SEATTLE, Wash. – The Red Sox made a slew of transactions Thursday morning in order to finalize their Opening Day roster.
Several of the moves were mere formalities. The Sox placed right-hander Liam Hendriks (UCL surgery) and left-hander Chris Murphy (UCL sprain) on the 60-day injured list, and right-hander Bryan Mata went on the 15-day IL with a right hamstring strain.
Infield newcomer Vaughn Grissom (left hamstring strain) and veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder (left toe fracture) are on the 10-day IL. Both are retroactive to Mar. 25, as is Mata’s.
Grissom is completing extended spring training in Fort Myers, but will join the team for the Apr. 9 home opener before beginning a minor league rehab assignment. The Sox expect him to make his season debut before the end of the month.
The Sox also selected Naoyuki Uwasawa to the Major League roster. They acquired the right-hander from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, and optioned him to their spring training complex.
The more surprising news this week is southpaw Joely Rodriguez making the Major League roster over 2023 standout Brennan Bernardino. Bernardino, 31, was one of Boston’s most reliable and versatile arms last year, posting a 3.20 ERA across 55 outings for the Sox, including six starts and eight games finished. He also just completed spring training without allowing a single earned run in seven outings.
Rodriguez was Boston’s first free-agent signing during the previous offseason, but missed almost the entire season due to injuries. He re-signed with the Sox on a minor-league deal early in spring training, and allowed three earned runs on 11 hits over seven preseason games (8 innings). He triggered the opt-out in his contract last Friday, which forced the Sox to either add him to the Major League roster or release him into free agency. Bernardino, however has remaining minor league options which allowed the Sox to send him to Triple-A late Monday night in order to keep Rodriguez.
Bobby Dalbec had a strong spring, but making the Opening Day roster was still somewhat unexpected. He can provide both infield and outfield depth as well as another right-handed bat option. However, the 28-year-old struggled to hit at the big-league level over the last two years, and only appeared in 21 Major League games last season, as Triston Casas took ownership of first base and emerged as a Rookie of the Year finalist.
With that, the roster is set. The Sox have several first-timers in this year’s group: Wilyer Abreu, Opening Day starter Brayan Bello, Isaiah Campbell, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Justin Slaten, Enmanuel Valdez, and Greg Weissert.
First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET Thursday.