In addition to making a trade Friday night, the Red Sox decided to cut loose an injured reliever and keep their backup catcher.
Red Sox Roster Makeover: Release Injured Reliever, Offer Liz McGuire
In addition to the trades, the Red Sox made several (surprising) roster decisions before Friday night’s non-tender deadline.
In addition to announcing the previously reported deal that sent second baseman Luis Urias to the Mariners to replace Isaiah Campbell, the Red Sox said they also offered contracts to four other arbitration-eligible players: (Reese McGuire, Nick Pivetta, John Schreiber and Alex Verdugo)
while non-tendering injured reliever Wyatt Mills, who is now a free agent. Mills is a pre-arbitration player and was effectively released.
The Red Sox currently have 37 players on their 40-man roster.
Before Friday’s end, Urias and McGuire appeared to be the only non-tender candidates among Boston’s arbitration-eligible players.
Rather than waste Urias, they could trade him for Campbell, a 26-year-old who could be part of the major league bullpen mix next season.
The Mariners have signed Urias to a contract through 2024.
He is expected to make $4.7 million, which the Red Sox may have thought was a bit higher after two disappointing months with the club.
McGuire was believed to be fired if the Red Sox decided his projected salary ($1.7 million) was too high or if he wanted to go in another direction as a backup catcher.
Instead, he will return for his third season with Boston (barring a trade) and serve as the backup to Connor Wong.
McGuire, 28, appeared in 72 games for Boston last season, hitting .267 with 12 home runs, 12 doubles and a .668 OPS.
He has played in 108 games for the Sox since joining them in a trade last year in 2022.
Mills never pitched for the Red Sox.
The 28-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Royals last December.
The Sox sent relief prospect Jacob Wallace to Kansas City.
Mills was expected to compete for time in the major leagues throughout the season, but suffered an elbow injury in spring training and underwent Tommy John surgery in July. He will miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season.
The Red Sox have until Jan. 12 to change salary figures for arbitration-eligible players.
According to MLBTradeRumors, Verdugo is expected to make $9.2 million, Pivetta is expected to make $6.9 million and Schreiber is expected to make $1.3 million.
