The Crimson Sox introduced a sequence of roster strikes this night, headlined by the membership inserting outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured checklist on account of a left leg an infection. The transfer is retroactive to August 4. Changing O’Neill on the lively roster is infielder Enmanuel Valdez, who has been recalled to the large league roster, and the Crimson Sox additionally activated right-hander Chris Martin from the 15-day IL. Lefty Cam Booser was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Martin.
O’Neill, 29, was acquired from the Cardinals over the offseason and has loved a wonderful marketing campaign throughout his first season in Boston. In 342 journeys to the plate this season, the 29-year-old has slashed a wonderful .268/.357/.544 (142 wRC+) with 16 doubles and 22 homers. Whereas he’s hanging out at a hefty 31.9% clip, he’s paired these robust energy numbers with a stable 11.1% stroll price that has given him a extra well-rounded profile than he flashed in his career-best 2021 marketing campaign when he crushed 34 homers and posted a 143 wRC+ however walked at a clip of simply 7.1%.
The slugger’s efficiency this 12 months appears prone to line the pending free agent up for hefty elevate in free company this winter, though one crimson flag for O’Neill has been his frequent journeys to the shelf. After struggling hamstring, again, foot, and shoulder accidents throughout his remaining two seasons with St. Louis, he’s now made three journeys to the shelf with the Crimson Sox this 12 months: as soon as for a concussion in April, as soon as on account of knee irritation in Could, and now right now’s most up-to-date ailment that supervisor Alex Cora described to reporters (together with Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe) as a worsening an infection on his left leg that has prompted swelling.
The silver lining in O’Neill’s repeated journeys to the IL this 12 months is that they’ve all been pretty short-lived, and Cora indicated that this one ought to be extra of the identical as he’s prone to be activated as soon as eligible to return subsequent week. Within the meantime, the Crimson Sox determine to show to some mixture of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder within the outfield. With Rafaela frequenting the outfield in latest days, Valdez ought to assist to shore up the membership’s center infield combine alongside David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, and Romy Gonzalez. The 25-year-old loved a powerful rookie season in 2023 however has taken a step again this 12 months with a .226/.282/.402 slash line in 182 journeys to the plate on the huge league degree.
As for Martin, the right-hander’s return to motion is welcome information for a beleaguered Crimson Sox bullpen that has been second-worst within the majors for the reason that begin of July, forward of solely the White Sox. The 38-year-old veteran sports activities a stable 3.42 ERA with an identical 3.40 FIP in 26 1/3 innings of labor this 12 months and is coming off a fair higher season in 2023 the place he dominated to the tune of an eye-popping 1.05 ERA in 55 appearances. Including Martin to the late-inning to be the first set-up man for nearer Kenley Jansen ought to additional shore up a bullpen that acquired reinforcements within the type of Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia previous to the commerce deadline. He’ll take the roster spot of Booser, who heads to Triple-A to change into the membership’s high depth choice with a wonderful 2.77 ERA and a couple of.99 FIP in 39 innings of labor this 12 months.
Whereas the bullpen will hopefully be revitalized by the return of Martin, Cora urged to reporters right now (together with Abraham) that the Crimson Sox intend to skip right-hander Nick Pivetta’s subsequent begin. Whereas the veteran righty doesn’t seem like injured, Cora indicated that he’s “not responding nicely” popping out of his final begin and that the membership had some issues a couple of dip in his velocity. With a day without work scheduled tomorrow, the Crimson Sox will be capable to make the most of the remainder of their rotation on common relaxation with no need to name up one other arm to take the spot on Pivetta. The righty has a middling 4.44 ERA via 18 begins this 12 months thanks primarily on account of a trio of brutal outings his final thrice out which have seen him give up 13 runs (12 earned) in 14 innings of labor whereas serving up six house runs.