Red Sox Make Roster Changes: Injured Outfielder Moves to IL, Recall Enmanuel Valdez and Activation Announced

The Boston Red Sox announced a series of roster moves on Wednesday evening, including placing outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list due to a left leg infection. This move is retroactive to August 4.

In a corresponding move, infielder Enmanuel Valdez has been recalled to the major league roster, while right-hander Chris Martin has been activated from the 15-day IL. To make room for Martin, lefty Cam Booser has been optioned to Triple-A.

O’Neill, who joined the Red Sox from the St. Louis Cardinals over the offseason, has had a solid debut season in Boston. The 29-year-old has been impressive at the plate, slashing .268/.357/.544 with 16 doubles and 22 homers in 342 plate appearances. Despite striking out at a high rate of 31.9%, O’Neill has managed to balance his power numbers with an 11.1% walk rate, presenting a more complete offensive profile than in his career-best 2021 season.

However, O’Neill’s career has been plagued by injuries, and his stint with the Red Sox has been no different. After dealing with a concussion in April and knee inflammation in May, O’Neill is now sidelined with a worsening leg infection, which has caused significant swelling. Despite these setbacks, manager Alex Cora is optimistic that O’Neill’s current IL stint will be brief, and he is expected to return once eligible next week.

In the meantime, the Red Sox will rely on a combination of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder in the outfield. With Rafaela seeing frequent action in the outfield, Valdez will provide additional support in the middle infield alongside David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, and Romy Gonzalez. Valdez, who had a strong rookie season in 2023, has struggled this year, posting a .226/.282/.402 slash line in 182 plate appearances.

Martin’s return is a welcome boost for a bullpen that has struggled since early July, ranking second-worst in the majors during that period. The 38-year-old right-hander boasts a 3.42 ERA and a 3.40 FIP in 26 1/3 innings this year, following a standout 2023 season with a 1.05 ERA. Martin is expected to assume a primary set-up role for closer Kenley Jansen, which should help stabilize the bullpen. Booser, who has been sent to Triple-A, has been a solid depth option with a 2.77 ERA and 2.99 FIP in 39 innings.

Additionally, Cora indicated that the Red Sox will skip right-hander Nick Pivetta’s next start. Pivetta, who has a 4.44 ERA through 18 starts this season, has struggled recently, allowing 13 runs (12 earned) in his last three outings. The Red Sox plan to use Thursday’s off day to realign their rotation without needing to call up another pitcher.

These roster adjustments reflect the Red Sox’s ongoing efforts to address injuries and bolster their team as they navigate the remainder of the season.