run prevention numbers could have recommended. The righty struck out a whopping 33.1% of batters confronted throughout his time with the Padres, and that was sufficient to garner him a 3.79 FIP regardless of a 13% stroll price and a 12.7% house run to fly ball ratio that each left one thing to be desired.
The righty wouldn’t resurface on the large league degree till 2023, as a member of the Tigers. His time in Detroit went equally to his time in San Diego, as he posted a lackluster 5.82 ERA whereas a giant strikeout price (28.9% in 17 innings) outweighed his elevated stroll price (9.2%) and proclivity in the direction of house runs sufficient to provide him strong peripheral numbers. One noticeable change from his time with the Padres was his groundball price, nonetheless. Wingenter didn’t garner many grounders throughout his time with the Padres, inducing them at solely a 35.7% clip, however that price shot up 43.2% with the Tigers.
Wingenter ended up remaining with Detroit getting into the 2024 marketing campaign after re-signing with the membership on a recent minor league deal this previous winter. Whereas he hasn’t pitched for the membership within the majors this season, he’s posted usually spectacular numbers on the Triple-A degree with a 3.31 ERA in 32 2/3 innings of labor this yr. He’s paired these robust outcomes together with his typical bat-missing stuff, as he’s struck out 32.9% of batters confronted on the degree this yr whereas strolling 11.6%. Notably, he’s continued to point out enchancment by way of his batted ball profile, as he’s induced grounders at a robust 48% clip this season in Triple-A.
In heading to Boston, Wingenter joins a stockpile of fascinating bullpen arms the membership has on non-roster offers as potential depth choices behind their present group. With that being mentioned, it’s price noting that a lot of that group (resembling Lucas Luetge and Joely Rodriguez) throw from the left aspect, that means Wingenter could possibly be the membership’s high non-roster depth choice from the suitable aspect. With Chris Martin and Liam Hendriks each at present on the injured listing, it’s at the least believable that the lack of certainly one of Kenley Jansen, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, or Zack Kelly may lead the Crimson Sox to show to Wingenter over both Alex Speas or Isaiah Campbell, each of whom are at present on the Triple-A degree however already occupy spots on the 40-man roster. It’s additionally potential that the membership could possibly be intrigued sufficient by Wingenter’s excessive strikeout charges to provide him a extra speedy look within the majors, although such a transfer would require choosing him to the membership’s 40-man roster.
In change for including Wingenter to their depth chart, the Crimson Sox are giving up Weins. The 23-year-old was Boston’s sixth-round choose within the 2023 draft and pitched only one inning in rookie ball final yr earlier than being promoted to Single-A to start out the 2024 marketing campaign. In 24 1/3 innings of labor with the membership’s affiliate in Salem this yr, Weins has posted a lackluster 4.81 ERA with a strong 26.6% strikeout price however a worrisome 14.7% stroll price. These strong strikeout numbers give good reason for hope that the righty could possibly be a useful piece of a giant league bullpen sometime if he can work out his management points, and the Tigers now determine to work in the direction of guiding Weins towards that purpose going ahead.
