Charlie Zink, the knuckleballer signed in 2002 after a recommendation from Luis Tiant, has been designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox. Zink, who won 34 games over the past four seasons for Pawtucket and Portland, had his major league debut in 2008, giving up eight earned runs in just four and third innings.
It has long been speculated that Zink, 28, would be in the starting rotation for most teams and was only held back in Boston by Tim Wakefield. Not even Bernie Madoff could talk Boston’s front office into start two knuckleballers in the rotation. Fire Brand wishes Zink the best, and hopes he gets an opportunity to prove himself with another team very soon. Preferably outside the AL East.
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Dumb
At first I thought it was dumb, but he is blocked in Boston and I’m sure Theo realized or found out that he had no trade value.
It is the same feeling I get about Jeff Bailey. I think both players could do well in Boston if given ample time to play, but they are both too old to be good trade bait. Roster spots in AAA are needed for our quality younger prospects.
Zink will probably end up in Florida and pitch 100 innings of 3.80era ball. Unfortantly he is useless to this current Boston team.
I think they may have been able to find a use for him, but at the same time, the ascension of Bowden and Buchholz really made his days numbered. I hope he lands with an NL club and gets to prove his true worth. Best of luck
So is Zink an MLB-ready pitcher, or too old even to be trade bait? He can’t be both, can he?
I think he could be an NL-ready pitcher, but I think the problem with trading him is his age. For a guy who has 1 MLB start he’s to old to have much trade value. He could be a #5 starter, but you won’t get anything in a trade for him and there’s not enough upside to throw him in as part of a bigger deal
Thanks. So there’s a lesson here about hanging on to prospects too long. I’m sure Sean O would have some choice words on waiting past the sell-by date to pull the trigger…
I guess he cleared waivers because they outrighted him to Pawtucket.
Yeah I just read that. I’m happy about it. No matter what other organizations think of him, he is obviously an asset. Heres hoping to gets the call up to Boston this season so people can forget his 8er outing.
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