Roster Moves and Depth Chart

Noe Ramirez and Marco Hernandez better get used to this

There have been a flurry of roster moves the last few days.  The Red Sox played Wednesday’s night game shorthanded.  Robbie Ross and Mookie Betts were battling flu-like symptoms, and Brock Holt’s condition was so bad that he wasn’t even at the ballpark. That was a bad time to have an extra inning game, but Sandy “the Lion King” Leon sent everyone happy by walking it off in the 12th.

Right after the game Matt Barnes was put on the bereavement leave, and Noe Ramirez called up to take his place.  This morning we learned that Xander Bogaerts was also placed on bereavement leave and Marco Hernandez came up to take his roster spot.  Now Robbie Ross’ flu worsened and he was put on the DL with Deven Marrero taking his place.  Why an infielder instead of another reliever?  Well, taking a look at the depth chart below will explain this.

The Red Sox were already carrying an extra bullpen arm, since they had the luxury of not needing a 5^th starter right away, and have kept Drew Pomeranz on the DL until he is needed (likely on Tuesday).  The extra middle infielder is due to Brock Holt’s flu.  If he’s unavailable, Hernandez will start at SS and Marrero becomes the utility bench guy.  The bench is going to be Holt (flu), Young, Vazquez, Marrero and Selksy.

Here is the current roster/depth chart. Players with a strikethrough are not on current 25, players in brackets are listed a subsequent time in a position other than their primary position.

C	Leon	Vazquez
1B	Moreland	(Ramirez)	(Selsky)
2B	Pedroia	(Hernandez)	(Holt)	(Rutledge – DL)
SS	Bogaerts (bereavement)	(Holt)	(Hernandez)
3B	Sandoval	(Hernandez)	(Holt)	(Rutledge – DL)
DH	Ramirez	(Young)
UT	Holt(flu)	Rutledge (DL)	Hernandez	Marrero
LF	Benintendi	(Young)	Selsky	(Holt)
CF	Bradley	Young
RF	Betts	(Young)	(Selsky)

Starting Pitchers:

Porcello

Sale

Price (DL)

Wright

Pomeranz (DL)

Rodriguez

Relief Pitchers:

Kimbrel

Thornburg (DL)

Smith (DL)

Kelly

Ross (DL)

Scott

Embree

Abad

Taylor

Ramirez

Marrero will go back down when Bogaerts comes off the bereavement list.

Noe Ramirez will be replaced by Barnes when he comes off.

Since our bullpen is back down to seven arms, and we have an extra position player on the bench, to make room for Pomeranz, one of the bench players will go back down.  If Holt is fully recovered from the flu, I suspect it will be Marco Hernandez back to AAA.

And when Robbie Ross is activated (he’ll be eligible on April 13^th), Ben Taylor’s cup of coffee will be finished for now.

At least that’s what I expect the plan will be, although injuries and overuse of pitchers may dictate different moves being made over the next week or so.