Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox Shockingly Release Prospect Acquired In Andrew Benintendi Trade

Boston is letting go of a promising arm

Scott Neville

Red Sox Shockingly Release Prospect Acquired In Andrew Benintendi Trade
Red Sox Shockingly Release Prospect Acquired In Andrew Benintendi Trade /
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The Boston Red Sox made a shocking move that largely flew under the radar on Sunday afternoon, cutting ties with an intriguing player coming off a strong campaign.

The Red Sox released right-hander Luis De La Rosa, one of five players acquired in exchange for outfielder Andrew Benintendi. 

The 21-year-old posted a 2.94 ERA with an 88-to-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .208 batting average against and a 1.32 WHIP in 70 1/3 innings for Single-A Salem last season.

His production fell in line with his career stats -- he has a career 3.03 ERA in 184 1/3 innings across 63 appearances. The majority of his dominance came in various rookie ball leagues as a teenager but his aforementioned 2023 campaign proved that he could hang with more established competition -- right in line with other players his age.

De La Rosa showed strikeout stuff and appeared to do everything he could on the field to prove that he belonged. The Red Sox, however, must not have seen much of a future for the rising hurler.

Despite his production, SoxProspects -- one of the best resources available to Red Sox fans and media -- were not too bullish on the righty. SoxProspects has De La Rosa labeled as a potential minor league depth arm with the ceiling of an organizational arm.

Apparently scouts inside the organization agree, as they were comfortable letting De La Rosa and his low-to-mid-90s fastball sign elsewhere. 

There is certainly some level of analytics and projection that should factor into decision making but it's hard to envision how De La Rosa didn't earn an opportunity to prove himself in with High-A Greenville for the upcoming season.

Alas, De La Rosa's departure marks the third player the Red Sox have cut ties with from the Benintendi deal -- joining outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero and outfielder Freddy Valdez.

The Red Sox hit on right-hander Josh Winckowski and still employ pitching prospect Grant Gambrell -- who reached Triple-A Worcester at the tail end of last season.

The Benintendi trade was not a slam-dunk win by either side but Winckowski appears to be the best player moved in the transaction.

More MLB: National League Rising Star In Trade Rumors Reportedly Would Want To Play For Red Sox

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Scott Neville
SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer.  His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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