The Boston Red Sox haven't called up Franklin Arias yet. He's been mashing the ball since the start of the season and hasn't stopped, slashing .332/.418/.602, with 17 home runs, 47 RBIs, 16 doubles, and an OPS of 1.020 in 68 games.
So this begs the question: Are they keeping his stock sky-high so they can move him at the deadline?
Now, to be fair, top prospects of the Red Sox are known for spending a lot of time in Double-A. Marcelo Mayer and Ceddanne Rafaela had spent more than one full season in the minors, while Roman Anthony had taken a while to get promoted as well. Arias has spent around 80 days so far in Portland, while Mayer and Rafaela previously spent over 100 days.
As for Arias, he's 20 years old, and his stock has exploded this season. Virtually every evaluator now views him as one of the best shortstop prospects in baseball. What more does he have to prove in Portland? Rafaela and Mayer, in over 100 games, had arguably performed worse than Arias has in a shorter time frame. Mayer batted .264 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs in his 120 games played. Rafaela batted .285 with 18 home runs and 87 RBIs in 131 games.
So the answer seems simple. Promote him. He's proven to be consistent at Double-A pitching and has outperformed the majority of the minor leaguers. It's now getting to the point where it's not even a challenge. So why are they waiting?
Red Sox may be looking at Franklin Arias as a trade chip
The one possibility that can't be ignored is the timing. With the MLB trade deadline approaching, the Red Sox may have more to gain by keeping Arias exactly where he is. Every home run, every multi-hit game, and every highlight-reel defensive play that he makes only strengthens his profile as one of baseball's premier prospects.
If Red Sox ownership decides to buy at this year's deadline, CBO Craig Breslow will instantly have Arias as a headliner, and it will work in his favor greatly. With Arias becoming one of the most attractive trade chips in the sport right now, rebuilding teams would be willing to get stupid to get him, too.
Promoting him to Triple-A just creates uncertainty and ruins everything. Even elite prospects often experience growing pains after reaching the highest level of the minors. If Arias were to struggle over a few weeks against more experienced pitching, his perceived value could cool ever so slightly. By leaving him in Portland, where he continues to dominate, the Red Sox keep his stock soaring while rival organizations watch his numbers climb and seethe with envy.
This is not to say that Boston is actively shopping Arias. But front offices have to consider every possibility before the deadline, especially when they're in limbo weeks before it. Holding Arias in Double-A gives the Red Sox flexibility. They can continue evaluating him internally while simultaneously preserving one of the game's hottest prospect profiles if the right trade opportunity presents itself.
Whether that's the organization's true motivation remains to be seen, but it's doubtful that they're not thinking this already. As Arias continues to torch Double-A pitching without a promotion, it's fair to wonder whether this decision has become less about development and more about maximizing his value. If that's the case, the Red Sox may be signaling that no prospect is completely off the table before the trade deadline.
Add us as a preferred source on Google