Red Sox roster moves: Veteran reliever clears waivers, heads to Triple-A following DFA; Nationals’ Nathaniel Lowe an option?

The Red Sox announced that right-handed reliever Nick Burdi will remain with the organization just a few days after being designated for assignment earlier this week.

Burdi was designated on Monday after the Sox promoted left-handed reliever Jovani Morán to the big league roster. The righty cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Worcester. He did have the option to reject the assignment and elect free agency, but he chose to stay and was sent to Triple-A Worcester.

The 32-year-old joined the Red Sox on a minor league deal in spring training before appearing in four games for Boston in both May and June. He tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings before he landed on the injured list with a right foot contusion. Burdi was activated and then returned to Triple-A Worcester, where he’s been dominant this season, owning a 1.88 ERA and four saves, with 32 strikeouts to 10 walks with a 1.08 WHIP.

The right-hander has made 35 career appearances in the big leagues for the Pirates, Cubs, Yankees, and Red Sox, achieving a career ERA of 5.34 over 30 1/3 innings. While in Worcester, he serves as internal bullpen depth alongside Brennan Bernardino, Zack Kelly, Chris Murphy, Bryan Mata, and David Sandlin, who recently began pitching out of the WooSox bullpen.

Burdi’s spot on the 40-man roster went to Morán, whom Boston acquired in a December swap for catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper. The southpaw missed the first two months of the season while finishing his rehab from Tommy John surgery, and before his promotion to Boston, he had pitched well in Worcester. While with the WooSox, he recorded a 3.44 ERA in 18 1/3 innings with a 35.1% strikeout rate and a 4.1% walk rate.

Morán made his first appearance on an MLB mound in two years on Tuesday against the Astros, where he tossed two innings, allowing an earned run on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

“It feels amazing,” Morán said to MassLive’s Christopher Smith earlier this week in Houston at Daikin Park. “Being back at the big league level, it’s been very emotional. Like I had the last two years been doing rehab and probably like two months ago I was in Fort Myers trying to be healthy. And now being here feels amazing.”

NATIONALS DFA SLUGGER

The Nationals designated first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment on Thursday following the reinstatement of outfielder Dylan Crews from the 60-day injured list.

Lowe has had a down season in the nation’s capital, hitting a career-worst .216 with 16 homers and 68 RBI in 119 games, including a grand slam on Wednesday night.

If he isn’t claimed off waivers, Lowe can effectively become a mid-season free agent and can sign with any contender.

The Red Sox could express interest in the left-handed slugger as an upgrade over Abraham Toro. If the Sox were to claim Lowe, they’d be on the hook for roughly $3 million of his remaining $10 million salary.

"The Sox had inquired about Lowe’s availability earlier in the season when (Triston) Casas was first injured, so presumably there would be at least some interest,” Sean McAdam reported.

Boston could continue using Toro and Romy Gonzalez as their first base platoon options until they are ready to recall Kristian Campbell, who is dominating Triple-A pitching for the WooSox.

This week in Iowa against the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate, Campbell is 5-for-13 (.385) with one homer, three RBI, and one stolen base in three games. In Thursday night’s game, Campbell went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI, and he’s slashing .285/.410/.457 over 183 plate appearances for the WooSox.

Campbell has played first base while with the WooSox, and it remains his “primary focus.”

“Per team source: This is related to (David) Hamilton needing reps at 2B now that he’s in Worcester,” SoxProspects’ Chris Hatfield reported on social media. “Also gets Campbell work in the OF, where he’s continued getting work outside of games, so he can help when called upon in other ways. 1B is still his primary focus.”

Campbell continuing to work out at first base offers the Sox another internal option at first base which essentially could close the door on the idea of acquiring Lowe.

ANOTHER BULLPEN PIECE?

Alex Hoppe is another Red Sox reliever pitching for Triple-A Worcester who could also be in the mix for a spot to help the bullpen this season.

The righty began the season with Double-A Portland, where he pitched in seven games before he was promoted to Triple-A Worcester. He’s appeared in 26 games, where he owns a 4.36 ERA with five saves, five holds, 40 strikeouts to 11 walks, and a 1.52 WHIP. 

He’s pitched really well of late, tossing nine straight scoreless frames with 10 strikeouts and two saves.

Hoppe is not a highly ranked prospect; he sits at No. 53 overall, according to SoxProspects. He throws hard, sitting between 96 and 98 mph, and has topped out at 100 mph. In addition to his four-seam fastball, he incorporates a slider and changeup within his pitch mix.

He has the upside of a middle reliever with excellent fastball velocity, but his secondary pitches lack consistency, which ultimately may prevent him from getting a shot with the Red Sox.

Hoppe is Rule 5 eligible this offseason, and the likelihood he is added to the 40-man roster is low. There is a strong potential that he will be selected this December, and one team to watch is the St. Louis Cardinals, according to a league source, stating that Chaim Bloom “loves the hard-throwing reliever.”

It wouldn’t be the first time the Cardinals dipped into the Rule 5 draft and snagged a Red Sox minor league pitcher. Two years ago, the Cards drafted right-handed reliever Ryan Fernandez in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft.