Red Sox Notebook: In final days in Florida, Sox getting closer to final roster choices

Before losing to the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-3 in Port Charlotte, the Red Sox announced a number of roster moves.

INF Jonathan Arauz was optioned to the alternate site. Catcher Chris Herrmann, infielder/outfielder Danny Santana, outfielders Cesar Puello and Michael Gettys and pitchers Marcus Walden and Kevin McCarthy were all re-assigned to the minor leagues.

Those moves leave the Red Sox with 28 players in camp, plus two players on the IL -- outfielder Franchy Cordero and pitcher Chris Sale.

The Sox have essentially two roster decisions left to make. If they activate Cordero, that will mean that either Christian Arroyo or Michael Chavis will not make the team.

The other decisions come in the bullpen, where the Sox can take two of the following three: Colten Brewer, Phillips Valdez and Austin Brice. Brewer didn't help himself or his cause by being  knocked around for three runs on four hits in two innings against the Rays. His spring ERA is 9.95.

Also, the Sox will soon shift Ryan Brasier to the IL. Braiser is behind others in camp, thanks to a return home to Texas at the start of spring training and a fracture at the base of his right pinky finger. Brasier threw a live BP session Thursday that went well.

"We're waiting for him to give us an update on how he feels,'' said Alex Cora, "just tell us where he's at physically. Toward the end of bullpens and live BPs, leg-wise, he's not where he's supposed to be. That obviously part of that. But as far as the arm, he looked good. He's still getting treatment (for the finger), but hopefully, he can keep building up and be with us sooner rather than later.''



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Franchy Cordero played left field for six innings and went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two strikeouts. The Sox are trying to determine whether he'll be able to start the season on the active roster, or whether he needs additional time to get ready after missing a couple of weeks with COVID-19 at the start of camp.

"We'll sit down (Saturday) and see where he's at,'' said Cora. "It's trending and it seems like he'll be OK (to be activated). You saw him running the bases today, he hit that (triple) to center field, was running around in the outfield. It's just about, now, how he's going to feel (Saturday). It was a tough day today -- hot and a slow-paced game. For him to get his reps, it was good. (Saturday), we'll know more, but he's doing well.''

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The Sox informed Rule 5 pick Garrett Whitlock Thursday night what had been obvious for some time: he has made the team.

"With everything he's dealt with, and the way he acts and the way he conducts himself, we were very pleased to tell him,'' said Cora. "We're going to be careful with him, obviously. He's a Rule 5 pick and he hasn't pitched in a while (before this spring after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019). But everything we've seen has been good. He'll be with us. He's another addition.''

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Frank German made his Grapefruit League debut with the Red Sox, allowing a two-run homer to Mike Zunino, but he caught Cora's eye. German came to the Red Sox in the deal that landed them Adam Ottavino, with the Sox agreeing to take almost the full value of Ottavino's contract in order to have German thrown into the trade.

"Good fastball,'' said Cora. "Yeah, the one Zunino hit, he hit it hard, but the wind was blowing hard to left field, too. Good fastball, good breaking ball. He's still young. Obviously, he hasn't pitched at this level. But he has a good body, too -- very loose. He knows what he needs to do to be prepared. We're very proud of him.''