Red Sox Reportedly Trade Sam Travis to Rangers and DFA Reliever Bobby Poyner
By Adam Weinrib
The Red Sox chose to cut loose a formerly-promising bat last week, who's run out of chances in Boston.
On Wednesday, they found a trade partner.
Batting gloves are about to be a little more en vogue at Fenway next season, as Sam Travis, the 26-year-old college teammate of Kyle Schwarber, has been dealt to Texas in exchange for lefty Jeffrey Simmons. To create a little bit of roster space, Bobby Poyner, the somewhat-effective lefty, has been let loose from the 40-man roster.
Red Sox trade Sam Travis to Rangers for lefty Jeffrey Springs.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 15, 2020
Bobby Poyner DFA.
Travis never seemed to develop the power he once promised, nor show off the poise we expected at the major league level. His career-high in home runs is just six, coming in an up-and-down 2019. Nothing ever got better after his 2015 season, split between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, in which he hit .307 with nine homers and 78 RBI.
It's been a tale of two seasons in the majors for Jeffrey Springs, who was DFA'd this week following a brutal 2019 (6.40 ERA, 23 walks in 32.1 innings pitched), but showed promise in a similar sample size in '18 (32 innings, 3.38 mark).
Rangers get 1B-OF Sam Travis from Boston for Jeffrey Springs in a swap of players who had previously been DFA'd. Travis does not go on 40. But he's a RH hitter who could platoon at 1B if Rangers don't acquire, say, Nick Castellanos.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) January 15, 2020
The 27-year-old Poyner struggled to a similar degree in just 11.2 innings last season (6.49 ERA), so hopefully Springs can at least replicate his production.