Red Sox make roster moves
The Red Sox are a step closer to finalizing their Opening Day roster, officially announcing another roster cut while informing several others whether or not they’ve made the team.
C.J. Cron, a veteran first baseman expected to compete for the back-up spot behind Triston Casas, has officially been released, the club announced Sunday morning. The club has also informed left-hander Joely Rodriguez and righthander Justin Slaten that they’ve made the Opening Day roster, and left-hander Lucas Luetge that he will start the year in Triple-a.
Alex Speier of The Boston Globe was first to report the Cron and Rodriguez news, and WEEI’S Rob Bradford reported the decisions on Slaten and Luetge. Red Sox manager Alex Cora also told reporters Sunday there’s “a good chance” Bobby Dalbec makes the team as well.
Cron and Rodriguez both signed minor league deals with the Red Sox this offseason containing opt-out provisions that would allow them to become free agents if they didn’t make the big league team. Both triggered their respective opt-outs on Friday, giving the Red Sox until Sunday to make a decision on each.
Rodriguez was originally a member of last year’s big league bullpen but missed nearly the entire season due to a series of injuries. The 32-year-old, who has a 4.70 ERA in 168 MLB appearances, came into the spring fully healthy and sought the opportunity to earn his way back onto the team. Now he will be one of two lefties in the Red Sox bullpen, joining incumbent Brennan Bernardino.
As for Cron, the 34-yearold was added after camp opened to provide additional right-handed power and competition for Dalbec. Cron is the more accomplished player at the big league level, having recorded four seasons with 25 or more home runs while being named an All-star in 2022, but Dalbec is more versatile, having the ability to play third base and occasionally outfield while Cron is exclusively a first baseman.
Cora has been complimentary of Dalbec’s play this spring, and now it appears he’ll get another opportunity to prove himself at the big league level.
Slaten was widely expected to make the team coming into camp, as the right-hander had been highly coveted by the Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft and was immediately acquired in a trade after he was selected by the New York Mets. Slaten made a strong impression once camp opened, consistently filling the zone with strikes while posting a perfect 0.00 ERA over five appearances.
The Red Sox are expected to finalize their Opening Day roster in the coming days. The club broke camp Sunday and will travel to Texas for a pair of exhibitions against the Rangers on Monday and Tuesday. Following that the Red Sox will travel further west to Seattle, where the club is scheduled to open the season Thursday night against
the Mariners.
Crawford roughed up
For the first time in his career Kutter Crawford has earned a big league starting rotation spot out of spring training, but his last tune-up before the regular season could have gone better.
The 27-year-old righthander struggled in his final start of the spring, allowing five runs over 5.2 innings in the Red Sox’ 5-5 tie with the Atlanta Braves.
Facing a lineup loaded with All-stars, Crawford allowed eight hits and two walks while serving up a pair of towering two-run home runs to Braves catcher Sean Murphy.
He also tallied five strikeouts, but the most encouraging part of his day was the fact he threw 88 pitches and didn’t come out until there were two outs in the sixth inning. Crawford rarely pitched that deep into any game last season, exceeding 88 pitches in only six of his 31 appearances.
In addition to Crawford, veteran relievers Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin each made their second appearances in the last three days. Jansen followed his excellent outing Friday with a perfect top of the seventh, and Martin threw a scoreless eighth, hitting a batter before striking out Tyler Tolve to wrap up his day.
Casas had an excellent day both at the plate and in the field. The first baseman went 1 for 3 with a two-run single while also recording a dazzling unassisted double play on a line drive by Ozzie Albies in the bottom of the first. Masataka Yoshida also scored on a wild pitch in the fourth and recorded an RBI single in the fifth, and Allan Castro tied the game with an RBI single in the seventh to round out the scoring.
Who’s up next
The Red Sox will conclude their spring schedule with a pair of exhibitions against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Garrett Whitlock will get the start Monday while prospect Richard Fitts, acquired in the Alex Verdugo trade and expected to start the year in Triple-a, will start Tuesday’s spring finale.