Red Sox Shake Up Roster After Uneven Start

After going 78-84 and finishing last in their division last year, the Boston Red Sox haven't shown much improvement in 2023. They enter their Patriots Day clash with the Los Angeles Angels at 8-8 and have already been swept twice, causing Red Sox fans to worry that another disappointing season may be on the way.

Boston's front office responded to the team's sluggish start by making a flurry of roster moves before Monday's game.

Red Sox Roster Moves

The team's biggest move was activating right-handed starter Brayan Bello off the injured list to start Monday's game against Shohei Ohtani. Bello opened the season on the IL with an elbow issue but showed promise as a rookie last year as the organization's top-ranked pitching prospect. The Red Sox's rotation could certainly use a boost after starting the year with a horrendous 6.45 ERA.

The other major move was calling up outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester and sending down infielder Bobby Dalbec. Duran has been a major disappointment in his two seasons with Boston thus far, both at the plate and in the field. The Red Sox are desperate for outfield depth following Adam Duvall's injury, however, and Duran will add some speed to a lumbering lineup that has stolen only 7 bases so far (11th in AL).

Dalbec heads back to Triple-A to get more regular at-bats after going 2-for-9 with 5 strikeouts in his brief MLB stint this year. The club also designate Triple-A pitcher Jake Faria for assignment after he got shelled for a 10.80 ERA in his first three appearances for the WooSox.

After giving Bello and Duran significant playing time last year, the Red Sox hope that both youngsters can take a step forward in 2023 and give their aging squad a much-needed spark.