Major League Baseball can turn fast, and the Boston Red Sox are proving it again.
A couple of weeks after Anthony Seigler and Mickey Gasper were pushed out when Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa returned from the injured list, the next roster squeeze is already taking shape. With the Red Sox nearing the return of All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras, one infield name is suddenly looking vulnerable: Andruw Monasterio.
Monasterio spent much of the summer as a key piece for Boston, and for a while it felt hard to imagine him being the one squeezed out. His red-hot second half of July helped fuel the Red Sox’s push back into the playoff race, and it also made him a favorite with fans. But the playing time has shifted hard in recent days.
Trevor Story has taken back the starting shortstop job, in part because Monasterio’s defense at the position had become shaky. Over the last two weeks, Monasterio has managed only two starts.
The rest of the infield picture makes the situation even tighter. Isiah Kiner-Falefa does not appear to be in line for a designation for assignment, Nick Sogard has earned the chance to hit against right-handers, and Mickey Gasper is still carrying the momentum of his recent hot streak.
The downturn in Monasterio’s numbers since the start of August tells the story, too. In 30 games since Aug. 1, he has hit .208/.272/.257 with no home runs in 114 plate appearances. That has pulled his season OPS from .770 to .687, a drop that changes the conversation from standout debut to something far more ordinary.
Contreras could be back on Saturday, and if the Red Sox need to clear a spot, Monasterio looks like the most likely candidate.
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Red Sox Prospect From That Grissom Deal Is Suddenly Worth Watching
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Jackson is the name that stands out for Red Sox followers, especially because he came over in the Vaughn Grissom trade and has started to build a case in High-A as a defense-first outfielder who can also drive the ball. For a player taken in the eighth round in 2025, the climb to Portland says plenty about how quickly his stock has risen, and it adds one more interesting layer to a deal Boston has been monitoring since the moment it was made. [Read more 🡒]
Viral Fenway Moment Added To A Frustrating Night For Red Sox Fans
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It was the kind of off-field scene that can take on a life of its own online, especially when it comes during a game the home crowd would rather forget. The Red Sox went on to lose 6-1 to the Angels, a result that not only dimmed the mood at Fenway but also snapped Bostons five-game winning streak. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Bigger Lineup Concern In Angels Finale
Adley Rutschman is out of the Red Sox starting lineup for the second straight game because of a hyperextended right elbow, giving Boston another wrinkle to manage as it tries to bounce back from its previous loss in the series against the Angels. Mickey Gasper will handle catching duties and bat second, while Jake Bennett is set to start on the mound as the Red Sox look to steady themselves in the finale.
Rutschmans absence leaves Boston watching a key spot in the order and behind the plate a little longer than expected, and it comes at a moment when every lineup decision feels magnified. The Red Sox have enough to sort out after dropping the last game, and now they have to do it without one of the names they were counting on most. [Read more 🡒]