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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 6:51:25 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 48m #RedSox at #Braves (1:05): Verdugo RF, Devers 3B, Turner 1B, Yoshida LF, Duvall CF, Casas DH, Arroyo 2B, Hernández SS, Wong C, and Houck RHP
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 9:13:45 GMT -5
Red Sox roster: Jorge Alfaro to begin season at Worcester, Connor Wong makes team
Updated: Mar. 27, 2023, 10:10 a.m.|Published: Mar. 27, 2023, 10:05 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Connor Wong has made the Red Sox’s Opening Day roster. He’ll serve as Boston’s second catcher behind Reese McGuire.
Jorge Alfaro has been reassigned to minor league camp. He’ll begin the season at Triple-A Worcester.
Bobby Dalbec also was optioned to Triple-A Worcester while infielder Yu Chang has made the Opening Day roster. Dalbec is expected to play third base, shortstop and first base for the WooSox.
Alfaro’s contract included an upward mobility clause, allowing him seek a major league opportunity somewhere else. That window is closed and he’ll remain with the organization.
The Red Sox want him to continue to work on his receiving.
Wong hasn’t appeared in a Grapefruit League game since March 2 because of a hamstring injury. But he’s in the lineup Monday after participating in minor league games Friday and Saturday.
Cora said Sunday he’s comfortable Wong will be ready for Opening Day despite his lack of spring training at-bats and innings caught.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 9:18:23 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 46m Dalbec was optioned. Alfaro sent to minor league camp. He had an out but did not find a better opportunity. Still deciding between Duran and Tapia in the OF and the final bullpen spot.
New Sox lineup: Verdugo RF, Devers 3B, Turner 1B, Yoshida LF, Duvall CF, Casas DH, K.Hernández SS, Wong C, Chang 2B, and Houck RHP.
First game for Chang, who just made the team.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 9:19:29 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 13m Dalbec will move around at AAA. Lots of 3B but also some reps at 1B, SS and maybe 2B.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 11:21:05 GMT -5
Red Sox’s Bobby Dalbec has ‘no bitterness’ about not making team; ‘I did all I can do’
Updated: Mar. 27, 2023, 12:05 p.m.|Published: Mar. 27, 2023, 11:37 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bobby Dalbec knew he was fighting for an Opening Day roster spot. He knew he might end up beginning the season at Triple-A Worcester even if he had a strong spring training camp. That doesn’t make the news any easier.
The Red Sox optioned the 27-year-old right-handed hitter to Worcester on Monday. Yu Chang made the club as Boston’s backup infielder.
“I thought I played really well,” Dalbec said Monday at JetBlue Park. “Defense, offense. A little lull the last 10, 15 at-bats maybe. But I felt like I still contributed every day on the base paths. Played hard. So I did all I can do. I think I controlled what I could. The rest isn’t up to me.”
Dalbec hit two homers, four doubles and two triples with an .814 OPS in 18 Grapefruit League games. He batted .324 with a .395 on-base percentage and .647 slugging percentage over his first 13 games. But he had just one hit in his final 17 at-bats, dropping his line to .235.304/.510/.814.
“I’m an everyday player in the major leagues, I think,” Dalbec said. “I’ve never not thought that. I never won’t think that. Obviously I want to help the team win any way I can. If that’s my role, I’ll embrace it. But in the grand scheme of things, I know I’m an everyday player in the big leagues.”
Dalbec said it will be good for him to play every day
“Looking on the positive side, playing every day, playing every position and having fun,” Dalbec said. “I’m still going to have fun and play my game. There’s no bitterness or anything. Yeah, it sucks. I think I’ve played well enough to deserve a spot. I think they would agree with that, too. It’s just how (expletive) goes.”
The Red Sox want Dalbec to keep working on his versatility as he will make starts at shortstop, third base and first base.
“Just keep doing what I am doing. Play well, play hard,” Dalbec said. “That’s all I can do. I can’t play GM. That doesn’t work. I know I’m going to be playing shortstop down there. Maybe second, third, first, playing everywhere. But hopefully get a lot of reps at short because it’s fun. I like doing it."
He said he feels very comfortable at shortstop but there’s some cutoffs and relays he needs to be more mindful about at shortstop. But he knows it will come with more experience.
“I feel like I’m a very good defender no matter where I am,” Dalbec said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 11:25:44 GMT -5
Red Sox roster: Possible bullpen trade, Jarren Duran vs. Raimel Tapia battle among final decisions
Published: Mar. 27, 2023, 12:19 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Three days before they take the field for their Opening Day matchup against the Orioles, the Red Sox are getting close to finalizing their 26-man roster. Zack Kelly will be part of the bullpen. Connor Wong, not Jorge Alfaro, will be the backup catcher behind Reese McGuire. Yu Chang has made the team as a utility infielder with Bobby Dalbec being sent down to Triple-A Worcester.
Barring any unforeseen injuries in the last two days of camp, the Red Sox have just two roster spots left to fill. One is in the bullpen where one low-leverage opening remains. The other is in the outfield where non-roster invitee Raimel Tapia is competing with Jarren Duran for a bench role. The Red Sox seem to be prioritizing depth when making their decisions, which are complicated by a 40-man roster crunch.
“You’re trying to be smart about the roster, who’s going to contribute now and who’s going to contribute in the future. That’s the type of conversations we always have,” Cora said. “Do we want to take the best 26 guys every year in the beginning? Yeah, of course, but I can tell you, from my experience, nobody thought Bobby Poyner and (Marcus Walden) were part of the best 25 guys in 2018. And they were outstanding. We just have to make sure we understand what we’re trying to accomplish early in the season, understanding that there’s people coming back sooner rather than later, and then obviously, the 162+ (games) we’re trying to shoot for.
Here’s where things stand with the last two remaining open spots:
1. THE LAST BULLPEN SPOT
Seven relievers are already locked into eight bullpen spots with Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, John Schreiber, Richard Bleier, Ryan Brasier, Josh Winckowski and Zack Kelly all having made the team. The final spot would have gone to veteran lefty Joely Rodríguez but he will miss the beginning of the year after suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain last weekend.
To fill that spot, the Red Sox are considering a couple of different paths. One option is righty Kaleb Ort, who is the only healthy reliever remaining on the 40-man roster who has not been guaranteed a spot (Wyatt Mills will begin the year on the IL). It’s also possible the club will carry a second lefty to pair with Bleier. To do that, the Sox will have to go off the roster; non-roster southpaws Ryan Sherriff and Oddanier Mosqueda are the leading in-house candidates.
As Cora acknowledged last week, handedness is not as an important as it used to be considering the three-batter minimum rule. But having just one lefty reliever may leave the Sox short on some nights.
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“If we had this conversation three years ago, four years ago, (it would be), ‘Oh yeah, the lefty,’ " Cora said. “But now with the rule, it’s a little bit different.”
The Red Sox like Mosqueda, who struck out 76 batters in 58 ⅔ innings last season, but he has never pitched above Double-A. Sherriff, a minor league signee who has big league experience with St. Louis and Tampa Bay, has struck out eight batters in 6⅔ shutout spring innings so far. Adding either Sherriff or Mosqueda would require the Red Sox to clear a 40-man roster spot, likely by designating someone for assignment. Ort seems like a candidate to be cut loose after a miserable spring; he has allowed 10 runs (all earned), 14 hits and eight walks while striking out seven in his 9 ⅓ innings (9.64 ERA). The Red Sox, however, like Ort’s pitch mix and have been hesitant to move on from him in the past. He can be optioned freely to the minors as well.
The Red Sox also appear to be considering making an outside addition to their bullpen mix before Opening Day. The team is likely scouring the market for free agents who don’t make other clubs; a minor trade or waiver claim is also possible.
“Kaleb, he’s here with us and obviously, it’s a guy that we’re considering, but at the same time, there’s a lot of stuff that is going on right now,” Cora said. “There’s a lot of guys out there. If we see an opportunity to take advantage of it, we’ll do it. If not, we’ll stay in house.”
Cora said Saturday that this decision is the toughest one the Red Sox are facing.
“I think the one that we’re debating (the most) — all of them are important, all the situations, the coaching situation, the utility guy, they’re very important — but the pitching one, what we’re going to do, understanding what’s going to happen in the upcoming weeks and trying to be smart about the roster,” he said.
2. LEFT-HANDED HITTING BACKUP OUTFIELDER
The Red Sox want to carry a left-handed hitting outfielder behind Masataka Yoshida, Adam Duvall, Alex Verdugo and Rob Refsnyder. They are choosing between two options in Jarren Duran and Raimel Tapia.
Tapia (.317 average, .963 OPS in 16 spring games) has been one of Boston’s best players in Grapefruit League play as a non-roster invitee who is not on the 40-man roster. Duran (.357 average, 1.286 OPS in 7 spring games) is vying to reach the majors for a third straight season and has minor league options remaining. Both have done enough to earn a spot; ultimately, though, the Sox can only carry one of them come Thursday.
“It’s a decision we have to make,” Cora said. “It’s not the last hard one. It’s not the first one either. Over the years, I’ve learned that, feelings aside, you have to make decisions on who we have, what we want to do and what we’re doing in the future. Whatever decision we make is going to be the right one for the roster right now. Whoever gets the spot, hopefully he can do an understanding job with the Red Sox.”
Tapia’s contract situation is the biggest factor at play. He has an opt-out clause he can exercise Monday and told Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe that his agent is assessing other teams’ interest in him at this point. The Red Sox will likely wait and see how that process plays out before making a decision. If Tapia doesn’t have strong enough interest elsewhere, Boston could choose to start with Duran and carry Tapia as a non-40-man player at Triple-A. Another club’s interest in poaching Tapia could force the club’s hand into selecting Tapia’s contract while optioning Duran to Triple-A. Tapia would likely only leave the Red Sox for a guaranteed major league opportunity elsewhere. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom is clearly hesitant to cut anyone loose from the 40-man roster and appears intent on exploring any options that don’t necessitate such a move. In a perfect world, the club would prefer the scenario in which Duran makes the team and Tapia remains at Triple-A because no 40-man moves would have to be made. If the Sox want to ward off outside interest by selecting Tapia, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to think the club could clear a spot by moving infielder Adalberto Mondesí or another injured player to the 60-day injured list. There are not many clear DFA candidates on the roster beyond Ort at this point.
The Red Sox clearly like Tapia and want to keep him if they can. But roster logistics will take their decision right down to the wire.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 11:27:05 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 1h Sounds like Red Sox are pursuing external options (trades/FAs/waivers) for bullpen depth.
Cora: “There’s a lot of stuff that is going on right now. There’s a lot of guys out there. If we see an opportunity to take advantage of it, we’ll do it. If not, we’ll stay in house.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 11:28:54 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Raimel Tapia said his agent is investigating possibilities with other teams and he's waiting to find out what happens.
This does not mean he's leaving the Red Sox. Could end up in AAA unless he finds something better.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 13:08:06 GMT -5
Houck is being Charlie Browned again
Gave up a 3 run dinger a 2 run dinger and a solo shot
His Line today as Jansen is on now, and I am done with this today
3ip/ 5/6/ 6/2bb/4k
era this spring is 9.74
Red Sox down 6-0
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 14:34:35 GMT -5
Red Sox lose 6-1
Houck is in mid season form and offense did not show up
get used to hearing this a bunch this season
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 14:42:46 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 1h I know it’s just spring, but I’ve never seen teams so convinced and decisive in their swings against Houck as I have during this camp. He’s typically a tough guy to pick up. Guys are swinging out their shoes. Two-seamer seems flat. Perhaps the switch flips for the season.
Houck said he’s confident he can flip a switch for the season. His first start is Sunday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 14:44:11 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 1h Tanner Houck thinks he can flip the switch: "Absolutely, when the lights flip on Sunday and the lights flip on Thursday, you'll see the flyover and you know it's go time and everyone's off to the races so it's coming fast."
Houck added some Ted Lasso wisdom: "In this game, you kind of have to have the mind of a gold fish in Ted Lasso terms if anyone knows that [reference]. But yeah, it's part of the game. I've got an outing six days from now and I can only worry about that."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 14:44:47 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 40m Tapia homered in a Minor League game today. He is still battling Duran for the final position-player spot on the roster.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 27, 2023 14:45:39 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 8m Spring training results, good or bad, aren't usually predictive of anything.
That said, #RedSox were 9-0-3 on March 9 and are 5-13-1 since.
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Post by Kimmi on Mar 27, 2023 15:28:04 GMT -5
Red Sox roster: Jorge Alfaro to begin season at Worcester, Connor Wong makes team
Updated: Mar. 27, 2023, 10:10 a.m.|Published: Mar. 27, 2023, 10:05 a.m. By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com FORT MYERS, Fla. — Connor Wong has made the Red Sox’s Opening Day roster. He’ll serve as Boston’s second catcher behind Reese McGuire. Jorge Alfaro has been reassigned to minor league camp. He’ll begin the season at Triple-A Worcester. Bobby Dalbec also was optioned to Triple-A Worcester while infielder Yu Chang has made the Opening Day roster. Dalbec is expected to play third base, shortstop and first base for the WooSox. Alfaro’s contract included an upward mobility clause, allowing him seek a major league opportunity somewhere else. That window is closed and he’ll remain with the organization. The Red Sox want him to continue to work on his receiving. Wong hasn’t appeared in a Grapefruit League game since March 2 because of a hamstring injury. But he’s in the lineup Monday after participating in minor league games Friday and Saturday. Cora said Sunday he’s comfortable Wong will be ready for Opening Day despite his lack of spring training at-bats and innings caught. I guess I misunderstood what I read earlier about Alfaro being out of options. I'm glad to hear that he'll be staying with the team.
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