The Boston Red Sox sent down a host of players to AAA Pawtucket prior to Monday’s game against the Orioles.
A few players were cut to trim down the Red Sox major league roster. Announced today on Twitter, the club has optioned catcher Blake Swihart and infielder Deven Marrero while reassigning first baseman Sam Travis and catcher Dan Butler.
Prior to today’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston #RedSox made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/TPBpvf3XQV
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 27, 2017
The highlights of the news are, of course, Swihart and Travis. With the news that Sandy Leon will be the Red Sox starting catcher at the outset of the season and given that Christian Vazquez was out of options, it’s no surprise that Swihart was the man to be sent down. This is probably a tough pill for him to swallow since he’s been enjoying a great spring thus far, but it’s only a matter of time until the club gives him another shot.
Like Swihart, it was an inevitability that Travis would start the season in the minors. This was his second stellar spring in a row but his only shot at making the roster would have been as a depth piece on the bench. Unfortunately for him, there wasn’t much need for a third first baseman on the major league roster. With Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland ahead of him on the depth chart, only an injury could grant him an opportunity to make it up this season.
Deven Marrero and Dan Butler were the minor pieces moved down today. Marrero is a former first-round pick that is regarded as an elite defender but hasn’t been able to put together the type of offensive season that could keep him in the majors. He’ll have to start the season behind Brock Holt, Josh Rutledge and Marco Hernandez on the depth chart. Meanwhile, Butler isn’t much more than a depth piece and will backup Swihart in Pawtucket.
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Some in the organization believe that Swihart remains the most talented catcher on the roster, but as the only one of the three with options, it was an inevitability that he would be sent down. Still, I’m excited to see how he develops his game behind the plate to compliment the offensive ability that would make him one of the best in the game at his position.