Red Sox: 5 DFA candidates to clear a roster spot for Chris Sale
By Sean Penney
Red Sox minor league players on the 40-man roster
The Red Sox have eight minor league players on their 40-man roster, according to the team site. That includes Tanner Houck, who is expected to be a key part of the rotation down the stretch and obviously isn’t in danger of losing his spot.
Connor Wong has provided some value as a third catcher with the versatility to provide depth at other infield positions. Connor Seabold has impressed lately in Triple-A Worcester and could provide rotation depth or late-season bullpen reinforcement. Both seem safe due to their potential to help the big league team this season.
As previously explained, the Red Sox won’t put the injured Mata on the 60-day IL but they won’t designate the injured pitcher for assignment either considering he’s ranked as their No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline. He’s a long way from contributing in the big leagues but far too value to give up on. Jay Groome (No. 7) and Ronaldo Hernandez (No. 11) should also be safe.
That leaves Jeisson Rosario (No. 21) and Hudson Potts (No. 23), a pair of prospects acquired from San Diego in the Mitch Moreland trade at the 2020 deadline. Both players have struggled in Double-A this season. Potts is hitting .182/.191/.250 and has been limited to 48 games by an oblique injury. Rosario hasn’t been much better with a .233/.332/.300 slash line in 69 games.
Chaim Bloom isn’t the type of front office leader who tends to give away top-25 prospects but he might not have much choice with the impending roster crunch. The Red Sox will need to add a few more prospects to their 40-man roster this winter in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. If Rosario and Potts aren’t cut from the roster now, they could find themselves back on the chopping block at the end of the year when a more valuable prospect comes to take their spot.