The Red Sox have promoted infielder Nick Sogard, the team announced to reporters (including Christopher Smith of MassLive). He will make his MLB debut when he first appears in a game. To make room on the 40-man roster, the team designated right-hander Yohan Ramírez for assignment. In additional Red Sox news, the team has activated right-handed reliever Lucas Sims and optioned second baseman Jamie Westbrook.
Sogard, 26, is the cousin of former big league infielder Eric Sogard. He was selected by the Rays in the 12th round of the 2019 draft and traded to Boston in what then looked to be a small swap sending righty Chris Mazza and eventual breakout left-hander Jeffrey Springs to Tampa Bay. The younger Sogard has enjoyed a career-best showing in Triple-A this season — his third stint at that level — slashing .279/.382/.439 with a dozen home runs, 17 doubles, a triple and a 10-for-15 showing in stolen bases. For a third straight season, his walk rate tops 13%, and while his 20.4% strikeout rate is a career-high, it’s still lower than average.
Although he’s played all over the diamond, Sogard has spent the bulk of his time on the left side of the infield. He’s played 1144 innings at shortstop and 1404 innings at third base, in addition to 944 frames at second base and a handful of games across all three outfield spots and at first base. The switch-hitting Sogard will give the Red Sox an option at multiple spots on the diamond and give Boston a right-handed-hitting option in the middle infield that they sought but didn’t secure heading into the trade deadline. He’s posted roughly even splits in 2024 but in the past has handled himself considerably better as a right-handed hitter against lefty opponents.
Ramirez, 29, has remarkably pitched for four different teams this season, spending time with the Mets, Orioles and Dodgers in addition to the Sox. He’s tallied 45 frames — mostly with Los Angeles — and struggled to a 6.20 ERA but more promising rate stats (21.6% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate, 43.8% grounder rate). Ramirez has averaged just shy of 95 mph on his heater but had a hard time getting swings and misses or chases off the plate. Opponents have posted a dismal 47.9% contact rate when they do chase (nearly 10 percentage points below average), but Ramirez has the second-worst overall chase rate among big league pitchers (min. 40 innings).
Ramirez has pitched in parts of five big league seasons, recording a 4.58 ERA, 22.8% strikeout rate and 11.3% walk rate in 169 MLB frames. With the trade deadline now passed, the Red Sox’ only option will be to place him on outright waivers or release him. They still technically have five days to do so, but with no option of trading him he’ll presumably head straight to waivers and be made available to the league’s 29 other clubs.
Upgrades.
hayzee – Yup I called it yesterday, good thing he pitched in only one game.
He wasn’t one of the trade acquisitions, just a waiver pickup like Wingenter. The whole point of trading for relievers is so they can stop playing that game.
Tff – Thank God there’s dumb managers like Scott Servais! Anyone who says managers are always right needs to watch replays of today’s game. Pitching to Devers with 1B open was beyond idiotic. If the Mariners miss the postseason by one game or the tiebreaker, all thanks to Servais!
Definitely Eric Sogard’s brother
Cousin
Was not expecting Sogard, tho he has started hitting again after being in a mini slump a cpl weeks at AAA.
gets rid of a poor BP option, tho surprised westbrook is still on the roster. Maybe he goes when 1 of the new relievers gets in town after the deadline trades?
john – Sims replaces Ramirez.
I’m guessing Garcia replaces Horn.
This is good news I’m really excited to see what Sogard can do for Boston. He has been solid this year and he’s improved his power that’s been the knock. A true utility guy he can play anywhere on the field besides pitcher and catcher. They were going to have to protect from the rule 5 anyway this season makes sense to call him and see what he’s got.
The team keeps making small incremental improvements. Much better than previous years.
Yohan Ramirez doing his very best to catch Edwin Jackson and his 14-team career. Note the name, Immaculate Grid players. Ramirez stands at 8 teams now — Red Sox, Orioles, Mets, Dodgers, Mariners, Pirates and Guardians.
Pham has been on 9 teams in 7 years.
By the end of next year, Pham might be up to 11. Sign with the Marlins in the offseason, post good batting numbers, get traded at the break. You heard it here first.
“9 teams in 7 years”…It’s strange, Tommy Pham is treated like a man with leprosy in the off-season by teams, but come trade deadline season and he’s suddenly the belle of the ball and the most “popular” guy in the room. I guess spending 2.5 months with the prickly, short tempered Pham, is a lot easier to contemplate than spending all year with him.
Edwin Jackson could (occasionally) get batters out.
He had a no hitter with the Dbacks.
He walked 6 though I believe.
Dave Kingman once played a season where he was on a team in all four divisions. (only 4 back then) Yohan gonna try for all eight this year?
Dave Kingman.. Time for a story from years ago, 1977 to be exact.
Used to be years ago, teams would often waive time after time guys who were about to be FA. Didn’t matter if they were doing ok or not, some teams just did and that’s why Kong kept getting shuffled off, either freebie via waivers, or waivers trades.
My funny point here is Boston needed a p/t DH and PH that year, were behind NY in Sept, yet passed on old Mr Kingman when he was waived and the NYY laid a claim on him.. Back then nothing nastier in the game than NYY-Boston feud. Boston was shamed into claiming the (that time) finished Bob Bailey, who did nothing useful for them and Kingman crushed in the last few games of the season for the Yanks.
Another day, another story from times gone by.
I can honestly claim I thought I would never read the name Bob Bailey again as long as I lived.
Just consider me as a baseball version of lowell Palmer.
Fine. But don’t be jealous when I tell you that I once got autographs from Duke Sims and Tom Timmermann on the same day.
Dear Mr. Silver: “Old Mr. Kingman” was 28 in the 1977 season. He was born in December of 1948.
That was also the season when he played in all four divisions of MLB that existed at the time, the first player to do that.
Kong had a perfect swing for Fenway & Wrigley.
Won a $10 bet from some (back when it meant something) to name a player that hit HRs for four different teams in the same season.
He also hit one 530 feet, and another over the LF fence at Wrigley that is still rolling, halfway to Milwaukee.
He could clear any fence in MLB when he connected.
Lester growing up in Chicago, wgn was the channel to watch.. at least from 120-430 daily.. Jack Brickhouse who I loved as an announcer was the ultimate Homer!!! Kingman played left and was about as coordinated as a new born deer!!! Jack would comment Kingman gracefully retreats to catch the ball at the wall!!! AH good ol JB!!
whenever i need a good chuckle i can cue up Tommy Lasorda ranting about Kong… or better yet his Bevacqua rant!
He did crush, but he only had 24 at bats and didn’t play at all in the playoffs.
He wasn’t the difference.
Yohan was not a great pickup.
how many teams for yohan the past couple years?
8 the past 3 yeras
damn
Always excited when one of these kids gets a chance. Sogard isn’t much by ML standards, but he worked hard to get to this point.
tff – How cool was it for his entire family to be in the stands in Arlington to see him drive in two runs with his first MLB hit!
Not looking forward to today, it’s hard to root against The Great Nate who is having another strong season. But they had good swings against him last year, so maybe the same will happen today.
The important thing is we hopefully get Good Pivetta today instead of Bad Pivetta. Never know with him.
Calling it now, Nick Sogard will be the face of MLB.
Not until refsnider retires
Casas quietly got 4 ABs at Triple A. Another upgrade coming in the next week or two (hopefully).
Smith has been fine but Casas is a massive upgrade.