Red Sox players out of minor league options for 2017

The Boston Red Sox have several players are out of minor league options and for a few, it may mean a career in Boston is over.

Out of options can often be the deciding factor on a player being on the 40-man roster or not. MLB Trade Rumors has the latest list and the Boston Red Sox have several players that have less than five years service time and no options remaining.

To send a player out of options to the minors requires they be placed on waivers and any team can then claim them. That has a certain risk element since the team that places a waiver claim assumes the contract.

Boston easily had Allen Craig and Rusney Castillo going through waivers since no one had a level of insanity necessary to place a claim and absorb contracts that had “Dead Money” emblazed upon them. Drifting back many years the Red Sox also had Manny Ramirez on waivers, but even the productive Manny was not enticing enough for some team to absorb his contract. I will avoid the extensive and – at least to me – ponderous, intricate and confusing process of options and waivers.

The Red Sox could avoid any questionable choices by just using the trade market. They could also risk exposing a player with the understanding that no other team will be interested. Conversely, the Red Sox may be interested in just who another team may choose to jettison.

"Once a player is put on the 40-man roster, the option countdown begins. A player is assigned three options as a rostered player. Each year, when a player who is on the roster gets sent to the Minor Leagues for a stint of more than 20 days, it counts as an option. – MLB Rules"

The Red Sox list contains names that will certainly not be sent to the waiver wire. Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright, and Tyler Thornburg all have a solid roster spot. Pomeranz and Wright are certainly viable options for the rotation with the “loser” being a valued addition to the bullpen.

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Thornburg’s performances in spring training would get a level of attention that could conceivably result in demotion to the minors, but with his talent level and investment by the team via trade, he will stay. Any issues regarding his health simply mean the disabled list option.

Another possibility out of the bullpen is Heath Hembree. At this juncture, Hembree has displayed some positive performances and apparently has a better than even chance of staying with Boston. Hembree also had a strong 2016 season so his spot is safe.

One name surfaces whose fate may soon be determined and that is Bryce Brentz who will probably be Designated For Assignment (DFA) as this is written. Brentz – a former number one pick (2010) – has never produced as expected. How 28-years-old the right-handed power hitting promise has evaporated and it is highly doubtful another team will claim Brentz.

Josh Rutledge has been through the grinding paperwork process for players that are on the fringe. Rutledge was traded to Boston by the Angels in 2015 and in 2016 played until a knee injury in June scuttled his season. Rutledge was outrighted to the minors and eventually choose the free agency route. Rutledge signed with the Rockies in November of 2016 but was eventually returned to Boston as a Rule 5 selection.