The Boston Red Sox announce their next wave of roster cuts this spring, optioning a pair of pitchers to Triple-A and assigning another to minor league camp.
As we inch closer to the start a new season, roster cuts continue to trim the player pool in camp for the Boston Red Sox.
The team announced on Friday that right-handed pitcher Kyle Martin and lefty Luis Ysla have been optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Both relievers are on the 40-man roster and may get a chance to make their major league debuts in Boston this season. However, neither did much to stand out this spring and being sent to the minors already suggests they aren’t being considered for a roster spot to begin the season.
More from Red Sox News
- Red Sox Nation deserves far more from Fenway Sports Group
- Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
- Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
- Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure
Martin posted a modest 3.38 ERA to go along with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings covering six appearances. He also allowed five hits, with opponents batting .263 against him, while issuing a pair of walks. Not bad, but hardly the type of performance that will force his way to Boston.
The results were a bit more disappointing for Ysla, the 14th ranked prospect in the Red Sox farm system, according to SoxProspects.com. The 24-year old allowed four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings for a 4.26 ERA. He held opponents to a stellar .167 batting average, only to be derailed by control issues. Ysla walked six batters, resulting in a 1.58 WHIP. Only a handful of Red Sox pitchers owned a higher WHIP this spring while tossing at least 6 innings. Only a few from that sample are on the 40-man roster and each of them are primarily starters.
Prior to today’s game against the Houston Astros, the #RedSox made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/F3tSOdNzS5
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 17, 2017
The other roster move the Red Sox made was reassigning right-handed pitcher Marcus Walden to minor league camp. Walden isn’t on the 40-man roster and his performance this spring won’t get him any closer to being added. He owned a brutal 10.50 ERA and 2.67 WHIP over six innings with a staggering 10 walks.
The Red Sox now have 49 players in major league camp, 35 of whom are on the 40-man roster. Henry Owens, Brian Johnson and Brandon Workman are three other pitchers from the 40-man roster who were optioned to Triple-A earlier this week.
The current roster total includes David Price and Carson Smith, both of whom remain sidelined by injury. Also accounted for are Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Abad, who are away from the team participating in the World Baseball Classic.
Next: Chris Sale an early favorite for Cy Young
With just over two weeks until Opening Day, roster cuts will continue to trim the number of players in camp until they eventually end up with the 25 that the Red Sox intend to enter the season with.