Adam Jones: Rick Porcello Not A $20 Million Pitcher
BOSTON (CBS) - 98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones opened Tuesday's show with more thoughts on Rick Porcello's four-year contract extension with the Red Sox.
Porcello was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in December in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Céspedes, right-handed pitcher Alex Wilson, and minor league left-handed pitcher Gabe Speier. Porcello went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 32 appearances last season for the Tigers.
Jones was live on the air Monday night when the news broke, and 24 hours later he's even less of a fan of the deal than before. Porcello, while just 26 years old, has by far the highest career ERA of any starting pitcher making more than $20 million in average annual value.
Via @alexspeier, Porcello's career 4.30 ERA is nearly half-a-run higher than any $20M AAV pitcher at time of contract (Cliff Lee, 3.85).
— Hockey Jones ???????????? (@adamjones985) April 7, 2015
"The production, quite simply, has not been there for Porcello," Jones said Tuesday night. "Perhaps the Red Sox project that he will [produce], but I have a hard time finding how he will improve significantly."
Another problem for Jones is that Porcello, who has yet to throw a regular season pitch for the Red Sox (he makes his regular season debut Wednesday night in Philadelphia), was awarded this extension without proving he can handle this Boston market.
I'd rather make him prove he can do it in Boston, then pay him the extra money at a lower AAV. @Donald217
— Hockey Jones ???????????? (@adamjones985) April 7, 2015
"Rick Porcello, I get that he's just 26 years old, but I don't see much there that tells me he's going to be worth $20 million a year," said Jones. "I'm not thrilled with this contract. I just don't get the rush. He's a groundball pitcher, he pitches to contact and I just don't think that flies in the postseason. We'll see."
Listen below for the full Porcello conversation with Adam Jones and Rich Keefe:
Later on in Tuesday night's show, it was a special Red Sox Over/Under edition of the Game of Jones.
The Number Of Red Sox Hitters That Will Finish The Season With Over 20 Home Runs: Over/Under 3.5?
"I'm going to say over. There are three that I'm very confident in: David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Mike Napoli. I think all those guys are no-brainers. Dustin Pedroia has done it before, but I don't feel great about him getting over that number. Pablo Sandoval could. I think they have enough guys in the mix, like Xander Bogaerts or Mookie Betts, to have more than 3.5 guys hit over 20 home runs," said Jones.
The Number Of Red Sox Players That Will Finish The Season With Over 10 Steals: Over/Under 2.5?
"I feel pretty confident they are going to have more, because [manager] John Farrell two years ago was running wild on the bases. Even last year he was out there pushing the pace, which I don't mind. For the most part I think being aggressive helps you in baseball," said Jones.
The Number Of Red Sox Pitchers That Will Finish The Season With Over 10 Saves: Over/Under 1.5?
"I'll take the under on that. It's going to be Koji Uehara and that's it. He comes back April 13th -- potentially -- for the home opener, and assuming there is no setback and he comes back healthy, which I think he will, [I'll take the under]," said Jones.
Listen below for the full segment!
Later in the show, Boston Herald Red Sox beat writer Jason Mastrodonato called in from Philadelphia to talk with Adam Jones about the Rick Porcello contract extension, and the Red Sox 8-0 win on Opening Day.
Listen below: