When Marcelo Mayer was drafted fourth overall, he was clearly supposed to be part of the long-term plan for the Boston Red Sox. With the team making the playoffs just twice since 2019, it was Mayer, along with another core group of prospects who the Red Sox added, that fans built their hope around.
Now, the era of Mayer in Boston has come to a quick end. The Red Sox traded him to the San Francisco Giants at the Trade Deadline. He played just 114 games over two seasons, battling injuries and offensive struggles along the way. It’s hard for many to not feel like it’s a letdown.
Boston Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow Explained the Marcelo Mayer Trade
GettyBoston Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow
On the Thursday following the Trade Deadline, Boston Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow appeared on The Greg Hill Show. There, he would dismiss the idea any one thing went wrong with Marcelo Mayer that led to the trade.
“I’m not sure that something has to go wrong in order for that to be the outcome,” Breslow said. “Marcelo is still very young. I still expect him to have a very good major league career. I think a lot of the perception that’s followed him was completely unfounded and completely untrue.”
There had been some concerns that the Red Sox mishandled Mayer’s development. In particular, promoting him to the majors before he was ready, leading to some of those offensive struggles.
At the same time, there was plenty of criticism of Mayer himself. Earlier in the season, there had been concerning reports about how the Red Sox viewed him internally. In particular, that he lacked mental toughness during slumps and wasn’t playing through minor setbacks. Add in fan rumors that Mayer and Roman Anthony would go out at night too much, and it seemed like plenty of smoke around the former top-prospect.
“But, this was a baseball trade and it was a chance for us to strengthen a bullpen that we think is a core part of our team,” Breslow said. “And, we felt like walking out of the Trade Deadline, we were able to accomplish our objective of the short-term outlook by making this trade. So, we did it. It’s really as simple as that.”
Breslow would also dismiss any off-field rumors about Mayer, calling them “nonsense.” It’s something he’s done before, but that doesn’t mean the rumors won’t follow him to San Francisco.
Marcelo Mayer is Excited to be Traded to the Giants
GettyMarcelo Mayer of the Boston Red Sox.
It was a surprise when the Red Sox sent Marcel Mayer to the Giants for relief pitcher Erik Miller. However, there is room where it’s best for everyone to get a fresh start.
Certainly, that’s what Mayer hopes. Chris Cotillo of MassLive later reported that he’s taken the trade news well.
“Marcelo Mayer is said to be enthused by the trade and a change of scenery out west. He’s excited about the new opportunity instead of being bitter about a lack of a long leash in Boston,” Cotillo wrote.
Not everyone was happy to hear that Mayer felt he wasn’t given a “long leash” in Boston. After all, prior to his latest injury, he got consistent playing time as a middle infielder despite a .594 OPS this season.
Mayer ends his time with the Red Sox hitting .223 for a .278 OBP, a .346 slugging percentage, and a .625 OPS in 114 games over two MLB seasons. So, maybe a fresh start is for the best.
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