The Purple Sox introduced a collection of roster strikes this night, headlined by the membership putting outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured listing because of a left leg an infection. The transfer is retroactive to August 4. Changing O’Neill on the lively roster is infielder Enmanuel Valdez, who has been recalled to the large league roster, and the Purple Sox additionally activated right-hander Chris Martin from the 15-day IL. Lefty Cam Booser was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Martin.
O’Neill, 29, was acquired from the Cardinals over the offseason and has loved a wonderful marketing campaign throughout his first season in Boston. In 342 journeys to the plate this season, the 29-year-old has slashed a wonderful .268/.357/.544 (142 wRC+) with 16 doubles and 22 homers. Whereas he’s placing out at a hefty 31.9% clip, he’s paired these sturdy energy numbers with a strong 11.1% stroll price that has given him a extra well-rounded profile than he flashed in his career-best 2021 marketing campaign when he crushed 34 homers and posted a 143 wRC+ however walked at a clip of simply 7.1%.
The slugger’s efficiency this yr appears more likely to line the pending free agent up for hefty elevate in free company this winter, though one purple flag for O’Neill has been his frequent journeys to the shelf. After struggling hamstring, again, foot, and shoulder accidents throughout his last two seasons with St. Louis, he’s now made three journeys to the shelf with the Purple Sox this yr: as soon as for a concussion in April, as soon as because of knee irritation in Could, and now at the moment’s most up-to-date ailment that supervisor Alex Cora described to reporters (together with Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe) as a worsening an infection on his left leg that has brought on swelling.
The silver lining in O’Neill’s repeated journeys to the IL this yr is that they’ve all been pretty short-lived, and Cora indicated that this one must be extra of the identical as he’s more likely to be activated as soon as eligible to return subsequent week. Within the meantime, the Purple Sox determine to show to some mixture of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder within the outfield. With Rafaela frequenting the outfield in latest days, Valdez ought to assist to shore up the membership’s center infield combine alongside David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, and Romy Gonzalez. The 25-year-old loved a powerful rookie season in 2023 however has taken a step again this yr with a .226/.282/.402 slash line in 182 journeys to the plate on the huge league degree.
As for Martin, the right-hander’s return to motion is welcome information for a beleaguered Purple Sox bullpen that has been second-worst within the majors for the reason that begin of July, forward of solely the White Sox. The 38-year-old veteran sports activities a strong 3.42 ERA with an identical 3.40 FIP in 26 1/3 innings of labor this yr and is coming off a good higher season in 2023 the place he dominated to the tune of an eye-popping 1.05 ERA in 55 appearances. Including Martin to the late-inning combine to be the first set-up man for nearer Kenley Jansen ought to additional shore up a bullpen that received reinforcements within the type of Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia previous to the commerce deadline. He’ll take the roster spot of Booser, who heads to Triple-A to turn out to be the membership’s prime depth possibility with a wonderful 2.77 ERA and a couple of.99 FIP in 39 innings of labor this yr.
Whereas the bullpen will hopefully be revitalized by the return of Martin, Cora prompt to reporters at the moment (together with Abraham) that the Purple Sox intend to skip right-hander Nick Pivetta’s subsequent begin. Whereas the veteran righty doesn’t look like injured, Cora indicated that he’s “not responding nicely” popping out of his final begin and that the membership had some issues a few dip in his velocity. With a break day scheduled tomorrow, the Purple Sox will be capable to make the most of the remainder of their rotation on common relaxation without having to name up one other arm to take the spot on Pivetta. The righty has a middling 4.44 ERA by means of 18 begins this yr thanks primarily because of a trio of brutal outings his final 3 times out which have seen him give up 13 runs (12 earned) in 14 innings of labor whereas serving up six residence runs.
