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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 23, 2024 16:25:40 GMT -5
tonights game at 6pm est pivetta pitching
Jarren Duran (L) RF Rafael Devers (L) 3B Trevor Story (R) SS C.J. Cron (R) 1B Tyler O'Neill (R) DH Masataka Yoshida (L) LF Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B Reese McGuire (L) C
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 6:49:03 GMT -5
SPRING TRAINING REPORT Saturday’s spring training report: Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta impress in final tuneup before Opening Day By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated March 23, 2024, 9:08 p.m.
SCORES: Pirates 4, Red Sox 1; Red Sox 8, Twins 6
RECORD: 17-12-2.
BREAKDOWN: Over a pair of split-squad games, Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta punctuated strong springs with impressive final efforts. Bello allowed one run in 5⅓ innings while striking out seven Pirates and featuring a sharp slider. Pivetta struck out nine and walked one over six innings against the Twins, while allowing three runs, finishing the spring with 22 strikeouts and four walks in 18 innings. “I’ve really picked up the year where I left off [in 2023],” said Pivetta. Both Bello and Pivetta will next start in Seattle — with Pivetta (who is from nearly British Columbia) pitching in front of his grandparents for the first time.
NEXT: On Sunday, the Red Sox will close out their Grapefruit League schedule by hosting the Braves at JetBlue Park at 1:05 p.m. Kutter Crawford will start, while Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin are slated to relieve. The game will be broadcast on NESN and WEEI.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 6:52:56 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox name Ceddanne Rafaela to Opening Day roster By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated March 23, 2024, 7:23 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Ceddanne Rafaela will take center stage for the Red Sox at the outset of the season.
The defensively gifted outfielder has made the Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old hit .241/.281/.386 in a 23-game big league cameo at the end of 2023. This spring, he’s hitting .275/.327/.569 with three homers in 19 games, while also flashing elite defense.
Though Rafaela had impressed throughout the spring, he still felt a pang of uncertainty when manager Alex Cora summoned him for a conversation on Saturday afternoon.
“I was kind of nervous. I didn’t know what was going to happen in that moment. I’ve been waiting for it all spring. Obviously, I was excited [for the news],” said Rafaela, who called his parents, his wife, and his brother upon being informed. “To see the [offseason] work pay off, obviously it’s good. But I’ve got to keep working, keep getting better. I want to have a long season through October.”
Cora praised Rafaela for his work during the offseason and spring training.
“He’s very dynamic, athletic, versatile, and he’s a good kid, too,” said Cora. “He’s going to get a lot of at-bats, and most of the time he’s going to play center field. I do believe he makes us better, more dynamic. … It should be fun to watch him go out there and perform.”
At the end of 2023, Rafaela’s undisciplined offensive approach in the big leagues made it seem as if he might need more offensive seasoning in Triple A to begin this season. But ultimately, the Sox — the worst defensive team in baseball last year — viewed Rafaela’s glove as a difference-maker, and believe that its value overrides the unavoidable offensive inconsistency of a rookie transitioning to the big leagues.
“If we don’t play [better] defense, then we’re going to be in the same spot [as 2023]. With him in center field, him at second, him at short, we’ll be good defensively,” said Cora. “[As a hitter] it’s not the final product. We know that. He knows it. But the development of the player is not over in Triple A.”
Anderson added
With their five-man rotation set for the start of the season, the Red Sox nonetheless wanted to improve their depth with a multi-innings reliever who could also help them as a starter. They filled that spot by reaching agreement on a big league deal with veteran righthander Chase Anderson.
Anderson, 36, was at JetBlue Park on Saturday working to finalize his deal. He’s spent parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues, forging a 59-56 record and 4.35 ERA, primarily as a starter. He struggled to a 1-6 mark and 5.42 ERA with the Rockies and Rays last year, and had been in Pirates camp as a minor league free agent this spring.
In 11 Grapefruit League innings this spring, Anderson had a 2.45 ERA with nine strikeouts and three walks, getting stretched out to as many as four innings. He exercised his right to opt out of his minor league deal with the Pirates on Friday, and Pittsburgh released him, opening the door for Anderson to sign with the Sox.
While the Red Sox are encouraged by the potential of the five-man rotation of Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck, they have acknowledged concerns about their big league-ready starting depth. Cooper Criswell will open the year in Triple A.
“I would love to add more depth. After maybe six, seven starting pitchers, there is a gap in terms of just who we think is ready if needed early on,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said recently. “We need to constantly scour the landscape and try to amass more.”
Going to the bullpen
Josh Winckowski will contribute in a multi-innings bullpen role in the big leagues. Cora’s message to the righthander, who was disappointed not to be given a chance to start? “We expect you to be dominant,” Cora relayed. Winckowski is wearing a brace on his right ankle. He said he’s been pitching with a bone chip, but it was discovered too late this offseason to have surgery, go through a three-month rehab, and be ready for the season. He’ll pitch through it this year — as he did in 2023, when it was undiagnosed — and expects to have it addressed next offseason . . . The final shape of the pitching staff is likely to remain unsettled until the Sox get to Texas for a pair of exhibition games. But two decisions must be made before they leave Fenway South: whether to add first baseman C.J. Cron or lefthander Joely Rodriguez to the roster. Both exercised opt-out clauses in their minor league deals on Friday, giving the Sox until Sunday to add them or let them leave as free agents. If Cron isn’t added, Bobby Dalbec would likely win that bench role. Cora praised Dalbec for a “great spring.” Dalbec has played first, third, and the outfield while hitting .250/.353/.477 . . . Cora informed outfielder Jarren Duran that he’ll be on the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 9:57:20 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier Chase Anderson, newly signed by the Red Sox, is going to throw in a minor league game today.
Alex Cora said roster decisions remain unresolved with lefties - still determining if they’ll open with two, and which of the remaining relievers in camp (Bernardino, Rodriguez, Luetge) will be on the roster. Sox also not yet ready to announce a 2B decision.
Vaughn Grissom will remain in Fort Myers. He’s ready to start hitting on the field today, but in Cora’s words, he still needs a full spring training.
Richard Fitts will start for the Red Sox on Tuesday in the exhibition game against the Rangers. He’ll open 2024 in the WooSox rotation. 10:22 AM · Mar 24, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 9:59:59 GMT -5
Red Sox @redsox · 1h Last one from the Fort for this spring!
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 12:15:23 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier Joely Rodriguez has made the Red Sox roster, a decision punctuated with a joyful shout from the lefty in the clubhouse. CJ Cron, meanwhile, has been released.
Rodriguez said learning he’d made the team felt just like when he first got a callup in 2017. He said he was holding his breath going in to meet with Cora, and then elated with the news - especially knowing he’d had to earn the roster spot. 1:03 PM · Mar 24, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 12:16:21 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier It is wild to see Atlanta fielding the full lineup in a spring road game, especially with a couple spring games remaining for them in the next two days. It is an indefatigable team -- or at least a team that eschews conventional, contemporary workload management practices. 2:09 PM · Mar 24, 2024
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Mar 24, 2024 12:28:33 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier It is wild to see Atlanta fielding the full lineup in a spring road game, especially with a couple spring games remaining for them in the next two days. It is an indefatigable team -- or at least a team that eschews conventional, contemporary workload management practices. 2:09 PM · Mar 24, 2024 They looked pretty defatigable in the playoffs the past two seasons. Maybe going all-in this early is not the way to go.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 18:17:28 GMT -5
Cora: 'Very athletic' Sox set to 'push the envelope' 5:49 PM ADT Matthew Ritchie
Matthew Ritchie @mkrwrt
FORT MYERS, FLA. -- On Saturday night, when Red Sox manager Alex Cora was asked to compare this year’s Spring Training to the camp that preceded Boston’s World Series title in 2018, he gave the championship year squad a post-Grapefruit League grade of “A++.”
This year?
“It was a ‘B’ camp, that’s the grade I give them,” Cora said.
For the Type-A overachievers out there, while the grading may seem a tad harsh, Cora’s evaluation arrives with a measured sense of optimism, akin to a professor who knows that more potential lies within his students.
“Defensively, we’re a lot better than previous years,” Cora reiterated on Sunday prior to Boston’s final Grapefruit League game against the Braves. “Offensively, the walks -- I’m very excited about that. We’re grinding at-bats, we're getting on base. We hit the ball out of the ballpark too, I think, numbers-wise. Ran the bases well, stole a few bases.
“This is a fun group, man. We’re athletic, and we’re going to push the envelope. We should be OK."
With the calendar before Opening Day becoming tighter and tighter, the Red Sox still are a ways away from having their 26-man roster completely settled. Opt-out clauses and injury considerations (Vaughn Grissom and Rob Refsnyder resumed taking batting practice on Sunday) mean that Boston likely won’t know its exact makeup until the final exhibition games against the Rangers at Globe Life Field early this week.
What is known -- and has been for a while -- is that the youth movement is on the verge of taking control in Boston. Brayan Bello, at just 24 years old, was named the Red Sox’s Opening Day starter for their matchup against Seattle. Triston Casas, a fellow 24-year-old, will be tasked with holding down the middle of the order next to Rafael Devers after finishing third in the American League Rookie of the Year award voting. Center field could be manned by the 23-year-old Ceddanne Rafaela, whose defensive wizardry and potential have captivated the Red Sox brass.
Combine that with the veteran presence of Trevor Story in the middle infield, Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin in the back end of the bullpen and Nick Pivetta in the rotation and there’s a sense that Boston has an exciting brackish mix of youthful vitality and experience.
“The veterans bought into the concept, but this is more teaching, more hands-on, than in the past,” Cora said. “Every year it’s been kind of a veteran group, but this one is a lot younger, very athletic. There’s things that we can do, but we’ve got to be careful -- because it’s not about getting the license to mess up. That was in Spring Training. We actually told them, ‘Push the envelope, see how far we can go.’ And they did an outstanding job.
“Just playing clean baseball, and playing good baseball. But it starts in Seattle. That’s the bottom line.”
Final tune-ups at JetBlue With luggage and equipment funneling out of the home clubhouse at Boston’s Spring Training facility in Fort Myers, it’d be understandable if some Red Sox players already had one foot out the door on their final day of Grapefruit League action. But for those taking the field in a 5-5 tie against the Braves, it was business as usual for getting prepared for Opening Day.
Kutter Crawford finished off a stellar camp with a tough outing, tossing 5 2/3 innings and striking out five while allowing five runs on eight hits. Slated to slot into the No. 3 spot of the rotation in the absence of Lucas Giolito, Crawford ran into some trouble for the first time this spring, facing what figures to be the Braves’ Opening Day lineup. In his five spring appearances, he had a 3.72 ERA, with a solid 1.09 WHIP thanks to issuing just two walks in 19 1/3 innings of work.
Much of the spring was centered on Crawford building up the pitching volume -- and the confidence -- to break through his perceived ceiling at the beginning of the third time through the order, while maintaining the quality of his stuff.
“That third time through the order is not going to be perfect,” Crawford said. “That’s the part where pitching gets a little bit harder. Whenever I give up a base hit or get somebody on, getting through that inning with a little bit of traffic, for me, that’s what helps me build my confidence.”
Also making their last appearances in Grapefruit League play were veterans Jansen and Martin, each of whom had slow progressions in Spring Training. Both tossed scoreless frames against the Braves, notching a strikeout each.
With their availability for Opening Day having been in question, Cora and the Red Sox plan to keep a watchful eye on the duo’s health over the next few days, especially when trying to nail down the roster’s configuration.
“[Pitching depth with] where we’re at with the roster is very important,” Cora said before the game. “How much we [would] love Kenley and Chris to pitch today, be healthy tomorrow, pitch again in Texas, be healthy again. If that’s the case, we’ve still got to protect them.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 18:35:50 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK As Red Sox take off, Vaughn Grissom progresses in buildup toward joining team By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated March 24, 2024, 1 hour ago
FORT MYERS, Fla. — When the Red Sox left Florida on Sunday, their two biggest acquisitions of the offseason did not join them on the team plane.
Righthander Lucas Giolito, signed to a one-year deal with a player option for 2025, had elbow surgery March 12 and is expected to miss the entire season. But while second baseman Vaughn Grissom, acquired in a trade with the Braves for Chris Sale, will remain at Fenway South through much of April, he’s beginning to make progress in his buildup to the season.
Grissom has been hitting, throwing, and fielding ground balls, though not testing his range, for several days. On Sunday, he took batting practice on the field among his teammates at JetBlue Park — the first time he’d done so since suffering a left groin strain March 2. Manager Alex Cora estimated Grissom could start playing games in seven to 10 days.
“He still has to go through spring training,” Cora said. “I’m not saying he’s going to take a while but we have to be very smart about this.”
For Grissom, it’s been a frustrating start with a new organization. Still, he sees progress that offers some reassurance that his separation from the big league club will be temporary.
“It’s tough. Obviously, my identity is out there on the field,” Grissom said. “When I’ll go back or meet with the boys, who knows? I’m just dealing with it the best way I know how to, taking it day by day and taking the little wins.” Rodriguez makes team
Joely Rodriguez spent the morning holding his breath. Two days after the reliever triggered an opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Red Sox, a team decision was due: The club either had to add him to the big league roster or release him .
The lefthander was summoned into Cora’s office, and received the news that he’d won a spot on the Opening Day roster.
“I didn’t have words because I was so excited,” Rodriguez said. “My heart was pounding, pounding, pounding like your first time when you make the club.”
Rodriguez emerged from Cora’s office and erupted with a joyful scream in the clubhouse. He suggested the emotion outpouring was unlike anything he’d experienced since he earned his first big league Opening Day assignment with the Phillies in 2017.
He earned the job with a solid spring in which he allowed two runs in seven innings while striking out nine, walking three, and getting a lot of ground balls. He’s optimistic that performance is a harbinger of a step forward from an injury-riddled 2023 season with the Red Sox in which he had a 6.55 ERA in just 11 big league appearances.
“This is just the beginning for me this year,” Rodriguez said. Cron out of mix after release
While Rodriguez made the team and will earn a salary of $1.5 million with up to $500,000 in bonuses, the Sox released first baseman C.J. Cron, who also opted out of his minor league deal Friday. Cron, who joined the club in early March, struggled with his timing at the plate, going 3-for-15 with no extra-base hits.
With Cron gone, Cora said “there’s a good chance” corner infielder Bobby Dalbec will open the season on the big league roster, though there remains some fluidity to the roster in the coming days. The team likewise is waiting to commit to Enmanuel Valdez and Pablo Reyes at second base, though both are on the team trip to Texas for a pair of exhibition games against the Rangers.
Anderson deal official
Righthander Chase Anderson’s big league deal with the Sox, for which he’ll earn $1.25 million with up to $500,000 in bonuses, became official, two days after he’d opted out of his minor league deal with the Pirates one day after Pittsburgh released him. The 36-year-old threw 45 pitches in a minor league game Sunday.
“Crazy,” Anderson said of his weekend. “The last 48 hours have been exciting.”
Anderson — who noted he threw three high school no-hitters in Texas with former Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier (then a catcher) behind the plate — said signing with the Sox represented the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
He will serve as a long reliever who can also make spot starts. After he went 1-6 with a 5.42 ERA in 86 innings with the Rays and Rockies last year, he’s been encouraged this spring both by his velocity (93-95 m.p.h.) and improvement to his sweeper.
Lucas Giolito was moved to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot for Anderson. Murphy to see doctor
Lefthander Chris Murphy is scheduled to get a second opinion on his injured elbow from Rangers team physician Keith Meister on April 9. If needed, Meister is expected to perform the surgery … Outfielder Rob Refsnyder (broken toe) has increased his baseball activity to include taking swings … Righthander Richard Fitts, acquired from the Yankees in the Alex Verdugo trade, will start the Sox’ last exhibition game against the Rangers on Tuesday. Fitts will open the year in Triple A Worcester’s rotation … The Red Sox hosted 50 teenage patients from The Jimmy Fund, the first time since 2020 that the spring training trip has been possible.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 24, 2024 18:38:29 GMT -5
SPRING TRAINING REPORT Sunday’s spring training report: Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford works through Braves order three times By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated March 24, 2024, 2 hours ago
SCORE: Red Sox 5, Atlanta 5
RECORD: 17-12-3.
BREAKDOWN: Though Kutter Crawford gave up five runs including a pair of homers, he rebounded to complete a third time through the order in the Sox’ final Grapefruit League game. In 5⅔ innings at JetBlue Park, he struck out five and walked two while hitting 95 miles per hour in the sixth inning. “They’re going to have to do that over the course of the season,” manager Alex Cora said. “At one point, they’re going to get hit, but they have to go deep into the game.” Closer Kenley Jansen and setup man Chris Martin contributed scoreless innings and remain on track to open the season on the active roster barring a setback.
NEXT: The Red Sox will play the first of two games against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on Monday night at 8:05. Garrett Whitlock will start against the defending World Series champions. The game will be on NESN and WEEI.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 25, 2024 11:30:55 GMT -5
Red Sox
Red Sox release former ‘best athlete’ in org, plus A-Rod’s nephew, too
Published: Mar. 25, 2024, 12:25 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
As the Red Sox wrapped spring training and left Fort Myers on Sunday, the organization released a couple of notable players.
In addition to granting veteran first baseman C.J. Cron his release after he didn’t make the Opening Day roster, the Red Sox also released former top outfield prospect Gilberto Jimenez and infielder Joe Dunand, who is Alex Rodriguez’s nephew. Dunand was in major league camp and appeared ticketed for a spot at Triple-A Worcester to start the season; Jimenez has never played above High-A.
Jimenez, 23, rocketed up prospect charts after a strong showing at Low-A Lowell in 2019. After hitting .359 with an .863 OPS and 14 steals in 59 games, Jimenez was ranked as the No. 9 prospect in Boston’s system entering 2020, and then after the minor league season was canceled, the No. 7 prospect in the organization entering 2021 (via Baseball America). In 2020, BA had Jimenez as the fastest baserunner, best athlete and best outfield arm in the organization.
“Jimenez started switch-hitting after turning pro, and while his lefthanded swing remains inelegant and sometimes choppy, he has good enough feel for the barrel,” read BA’s scouting report from Feb. 2020. “Despite a very high groundball rate, his elite speed (sub-4.0 times from home to first) allowed him to garner loads of infield hits. It’s possible that he’ll be limited to a slap-and-run profile whose production decreases as defenses improve, but Jimenez also has flashed the bat speed to drive the ball, even if his current swing is geared for contact. Jimenez struggles with pitch recognition and plate discipline, but if experience yields refinement, he has the potential for average or better across-the-board tools. His speed and arm give him a big league outfielder’s floor and his athleticism and strength make it easy to dream big.”
Jimenez’s offensive numbers fell at Single-A Salem in 2021 and then dropped dramatically in 2022 at High-A Greenville, where he posted a .672 OPS in 94 games. Last year, across three levels, he hit just .249 with five homers and a .691 OPS; by the end of the season, his prospect status had fallen dramatically.
Dunand, 28, is a former Marlins second-round pick who got into three big league games with Miami in 2022. After spending all of last season at Triple-A in the Braves’ system, he signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox early February. In Grapefruit League action, he was 1-for-16 in 15 games before being reassigned to minor league camp.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 25, 2024 13:46:08 GMT -5
With Bobby Dalbec likely in mix, Red Sox Opening Day roster all but finalized
Published: Mar. 25, 2024, 2:09 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
The Red Sox left Fort Myers on Sunday night and will face the Rangers for two exhibition games at Globe Life Field over the next two days. They’ll then have Wednesday off before opening their season with a late-night matchup against the Mariners in Seattle on Thursday.
Boston hasn’t yet announced its 26-man roster for Opening Day but a flurry of roster moves from the weekend have them on the verge of finalizing it. On Sunday, the Red Sox officially signed veteran righty Chase Anderson to serve a multi-inning bullpen role, informed lefty reliever Joely Rodríguez that he will make the team and, in a bit of a surprise, released veteran first baseman C.J. Cron. Rodríguez won the spot over fellow lefty Lucas Luetge (he’ll head to Triple-A Worcester and his opt-out/upward mobility clause is no longer in play, per source) and the Red Sox appear to be going with Bobby Dalbec as the backup first baseman with Cron out of the mix. On Sunday, manager Alex Cora told reporters there was a “good chance” Dalbec would make the team; there might be interest in bringing Cron back on a minor league deal but he is said to be exploring his options on the open market.
Barring a surprise, this is the 26-man roster the Red Sox will start the season with; seven players (pitchers Lucas Giolito, Liam Hendriks, Bryan Mata and Chris Murphy; infielder Vaughn Grissom and outfielder Rob Refsnyder) will begin the year on the injured list.
Rotation (5): Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock
Bullpen (8): Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, Justin Slaten, Isaiah Campbell, Brennan Bernardino, Josh Winckowski, Chase Anderson, Joely Rodríguez
Catchers (2): Connor Wong, Reese McGuire
Infield (6): Triston Casas, Enmanuel Valdez, Pablo Reyes, Trevor Story, Rafael Devers, Bobby Dalbec
Outfield/DH (5): Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Tyler O’Neill, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida
The Red Sox are taking more than those 26 players to Texas with some top depth options and some minor leaguers (like pitching prospect Richard Fitts, who will start Tuesday) making the trip along with those projected to make the team. There’s also the slight, but non-zero, chance of something shaking things up in the coming days.
The main situation to monitor involves the health of both Martin and Jansen, who each pitched scoreless innings against the Braves on Sunday in Fort Myers. As of now, both veterans are scheduled to pitch Tuesday and are tracking to be ready for Thursday despite short ramp-ups late in camp; if either has any sort of setback, that could change. Greg Weissert, who looked likely to make the team before the Anderson signing, has not yet been optioned and would be a natural fill-in.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 25, 2024 15:01:02 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe Sox tonight: Duran LF, Devers 3B, Story SS, O’Neill RF, Abreu DH, Rafaela CF, Valdez 2B, Dalbec 1B, McGuire C, and Whitlock RHP 4:50 PM · Mar 25, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 26, 2024 5:29:51 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Bernardino optioned to Triple-A 12:36 AM ADT
MLB.com LATEST NEWS
March 25: LHP Brennan Bernardino optioned to Triple-A Left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino will be starting the season at Triple-A Worcester. The Red Sox optioned Bernardino on Monday as they continue working toward their Opening Day roster. Bernardino was in the bullpen mix, allowing one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings over seven appearances this spring.
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