CarterHud

         The Red Sox are struggling to open 2019. But, the 2018 World Series winners are still very good, with a deep roster. This is how they were built.

          Catchers
Christian Vazquez
Vazquez was drafted in the ninth round of the 2008 draft.
Blake Swihart
Swihart was drafted in the first round (26th overall) in the 2011 draft.

         Infield
Mitch Moreland
Moreland signed a one year deal with the Sox before 2017, then signed a two year deal through 2019.
Eduardo Nunez
Nunez was acquired from the Giants in July 2017 for Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos.
Xander Bogaerts
Bogaerts was signed as an amateur free agent in August 2009.
Rafael Devers
In August 2013, Devers was signed as an amateur free agent.
Steve Pearce
Pearce was acquired from the Blue Jays in June 2018 for Santiago Espinal.
Brock Holt
In December 2012, Holt was acquired along with Joel Hanrahan from the Pirates for Mark Melancon, Ivan De Jesus, Stolmy Pimentel and Jerry Sands.

           Outfield
Mookie Betts
Betts was a 5th round pick in 2011.
Andrew Benintendi
Benintendi was a first round pick (7th overall) in 2015.
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bradley was a first round pick (40th overall) in the 2011 draft.
JD Martinez
In February 2018, the Sox signed Martinez to a five year deal, with opt-outs after 2020 and 2021.

          Pitchers
Chris Sale
In December 2016, Sale was acquired from the White Sox for Luis Alexander Basabe, Yoan Moncada, Victor Diaz and Michael Kopech.
David Price
Price signed a seven year deal in December 2015.
Rick Porcello
Porcello was acquired from the Tigers for Gabe Speier, Yoenis Cespedes and Alex Wilson in December 2014.
Eduardo Rodriguez
In July 2014, Rodriguez was acquired from the Orioles for Andrew Miller.
Nathan Eovaldi
Eovaldi was acquired in July 2018 for Jalen Beeks from the Rays.
Brian Johnson
Johnson was a first round pick (31st overall) in 2012.
Colten Brewer
Brewer was acquired from the Padres in November 2018 for Esteban Quiroz.
Brandon Workman
Workman was a second round pick in 2010.
Heath Hembree
Hembree was acquired from the Giants in July 2014 with Edwin Escobar for Jake Peavy.
Hector Velasquez
Velasquez was signed as a free agent in February 2017
Tyler Thornburg
In December 2016, the Sox acquired Thornburg from the Brewers for Travis Shaw, Mauricio Dubon, Josh Pennington and Yeison Coca.
Ryan Brasier
In March 2018, Brasier signed as a minor league free agent.
Matt Barnes
Barnes was drafted in the first round (19 overall) in 2011.

             IL
Dustin Pedroia
Pedroia was a second round pick in 2004.
Marco Hernandez
In December 2014, the Red Sox acquired Hernandez for Felix Doubrant

Jonathan Villar and Cedric Mullins

              On Twitter, I saw a post on how a hockey team acquired all their players. While I forget who to credit for the tweet, I thought it would be a great thing to do for every MLB team to start the season. Starting in the AL East, with 2018\’s worst team, the Orioles. I\’ll explain how they got all their players on their 25 man roster, as well as some notable players on the IL. This is how they were built.

              Catchers
Pedro Severino
The O\’s claimed Severino off waivers from the Nationals a week before Opening Day 2019
Jesus Sucre
Sucre made the Orioles after signing as a minor league free agent in February. He played for the Rays in 2018.

               Infield
Chris Davis
Davis was acquired from the Rangers along with Tommy Hunter in 2011 for Koji Uehara. He also signed a 7 year deal with the team before 2016.
Jonathan Villar
Villar was acquired along with Jean Carmona and Luis Ortiz from the Brewers last July for Jonathan Schoop.
Richie Martin
Martin was selected from Oakland in this past Rule 5 draft.
Rio Ruiz
In December 2018, The O\’s claimed Rio Ruiz off waivers from Atlanta.
Renato Nunez
In May 2018, Nunez was claimed off waivers from the Rangers.
Hanser Alberto
Alberto was claimed off waivers from the Giants in March 2019.

                Outfield
Trey Mancini
Mancini was drafted in the eighth round of the 2013 draft by Baltimore.
Dwight Smith Jr.
On March 8, Smith was acquired from the Blue Jays for international bonus pool money.
Joey Rickard
Rickard was a Rule 5 pick from the Rays before 2016.
Cedric Mullins
Mullins was drafted in the 13th round of the 2015 draft.
Drew Jackson
Jackson was a Rule 5 pick by the Phillies from the Dodgers, but immediately traded to the Orioles for international bonus pool money.

                Pitchers
Andrew Cashner
Cashner signed a two year deal with the Orioles in February 2018 with a team option for 2020. He previously played with the Rangers.
Alex Cobb
Cobb signed a four year deal with the Orioles in late March 2018.
Dylan Bundy
Bundy was drafted in the first round (4th overall) in 2011.
Nate Karns
Karns was signed as a minor league free agent in February 2019. He last played for the Royals.
David Hess
Hess was drafted in the 5th round in the 2014 draft.
Jimmy Yacabonis
Yacabonis was drafted in the 13th round in 2013.
John Means
Means was drafted in the 11th round in 2014.
Mike Wright Jr.
Wright was drafted in 2011, in the third round.
Paul Fry
Fry was acquired from the Mariners in April 2017 for international bonus pool money.
Miguel Castro
Castro was acquired from the Rockies for Jon Keller in April 2017.
Richard Bleier
Bleier was acquired from the Yankees for a player to be named later or cash in February 2017.
Mychal Givens
Givens was drafted in the second round in 2009 by the Orioles.

                IL:
Austin Wynns
Wynns was drafted by the Orioles in the 10th round in 2013.
Mark Trumbo
Trumbo was acquired with CJ Riefenhauser from the Mariners for Steve Clevinger. 

Photo from Getty

            The Kansas City Royals have acquired catcher Andrew Susac from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash.

             The Orioles don\’t need Susac, after the recent acquisitions of Pedro Severino and Jesus Sucre, who both made the Opening Day roster. Austin Wynns is on the 10 day IL and Chance Sisco is in AAA. Their was no spot for Susac. He wasn\’t on the 40 man anyway, after a DFA earlier this year.

               For the Royals, Susac is just depth, and will be the AAA catcher. He seems to be the first in line for a call-up if Martin Maldonado or Cam Gallagher get injured. He has major league experience, and AAA experience, which puts him ahead of Meibrys Viloria, the only other healthy catcher on the 40-man roster.

               Susac, 29, was three for 26 (.115 batting average) with no RBIs in 2018 for the Orioles. In his MLB career for the O\’s, Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants, Susac has hit .221 home runs with seven home runs and 35 RBIs in 300 Plate Appearances.

            The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired outfielder Socrates Brito from the San Diego Padres in exchange for OF Rodrigo Orozco.

            The Blue Jays recently traded away center fielder Kevin Pillar. While prospect Anthony Alford was recalled, they receive outfield depth in Brito. Brito, formerly a top prospect and 4th outfielder in Arizona, was recently claimed off waivers by the Padres.

             Brito, 26, hit one home run with three RBIs with a .175 batting average in 44 Plate Appearances in 2018 with Arizona. In his MLB career, Brito has hit .202 with five home runs, 16 RBIs and three stolen bases in 175 Plate Appearances.

             For someone claimed off of waivers, the Padres got a good deal for Brito. And by that, I mean they got a player, not just cash.

             Orozco, who turns 24 today, hit .304 with one home run, 39 RBIs and 18 steals in 424 Plate Appearances for High-A Dunedin in 2018. In his minor league career, all with Blue Jays\’ affiliates, Orozco has a .283 batting average, with 10 home runs, 163 RBIs and 61 stolen bases in 1681 Plate Appearances.

Kevin Pillar. Photo from Sportsnet

              The San Francisco Giants have acquired outfielder Kevin Pillar from the Toronto Blue Jays for utility man Alen Hansen and pitchers Derek Law and Juan De Paula.

              The Giants finally found their outfielder, after going all offseason and Spring Training without acquiring one. Their two outfield acquisitions were Gerardo Parra and Michael Reed. Reed was DFA\’d after the trade. Pillar will likely play left field, with Steven Duggar in center and Parra in right. Duggar could also play left with Pillar in center, where he played in Toronto. Pillar can hit 15 home runs and steal 15 bases. He is a good addition for two players that didn\’t make the roster and a pitcher without a full season in the Giants\’ system.

              Pillar, 30, is one for 16 (.063 batting average) with one RBI in 2019. In 2018, he hit .252 with 15 home runs, 59 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 542 Plate Appearances. In his MLB career, all in Toronto, Pillar has a batting average of .260 with 55 home runs, 231 RBIs and 69 stolen bases.

               The Blue Jays are starting their trade deadline dealing early, which is a smart move. Kendrys Morales was already dealt to Oakland last week, and now Pillar is gone. In return, they get De Paula, a young prospect who has succeeded in the low minors, and Law and Hansen, both not on the 40-man roster but have MLB experience. This lets 24 year old Anthony Alford get MLB experience, or they could put Socrates Brito in the mix, and move Billy McKinney to center.

                 De Paula, 21, had a 1.72 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 52.1 innings for Low-A Staten Island (Yankees) and Single-A Augusta (Giants). In his MiLB career, he has a 2.47 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 229 strikeouts in 233 innings. He was acquired by the Giants last August for Andrew McCutchen.

                 Hansen, 26, hit .252 with eight home runs, 39 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 310 Plate Appearances for the Giants last year. In his MLB career for the Giants, Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, Hansen has a .238 batting average with 12 homers, 51 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 577 Plate Appearances.

                 Law, 28, had a 7.43 ERA with a 5.34 FIP and 12 strikeouts in 13.1 innings for the Giants in 2018. In his MLB career, all in San Fran, Law has a 3.83 ERA with a 3.51 FIP and 97 strikeouts in 105.2 innings.