New Red Sox catcher Bryan Holaday basically has his World Series ring already
On Friday, the Red Sox claimed catcher
Bryan Holaday has three really good shots at a ring this year https://t.co/9OXFbMdZzM
— there's sussman strange in your neighborhood (@suss2hyphens) August 5, 2016
Holaday comes to the Red Sox after playing 30 games with the Rangers this season. His first four seasons were with the Tigers, who traded him to Texas at the end of Spring Training. That means if these teams adhere to the loose policy of giving a World Series ring to any player who was a member at any point during their championship year -- provided the Tigers are really generous with their rings and Holaday plays for Boston this season -- the fifth-year catcher has set himself up quite nicely.
As of Friday afternoon, the Tigers were 59-49, three games behind the Indians in the AL Central and just a half-game out of the Wild Card. According to Fangraphs, they have a 56.4 percent probability of making the postseason.
The Rangers, Holaday's second team this year, were 63-46, leading the AL West by 6 1/2 games, with an 83.1 percent chance of reaching the postseason.
The Red Sox were 59-48, two games back in the AL East but half of a game up for the second Wild Card spot, sitting with a 77.5 percent probability of making the postseason.
So yes, each of Holaday's three 2016 teams has at least a 50 percent chance of making the postseason. Might as well give him his ring now.