Welcome again to the 2025-26 version of Smash or Pass, through which we look at potential free agent and commerce targets to find out whether or not the Pink Sox ought to pursue them and what it will take to land them. At the moment we have a look at a fireballer out of the bullpen.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
He’s Seranthony Dominguez. He’s performed for 2 of the 4 different groups within the AL East within the final 18 months, most not too long ago for Toronto after being traded throughout the ballpark in between video games of a double-header with Baltimore. The picture of him serving up a 97 mile an hour meatball to Shohei Ohtani within the World Collection could also be burned within the thoughts of Blue Jays followers, however he pitched fairly solidly within the postseason, as he additionally did in Philadelphia in 2022’s “Pink October.” The 31-year-old from the Dominican Republic made his debut as a 23-year-old righty in 2018 for the Phils and, virtually a decade later, he’s sprouted curiosity from a number of groups as a setup possibility, including the Red Sox.
Sure. All jokes concerning the Pink Sox being “curiosity kings” apart, they’re for good purpose. Other than some management points(he as soon as led the league in wild pitches and Savant has him in the first percentile for stroll proportion), Dominguez is amongst one of many perfect relievers in the marketplace this 12 months. He has that aforementioned high-nineties fastball that has touched 100 every so often however averages 97.7, and that results in a whiff proportion that locations him within the highest sixth-percentile within the sport. He struggles with management on his secondary pitches (see beneath) however he changed his slider with a sweeper, and that sweeper approaches 90 and customarily seems to be very sharp.
TLDR; simply give me his 2025 stats.
62 2/3 IP, 4-4, 3.16 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 36 BB, 79 Okay, 144 ERA+
Why would he be a very good match on the 2025 Pink Sox?
In case you’ve sweated who the Pink Sox are going to show to within the bullpen, this can be a good bullet level for you. Dominguez has made no less than fifty appearances 5 occasions in his profession, interrupted by a Tommy John surgical procedure in 2020. Since returning, he’s made 241 appearances, putting him simply exterior of the highest 20 of relievers, and greater than any member of the Pink Sox throughout any of these 4 years made in that point. As I’ve stated a number of occasions this offseason, one of the best potential is availability, and the Pink Sox have lacked sturdy relievers.
Why wouldn’t he be a very good match on the Pink Sox?
For results-oriented people, Seranthony’s metrics so far as runs crossing the plate has been most likely one notch beneath passable. At 3.16, his ERA was the bottom since his debut season, and his FIP was only a hare increased at 3.47. However, on this four-year wholesome stretch of his, the ERA inches nearer to 4 (3.60). Additionally, that stroll fee is regarding, if for no different purpose than it being a matter of effectivity. The Pink Sox protection hasn’t earned the belief to take care of further baserunners, nor does Dominguez have the best floor ball proportion to assist the gloves out.
Additionally, to readdress the “curiosity kings” moniker, Dominguez has an estimated AAV of about $8 million. That is greater than the Pink Sox are used to paying for reduction arms. For reference, Justin Wilson landed underneath 3 million {dollars}, Matt Strahm was signed for precisely 3 earlier than making significantly extra money from Philadelphia, and the checklist goes on. Brennan Bernadino is leaving a Bernardino-sized gap by way of what number of innings the staff will want from their bullpen, however 8 million {dollars}, to a stingy John Henry, is much more than league minimal, and would make Dominguez the second-highest paid reliever on the staff.
Present me a cool spotlight.
There’s one thing about dealing with your outdated staff and straight away displaying them up that sits so comically with me. Right here’s Dominguez placing out two Orioles on the day he awoke in an Orioles uniform.
Dominguez is a high-leverage arm that, regardless of giving up walks, very hardly ever burns the bullpen. He’s dependable, sturdy, and has excessive velocity. The Pink Sox have nonetheless not signed a free agent. That’s simply not acceptable territory for them to be in. Whereas the bullpen will not be their first precedence, it may possibly’t be an afterthought, and I’m undecided I’m totally satisfied by Rule 5 choose Ryan Watson, though I stated that about Justin Slaten a few years in the past, and Garrett Whitlock just a few years earlier than that, and have a look at them now. Nonetheless, as we noticed by the dire straits the Sox discovered themselves in even after given the chance to amass some arms on the deadline, depth can whittle away over the size of the season. I’m smashing.
