The Red Sox made a September roster decision that says plenty about where they are right now. Isiah Kiner-Falefa got the call, and in doing so Boston passed on the more obvious offensive swing with Kristian Campbell.
Kiner-Falefa’s approach helped make that possible. Working his way back from a forearm injury as rosters were set to expand, he told MassLive’s Chris Cotillo that he was fine waiting until September 1. He understood the roster squeeze and didn’t want to push out a player already helping the big-league club.
That kind of move doesn’t show up in a box score, but it matters. It’s the sort of decision that reinforces a clubhouse, and Boston’s recent run of strong play has been built in part on that kind of feel.
The choice also keeps Campbell in Worcester for now, even though his bat has been coming on. The Red Sox gave him an eight-year, $60 million extension before he had played 30 major league games as a rookie, and the early returns looked promising before things went sideways. His first full season back in the minors this year got off to a rough start, and he was down to a .148 average in June.
Then came July. Campbell hit .379 with a 1.059 OPS, picked up International League Player of the Month honors, ran off a 20-game on-base streak and kept producing into the last week of August. He even had a two-homer game this past weekend, a sign the swing has clearly found something again.
Still, that wasn’t enough to open a lane back to Boston. The Red Sox’s outfield situation is crowded, and the trade deadline addition of Eli White made it tighter.
Interim manager Chad Tracy pointed to Kiner-Falefa’s versatility and steady presence as the qualities Boston needed most for the stretch run. Campbell, for all the recent damage he’s done at the plate, simply doesn’t have a clean spot on the active roster.
That doesn’t make the move a dead end for Boston. A strong finish would give Campbell momentum heading into the offseason, and it also leaves the Red Sox with options. Another team could see the upside in a former top-10 prospect who has shown he can still hit in stretches, which would create a chance for Boston to sell high and bring back something that fits the current roster better.
If no one steps up, Campbell still profiles as useful depth - the kind of MLB-ready insurance that matters if players like Anthony Seigler or Mickey Gasper cool off or get hurt. For now, though, this September call-up is more about what Kiner-Falefa brings than what Campbell’s bat has done.
In Other News...
Red Sox Deadline Trade Had An Alternate Path That Changes It
Craig Breslow checked off several goals at the deadline, and one of the more interesting moves came when the Red Sox sent Connelly Early to Washington in the deal for Curtis Mead. Early had become enough of a name around the league that he drew interest from more than one club, with the Cubs reportedly in the mix before they went in another direction and landed different pitchers instead. For Boston, the trade fit the larger plan of reshaping the roster while addressing multiple needs at once.
Early still has not made his Nationals debut, as he remains on the injured list with elbow inflammation. Washington expects to begin his rehab assignment in early September, which only adds another layer to a deal that might have looked very different depending on how the deadline board broke for the Red Sox and everyone chasing starting pitching. [Read more 🡒]
Adley Rutschman Just Showed Boston Why This Gamble Was Worth It
Adley Rutschmans first night back at Camden Yards as a visiting player gave the Red Sox an immediate reminder of why they wanted him in the middle of their lineup. The former Orioles catcher, now part of a seven-player deal that sent him to Boston, homered twice in his first three at-bats and did it in the kind of setting that tends to sharpen every storyline attached to a trade of that size.
The move brought more than just Rutschman to Boston, with Jake Rogers also heading to the Red Sox and four prospects going back to Baltimore, but the spotlight is always going to find the biggest name in a swap like this. For Boston, the early payoff is obvious. For Baltimore, the trade tree is just getting started, and nights like this only deepen the feeling that both clubs may be judging the deal from very different timelines. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Bullpen Just Got A More Concerning Justin Slaten Update
Justin Slatens time on the injured list has stretched to 18 days, and the Red Sox are still not ready to start his recovery process as the right-hander continues to deal with elbow soreness. It is the latest frustrating turn for a bullpen arm Boston has leaned on for steady work, and it leaves another hole in a relief group that has already had to absorb plenty of moving parts.
Slaten has been hurt twice this season, which only adds to the concern around how quickly he can get back to being available. The underlying numbers suggest why Boston has been interested in him when healthy, with a career 2.93 ERA and a 3.03 FIP this year, but for now the bigger issue is simply getting the elbow calmed down enough to move forward. [Read more 🡒]