Hitless Shaw sent packing
Sox hope Cordero provides production at 1B
Travis Shaw’s second stint with the Red Sox is over.
The Red Sox designated Shaw for assignment on Friday, ending a short spell with the veteran first baseman in which he failed to give them a productive bat off the bench. They called up Franchy Cordero to fill the spot, hoping they can tap into the potential they saw when they traded for him last winter.
Cordero started at first base and batted sixth for the Red Sox on Friday night as they opened a three-game series against the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Shaw, who was drafted by the Red Sox before spending his first two big-league seasons with them in 2015-16, returned late last season and showed some promise down the stretch. He re-signed in March on a minor league deal with a spring training invite and made the Opening Day roster as a left-handed first-base platoon option, but he gave them nothing.
In seven games, including five starts, Shaw went hitless in 19 at-bats. He struck out seven times and never reached base.
Shaw’s struggles further demanded some kind of reshuffling at first base, which has been a black hole offensively to start the season. Through 20 games, Red Sox first basemen — Bobby Dalbec, the everyday starter, and Shaw — have combined to produce a .366 OPS, by far the worst mark in the majors.
The bar to make an impact is low for Cordero, who was acquired in the Andrew Benintendi trade last February but couldn’t put it together in his first season with the Red Sox as he slashed .189/ .237/.260 in 48 games, ultimately leading him to being designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and returned to the organization, and started this season in Worcester. He batted .296 with three homers and 24 RBI, but struck out 23 times in 82 plate appearances in 19 games there before Friday’s callup.
The Red Sox remain hopeful about Cordero, intrigued by his speed and raw power. The lefty will see at-bats against right-handed pitching in his second attempt to catch on with the Red Sox.
“Franchy has put good atbats in Triple-A, he did an amazing job in spring training,” manager Alex Cora told reporters in Baltimore. “This is how it works, right? We thought it was going to work out with Travis. It didn’t happen. … I think this is more about Franchy than actually Travis, and hopefully he can continue putting good at-bats and help us win games.”
If things don’t get better at first, the Red Sox will likely be forced to explore other options. Top prospect Triston Casas is expected to make his major league debut at some point this season, but it appears the Red Sox want him to continue developing in Worcester right now. He was batting .225 with four homers, 12 RBI and an .801 OPS through the first 20 games.
“Obviously, we know how good of a hitter he is,” Cora said this week on WEEI’s “Merloni & Fauria.” “One of the things we talked about last year is the ups and downs. Like yeah, you’re successful, and how are you going to react when it’s not great? That’s part of player development. It’s very important for us. But as you know, this is a guy we think very highly of. I think offensively, he understands the strike zone, he hits the ball over the place.
“I’m not saying he’s two days away from here, but he’s doing an outstanding job and he’s a guy we obviously count on. So far, he’s doing an amazing job down there. … We just have to play the patient game. Be smart about our spots and everything we have.”
Martinez out again
J.D. Martinez missed his second consecutive game as he continues to nurse a nagging left adductor injury that he first suffered last week, but Cora expects him back on Saturday. The designated hitter appeared to reaggravate the injury when he hit a double in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 7-1 win over the Blue Jays, and was pinch hit for in the ninth.
Christian Arroyo started as the DH on Friday.
Houck returns
In addition to the Shawfor-Cordero swap, the Red Sox made a series of roster moves on Friday. Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford, who were both ineligible to play in Toronto because they’re unvaccinated, were activated from the restricted list. Houck, who spent the
Toronto series in Fort Myers, piggybacked Rich Hill in relief on Friday.
The Red Sox also recalled outfielder Jaylin Davis, who was claimed off waivers from the Giants on Thursday.
They’re intrigued with his bat after the right-handed hitter hit .295 with five extrabase hits, seven RBI and three stolen bases in 10 games at Triple-A.
Relievers John Schreiber and Tyler Danish, and outfielder Rob Refsnyder were returned to Worcester in the corresponding moves.