According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Red Sox have sent right-handed reliever David Aardsma to Seattle for 19 year old left-hander Fabian Williamson. Aardsma, who threw 48 2/3 innings for the Sox last season, will fill up the final spot on the Mariners 40 man roster. Williamson, who spent all last season in single-A Pulaski, striking out 59 batters in 46 2/3 innings, will more than likely begin the season in short-season Lowell.
Drafted in the 22nd round in the 2006 draft out of high school in Sun Valley, CA, Williamson is a finesse pitcher who locates an 85-90 mph well on both sides of the plate. As a lefty, he possesses natural deception and could be a solid situational guy out of the Boston bullpen in three or four years. He also commands a curveball and change-up with good control, both of which rate as average with the potential to become above-average. He struck out Appalachian League hitters to the tune of 11.45 K/9. At 6′2″, 175 lbs., Fabian should continue to grow into his frame by adding muscle that could improve his fastball to bode better as he advances through the Sox minor leagues. With the combination of a present below-average fastball and that kind of strikeout rate, he shows advanced pitchability for his age.
Aardsma was out of options and would have been competing for the final spot had he remained in Boston, but will now become a nice addition to a team in desperate need of bullpen help. Considering he was DFA’d, the Sox decided to get something in return for him, and by the looks of it, it looks like they did just fine.
I’d also like to introduce myself as this is my first post here at Fire Brand. Obviously, my name is Pat and I’m a sophomore at the University of Southern Indiana. I’m a baseball junky and also a big Red Sox fan. My main interests are intensively following players as they progress through the minor leagues and players coming up through the amateur rankings (HS, College). I’ll be joining Fire Brand by frequently posting minor league updates as they come through and analysis on certain players once or twice a week. I also take requests, so shoot me an e-mail if you have a certain player you’d like me to break down.
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Welcome to the team!!
Thanks. Glad to be here.
Glad to have ya on board. A fresh take and maybe a little more info on the farm is always welcome. Look forward to it.
Welcome Pat. Thanks for keeping us posted on MiLB progressions. So much is going on down there, so much movement, strange regressions and unexpected successes. Can’t wait.
welcome!
would like a breakdown on bubba bell. is he an of likely to rise to the top?
Sure thing. It’ll be up Sunday morning.
Good god, can something happen? Anything? I don’t care if we sign a new AA 3rd base coach, just give me some news.
Bioshock can only entertain someone a few hours a day, I need to fill in the remainder.
I’ve been reading Aaron Gleeman’s “Top 40 Twins Prospects of 2009″ (see aarongleeman.com) and I’d love to see something similar for the Red Sox. Any chance of that?
Any chance for some personal opinion or info on Jonathan Van Every? He seems to fly under the radar in most cases, hardly being mentioned for better or for worse. I’m interested to see what you might have to say about him, considering you may have followed him more closely through the minors than most of us. Any info would be of interest.
Welcome to the fold!
Any chance for some personal opinion or info on Jonathan Van Every? He seems to fly under the radar in most cases, hardly being mentioned for better or for worse. I’m interested to see what you might have to say about him, considering you may have followed him more closely through the minors than most of us. Any info would be of interest.
Welcome to the fold!
Lee: I personally have my top 40 ready and update it weekly during the season. I’ll post it along with some comments next week.
Toni: Certainly. I’ll have that up next week as well. Check in Wednesday or Thursday and it’ll be up.