McAdam: Red Sox roll the dice with Darwinzon Hernandez

Before the Red Sox go back into the trade market for some bullpen help -- if they go at all, that is -- they're first taking inventory of what they have in-house.

In the next week, that will include the activation of Nathan Eovaldi, who could be in a relief role by Monday, the start of a critical stretch for the Red Sox.

Eovaldi won't be the only new addition to the bullpen. On Tuesday, the Red Sox summoned Darwinzon Hernandez from Pawtucket, while optioning Ryan Brasier. Brasier was unable to command his fastball to spots, showed an inconsistent slider and in a larger sense, couldn't duplicate the success he enjoyed in his rookie season.

Hernandez is an intriguing -- if unproven -- option. He boasts a fastball that he can throw 95-96 mph, and a plus slider that can be a wipeout pitch at times.



But like a lot of still-developing pitchers -- Hernandez is just 22 -- there's some uncertainty to his performance. Most obviously, there's the issue of control. In 57 minor league innings, split between Portland and Pawtucket, Hernandez has issued 48 walks, translating into 7.5 walks per nine innings.

If Hernandez has that much difficulty throwing strikes at Double-A and Triple-A, what are the chances that his control improves in a major league setting? Perhaps being used in shorter stretches will help. A recent adjustment to shorten his delivery some could also prove beneficial.

His outing in Tuesday night's 10-4 loss to Toronto was enough to inspire some confidence while also hinting at some potential issues. He fell behind every one of the four hitters he faced and issued a walk while recording two strikeouts.

Hernandez has been up before, having made two appearances earlier this year -- once in long relief as the 26th man for a doubleheader against Detroit, another time as a spot starter against the Rangers. Both times, it was clear that the visits would be temporary.

This time, Hernandez has a chance to stick. All he has to do is show that he can big league hitters out in the late innings of important games.

"Even when he makes a mistake with his fastball in the zone,'' said Alex Cora, "it plays. We saw flashes of that in his start against Texas in that first inning. It was electric. Now, it's about going six or seven (innings); it's about getting that guy out.''

It's telling that the Sox are first attempting to find homegrown solutions to their bullpen before going onto the open market. The Sox, though their ownership, have made it known that they're not likely to add much more salary the rest of the way. Even a relatively modest salary, like the $4.25 million being paid to San Francisco's Will Smith, could be enough to push the Sox past the third and final luxury tax threshold.

Money, however, is only part of the problem. The other is that the Sox don't have a lot to deal, or at least, aren't inclined to deal the prospects other teams covet. Dave Dombrowski, in announcing the acquisition of Andrew Cashner on Saturday night, said as much, noting that part of what made Cashner so attractive was the relatively low acquisition cost (two 17-year-old international free agents from the Dominican Summer League affiliate).

A deeper farm system would enable the Sox to sacrifice a top prospect for one of the better relievers available. But having already plundered their system in past years, the Sox appear to have drawn a line.

And so, Hernandez gets a look.

There's some obvious risk involved here. Some 14 years ago, the Red Sox rushed Craig Hansen, drafted in the first round in June, was in the Boston bullpen by mid-September. To say it didn't go well would be an understatement.

Hansen blew a late-inning lead against Baltimore in his second appearance, and his confidence suffered. The next year, it got worse (6.63 ERA in 38 games) and three years later, he was out of the game. Ever since, he's been the cautionary tale baseball executives cite when they contemplate hurrying a young, hard-throwing reliever to the big leagues.

Hernandez does have the advantage of much more minor league experience, and may be more mature than Hansen was.

Still, it's asking a lot for a rookie to inject himself into a playoff race and do so in a role that he's only filled sporadically in pro ball.

If Eovaldi and Hernandez contribute, it may save the Red Sox money and prospects.

And if they don't, it likely means there won't be a postseason push, or much need to add to the roster.