LHP Bernardino optioned to Triple-a in stunning
The Red Sox made a stunning roster move late Monday night, announcing that left-hander Brennan Bernardino had been optioned to Triple-a following the club’s exhibition win over the Texas Rangers.
Bernardino was Boston’s top left-hander throughout last season and one of the club’s biggest recent success stories, and coming into camp he was widely considered a lock to make the Opening Day roster.
Originally claimed off waivers from Seattle last spring, Bernardino emerged as a key part of Boston’s bullpen and as a stabilizing force when the club’s other lefties were mostly hurt. Bernardino appeared in 55 games and posted a 3.20 ERA over 50.2 innings, and this spring he’d posted a perfect 0.00 ERA in seven Grapefruit League appearances.
So why wouldn’t Bernardino make the team? Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters following the game the move was made to preserve roster flexibility given that Bernardino has minor league options and can be moved up and down from Triple-a freely. The same can’t be said for fellow left-hander Joely Rodriguez, who was added to the big league roster this past weekend in part to keep him in the organization after he’d triggered an opt out provision in his contract.
Lucas Luetge, Boston’s other veteran left-hander and one of six non-roster invitees remaining in camp, is not currently on the 40-man roster and wouldn’t be optionable if he were added either.
With Monday’s move Boston’s Opening Day bullpen is nearly set, likely featuring Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, Josh Winckowski, Joely Rodriguez, Justin Slaten, Isaiah Campbell and newly acquired right-hander Chase Anderson. The eighth spot that presumably would have been Bernardino’s could now go to either righthander Greg Weissert, Luetge or an outside addition.
Devers homers in spring finale: If Tuesday’s spring finale was any indication, the Red Sox big bats are ready for the regular season.
Rafael Devers hit his fifth home run of the spring and Trevor Story capped off a sensational spring at the plate to help the Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 4-1 in the club’s final exhibition of spring training.
Devers’ solo shot came in the bottom of the first and he finished 1 for 2 on the day. Story went 1 for 2 as well, finishing the spring with a .380 average and 1.088 OPS. Masataka Yoshida went 2 for 2 on the day, Triston Casas came off the bench and went 0 for 1 with a walk, and Ceddanne Rafaela went 0 for 1 with a sacrifice fly as well as a brilliant diving catch in center field.
Relievers Jansen and Martin both got on the mound one more time and looked ready to go as well. Jansen pitched a perfect seventh inning, giving him three straight scoreless outings since last Friday, and Martin pitched a scoreless eighth, giving him two straight scoreless appearances after a rocky spring debut.
Richard Fitts, one of the pitching prospects acquired in the Alex Verdugo trade, got the start and threw 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Isaiah Campbell capped off his perfect spring with a scoreless 0.2 innings with two strikeouts, giving him nine straight outings in camp with no runs allowed, Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless inning and Winckowski allowed one run in his 0.2 innings of work.
The Red Sox finish 19-12-3 on the spring and will open the season Thursday night against the Seattle Mariners. Boston’s Brayan Bello will face off against Seattle’s Luis Castillo and first pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m.