MLB Notebook: Red Sox not waiving white flag, Venezuela relief efforts, a look around the league

Craig Breslow isn’t ready to wave the white flag on the Red Sox’ disappointing season just yet.

Despite Boston sitting in last place for much of the year, the club has a chance Sunday night to complete a shocking four-game sweep of the first-place Yankees at Fenway Park.

Whether that changes the front office’s thinking ahead of the trade deadline remains to be seen, but Breslow made it clear Friday morning that he still believes this team is capable of turning its season around.

Speaking on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show, Boston’s chief baseball officer said he isn’t giving up on the roster and remains confident the Red Sox can climb back into the postseason race if they continue playing better baseball.

“We have to win a lot of baseball games and we don’t have a ton of time to do it,” Breslow said of the 33-46 Red Sox, who are last place in the American League East and five games back of the A.L.’s third wild-card spot. “I believe that we’re capable of doing it. It’s going to require more consistent play on the field. But I see no reason that with the pitching that we have and the consistency of the starting pitching, with the strength of the backend of the bullpen, we can’t get ourselves in a position where we do win these games.”

Breslow did acknowledge, however, that the Red Sox’ approach could change if they fail to put together a sustained run over the next several weeks.

While he reiterated that the organization isn’t ready to concede the season, he admitted selling at the August trade deadline remains a possibility if Boston doesn’t win enough games to keep itself in the playoff race.

“We’re constantly assessing where we are in terms of what’s happening in Fenway Park and with our team on the field, and what’s happening around us. But we have to be realistic about where we are, and it’s true that we can believe in the roster that we have,” Breslow said. “We can believe in our players and know that we’re capable of playing better baseball, and also that we’re not where we expected to be. That’s incredibly frustrating and disappointing, and we’re going to have to be realistic about what is best for the organization.”

Just a few weeks ago, the Red Sox were reportedly scouring the trade market for a right-handed power bat. The club was even willing to absorb an undesirable contract if it meant adding the impact hitter needed to balance its power-thirsty lineup.

That search now appears to be over.

According to MassLive’s Sean McAdam, Boston has shifted its focus away from buying.

“I haven’t heard a word about them adding,” one major league executive told McAdam. “Just selling.”

The Red Sox remain without Roman Anthony and ace Garrett Crochet, both of whom are on the injured list. Crochet isn’t expected back until after the All-Star break and, realistically, his return could come closer to the start of August.

Crochet, however, sounded encouraged when he spoke with reporters Friday at his locker. The left-hander said he isn’t concerned about his shoulder and is continuing to follow the club’s rehabilitation plan with the goal of returning to the rotation as soon as possible.

The lefty has progressed to throwing plyometric (lighter-weight) balls but has yet to resume throwing a regulation baseball since his one-inning live batting practice session on May 26.

A few days after that outing, the Red Sox shut him down with lat tightness. While his throwing program is moving forward, he remains in the early stages of his recovery and has not yet advanced back to playing catch with a baseball.

“I hope to have a ball, a real baseball, in my hand here soon,“ Crochet said. ”The plyos that I’m doing, though, are not far off. I’m throwing seven ounces, so it’s not like I’m afraid to get close to baseball weight. It’s moreso just the protocol.

“Just still just throwing plyos, doing a lot of (isometric) work. When the team was on the road and I stayed back, I made some good headway. Been trending up for a while. I think that let setback is making us be extra cautious this time, naturally. Just in that situation where it’s like, wait until you feel great, then wait a couple more days.”

There still isn’t a firm timetable for Anthony’s return, as his recovery has progressed more slowly than both he and the Red Sox anticipated.

When Anthony suffered the injury after fouling a pitch off himself on a check swing against the Tigers, the expectation was that he’d miss only a little more than a week.

Instead, he’s now approaching the two-month mark on the injured list, leaving Boston without one of its most dynamic young hitters during a critical stretch of the season.

As the trade deadline draws closer, another name generating buzz is Jarren Duran.

The outfielder has endured a miserable season at the plate, and his frustrations have begun to spill over. After another interaction with a fan during Saturday’s game, Duran went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, ending his afternoon by grounding out to first base in the eighth inning.

With Anthony sidelined and Duran struggling, the Red Sox continue to search for answers in an offense that has lacked consistency for much of the season.

“Nothing happened,” Duran repeated multiple times when asked about the incident after Boston’s win on Saturday. 

“Just some people that were chirping, had been chirping for a few innings,” said Chad Tracy. “And started chirping toward Jarren again. We grabbed him and got him down (into the dugout) and told them (security), ‘Can you get them out?’ That was all.”

Tracy declined to reveal exactly what was said by the fans.

“Enough for us to say, ‘Can you please get them out?’” Tracy said.

When asked whether he was disappointed by Duran’s reaction, Tracy didn’t hesitate.

“No.”

Duran’s name has been at the center of trade speculation for months, but his value has taken a hit during a difficult 2026 campaign. His offensive struggles, coupled with emotional moments on and off the field, haven’t helped his market.

Just three weeks ago, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Boston’s asking price for Duran remained steep. If the Red Sox ultimately decide to move him, it would also clear the outfield logjam and open the door for Anthony to become the club’s everyday left fielder once he’s healthy.

Whether Breslow still views Duran as a long-term piece or as his most valuable trade chip could be one of the biggest questions facing the organization ahead of the August trade deadline.

Sonny Gray remains an attractive trade option for the Red Sox, and there’s an indication the veteran would waive his no-trade clause to play for a contender. 

According to the Boston Globe, Gray is open to the conversation with the Red Sox on a potential trade. 

“If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction that this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation,” Gray said. He declined to mention whether geography would play a role in his decision. The Braves have been on team loosely connected to the Red Sox’ Gray. 

Boston acquired Gray from the Cardinals this past offseason in exchange for Richard Fitts and pitching prospect Brandon Clarke. Both pitchers have since landed on the injured list and are out for the remainder of the season.

As part of the trade, Gray restructured his contract. He’ll earn $31 million this season, and his deal includes a $30 million mutual option for 2027 with a $10 million buyout. St. Louis also sent Boston $20 million in the deal, effectively covering roughly half of Gray’s 2026 salary.

If the Red Sox decide to move Gray before the August trade deadline, the acquiring club would be responsible for the prorated portion of his remaining salary along with the $10 million buyout. Boston could also include cash in a deal to make him even more attractive to potential suitors.

While the Red Sox continue debating whether to buy or sell, the Mets have already picked a direction.

New York traded left-hander David Peterson to the Cubs, signaling the beginning of a selloff after a disappointing season. Peterson made his Chicago debut Saturday night against the Brewers. His first pitch as a Cub ended up over the center-field wall off the bat of Jackson Chourio, but he settled in to allow two runs over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-2 victory.

The Mets entered the season with the second-highest payroll in baseball at roughly $375 million but find themselves in last place in the National League East. Earlier this week, they fired manager Carlos Mendoza, replacing him on an interim basis with Andy Green, who is expected to return to his player development role after the season.

Mendoza became the third manager fired this season, joining Alex Cora in Boston and Rob Thomson in Philadelphia.

The Red Sox have no shortage of veterans who would draw interest from contenders, but Gray may be their most valuable trade chip. 

If Boston ultimately chooses to sell, there’s an argument for moving quickly and setting the starting pitching market. Gray has been one of the American League’s most consistent starters, entering Sunday’s outing against the Yankees with a 9-1 record and a 2.95 ERA. The Red Sox have won 10 of his 14 starts, and his combination of postseason experience, durability and contract structure could make him one of the more appealing starters available.

Red Sox Players Thinking of Venezuela 

The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela have shaken the baseball community, with former Red Sox outfielder Gorkys Hernández revealing that his wife was among those killed.

Hernández shared the heartbreaking news Saturday in an emotional post on Instagram, announcing the passing of his wife, Deisy María Tovar de Hernández.

Venezuela was rocked by back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5, causing widespread devastation across the country. According to the Associated Press, more than 1,400 people have been killed, while nearly 69,000 others remain missing as rescue efforts continue.

The tragedy has hit especially close to home for the Red Sox, who have several Venezuelan-born players on their roster, including Wilyer Abreu, Willson Contreras, Andruw Monasterio, Carlos Narváez and Ranger Suarez.

The Sox first baseman, who hails from Puerto Caballo, said he is thinking about Venezuela “every second” as the nation tries to recover.

“We’ve been through tough stuff,” an emotional Contreras told NESN’s Jahmai Webster after the Red Sox’ 6-1 win over the Yankees Friday night. “Since Jan. 3, 1999 (when Hugo Chavez took office), something good happened to Venezuela. We started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In March we won the WBC, which was great for Venezuela given the happiness. 

“And now we got hit with two earthquakes and more than 1,000 deaths. I keep my country in my heart. It hurts. … I always keep Venezuela in my heart.”

The Red Sox have also shown their support for Venezuela on the field.

Several players have worn hats with the letters “VZ” stitched on the side as a tribute to the country. Abreu, a native of Maracaibo, wrote “SOS” and “All Together For Venezuela” on his cap, while Contreras added the message, “Pray for Venezuela.”

Narváez, who is from Maracay, personalized his cap with the words “Te Amo” (“I love you”) alongside the “VZ” patch.

Red Sox legend David Ortiz, a native of the Dominican Republic, has also been at Fenway Park helping raise awareness and funds for those affected by the disaster, joining the baseball community’s growing effort to support the people of Venezuela during this devastating time.

“Venezuela needs us right now,” he said on NESN on Friday. “Venezuela is going through hell right now. That earthquake killed so many people, destroyed so many cities. People need our help over there. Badly.”

Ortiz spent time before Saturday’s game at a gate outside Fenway Park raising money for Venezuela’s relief efforts, meeting with fans and encouraging donations.

He also urged Red Sox fans watching from home, along with those throughout the Boston area, to contribute through the Red Sox Foundation to help provide aid for the victims and families impacted by the devastating earthquakes.

“Please, let’s get together like we always do,” Ortiz said. “Boston Strong always comes through. Let’s help our friends over there in Venezuela. Venezuela, we’re thinking of you. You’re in our heart, and we’re gonna do whatever it takes to help you guys.”

Red Sox Notes

Ceddanne Rafaela has emerged as one of the American League’s top center fielders this season and is making a strong case for his first All-Star selection.

His 2.6 fWAR ranks second among American League center fielders, trailing only Byron Buxton (3.0).

“Of course every player wants to be an All-Star but those are things that we don’t control,” Rafaela said. “It would be an honor for me and my family to be there.”

The Red Sox could also receive another boost before Sunday night’s series finale against the Yankees.

Boston is expected to activate Romy González from the injured list after the utility man missed the first three months of the season following minor shoulder surgery in March.

His return would give the Red Sox another right-handed bat, something the club has sorely lacked. González has been particularly effective against left-handed pitching, batting .331 with a .978 OPS in 143 plate appearances versus southpaws last season, making him a valuable option against left-handed starters and in late-game matchups.

Around the League 

The Angels shook up their front office Friday night, firing general manager Perry Minasian after five-plus seasons.

Minasian, who was hired following the 2020 season, leaves with a 392-500 record and no postseason appearances during his tenure.

Los Angeles quickly tabbed longtime Cardinals executive John Mozeliak as its interim general manager. According to the club, Mozeliak “will oversee the day-to-day baseball operations for the Angels while refining a baseball operations strategy and assisting the organization in its search for a new General Manager.”

Mozeliak wasted little time getting to work. Shortly after taking over, he met with interim manager Kurt Suzuki and assured him that he and his coaching staff would remain in place through the end of the season.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Angels are expected to receive calls on several players, including Reid Detmers, José Soriano and Jo Adell. However, owner Arte Moreno reportedly prefers to keep all three rather than begin another rebuild.

Mozeliak brings an accomplished résumé to Anaheim. During his 30 years with the Cardinals, including 18 seasons overseeing baseball operations, St. Louis reached the postseason 10 times, won six National League Central titles, captured two National League pennants and won the 2011 World Series.

New Record

Elsewhere around baseball, Brewers rookie flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski made more history Friday night.

The right-hander unleashed a 105.5 mph fastball against the Cubs, surpassing his previous career-best of 104.5 mph from earlier this month.

The pitch is tied for the third-fastest recorded in the pitch-tracking era, matching Ben Joyce’s 105.5 mph heater from 2024. Only Aroldis Chapman has thrown harder, reaching 105.8 mph in 2010 and 105.7 mph in 2016.

After the game, reporters asked Misiorowski whether he believes he has 106 mph in the tank. 

"I definitely think it's possible," he said. "Science says you can hit 108. Someone eventually is going to hit it. If that's me, cool. I don't think that's something I need to focus on. Speed is cool, but if it doesn't win a ball game, it doesn't matter."

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is inching closer to returning to the big leagues. He’s currently rehabbing for Triple-A Oklahoma City and has hit three homers. 

Hernandez has been out since May 29 with a left hamstring strain, and could return as early as next week when the Dodgers are playing the A’s in West Sacramento. 

Guardians rookie Cooper Ingle recorded his first career hit and RBI in the fourth inning, knocking a two-run single off right-hander Logan Gilbert on Saturday night.