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Peavy to Red Sox in three-team deal

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By John Sickels
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Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy
USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers pulled off a three-team trade this evening. The Red Sox receive right-handers Jake Peavy and Brayan Villarreal, the Tigers receive shortstop Jose Iglesias, and the White Sox receive outfielder Avisail Garcia and three prospects: right-handers Francellis Montas, J.B. Wendleken, and infielder Cleluis Rondon

Here is a quick take on the prospects involved.

Avisail Garcia, OF: Signed by the Tigers out of Venezuela in 2007, Garcia has destroyed minor league pitching this year with a .380/.424/.561 mark between six games at High-A Lakeland and 33 games for Triple-A Toledo. The going was more difficult against major league pitching, with a .241/.273/.373 mark in 83 at-bats, with 21 strikeouts, as major league pitchers exploited his tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone.

Garcia is 6-4, 240, born June 12, 1991. He's a beast with a strong throwing arm and decent speed for his size, and he has the physical strength to hit 20+ homers per season in the majors, if his plate discipline proves adequate. That's an open question, but minor league pitching is no longer challenging him.

Jose Iglesias, SS: Signed by the Red Sox out of Cuba in 2009, Iglesias has been an ineffective hitter in the minors, at times downright terrible, but somehow has managed a .330/.376/.409 line in 215 major league at-bats this year. However, this was driven by an unsustainable BABIP, and he's come down to earth recently, giving the strong impression that the Red Sox have sold high on his bat.

Iglesias is a 5-11, 185 right-handed hitter, born January 5, 1990. Although his bat is highly questionable, his defense is excellent, with above-average to superior ratings in all categories. Range, hands, instincts, arm strength, it is all here. He will stay in the majors on the strength of his defense alone, but whether he can remain a starter or ends up with utility work will depend on where his hitting stabilizes.

Francellis Montas, RHP: The Red Sox signed Montas out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. He signed for just $75,000, quite a bargain for an arm of his caliber: he's been clocked as high as 100 MPH and works consistently in the mid-90s. Unfortunately the arm strength has not resulted in big results this year: he has a 5.70 ERA in 18 starts for Greenville in the Sally League, with a 96/32 K/BB in 85 innings, allowing 94 hits.

Montas is listed at 6-2, 185, born March 21, 1993. He throws very hard, but his slider and changeup need further development, especially if he remains a starter. Although he doesn't walk the universe, his command is inconsistent and he'll have games where he loses the strike zone completely. He'll also have games where he looks like a future ace. His K/IP ratio points to his upside potential, but he is a long way from the major leagues and is still more thrower than pitcher.

J.B. Wendleken, RHP: Wendelken was drafted by the Red Sox in the 13th round in 2012, from Middle Georgia Junior College. He has performed well in pro ball to this point, with a 2.77 ERA with a 54/20 K/BB in 65 innings for Greenville in the South Atlantic League this year, collecting 10 saves.

He is a 6-0, 190-pound right-hander born March 24, 1993. He features a 90-94 MPH fastball and a breaking ball that is effective against right-handed hitters. His command wobbles on occasion but has been sharp since early June, and he projects as a middle reliever at higher levels if that remains true.

Cleuluis Rondon, 2B-SS: The Red Sox signed Rondon out of Venezuela in 2010. He is hitting .276/.326/.350 in 37 games for Lowell in the New York-Penn League, with seven walks and 26 strikeouts in 127 at-bats.

Rondon is a switch-hitter listed a 6-0, 155, born April 13, 1994. He is a middle infielder who is decent at shortstop and very good at second base, but lacks the power or plate discipline to project as a major league starter. If he makes it, it will be as a utility player, although he does provide some additional middle infield depth for the White Sox organization.

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