To be honest, this was a pure salary move to trade away 36-year old RP
Kenley Jansen who had seen limited time (5 appearances totaling 7 1/3 IP) out of the bullpen over the last 2+ months, was a free agent at the end of the year that I would not look to bring back, and was making $16M on the season. To move
Jansen, I had to include 25-year old RP
Shane Drohan (borderline starter) who had been previously claimed by the
Chicago White Sox during the
2023 Rule 5 Draft but was returned back to
Boston following his release from
Chicago, 24-year old RP
Garrett Ramsey, and a 19th round draft pick in the
2025 draft.
In return, I acquired 30-year old RP
Ian Gibaut, 25-year old C
Matheu Nelson, an 8th round pick in the
2025 draft, and $865K in cash. The
Reds picked up the
Gibaut's remaining portion of his $750K 2024 salary. To be honest, I am not sure what, if anything,
Gibaut will contribute to the Organization. In fact, I could see him being used in future trade opportunities. The salary savings and cash considerations benefited the
Red Sox by $6.5M, and I did acquire a former 1st-round pick in
Nelson and hope to find a diamond in the rough with the 8th round future pick. The often cantankerous opinion of my Assistant GM (
Brian O'Halloran) was no different here, as he stated with a growl that "I like it, but don't love it."
Cincinnati:
Code:
Kenley Jansen (36-year old RP)
International Free Agent signed by Los Angeles Dodgers (2004)
All-Star (2016, 2017, 2018, 2023); NL Reliever of the Year (2016, 2017)
2-2 W/L record with 22 K, 6 BB, 0 SV, and 2.19 ERA for 0.2 WAR in 24 2/3 IP (MLB / 2024)
47-36 W/L record with 1181 K, 249 BB, 420 SV, and 2.52 ERA for 18.5 WAR in 837 1/3 IP (MLB / 15 seasons)
Shane Drohan (25-year old SP/RP)
Drafted in 5th round, 17th pick (148th overall) by the Boston Red Sox (2020)
1-0 W/L record with 21 K, 10 BB, 0 SV, and 5.73 ERA for 0.0 WAR in 22 1/3 IP (MLB / 2024)
2-1 W/L record with 33 K, 23 BB, 4 GS, and 6.75 ERA for -0.2 WAR in 36 1/3 IP (AAA / 2024)
26-20 W/L record with 405 K, 191 BB, 77 GS, and 4.55 ERA for 4.7 WAR in 377 1/3 IP (A-, A+, AA, AAA / 4 seasons)
Garrett Ramsey (24-year old RP)
Drafted in 16th round, 23rd pick (489th overall) by the Boston Red Sox (2022)
1-0 W/L record with 13 K, 4 BB, 0 SV, and 0.90 ERA for 0.4 WAR in 10 1/3 IP (R / 2024)
2-3 W/L record with 50 K, 24 BB, 0 SV, and 3.80 ERA for 0.4 WAR in 42 2/3 IP (R, A / 2 seasons)
19th Round Draft Pick (slot TBD)
Boston:
Code:
Ian Gibaut (30-year old RP)
Drafted in 11th round, 13th pick (328th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays (2015)
2-0 W/L record with 23 K, 19 BB, 0 SV, and 7.33 ERA for -0.2 WAR in 27 1/3 IP (AAA / 2024)
10-8 W/L record with 151 K, 67 BB, 4 SV, and 4.10 ERA for 0.9 WAR in 145 1/3 IP (MLB / 5 seasons)
22-13 W/L record with 372 K, 139 BB, 38 SV, and 3.52 ERA for 4.7 WAR in 313 2/3 IP (R, A, A+, AA, AAA / 10 seasons)
Matheu Nelson (25-year old C)
Drafted in 1st round, 35th pick by the Cincinnati Reds (2021)
.190/.327/.435 with 2 2B, 0 3B, 13 HR, 35 R, 34 RBI for 0.0 WAR in 202 PA (A+, AA / 2024)
.216/.325/.408 with 27 2B, 3 3B, 42 HR, 138 R, 108 RBI for 0.4 WAR in 969 PA (R, A+, AA / 4 seasons)
$865,000 cash
8th Round Draft Pick (slot TBD)