Tag: roster moves

Red Sox trade Delino DeShields Jr. to Reds for cash considerations

The Red Sox have traded minor-league outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash considerations, the club announced earlier Tuesday afternoon.

DeShields, 29, was originally acquired from the Texas Rangers for cash earlier this month and was promptly assigned to the Sox’ Triple-A affiliate in Worcester.

In 18 games with the WooSox, the speedy outfielder slashed .210/.355/.355 with four doubles, one triple, one home run, four RBI, 10 runs scored, five stolen bases, 13 walks, and 24 strikeouts over 76 plate appearances while primarily playing left field and center field.

At the time they got DeShields from the Rangers, the Sox were in need of some upper-minors outfield depth following the promotion of Jarren Duran and losing Marcus Wilson to the Mariners on waivers.

With DeShields now traded, Franchy Cordero, Tate Matheny, and Johan Mieses figure to become the primary outfield options for the WooSox.

Boston was able to make a trade in the wake of the July 30 trade deadline on account of the fact that DeShields was on a minor-league contract and had not been on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster at any point this season.

This marks the second straight day in which the Sox have made a significant, post-trade deadline trade, as they acquired veteran right-hander Brad Peacock from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations on Monday.

DeShields, meanwhile, will head to his third organization this season after beginning the year with the Rangers at Triple-A Round Rock. The 5-foot-9, 190 pound right-handed hitter is the son of Reds first base coach Delino DeShields.

He has been assigned to Cincinnati’s Triple-A affiliate in Louisville.

(Picture of Delino DeShields Jr.: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Red Sox roster moves: Martín Pérez, Matt Barnes placed on COVID-19 related injured list, Phillips Valdez recalled from Triple-A Worcester, Raynel Espinal selected to 40-man

Before opening a pivotal four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday night, the Red Sox made a series of roster moves.

First off, relievers Martin Perez and Matt Barnes were both placed on the COVID-19 related injured list.

Secondly, right-handed reliever Phillips Valdez was recalled from Triple-A Worcester, while fellow righty Raynel Espinal had his contract selected from Worcester, the club announced earlier Monday evening.

Perez and Barnes become the the third and fourth Red Sox players to head to the COVID-related injured list within the last three days, as they join the likes of infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez and infielder Christian Arroyo, who tested positive on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Strength and conditioning coach Kiyoshi Momose also tested positive on Sunday.

Perez, who opened the 2021 season in Boston’s starting rotation but was demoted to the bullpen earlier this month, tested positive for the virus on Monday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith).

“We found out not too long ago,” Cora said. “So we’re going through the process, through protocol, close contact, people getting tested and everything else.”

On that note, MLB.com’s Ian Browne reports that Barnes has indeed tested positive for COVID-19, meaning he will be forced into a mandatory quarantine and miss the next 10 days despite being vaccinated against the virus.

Regardless of his vaccination status, though, the All-Star closer will head to the COVID-related IL for a second time this season after spending one day there earlier this month.

With both Perez and Barnes out of action for the time being, the Sox have added two right-handed hurlers from Worcester in the form of Valdez and Espinal.

Valdez, 29, is back up with Boston for the third time this year after he was most recently sent down to the WooSox on August 12.

Espinal, meanwhile, was able to be added to the Red Sox’ 40-man roster without a corresponding move being made since players on the COVID-related injured list do not count against the 40-man.

Originally acquired from the Yankees in the minor-league phase of the 2019 Rule 5 Draft, the 29-year-old out of the Dominican Republic has had a solid season for himself as a member of Worcester’s starting rotation.

In 18 appearances (16 starts) with the WooSox so far this year, Espinal has posted a 3.74 ERA and 4.09 FIP to go along with 89 strikeouts to 36 walks over 91 1/3 total innings of work.

Per his SoxProspects.com scouting report, Espinal — who is up at the major-league level for the first time in his professional career — operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 91-93 mph fastball, an 83-86 mph slider, an 82-84 mph changeup, and a 77-79 mph curveball.

In addition to Espinal, who will wear the No. 80, and Valdez being added to the big-league roster, the Red Sox seem likely to activate recently-acquired right-hander Brad Peacock on Tuesday. We will have to wait and see on that.

(Picture of Matt Barnes: Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Red Sox acquire veteran right-hander Brad Peacock from Indians

The Red Sox have acquired veteran right-hander Brad Peacock from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations, the club announced earlier Monday evening.

According to MLB.com’s Ian Browne, Peacock will join the Red Sox in St. Petersburg for their four-game series against the Rays that begins on Monday. It is not yet clear when he will be activated.

Boston was able to acquire Peacock from Cleveland even after the July 30 trade deadline on account of the fact that the righty is on a minor-league contract and has not been a 40-man roster at any point this season.

Peacock, 33, initially inked a minor-league pact with the Indians in late June –after throwing a showcase for interested teams earlier that same month — and was promptly assigned to the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.

Across 11 appearances (10 starts) with the Clippers, Peacock posted a 7.68 ERA and 5.16 xFIP to go along with 38 strikeouts to 14 walks over 34 total innings of work from June 30 through August 27.

In the month of August alone, he put up a much more respectable 4.22 ERA and 4.27 FIP while striking out 30 percent of the batters he faced and walking just 6.7% of them in five starts spanning 21 1/3 innings pitched.

A former 41st-round draft selection of the Washington Nationals out of Palm Beach Central High School back in 2016, Peacock is perhaps best known for the eight seasons he spent with the Houston Astros from 2013-2020.

As a member of Houston’s World Series-winning team in 2017, the Florida native enjoyed a career year in which he pitched to the tune of a 3.00 ERA and 3.07 FIP with 161 strikeouts and 57 walks over 34 total outings — 21 of which were starts — and 132 innings of work.

After working primarily as a reliever out of the Astros’ bullpen in 2018 and again as a hybrid who could start and work in relief in 2019, Peacock was limited to just three appearances last season due to soreness in his throwing shoulder.

That soreness ultimately resulted in Peacock undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery last October, which in turn kept him sidelined through April.

As previously mentioned, though, Peacock was able to land a minors deal with the Indians in June and has seemingly been pitching better at the Triple-A level as of late.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, the veteran hurler operates with a five-pitch mix that consists of a sinker, slider, changeup, curveball, and four-seam fastball, though he primarily relies on his sinker-slider combination, per Baseball Savant.

Seeing how he spent the entirety of the 2017 season with the Astros, Peacock should already be pretty familiar with current Red Sox manager and former Houston bench coach Alex Cora.

On top of that, Peacock becomes the fifth player with big-league experience the Sox have acquired in some capacity (whether by trade or free agency) this month alone, as he joins the likes of relievers Michael Feliz, Alex Claudio, and Jose De Leon as well as outfielder Delino DeShields Jr.

(Picture of Brad Peacock: Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Red Sox recall Tanner Houck from Triple-A Worcester, option Jarren Duran

Before opening up a three-game series against the Twins at Fenway Park on Tuesday night, the Red Sox recalled right-hander Tanner Houck from Triple-A Worcester.

In a corresponding move, outfielder Jarren Duran was optioned to Worcester, the club announced earlier Tuesday afternoon.

Houck will make his eighth start and 10th overall appearance of the season for Boston in Tuesday’s series opener against Minnesota. Through nine outings (eight starts) at the major-league level this year, the 25-year-old has posted a 3.12 ERA and 2.54 xFIP to go along with 46 strikeouts and seven walks over 34 2/3 innings pitched.

In his last time out, Houck served as the Sox’ 27th man in last Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Yankees in the Bronx. The righty allowed two earned runs on five hits, zero walks, and two strikeouts in four innings of work during the day cap of the twin bill and was promptly returned to Worcester shortly thereafter.

Under normal circumstances, the Red Sox would have to wait 10 days to recall Houck again, but they took advantage of the fact he was used as the 27th man for a doubleheader to call him back up after just one week.

In order to create a spot for Houck on the major-league roster, Duran winds up getting sent down to the WooSox.

Originally beginning the season with Worcester, Duran earned a big-league promotion during the All-Star break on July 16 after lighting it up against Triple-A pitching.

Making his major-league debut a day later, the speedy 24-year-old has since slashed .221/.236/.372 (56 wRC+) with three doubles, two triples, two home runs, eight RBI, 12 runs scored, one stolen base, two walks, and 33 strikeouts over his first 27 games (89 plate appearances) with Boston.

Despite seeing the ball better lately (.313 batting average going back to August 13), Duran had seen his playing time take a hit in the wake of Kyle Schwarber making his Red Sox debut earlier this month.

With Schwarber making his first start in left field in Monday’s 8-4 win over the Rangers after solely being used as a designated hitter in his first six starts with the team, Duran’s role was essentially reduced as he slid down the outfield depth chart.

By optioning him down to Worcester, the Red Sox ensure that Duran will get more regular playing time and at-bats as opposed to the limited opportunities he was and would be getting at the big-league level.

Duran, who turns 25 in early September, is still regarded by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in Boston’s farm system, ranking tops among outfielders in the organization.

Prior to getting called up in July, the former 2018 seventh-round draft pick was hitting a solid .270/.365/.561 to go along with eight doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 32 RBI, 37 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 24 walks, and 52 strikeouts across 46 games (219 plate appearances) with the WooSox.

Because Duran is a member of the Red Sox’ 40-man roster, it seems likely that the speedster would be a candidate to re-join the team once rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on September 1.

Of course, the soonest he could be called up again would be next Friday, September 3 (10 days from Tuesday), so there is that to consider as well.

(Picture of Tanner Houck: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Red Sox release Matt Andriese

The Red Sox have released right-hander Matt Andriese, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Andriese, who turns 32 later this month, was designated for assignment by the Sox on Tuesday so that the club could activate left-handed reliever Josh Taylor from the COVID-19 related injured list.

Boston originally signed the veteran righty to a one-year, $2.1 million contract over the winter that included a team option for the 2022 season.

Opening the 2021 campaign as a multi-inning reliever working out of the Red Sox bullpen, Andriese got off to a solid start, posting a 1.42 ERA and .577 OPS against across nine appearances and 12 2/3 innings of work in April.

May, however, was a different story for Andriese, and those struggles carried over into June as well as July before he was placed on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tendinitis on July 10.

In all, the California native put up an unsightly 6.03 ERA and 4.70 FIP to go along with 38 strikeouts and 11 walks over 26 outings spanning 37 1/3 innings pitched in his brief tenure with the Red Sox.

Prior to being designated for assignment this week, Andriese had begun a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on August 7 and appeared to be nearing a return after tossing four scoreless innings through his first three appearances with the WooSox.

That being said, the 6-foot-2, 215 pound hurler is free to sign with any club now that he is a free agent. As noted by MLBTradeRumors.com’s Anthony Franco, “any team that signs Andriese as a free agent would only owe him the prorated portion of the league minimum salary for any time he spends on [their] big-league roster.”

The Red Sox, meanwhile, will still owe Andriese — now a veteran of seven major-league seasons between the Rays, Diamondbacks, Angels, and Sox — the remainder of his $2.1 million guarantee regardless of what happens from here.

(Picture of Matt Andriese: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Red Sox activate Josh Taylor from COVID-19 related injured list, designate Matt Andriese for assignment

Before opening up a three-game series against the Yankees with a day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, the Red Sox made a series of roster moves.

First off, left-handed reliever Josh Taylor was reinstated from the COVID-19 related injured list. In order to make room for Taylor on Boston’s 40-man roster, right-hander Matt Andriese was designated for assignment.

Secondly, right-hander Tanner Houck was appointed as the 27th man for Tuesday’s twin bill in the Bronx, the club announced earlier Tuesday morning.

Taylor winds up missing just one day of action after initially being placed on the COVID-related injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles.

Though it does not appear as though the 28-year-old ever tested positive for the virus this time around since he tested negative on multiple occasions, he was forced to take a car service to get from Boston to New York as opposed to flying with the team.

Taylor, who did test positive for the virus last summer, opened the truncated 2020 campaign on the COVID-19 related injured list.

Through 48 appearances out of the Boston bullpen this year, the southpaw has proven to be one of the Sox’ most effective relievers, posting a 3.23 ERA and 2.92 FIP with 51 strikeouts and 20 walks over 39 total innings of work.

Per Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Taylor should be available for both games of Tuesday’s twin bill.

Because Boston placed Taylor on the COVID-related injured list on Sunday, they were able to temporarily create a spot on their 40-man roster, which in turn allowed them to claim infielder Travis Shaw off waivers from the Brewers without making a corresponding move.

With Taylor’s return, however, the Sox needed to make room on their 40-man roster for the lefty, and they did so by designating fellow reliever in Andriese for assignment.

Originally signed to a one-year, $2.1 million deal that included a team option for 2022 back in December, Andriese got his Red Sox career off to a solid start, as he put up a 1.42 ERA and .577 OPS against over nine relief appearances spanning 12 2/3 innings pitched in the month of April.

Once the calendar flipped to May, however, things seemed to take a turn for the worse for the veteran right-hander, as he struggled to the tune of an 8.39 ERA and 1.090 OPS against across 17 outings (24 2/3 innings) before landing on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tendinitis on July 10.

Andriese, who turns 32 later this month, was able to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on August 7 and was even scheduled to work two innings for the WooSox on Tuesday, but that is no longer the case.

Instead, the Red Sox will have seven days to either trade, release, or sneak Andriese through waivers, though he could refuse an assignment to Worcester and elect to become a free agent instead.

Finally, we arrive at Houck, who was recalled from Worcester to serve as the 27th man for Tuesday’s doubleheader.

The 25-year-old will get the start for Boston in Game 1 on Tuesday, as he will be matched up against Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. eastern time on NESN and MLB Network.

(Picture of Matt Andriese: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Red Sox add Travis Shaw to major-league roster, option Franchy Cordero and Connor Wong to Triple-A Worcester, release Marwin Gonzalez

Ahead of their three-game series against the Yankees that begins in the Bronx on Tuesday, the Red Sox made a series of roster moves during their day off on Monday.

First off, infielder Travis Shaw was added to Boston’s major-league roster, while both outfielder Franchy Cordero and catcher Connor Wong were optioned to Triple-A Worcester.

Secondly, utility man Marwin Gonzalez was released after he was designated for assignment on Friday, the club announced earlier Monday night.

Shaw was claimed off outright waivers by the Sox from the Brewers on Sunday and was promptly added to Boston’s 40-man roster since they had an open spot after placing left-handed reliever Josh Taylor on the COVID-19 related injured list that same day.

The Red Sox originally selected Shaw in the ninth round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Kent State University, and the left-handed hitter spent the first two seasons of his major-league career (2015-2016) with Boston before being traded to Milwaukee in December 2016.

After bouncing around between the Brewers, Blue Jays, and Brewers again, Shaw was ultimately placed on outright waivers by Milwaukee this past weekend.

The left-handed hitter had slashed .191/.279/.337 with eight doubles, six home runs, 28 RBI, 14 runs scored, 19 walks, and 51 strikeouts across 56 games (202 plate appearances) with the Brewers this season prior to dislocating his left shoulder in early June.

Sent out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on July 27, Shaw hit .273/.415/.485 with two home runs and eight RBI over 11 games (41 plate appearances) with the Sounds before losing his spot on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster.

In claiming the 31-year-old off waivers, the Red Sox add another left-handed power bat to the mix that has proven capable of playing first base, second base, and third base over the course of his big-league career.

“He’s a good kid, he’s a good guy,” Sox manager Alex Cora said of Shaw on Sunday. “We’re going to use him the right way. I think he gives us more weapons to maneuver over nine innings. We can pinch-hit, we can platoon, we can do a lot of things with him. Looking forward to seeing him and start working with him.”

A noted fan of former Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, Shaw — a native of Ohio — will don the No. 23 in his second stint with the Red Sox.

In order to make room for Shaw on the major-league roster, Boston only had to send down one player, but instead optioned two in Cordero and Wong.

Cordero, who was recalled from Worcester on July 22, appeared in 13 games during his second stint of the season with the Sox. Over the course of those 13 games in which he made starts at first base and in left field, the 26-year-old went 7-for-32 (.219) at the plate with seven singles, three runs scored, two walks, and 14 strikeouts.

Wong, meanwhile, was recalled from the WooSox on Sunday as part of the same series of moves that saw Taylor head to the COVID-19 related injured list.

The fact that Boston optioned the 25-year-old backstop back down to Worcester — and thus trimmed down their big-league roster to 25 players for the time being — would seem to indicate that they are hopeful that Taylor will be cleared to return to action on Tuesday, though that is no sure thing.

If Taylor were to be activated before Tuesday’s doubleheader, though, the Red Sox would need to clear a 40-man roster spot in order for him to be added back to the major-league squad.

In addition to the possibility of Boston getting Taylor back this week, they will also be adding right-hander Tanner Houck as the 27th man for Tuesday’s twin bill at Yankee Stadium.

Though Cora has yet to officially name starters for the upcoming doubleheader, the expectation seems to be that Houck will start one game while fellow righty Nathan Eovaldi will start the other.

Finally, we arrive at Gonzalez, who was released three days after being designated for assignment on Friday — at the same time Kyle Schwarber was activated from the injured list.

The versatile 32-year-old initially signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Sox back in late February, but never really found his footing at the plate with his new club.

Despite providing value as a switch-hitter who could play multiple defensive positions, Gonzalez hit just .202/.281/.285 with two home runs and 20 RBI in 77 games (271 plate appearances) with Boston prior to losing his roster spot.

(Picture of Travis Shaw: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Why the addition of Travis Shaw makes Red Sox manager Alex Cora ‘feel old’

In his heyday with the Dodgers, Red Sox manager Alex Cora was teammates with former big-league right-hander Jeff Shaw from 1998 through 2021.

On Sunday, the Red Sox claimed Shaw’s son, major-league infielder Travis Shaw, off waivers from the Brewers, meaning Cora will now be managing one of his former teammates’ children.

“I know the kid,” Cora said of the younger Shaw following Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Orioles at Fenway Park. “Actually, finally, I feel old. I played with his dad. I saw Travis running around in the clubhouse in LA. So, at one point throughout this, I’m like, ‘Hopefully it doesn’t happen, that I have to manage a teammate’s kid.’ It happened. So, when I found out, I was like, ‘Wow.’ Yeah, you feel old.”

Shaw, who was drafted by the Red Sox out of Kent State University in the ninth round of the 2011 draft, spent the first two years of his major-league career (2015-2016) in Boston prior to being dealt to the Brewers (along with prospects) in exchange for reliever Tyler Thornburg in the winter of 2016.

While Shaw initially found success in Milwaukee by hitting 31 and 32 home runs in his first two seasons with the club, he regressed in 2019, was non-tendered that December, and ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays prior to the start of the 2020 campaign.

After his one and only season with Toronto came to a close, the Sox reportedly were interested in a reunion with Shaw, but he opted to return to the Brewers on a minor-league deal with the Brewers this past February.

After making Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster out of spring training, the 31-year-old got off to a sluggish start at the plate in which he slashed .191/.279/.337 with just six home runs and 28 RBI across 56 games (202 plate appearances) before dislocating his left shoulder during a game against the Reds on June 9.

The Brewers placed Shaw to the 60-day injured list on June 12, but decided to designate the veteran infielder just as he was nearing a return from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville.

In designating Shaw for assignment, the Brewers accepted the fact that they could lose Shaw on waivers, and the Red Sox stepped up to the plate by claiming and adding him to their 40-man roster on Sunday.

By acquiring Shaw, the Red Sox were able to add yet another versatile player who is capable of playing around the infield while also providing power from the left side of the plate, as Cora explained on Sunday.

“He’s a good kid, he’s a good guy,” said Cora. “We’re going to use him the right way. I think he gives us more weapons to maneuver over nine innings. We can pinch-hit, we can platoon, we can do a lot of things with him. Looking forward to seeing him and start working with him.”

The reason the Red Sox were able to add Shaw, who was making $1.5 million this season, without making a corresponding 40-man roster move was on account of the fact that left-handed reliever Josh Taylor was placed on the COVID-19 related injured list earlier in the day, thus creating a spot for a new addition.

If Shaw is to join the Sox in New York on Tuesday ahead of their three-game series against the Yankees, which as of now sounds like the plan, the club would also need to make room on its 26-man major-league roster to acommodate him.

“I haven’t talked to Chaim [Bloom] about it,” Cora said when asked if Shaw will be joining the team right away. “Somebody mentioned that he’s here. So, I don’t know what the plan is, but I bet there’s a good chance he’ll be with us on Tuesday.”

(Picture of Travis Shaw: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Red Sox bring back Travis Shaw by claiming veteran infielder off waivers from Brewers

The Red Sox have claimed corner infielder Travis Shaw off waivers from the Brewers, the club announced earlier Sunday afternoon.

Shaw, 31, was designated for assignment and promptly placed on outright waivers by Milwaukee earlier this weekend after slashing a dismal .191/.279/.337 with eight doubles, six home runs, 28 RBI, 14 runs scored, 19 walks, and 51 strikeouts across 56 games (202 plate appearances) with the club this season.

Signed to a minor-league deal by the Brewers in February, Shaw, who made Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster out of spring training, has appeared in 48 games at third base and 20 at first base so far this year.

In early June, the left-handed hitter dislocated his left shoulder, resulting in him being placed on the 10-day injured list and transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 12.

Late last month, the Brewers sent Shaw out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. He hit .273/.415/.485 with two home runs and eight RBI over 11 games (41 plate appearances) with the Sounds.

Due to the emergence of other corner infielders such as Rowdy Tellez and Eduardo Escobar, however, Shaw ultimately lost his spot on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster.

In being claimed off waivers by the Red Sox, though, Shaw rejoins the organization he originally began his professional career with as a ninth-round draft selection out of Kent State University in 2011.

After eventually making his major-league debut for Boston in May 2015, the Ohio native enjoyed a decent amount of success during his rookie season, posting a .270/.327/.487 slash line to go along with 10 doubles, 13 homers, and 36 RBI in 56 games in the process of being dubbed the “Mayor of Ding Dong City.”

Following the 2016 campaign, the Red Sox traded Shaw — as well prospects Mauricio Dubon, Josh Pennington, and Yeison Coca to the Brewers in exchange for reliever Tyler Thornburg.

Thornburg’s time in Boston did not go well, but Shaw got his tenure in Milwaukee off to a solid start by clubbing 31 home runs in 2017 and a career-best 32 home runs in 2018.

That said, Shaw regressed mightily in 2019 and was later non-tendered by the Brewers that December. He inked a one-year contract with the Blue Jays shortly thereafter.

In his lone season with Toronto, Shaw posted a .717 OPS in 50 games before becoming a free-agent once again. The Red Sox had interest in bringing him back over the winter, though he ultimately decided to return to Milwaukee on a minors pact.

Now that he is back with Boston, Shaw — listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds –will look to provide the Sox with a left-handed power bat that has experience at every infield position besides shortstop.

The Red Sox were able to add Shaw to their 40-man roster without making a corresponding move since they placed left-handed reliever Josh Taylor on the COVID-19 related injured list earlier in the day.

On top of that, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reports that the plan is for Shaw to join the Sox ahead of their series against the Yankees that begins in New York on Tuesday.

The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier was the first to report that the Red Sox had claimed Shaw off waivers.

(Picture of Travis Shaw: John Fisher/Getty Images)

Red Sox place Josh Taylor on COVID-19 related injured list, recall Connor Wong from Triple-A Worcester

Before wrapping up their three-game weekend series against the Orioles at Fenway Park on Sunday, the Red Sox placed left-handed reliever Josh Taylor on the COVID-19 related injured list.

In a corresponding move, catcher Connor Wong was recalled from Triple-A Worcester, the club announced earlier Sunday afternoon.

Taylor has proven to be one of the more consistent relievers out of the Boston bullpen this season, posting a 3.23 ERA and 2.93 FIP to go along with 51 strikeouts and 20 walks over 48 appearances spanning 39 total innings of work.

At the moment, it’s unclear if the 28-year-old has tested positive for COVID-19 or if he is just experiencing COVID-like symptoms, as has been the case with several Red Sox players (Matt Barnes, Jarren Duran, J.D. Martinez) within the last few weeks.

Taylor did, however, test positive for the virus at the onset of summer camp last year and — in addition to being forced to quarantine at a Boston hotel — opened the truncated 2020 campaign on the COVID-related IL. He did not make his season debut until August 17 as a result of all that.

If the lefty does indeed test negative for COVID-19, he could be activated as soon as Tuesday ahead of an important doubleheader against the Yankees in the Bronx.

If Taylor’s PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test comes back positive, though, he would be placed into a mandatory 10-day quarantine, which would result in the Red Sox triggering additional virus-related protocols.

Wong, meanwhile, returns to the Sox just one day after he was sent down to Worcester at the same time fellow catcher Christian Vazquez was activated from the bereavement list.

In six games spanning four separate stints with Boston, the 25-year-old rookie has gone 4-for-13 (.308) with one double, one triple, one RBI, three runs scored, one walk, and seven strikeouts over 14 total plate appearances.

It’s likely Wong will be available off the bench for the Red Sox in Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles.

(Picture of Josh Taylor: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)