Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Boston Red Sox Won't Move Top Prospect to New Position to Reach Majors Sooner
Red Sox top prospect Roman Anthony gets ready for an at-bat during a WooSox game on April 13, 2025 at Polar Park. WooSox Photo/Ashley Green / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Boston Red Sox won't be changing Roman Anthony's position in order to get him to the big leagues quicker.

Chad Tracy, the manager of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, made that clear on Tuesday, saying they would not be putting him at first base. The idea of moving Anthony to first base comes as a result of the Red Sox' crowded major league outfield (Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Rob Refsnyder and eventually Masataka Yoshida), coupled with the struggles of Triston Casas at the big-league level (.165, two homers, seven RBIs).

Anthony, 20, is the No. 2 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. An outfielder by trade, he was the No. 79 pick in the 2022 draft out of the Florida high school ranks.

He's hitting .286 right now for Worcester with four home runs and 12 RBIs. He's part of the Red Sox' s vaunted "big three" prospects with Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, the latter of which is already in the majors.

The following comes from a portion of Anthony's MLB.com prospect profile:

Anthony's advanced swing decisions, quick stroke and growing strength allow him to make more consistent contact and generate higher exit velocities than most players his age. He pulled the ball with more authority than ever in 2024, though he won't fully tap into his plus-plus raw power until he lifts pitches more regularly. He could become a .300 hitter who provides 30 homers and ranks among the league leaders in walks on an annual basis.

This article first appeared on Minor League Baseball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Yankees Linked to Mets Outfield Trade
MLB

Yankees Linked to Mets Outfield Trade

The New York Yankees side-stepped a worst case scenario with Aaron Judge's elbow injury, as the AL MVP frontrunner should return in early-mid August, but their recent performance has placed them in a tough spot when it comes to following through with their intended aggressive approach at the trade deadline. The word around the Yankees in recent weeks had been that the organization's front office would be active in filling the club's roster holes before the July 31 cutoff point. Though it's gone 22-26 since June 1 and now sits 5 1/2 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East, New York still holds an impressive 57-48 record while owning the top Wild Card spot. The team has already begun buying with their acquisitions of infielders Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario from the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals, respectively, but there's still time to shift their plans if they don't believe building a World Series-caliber roster is achievable this season. Per SNY's Andy Martino, the Yankees have preliminarily considered trading away some of their rental players before Thursday's deadline amidst the club's downward trajectory. "As reported in yesterday’s column, Yankees have laid a little groundwork in trading free agents to be," Martino wrote on X. "I’m highly skeptical they’ll actually do it. Only happened once, in ‘16, and now they’re in playoff position. But if they somehow do, Trent Grisham is great fit for Mets." Selling remains unlikely for New York, however. That's not something it's done since 2016, as Martino noted, but desperate times call for desperate measures. In a world where the Yankees decide to essentially punt on 2025, players such as Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger and Grisham would all fetch solid returns. Grisham heading to the Bronx Bombers' crosstown rivals in Queens would be an unexpected development, but the fit is undeniable. The Mets don't have a ton of offensive holes beyond center field, and adding a plus-defender who is slashing .252/.355/.463 with 17 home runs would go a long way towards helping them keep pace in a top-heavy National League. The Yankees and Mets have made just four trades since 2005, but perhaps they'll put aside their differences and consummate a deal for Grisham if the former does decide to sell at this year's deadline. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Yankees Have New Bullpen Target Yankees Creating Options to Replace Aaron Judge Yankees Legend Inducted Into MLB Hall of Fame Yankees Give Timeline for Aaron Judge Return Yankees Have New Focus After Infield Trades

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
NFL

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice

Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.

Steelers' Week 1 Matchup Against Jets Just Got More Challenging For DK Metcalf After Big Change In New York
NFL

Steelers' Week 1 Matchup Against Jets Just Got More Challenging For DK Metcalf After Big Change In New York

The Pittsburgh Steelers officially have 2025 training camp underway and the regular season will be here before the fan base knows it. Head Coach Mike Tomlin really values the team development periods, and this one will be crucial for a roster that looks a whole lot different than it did a season ago. One of the new players that the team will rely on immediately, aside from Aaron Rodgers, will be his anticipated top target in DK Metcalf. The former Seattle Seahawks wideout was traded to the Steel City just prior to the start of the new league year, and was rewarded with a massive contract extension. The first opportunity for Rodgers and Metcalf to work together when the games count will come in Week 1 when the Steelers travel to play the New York Jets. There are plenty of storylines to go along with the contest, as Rodgers is set to face his former team, and Justin Fields will also be competing against Pittsburgh, an organization that he played for in 2024. A big-time matchup to keep an eye on will be Metcalf going up against one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. The defender is phenomenal in coverage, but throughout his career, hasn't really gotten an opportunity to strictly follow an opposing team's best receiver. With Aaron Glenn now running the show in New York, that is set to change, as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN. "Gardner has quietly yearned to cover the opponents' No. 1 receiver," Cimini wrote. "In the previous defensive scheme, zone-based, he did it only a handful of times each season, mostly in the red zone. He said it might be in the new scheme, which is expected to rely heavily on man-to-man coverage. Gardner also said he might get some blitzing opportunities, which he relishes." While a top option in any franchise's passing game would occasionally get the chance to escape being covered by Gardner in the past, that seems to be a trend that will end under Glenn's leadership. If the Jets plan to play more man-to-man coverage, as noted by Cimini, there is no reason why Gardner won't be following Metcalf's every move in Week 1, making the matchup a little bit more challenging for the veteran wide receiver. The Steelers didn't trade for, and then pay Metcalf an average of over $30 million per year, to have him watch his quarterback hand the ball of. The pass-catcher is expected to be heavily involved in Pittsburgh's offensive scheme, and he will have a very tough battle right off the bat when the organization travels to play in New York in September. This will give fans a great idea of just how dangerous the duo of Rodgers and Metcalf can be. It may help that Rodgers had plenty of time practicing against Gardner, so the veteran may know some potential weaknesses that aren't really public knowledge. Gardner recently detailed in an interview that he is looking forward to the Week 1 contest. “I think it’s going to be fun,” Gardner said. “There’s going to be a lot of smiling out there, a lot of competing out there. I’m looking forward to it. I know Aaron is a competitor. They’ve got DK over there, who also is a competitor. I think it’s going to be a pretty good game.” The saying is that to be the best, one has to beat the best. That's exactly what will happen when the Steelers and Jets face off against one another. The hope is that Metcalf can beat Gardner several times, but it won't be easy, and now the corner may end up shadowing Pittsburgh's top receiving option. Steelers Have To Start Off 2025 On The Right Foot Pittsburgh had an epic collapse to end the 2024 campaign, but still slipped into the playoffs due to an impressive 10-3 start. Beginning any season strong is extremely important for all NFL franchises, so it will be crucial for the team to be ready for the Jets in Week 1. Metcalf will have to start earning his big deal right off the bat, as he is expected to go up against one of the game's best in Gardner.

Former Packers Star Already Turning Heads with New Team
NFL

Former Packers Star Already Turning Heads with New Team

The Green Bay Packers saw immediate dividends from Josh Jacobs’ signing in 2024, but the player who the former rushing champion’s arrival made expendable is already making waves with his new team. Jacobs figures to play a starring role in the Packers’ offense in 2025, once again, after rushing for 1,359 yards with a career-high 15 touchdowns last season. And, while Green Bay will likely feature former third-round draft choice Marshawn Lloyd in a prominent role, a former Packer appears to be carving a niche for himself elsewhere. Former Packers RB A.J. Dillon Impressing at Eagles Camp Former Packers running back A.J. Dillon began Eagles training camp as a player potentially on the bubble, with few carries to go around behind reigning NFL Offensive Player of The Year, Saquon Barkley, but has been an early standout in Philadelphia. According to Zach Berman of PHLY, Dillon has “caught the attention of the coaching staff,” during the early practices at the NovaCare Complex this summer. Since being chosen by the Packers with the No. 30 overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dillon has logged 597 carries for 2,428 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Eagles signed Dillon to a one-year contract with the Eagles, and he has the chance to be the first back off the bench to give Barkley a spell, or as an insurance policy this season. Despite former second-round draft choice Will Shipley’s presence on the roster, and spot on the depth chart behind Barkley, Dillon could be a legitimate second option in Philadelphia’s backfield.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!