Tag: roster moves

Red Sox trade Silvino Bracho to Braves for cash considerations

The Red Sox have traded reliever Silvino Bracho to the Braves in exchange for cash considerations, the club announced Thursday night.

Bracho had just been designated for assignment after spending the last two days on Boston’s big-league roster. The right-hander was initially called up on Tuesday in place of Connor Seabold to provide the Sox with an extra reliever for the remainder of their series against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

He did not get into a game, however, and lost his spot on both the 26- and 40-man roster on Thursday when the Red Sox activated fellow righty Tanner Houck — who cannot travel to Canada on account of his unvaccinated status — from the restricted list ahead of their weekend series with the Cubs in Chicago.

The 29-year-old originally signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox back in March and began the 2022 season with Triple-A Worcester. He posted a 3.16 ERA and 2.58 FIP with 36 strikeouts to four walks over 18 appearances (1 start) spanning 31 1/3 innings of work for the WooSox before having his contract selected on Tuesday.

Bracho, who turns 30 in less than three weeks, now joins a new organization after only spending a few hours in DFA limbo. The native Venezuelan first signed with the Diamondbacks as an international free agent in August 2011 and broke in with Arizona four years later.

In his first four seasons with the D-backs, Bracho posted a 4.67 ERA across 91 relief appearances. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2019 and was limited to just one outing during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

Since he spent all of 2021 with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, Bracho has just one big-league appearance under his belt in the last three years. Because he is out of minor-league options, Bracho will have to stick with the Braves or will otherwise risk being designated for assignment again.

(Picture of Silvino Bracho: Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

Red Sox reinstate Tanner Houck and Jarren Duran from restricted list, designate Silvino Bracho for assignment

The Red Sox have reinstated right-hander Tanner Houck and outfielder Jarren Duran from the restricted list, the team announced Thursday afternoon. In order to make room for Houck and Duran on the 26- and 40-man rosters, infielder Yolmer Sanchez was returned to Triple-A Worcester while reliever Silvino Bracho was designated for assignment.

Houck and Duran were unable to travel with the Red Sox to Toronto for their series against the Blue Jays since they are both not vaccinated against COVID-19. They instead spent the last three days working out at Fenway Park before re-joining the team in Chicago for their upcoming bout with the Cubs.

Because of their unvaccinated status, Houck and Duran were placed on the restricted list on Monday and did not receive any pay or service time while they were on it. In their place, Sanchez and righty Connor Seabold were called up from Worcester.

Sanchez got the start at second base on Wednesday and went 0-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt and walk before being pinch-hit for by Bobby Dalbec in the ninth inning of a 6-5 win.

Seabold made his second career start in Monday’s series opener at Rogers Centre, allowing seven runs on nine hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings of work. The 26-year-old was optioned back down to the minors that night, but remains with the big-league club as a member of their taxi squad and is likely to start against the Cubs on Sunday.

In Seabold’s place, Bracho — who had been on Boston’s taxi squad — was activated on Tuesday to provide the Sox with an extra bullpen arm for their final two games against the Jays. The 29-year-old did not make an appearance despite spending two days on the major-league roster, however, and has now lost his spot on the 40-man.

Unlike Sanchez, who as a COVID-related substitute for Duran was able to be taken off the 40-man roster and returned to Worcester without being exposed to waivers, Bracho was expectedly designated for assignment since he was not directly filling in for a player on the restricted list.

By designating Bracho, the Red Sox created the opening they needed to add Houck back to both the 26-man and 40-man rosters. Boston will now have the next seven days to either trade, release, or waive Bracho, who has posted a 3.16 ERA and 2.58 FIP with 36 strikeouts to four walks in 18 appearances (1 start) spanning 31 1/3 innings of work for the WooSox this season.

That being said, the native Venezuelan has the ability to reject an outright assignment to Worcester if he goes unclaimed since he has accrued more than three years of big-league service time.

All told, the Red Sox’ big-league and 40-man roster is at full capacity heading into this weekend’s series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

(Picture of Tanner Houck: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox activate Silvino Bracho from taxi squad, option Connor Seabold to Triple-A Worcester

Before taking on the Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday night, the Red Sox selected the contract of right-handed reliever Silvino Bracho from Triple-A Worcester. In a corresponding move, fellow right-hander Connor Seabold was optioned to Worcester following Monday’s game.

Bracho will provide the Sox with a fresh bullpen arm for the final two games of their series against the Jays at Rogers Centre. The 29-year-old had been traveling with the club as a member of their taxi squad.

Originally signed to a minor-league contract back in March, Bracho has posted a 3.16 ERA and 2.58 FIP with 36 strikeouts to four walks in 18 appearances (1 start) spanning 31 1/3 innings of work for the WooSox this season. The native Venezuelan spent the first five years (2015-2018, 2020) of his big-league career with the Diamondbacks and pitched to a 4.82 ERA (4.86 FIP) over 89 2/3 innings of relief. He works with a changeup, four-seam fastball, slider, and a seldom-used sinker.

The Red Sox did not need to create room on their 40-man roster for Bracho since Tanner Houck and Jarren Duran are on the restricted list due to their unvaccinated status. They will, however, need to expose Bracho to waivers if they intend on removing him from the 40-man roster at the conclusion of this series.

Seabold, meanwhile, made the second start of his big-league career in place of the injured Garrett Whitlock on Monday. The 26-year-old allowed seven earned runs on nine hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in Boston’s 7-2 loss to Toronto.

Currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 22 prospect in the Sox’ farm system, Seabold owns a 2.09 ERA with 51 strikeouts to 14 walks in 11 starts (51 2/3 innings pitched) for the WooSox this season.

(Picture of Silvino Bracho: Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

Silvino Bracho with Red Sox as member of team’s taxi squad

Silvino Bracho has joined the Red Sox on their taxi squad in Toronto. There is a chance the right-handed reliever could be activated for the final two games of Boston’s series against the Blue Jays if Connor Seabold is optioned to Triple-A Worcester following Monday’s game at Rogers Centre.

The Sox originally signed Bracho to a minor-league contract back in March after the 29-year-old spent the entirety of the 2021 campaign in the Giants organization.

In 18 appearances (1 start) with the WooSox this season, Bracho has posted a 3.16 ERA and 2.58 FIP with 36 strikeouts to four walks over 31 1/3 innings of work.

Bracho, who turns 30 next month, broke in with the Diamondbacks in 2015 after signing with Arizona as an international free-agent out of Venezuela in 2011. The Maracaibo native pitched to a 4.67 ERA in his first four big-league seasons before undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2019.

After making just one appearance for the D-backs in 2020, Bracho became a free-agent and pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level in 2021 while with the Giants.

That being said, it has now been nearly two full years since Bracho appeared in a major-league game. Per Baseball Savant, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound righty works with a three-pitch mix that consists of a changeup, four-seam fastball, and slider. He has also used a sinker in the past.

If Bracho is indeed activated and gets into a game against the Jays this week, he would become the 19th different pitcher the Red Sox have used this season. At the conclusion of this series, however, Boston would have to designate Bracho for assignment — and thus expose him to waivers — if it wanted to remove him from the 26-man roster since he is out of minor-league options.

(Picture of Silvino Bracho: Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

Red Sox release Thomas Pannone, Roberto Ramos from minor-league deals

The Red Sox have granted left-hander Thomas Pannone and first baseman Roberto Ramos their releases from the organization, per the team’s minor-league transactions log.

Both Pannone and Ramos had spent the entirety of the 2022 season with Triple-A Worcester after signing minor-league deals with Boston over the winter.

Pannone was granted his release so that he could sign with the KIA Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization, according to Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The 28-year-old southpaw out of Rhode Island made 14 appearances (12 starts) for the WooSox this season and posted a 4.57 ERA (3.17 FIP) with 70 strikeouts to just eight walks over 63 innings of work.

Ramos is also likely to sign with a Korean club, per McDonald. The 27-year-old spent the 2020 and 2021 campaigns with the LG Twins and hit 46 home runs over 168 games, so he could possibly return there.

In 39 games with the WooSox, the left-handed hitting Ramos batted just .158/.287/.342 (71 wRC+) with five homers and 16 RBIs across 143 trips to the plate.

(Picture of Thomas Pannone: Katie Morrison/MassLive)

Red Sox place Tanner Houck, Jarren Duran on restricted list, call up Connor Seabold, Yolmer Sánchez from Triple-A Worcester

Before opening a three-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Monday, the Red Sox placed closer Tanner Houck and outfielder Jarren Duran on the restricted list.

To take their place on the major-league roster, right-hander Connor Seabold and infielder Yolmer Sanchez were called up from Triple-A Worcester, the team announced.

Neither Houck or Duran are vaccinated against COVID-19 and therefore cannot travel to Canada. They will not receive pay or service time for the next three days and will instead work out at Fenway Park before rejoining the Red Sox in Chicago later this week.

Seabold, meanwhile, will make the second start of his big-league career at Rogers Centre on Monday night while filling in for the injured Garrett Whitlock. The 26-year-old made his major-league debut in a spot start against the White Sox last September and allowed two runs in three innings at Guaranteed Rate Field.

In 11 starts for the WooSox this season, Seabold has posted a 2.09 ERA and 2.99 FIP with 51 strikeouts to 14 walks over 51 2/3 innings of work. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound hurler works with a fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball and is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 10 pitching prospect in Boston’s farm system.

Unlike Seabold, Sanchez is not on Boston’s 40-man roster. That said, the Red Sox will be able to return the 29-year-old to Worcester without having to expose him to waivers following the conclusion of their series in Toronto.

Sanchez, who actually turns 30 on Wednesday, originally signed a minor-league deal with Boston back in February. The Venezuela native spent the first seven years of his major-league career with the White Sox and won the American League Gold Glove Award for second baseman in 2019.

In 68 games (265 plate appearances) with the WooSox this season, the switch-hitting Sanchez has batted .253/.381/.424 (120 wRC+) with 11 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 29 RBIs, 32 runs scored, four stolen bases, 44 walks, and 60 strikeouts while seeing playing time at every infield position besides first base.

On Sunday, manager Alex Cora said that Sanchez will likely make his first start for the Red Sox at second base on Wednesday so that Trevor Story can get off his feet for two days as Boston is off on Thursday.

(Picture of Connor Seabold: Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Yolmer Sánchez expected to take Jarren Duran’s spot on Red Sox’ roster for upcoming series in Toronto

The Red Sox are going to call up infielder Yolmer Sanchez from Triple-A Worcester ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Sanchez will take the roster spot of outfielder Jarren Duran, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and will therefore be placed on the restricted list since he cannot travel to Canada.

While Sanchez is not on Boston’s 40-man roster, the club can still add him to the big-league roster in place of Duran for the next three days and then return him to Worcester without exposing him to waivers following Wednesday’s series finale at Rogers Centre.

A veteran of seven major-league seasons (2014-2020) with the White Sox, Sanchez originally signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox back in February. In 68 games with the WooSox this season, the versatile switch-hitter has batted .253/.381/.424 (120 wRC+) with 11 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 29 RBIs, 32 runs scored, four stolen bases, 44 walks, and 60 strikeouts over 265 trips to the plate. He has also seen playing time at every infield position besides first base.

At the big-league level, Sanchez owns a career .245/.300/.360 slash line to go along with 32 home runs and 215 RBIs across 657 games with Chicago. The Venezuela native took home the American League Gold Glove Award for second baseman in 2019.

According to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Sanchez will likely make his first start of the year on Wednesday, which is also his 30th birthday. The plan is for him to start at second base in place of Trevor Story, who would have the chance to get off his feet for two days since Boston is off on Thursday.

(Picture of Yolmer Sanchez: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox outright James Norwood to Triple-A Worcester after right-hander clears waivers

Five days after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox, right-hander James Norwood has cleared waivers and has therefore been outrighted to Triple-A Worcester, per MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith.

The Sox originally acquired Norwood from the Phillies in exchange for cash considerations last Saturday. The hard-throwing 28-year-old spent one day on Boston’s major-league roster before being designated for assignment on Monday so that the club could create an opening for infielder Jeter Downs.

While he did not appear in a game with the Red Sox, Norwood does own an 8.31 ERA — but much more respectable 3.65 FIP — with 22 strikeouts to nine walks over 20 relief appearances (17 1/3 innings) for the Phillies this season.

Per Baseball Savant, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound hurler works with a four-seam fastball that has averaged 98.6 mph this year, a split-finger fastball, and a slider.

Norwood, who is out of minor-league options, will join a WooSox bullpen that includes several relievers with prior big-league experience like Kaleb Ort, Eduard Bazardo, Silvino Bracho, Taylor Cole, Geoff Hartlieb, Michael Feliz, and Phillips Valdez.

(Picture of James Norwood: Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox option Jeter Downs to Triple-A Worcester; Christian Arroyo expected to be activated from COVID-19 related injured list on Friday

The Red Sox optioned infielder Jeter Downs to Triple-A Worcester following Wednesday’s 6-2 win over the Tigers, the team announced Thursday. While no corresponding move has been made yet, utility man Christian Arroyo is expected to join the team in Cleveland for this weekend’s series against the Guardians after spending the last eight days on the COVID-19 related injured list.

Downs spent three days with Boston after getting called up from Worcester for the first time on Monday. While the 23-year-old did not appear in the Sox’ first two games against the Tigers, he did make his highly-anticipated major-league debut in Wednesday’s series finale at Fenway Park.

Batting ninth and starting at third base for the first time in his professional career, Downs went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He put the ball in play once, but it was a 323-foot flyout that died on the warning track in left field.

Defensively, Downs had two groundballs hit his way while playing third base for the first time since his high school. He fielded them both cleanly and picked up two assists by doing so.

“That was the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Downs said of his experience Wednesday night. “I still can’t believe the game is over. It felt so fast. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted to, but oh well. The team got the win, and that’s the most important thing.”

Downs’ first stint in the majors was always expected to be a short one. He will now return to Worcester, where he is batting .180/.297/.397 (86 wRC+) with six doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 21 RBIs, 35 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 25 walks, and 69 strikeouts over 53 games (222 plate appearances) for the WooSox this season.

Arroyo, meanwhile, was initially placed on the COVID-19 related injured list on June 15 after testing positive for the virus. The versatile 27-year-old began a rehab assignment with the WooSox on Tuesday and went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts in two games.

With the Red Sox this season, Arroyo has batted .187/.227/.319 with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs, 10 runs scored, three stolen bases, three walks, and 17 strikeouts over 34 games spanning 98 trips to the plate. He has seen playing time at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and right field.

(Picture of Jeter Downs: Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

Red Sox call up top prospect Jeter Downs from Triple-A Worcester, designate James Norwood for assignment

The Red Sox have called up infield prospect Jeter Downs from Triple-A Worcester. In order to make room for Downs on the major-league roster, recently-acquired right-hander James Norwood was designated for assignment, the team announced prior to Monday’s series opener against the Tigers.

Downs, who turns 24 next month, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect in Boston’s farm system. The Red Sox originally acquired the Colombian-born infielder — along with Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong — from the Dodgers in the blockbuster trade that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to Los Angeles in February 2020.

After spending the entirety of the 2021 campaign with Triple-A Worcester and closing it out in the Arizona Fall League, Downs returned to the WooSox for the start of the 2022 season. Coming into play on Monday, the right-handed hitting 23-year-old was batting .180/.297/.397 (86 wRC+) with six doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 21 RBIs, 35 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 25 walks, and 69 strikeouts over 53 games spanning 222 plate appearances.

Defensively, Downs has seen all his playing time this season come at shortstop. But the 5-foot-11, 195 pounder also has extensive experience at second base and should provide the Red Sox with solid infield depth up the middle while he is up with the club.

According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, Downs’ first stint in the majors is expected to be short-lived with both Christian Arroyo (COVID-19) and Enrique Hernandez (right hip flexor strain) slated to return to action before Boston’s three-game series against Detroit comes to an end.

As of Sunday night, the Sox had 14 pitchers and 12 position players on their big-league roster. By Monday, all MLB teams were required to cut the number of pitchers on their roster down to 13. Boston accomplished this by effectively swapping Norwood in favor of Downs.

Norwood, who was acquired from the Phillies in exchange for cash considerations on Saturday, was activated for Sunday’s series finale against the Cardinals but did not pitch in the game. The Red Sox now have the next seven days to either trade, release, or possibly sneak the 28-year-old through waivers and keep him in the organization.

Following Monday’s transaction, the Sox still have 39 players on their 40-man roster. That will increase to 40 once Arroyo is activated from the COVID-19 related injured list.

(Picture of Jeter Downs: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)