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James Paxton Leaves Start Due To Calf Strain

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James Paxton suffered a right calf strain in the first inning of his start today against the Astros, forcing the veteran left-hander from the mound.  Paxton’s fifth pitch of the game got Yordan Alvarez to ground to first baseman Dominic Smith, but Paxton came up limping when leaving the mound to cover first base.

Speaking to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo (links to X) and other media after the game, Paxton said he heard a popping sound in his leg.  Paxton was using crutches to move around in the clubhouse, and he’ll get an MRI tomorrow to access the damage.

A trip to the 15-day injured list seems inevitable, and it is up in the air whether or not Paxton will even be able to pitch again in 2024.  Even if the MRI reveals the relatively good news of “just” a lower-grade strain, such injuries can tend to linger.  It is also possible the Red Sox could shut Paxton down for the season if the team falls out of the postseason race — today’s 10-2 loss dropped the Sox three games back of a wild card berth, and extended Boston’s losing streak to four games.

The calf strain is another disheartening turn in a career that has been marked by injuries, as Paxton was on pace to avoid the Major League injured list for the first time since 2013.  He hasn’t dealt with calf issues in the past, though he missed time last year with a pair of right leg injuries, in the form of a hamstring strain and knee inflammation.

Paxton was with the Red Sox during that 2023 season, before signing a one-year, $7MM deal with the Dodgers last winter.  Since Paxton stayed healthy and has made 21 starts (and thrown 100 1/3 innings) in total this season, he earned an extra $6MM in contract incentives, which the Dodgers already covered before he was dealt back to Boston in late July.  The trade was seen as a bit of a surprise given how Los Angeles has been ravaged by rotation injuries this season, and Paxton had a respectable 4.43 ERA in his 89 1/3 innings as a Dodger.  His Statcast numbers, however, were much less impressive, and today’s injury also underlines whatever concerns the Dodgers might’ve had about Paxton remaining healthy.

From Boston’s perspective, the Paxton trade brought a familiar face and some rotation depth back to Fenway Park, but it looks like the Red Sox might have to again scramble to add arms.  Quinn Priester was acquired from the Pirates in another pre-deadline trade and could be called up from Triple-A, or Brad Keller could be stretched out to work in piggyback situation, or as a bulk pitcher behind an opener.  Cooper Criswell will miss at least the rest of the next week due to a placement on the COVID-related injury list, while Nick Pivetta is expected to make his next turn in the rotation after his last start was skipped to provide extra rest.

AL East Notes: Orioles, Casas, Story, Schmidt

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Orioles general manager Mike Elias spoke to reporters (including Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports) ahead of today’s game against the Rays, offering updates on several injured players. First and foremost, he expressed optimism regarding starter Grayson Rodriguez, who landed on the 15-day IL last week. Elias described Rodriguez’s right lat/teres injury as “pretty mild” – much less serious than the similar injury he suffered in 2022 – and said the team is hoping to have him back in the rotation by late September. The young right-hander has a 3.86 ERA across 20 starts this season, and Elias made it clear that the Orioles are still hopeful he will play an “enormous” role for the team come October.

Discussing his club’s minor league rotation depth while Rodriguez is out, Elias named Cade Povich, Cole Irvin, and, interestingly, Brandon Young of Triple-A Norfolk. Povich, 24, is a top prospect and has a spot on the 40-man roster, while Irvin, 30, has six seasons of MLB experience. Young, 25, doesn’t have Povich’s prospect pedigree or Irvin’s big league resume, but he is enjoying a strong season; he has a 3.82 ERA and 2.92 FIP across 20 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Barring another injury, the Orioles rotation is set with Corbin Burnes, Zach Eflin, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, and Albert Suarez. Still, Young is a name worth keeping an eye on.

Elias also provided some good news about several Orioles relievers. Jacob Webb hit the IL last week with inflammation in his right elbow, but tests revealed no structural damage. The club is hopeful his IL stint will be a short one, perhaps no longer than the minimum 15 days. Webb has pitched well for Baltimore since joining the club last August. In 71 2/3 innings, the 30-year-old has a 3.14 ERA and 3.98 SIERA as a middle relief option for manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles are also planning to have Danny Coulombe back in late September. Coulombe, who has a 2.68 ERA over the past two seasons, has been out since June, when he had surgery to remove bone chips in his left elbow. Finally, Elias touched on Félix Bautista’s rehab, explaining that things are “going really well” for the star closer as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. He will not pitch for Baltimore this year, in the regular season or the playoffs, but he is set to throw off a proper mound next week as he prepares himself for a full and healthy 2025 campaign.

On the position player side of things, Elias noted that there is “still time” for Jordan Westburg to get back on the field before the end of the regular season. The All-Star infielder has been out since he fractured his right hand on July 31. He has 18 home runs, an .815 OPS, and 2.8 FanGraphs WAR over 101 games this year. Elias also expressed hope that Heston Kjerstad won’t be out for “too much longer” as he continues to recover from a concussion. The GM acknowledged that it’s “pretty mild” as far as concussions go, but the team is still taking his symptoms “really seriously” and will not bring him back until they make sure he is “totally out of the woods.” The Orioles had previously optioned Kjerstad back to Triple-A, but placing him back on the injured list reverses the option.

In additional injury news from around the AL East…

  • Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas is reportedly “close to returning” from his rib cage injury, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive. He is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester, and Cotillo suggests Casas could be back in the majors as soon as Thursday. Boston will need to activate him once he maxes out his minor league rehab time on August 18, but it appears the slugger could be back in the lineup a few days sooner. Casas hit six home runs over his first 22 games this season before suffering his injury, and his big lefty bat will undoubtedly be a huge boost to the Red Sox’s lineup.
  • Meanwhile, Trevor Story is about to take what manager Alex Cora describes as a “huge step” toward returning this season, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. The shortstop, who has been out since April after undergoing shoulder surgery, will take batting practice on Monday. His surgery seemed to be season-ending back in April, but Cora now believes the two-time All-Star will be back with the Red Sox before the end of the year. Story himself suggested that his return has gone from “a maybe” to “a reality.” He is already ready to return defensively, and he is making excellent progress swinging the bat. He says his swings have felt “really good” with “no hesitation or hold back.”
  • Finally, Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt told reporters (including Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post) that it is “very realistic” to expect he will return to the club before the end of August. The right-hander has been out since May with a right lat strain. Over his first 11 starts, Schmidt pitched to a sparkling 2.52 ERA and 3.64 SIERA. Meanwhile, since his last appearance, Yankees starters rank second-last in the AL with a 5.22 ERA. Their problems go far beyond Schmidt’s injury, but it will surely help to have him back in the fold. It’s not clear how manager Aaron Boone will arrange his rotation once Schmidt returns, but Boone was reportedly “thrilled” with Schmidt’s performance in a live batting practice session earlier today (per Joel Sherman of the New York Post). There will be a job for Schmidt when he’s ready, even if he has to push a more established arm – like Marcus Stroman or Nestor Cortes – out of the rotation.

Twins Showing Interest In Rich Hill

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The Twins have been in contact with veteran left-hander Rich Hill, who hosted a showcase for big league scouts earlier today, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic. The Red Sox were also in attendance for Hill’s showcase, WEEI’s Rob Bradford tweets, though it’s not clear whether they’ve spoken to Hill about a potential reunion. The Yankees and Dodgers were previously connected to Hill and thus presumably also in attendance this morning.

Minnesota’s interest comes at a time when Joe Ryan was just diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder that puts the remainder of his season in jeopardy. Ryan joined righty Chris Paddack on the 15-day IL earlier today, leaving Minnesota with an inexperienced group of options — Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa, Louie Varland — behind veterans Pablo Lopez and Bailey Ober in the starting rotation.

Hill, 44, has said since last year that his plan for the 2024 season was to pitch — but only in the season’s second half. The southpaw signed a one-year deal with the Pirates in the 2022-23 offseason and pitched well early before beginning to show signs of fatigue. He still managed to eat up 146 1/3 innings between Pittsburgh and San Diego (who acquired him at last year’s trade deadline), but it was generally a tale of two seasons for Hill. The lefty notched a respectable 4.34 ERA and matching FIP through his first 15 starts, punching out 21.1% of his opponents against an 8.6% walk rate. In his final 63 1/3 innings, he was torched for a 6.82 ERA with a 17.7% strikeout rate, 9% walk rate and 1.71 HR/9.

Waiting until later in the season affords MLB’s elder statesmen some perks beyond potentially keeping him fresh. Most importantly, Hill has spoken on record before about the additional time he was able to spend with his family, coaching his son’s team (link via MLB.com’s Ian Browne). Signing in August also ensures that he’s able to land with a club that has a good shot at making the postseason.

Minnesota would fit that bill. The Twins have been in second place in the AL Central and holding onto an AL Wild Card spot for most of the season. At 63-50, the Twins are 3.5 games behind Cleveland in the division, but they’re also hosting the Guardians for a four-game set this weekend that would shake up the top of the division if Minnesota can manage a sweep. (They’re currently leading the Guards in Game 1 of today’s doubleheader.)

Hill is no stranger to the Twins organization, having pitched there during the shortened 2020 season. Injuries limited him to eight starts, but he posted a 3.03 ERA in 38 2/3 innings as a Twin and reached the postseason that year. Bradford spoke to a scout who was at Hill’s showcase this morning, noting that the lefty threw more than 100 pitches and looked “impressive” (X link). Hill himself tells Bradford that he believes he’s built up to the point where he’s ready to go throw five or six innings in a start right now (video link).

Hill isn’t the only reinforcement the Twins are pondering, though second alternative is nearly half Hill’s age. Top prospect Zebby Matthews has skyrocketed up prospect rankings this season on the back of a dominant showing in High-A and Double-A. He was recently bumped up to Triple-A St. Paul, and president of baseball operations Derek Falvey confirmed to the Twins beat that Matthews is under consideration for a promotion to the majors.

“I think Zebby’s definitely in the conversation,” Falvey said this afternoon (X link via KSTP’s Darren Wolfson). “Obviously, he’s pitched exceptionally well for the whole year all the way through levels he’s been at. He’s now at Triple-A and knocking on the door. With the injuries we have, he’s certainly in the conversation. As we think about the needs for next week, he’s certainly a name that we’re talking about.”

Matthews, the Twins’ eighth-round pick in 2022, already looks like a nice find for the organization. The right-hander posted sub-2.00 ERAs in both High-A and Double-A before his recent promotion to Triple-A. He’s had two solid starts and two rough starts at the top minor league level. Collectively, he’s posted a 2.60 ERA with an impressive 30.5% strikeout rate and a staggering 1.8% walk rate. Matthews has fanned a hefty 114 opponents and issued just seven walks all season.

Matthews has ridden that breakout season all the way to the No. 61 spot on Baseball America’s recent update to their top 100 prospects, where they note that Matthews has perhaps the best command in minor league baseball. The Athletic’s Keith Law ranks Matthews 60th in the sport, and MLB.com has him as their No. 100 prospect.

Falvey also added that the aforementioned Paddack is still expected back this season. He’s “tracking really well,” per the Twins’ baseball ops leader (X link via The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman) and could begin a throwing program in the near future. Paddack has had a Jekyll-and-Hyde season, at times looking dominant and others looking fatigued in his first full season back from the second Tommy John procedure of his career. He’s twice punched out 10 hitters in a game and allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his 17 starts. However, he’s also had starts where he’s been rocked for seven runs and nine runs, leading to a 4.99 ERA on the season.

Paddack’s 88 1/3 innings this season are already more than his combined total from 2022-23 while he underwent and rehabbed from that Tommy John procedure. Nevertheless, the Twins plan to use him as a starter when he’s ready to return, per Falvey. There’s no clear timetable for that yet, but if he can begin a throwing progression soon, a return sometime next month seems feasible. Paddack last pitched on July 14 and has been out since with a forearm strain.

East Notes: Grissom, Suarez, Volpe, Lowe, De La Cruz, Shim

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The Red Sox activated Vaughn Grissom from the 10-day injured list today and optioned the infielder to Triple-A, a move that The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey reported the team was considering last week.  Grissom hasn’t played in the majors since June 1 due to a right hamstring strain, adding to his troubled first season in Boston.  Between this injury and a left hamstring strain in Spring Training, Grissom has been limited to 23 Major League games, and a dismal .148/.207/.160 slash line in 87 plate appearances.

Some kind of decision was required since Grissom’s 20-day minor league rehab assignment was up tomorrow, but his .604 OPS in 58 Triple-A PA during that assignment didn’t exactly force Boston’s hand for a promotion.  Even as the Sox continue to look for answers at second base, Grissom will need to perform better to earn another call-up, and it remains to be seen when (or even if) he might be back in the majors before 2024 is over.

More from both the AL and NL East…

  • Ranger Suarez has been on the Phillies’ 15-day injured list since July 24, and manager Rob Thomson told Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer and other reporters that Suarez isn’t expected back until after the end of the Phils’ next homestand (August 13-18).  Suarez does appear to be making decent progress in his recovery from lower-back soreness, as he threw a 36-pitch bullpen session today.  Perhaps another bullpen session and at least one live batting-practice session will be in order, and Suarez’s return could be delayed a bit longer if the Phillies opt to send him on a minor league rehab assignment.  The left-hander was arguably the best pitcher in baseball over the first three months of the season before his back problems started to surface, and Suarez struggled to a 7.71 ERA in his last 21 innings prior to his IL placement.
  • Anthony Volpe fouled a ball off his left foot during a plate appearance in the second inning of tonight’s 9-4 Yankees loss to the Angels, and the shortstop was eventually forced out of the game in the eighth inning.  Manager Aaron Boone told the New York Post’s Greg Joyce and other reporters that x-rays were negative and Volpe just received a contusion, though more will be known in the coming days if Volpe will need to miss any time.  Volpe has an exactly average 100 wRC+ over 516 PA this season, with a lot of streakiness baked into a .257/.304/.410 slash line.  The second-year player has been hot at the plate recently and is still delivering standout defense at shortstop, so the Yankees can only hope the injury isn’t serious.
  • It was a similar story for Rays outfielder Josh Lowe, as x-rays were also negative on Lowe’s right knee after he fouled a ball off himself in the first inning of tonight’s game.  Lowe was in enough discomfort that he couldn’t take the field for the bottom of the first, but his injury was also deemed a contusion.  A pair of oblique strains have already sent Lowe to the IL twice this season, and he has hit .236/.296/.410 over 213 plate appearances thus far in 2024, playing almost exclusively against right-handed pitchers.
  • The Marlins made several trades during their pre-deadline selloff, and the deal that sent Bryan De La Cruz to the Pirates drew some “disagreement and discussion internally,” according to The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and Craig Mish.  De La Cruz isn’t arbitration-eligible until this coming offseason and is now under the Pirates’ control through 2027, but the Marlins’ analytics department wasn’t impressed by his long-term potential, “and a belief that De La Cruz wasn’t going to be a starter [in Miami] when the team is ready to contend.”  The Fish also had a particular interest in prying right-hander Jun-Seok Shim away from Pittsburgh, as Shim’s spin rates and pitching arsenal impressed Miami evaluators.  A Marlins source told Jackson/Mish that the team isn’t concerned about the shoulder issue that has thus far kept Shim from pitching in 2024.

Red Sox Place Tyler O’Neill On 10-Day IL, Activate Chris Martin

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The Red Sox announced a series of roster moves this evening, headlined by the club placing outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list due to a left leg infection. The move is retroactive to August 4. Replacing O’Neill on the active roster is infielder Enmanuel Valdez, who has been recalled to the big league roster, and the Red Sox also 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 enjoyed an excellent campaign during his first season in Boston. In 342 trips to the plate this season, the 29-year-old has slashed an excellent .268/.357/.544 (142 wRC+) with 16 doubles and 22 homers. While he’s striking out at a hefty 31.9% clip, he’s paired those strong power numbers with a solid 11.1% walk rate that has given him a more well-rounded profile than he flashed in his career-best 2021 campaign when he crushed 34 homers and posted a 143 wRC+ but walked at a clip of just 7.1%.

The slugger’s performance this year seems likely to line the pending free agent up for hefty raise in free agency this winter, although one red flag for O’Neill has been his frequent trips to the shelf. After suffering hamstring, back, foot, and shoulder injuries during his final two seasons with St. Louis, he’s now made three trips to the shelf with the Red Sox this year: once for a concussion in April, once due to knee inflammation in May, and now today’s most recent ailment that manager Alex Cora described to reporters (including Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe) as a worsening infection on his left leg that has caused swelling.

The silver lining in O’Neill’s repeated trips to the IL this year is that they’ve all been fairly short-lived, and Cora indicated that this one should be more of the same as he’s likely to be activated once eligible to return next week. In the meantime, the Red Sox figure to turn to some combination of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder in the outfield. With Rafaela frequenting the outfield in recent days, Valdez should help to shore up the club’s middle infield mix alongside David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, and Romy Gonzalez. The 25-year-old enjoyed a strong rookie season in 2023 but has taken a step back this year with a .226/.282/.402 slash line in 182 trips to the plate at the big league level.

As for Martin, the right-hander’s return to action is welcome news for a beleaguered Red Sox bullpen that has been second-worst in the majors since the start of July, ahead of only the White Sox. The 38-year-old veteran sports a solid 3.42 ERA with a matching 3.40 FIP in 26 1/3 innings of work this year and is coming off an even better season in 2023 where he dominated to the tune of an eye-popping 1.05 ERA in 55 appearances. Adding Martin to the late-inning mix to be the primary set-up man for closer Kenley Jansen should further shore up a bullpen that got reinforcements in the form of Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia prior to the trade deadline. He’ll take the roster spot of Booser, who heads to Triple-A to become the club’s top depth option with an excellent 2.77 ERA and 2.99 FIP in 39 innings of work this year.

While the bullpen will hopefully be revitalized by the return of Martin, Cora suggested to reporters today (including Abraham) that the Red Sox intend to skip right-hander Nick Pivetta’s next start. While the veteran righty doesn’t appear to be injured, Cora indicated that he’s “not responding well” coming out of his last start and that the club had some concerns about a dip in his velocity. With a day off scheduled tomorrow, the Red Sox will be able to utilize the rest of their rotation on regular rest without needing to call up another arm to take the spot on Pivetta. The righty has a middling 4.44 ERA through 18 starts this year thanks primarily due to a trio of brutal outings his last three times out that have seen him surrender 13 runs (12 earned) in 14 innings of work while serving up six home runs.

Lucas Luetge Opts Out Of Minors Deal With Red Sox

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Veteran left-hander Lucas Luetge has opted out of his minor league deal with the Red Sox and become a free agent, according to Katie Morrison-O’Day of MassLive. The lefty first signed with the Red Sox back in February but will now return to free agency in search of a better deal elsewhere.

Luetge, 37, is a veteran of seven MLB seasons who first made his big league debut back in 2012 as a member of the Mariners. He spent his time with Seattle shuttling between the major and minor leagues, during which time he posted a middling 4.35 ERA with a 4.27 FIP in 89 big league innings with a similar 4.21 ERA across 94 appearances in the minors. While Luetge enjoyed a strong 47.7% groundball rate in the majors during his years in Seattle, a lackluster 19% strikeout rate combined with an elevated 12.1% walk rate seemingly limited his potential, leaving him to be outrighted off the Mariners’ 40-man roster in late 2015.

He elected free agency shortly thereafter but would not return to the majors until 2021, when he joined the Yankees as a member of their bullpen. The lefty enjoyed the best seasons of his career by far when in the Bronx as he posted a sterling 2.71 ERA with a 2.92 FIP in 129 2/3 innings of work for the club across the 2021 and ’22 seasons. His strikeout rate ticked up to a strong 25% while he slashed his walk rate to just 5.8%. While those improvements came at the expense of his groundball rate (39% with the Yankees), the results more than justified his change in approach and made it somewhat surprising when the club designated him for assignment during the 2022-23 offseason.

He was traded to the Braves shortly thereafter and opened the 2023 campaign in their bullpen, though he didn’t last long in Atlanta after allowing eleven runs in 9 2/3 innings of work across his first nine appearances as a Brave. He was outrighted to the minor leagues but remained with the club and returned to the big leagues with them to throw four scoreless innings across three appearances down the stretch, but that improvement and his middling work with the club’s Triple-A affiliate (3.75 ERA in 24 frames) weren’t enough to convince the Braves to retain Luetge for the 2024 campaign.

Back in free agency for the first time since signing with the Yankees, Luetge signed on with the Red Sox. He never broke into the big leagues with the club, though he’s looked quite impressive in 41 2/3 innings of work for Triple-A Worcester with a 3.02 ERA and a solid 26.7% strikeout rate. Given the constant interest around the league in left-handed relief depth, it would hardly be a surprise if a club saw Luetge’s success in the minor leagues with Boston and his previous success with the Yankees and decided to bring him into the organization, whether as a non-roster depth option on a minor league deal or perhaps even as an immediate member of the big league bullpen.

Red Sox Outright Reese McGuire, Yohan Ramirez

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The Red Sox had a few DFA resolutions this afternoon (relayed on X by Jen McCaffrey of the Athletic). Boston confirmed the perviously reported news that Chase Anderson was headed to free agency. The Sox also outrighted catcher Reese McGuire and reliever Yohan Ramírez while releasing left-hander Brandon Walter.

Boston pushed McGuire off the roster with the Danny Jansen acquisition. The lefty-hitting catcher had backed up Connor Wong all season. McGuire started the season hot but his offense has plummeted over the past few months. He’s hitting .209/.280/.295 through 158 plate appearances overall. Acquired from the White Sox at the 2022 trade deadline, McGuire has a .264/.315/.370 slash in parts of three seasons with Boston.

The 29-year-old McGuire has just under five years of major league service. That’s the cutoff at which a player can decline an outright assignment in favor of free agency while keeping the guaranteed money on his contract. For McGuire to test the market now, he’d need to forfeit the nearly $500K remaining on his $1.5MM arbitration salary. That makes it likely he’ll report to Triple-A Worcester and serve as non-roster catching depth for the rest of the season. He’d be a minor league free agent next winter if the Sox don’t put him back on the MLB team.

Ramírez, also 29, finally goes unclaimed after hitting the waiver wire for the fifth time in his career. The out-of-options righty has played for four teams this year alone. He’s logged 45 innings — most of them with the Dodgers — across 38 appearances. Despite roughly league average strikeout and walk numbers, Ramírez has been tagged for a 6.20 earned run average. He spent less than a week on Boston’s MLB roster. Claimed off waivers from L.A. on July 28, he was designated for assignment three days later so the Sox could call up infielder Nick Sogard.

After crossing the three-year service threshold this summer, Ramírez earned the right to elect free agency in lieu of an outright assignment. The Sox didn’t announce whether he’ll do so. Unlike McGuire, Ramírez was playing on a pre-arbitration deal, so he wouldn’t be leaving any kind of guaranteed money on the table if he wanted to explore other opportunities. If he reports to Worcester, he’d also be eligible for minor league free agency in the offseason unless the Sox reselect his contract.

Walter’s release was an inevitability once Boston designated him for assignment on Tuesday. The left-hander has been on the minor league injured list all season. Teams are not allowed to place injured players on outright waivers and Walter can’t be traded after the deadline since he had been on the 40-man roster. That left a release as the only outcome.

The Sox could try to bring him back on a minor league contract if he clears release waivers, but he’d be free to explore other opportunities. The 27-year-old Walter appeared in nine games for Boston last season in his first MLB action. He allowed a 6.26 ERA through 23 innings in a long relief capacity. The University of Delaware product has a solid 3.61 mark over parts of four minor league seasons, working mostly from the rotation.

Cubs Claim Trey Wingenter

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The Cubs have claimed right-hander Trey Wingenter off waivers from the Red Sox, as first relayed by Hunter Noll of Beyond the Monster on X. The righty was designated for assignment by Boston in the trade deadline transactions frenzy earlier this week. The Cubs have optioned him to Triple-A Iowa, per Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network on X.

Wingenter, 30, signed a minor league deal with the Tigers in the offseason. In early July, he triggered an assignment clause in his contract that forced the Tigers to trade him if some other club was willing to give him a 40-man roster spot. The Sox were willing to give him that spot and acquired him for righty CJ Weins.

Though Wingenter spent almost a month on Boston’s roster, he was mostly on optional assignment and only made two appearances for the big league club. Those two outings did not go well, as he allowed seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. When combined with his previous work with the Padres and Tigers, he now has a 5.84 earned run average in 89 1/3 major league innings with a strong 31.9% strikeout rate but high walk rate of 12.3%.

After their deadline deals, the Cubs had an open roster spot to work with and have used it to grab Wingenter. His major league results haven’t been great but there are reasons he’s worth a flier. His fastball velocity has averaged in the 95-97 miles per hour range. Though he’s had trouble harnessing it at times, he’s also been able to get punchouts. He’s also been in good form in the minors this year, with a 3.03 ERA in 38 2/3 innings at that level. Though he’s walked 11.1% of Triple-A hitters he’s faced this year, he’s also struck out 34.5% of them.

He’s in his final option year and can be kept at Iowa for the rest of the year if the Cubs want, but he’ll be out of options next year. He has just over four years of service time and will be eligible for arbitration in the offseason.

Chase Anderson Elects Free Agency

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Chase Anderson is electing free agency after clearing outright waivers, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive (X link). The veteran righty was designated for assignment by the Red Sox a couple days before the trade deadline to accommodate the James Paxton acquisition.

The Sox signed Anderson to a $1.25MM guarantee in Spring Training. The 36-year-old spent the season working as a long reliever in Alex Cora’s bullpen. Anderson tossed 52 innings over 27 appearances, allowing 4.85 earned runs per nine. His 15.6% strikeout percentage was well below average. Anderson had decent control but struggled with home runs, allowing 1.73 longballs per nine.

Anderson is an 11-year big league veteran who had a strong run out of the Milwaukee rotation between 2016-19. He has been a more well-traveled depth arm over the past few seasons, appearing for six teams within the last five years. He was holding down a rotation spot for the Rockies as recently as last season, although he struggled to a 5.75 ERA over 17 starts with Colorado.

The Sox are on the hook for Anderson’s salary, as players with more than five years of MLB service keep their guaranteed money if they decline an outright assignment. Anderson may need to settle for a minor league deal. If he gets back to the majors this season, his new club would owe him the prorated $740K league minimum for however long he’s on the roster.

Red Sox Select Nick Sogard, DFA Yohan Ramírez

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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.

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