On Sunday, the Boston Red Sox revealed a series of roster changes, making several significant moves to accommodate new additions to their team. The Red Sox have activated left-hander James Paxton and catcher Danny Jansen, who were both recently acquired through trades. To create space for these new players, the team has designated right-hander Chase Anderson and catcher Reese McGuire for assignment.
The designation for assignment (DFA) process allows the team to open up roster spots by removing players from the 40-man roster. In this instance, the Red Sox used one of these newly available roster spots to claim right-hander Yohan Ramírez off waivers. Ramírez was recently DFA’d by the Dodgers and now joins the Red Sox as part of their strategic adjustments.
Reese McGuire, 29, has been a member of the Red Sox since 2022. Throughout his tenure, he has primarily served as a backup catcher. While he has received high marks for his defensive skills, including a notable seven Defensive Runs Saved and praise from advanced metrics for his framing abilities, his offensive performance has been less impressive. McGuire’s career batting statistics include a .252 average, a .300 on-base percentage, and a .364 slugging percentage, resulting in a weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) of 79, indicating below-average offensive output. This season, his performance has declined further, with a .209 average, .280 on-base percentage, and .295 slugging percentage, translating to a wRC+ of 59.
Given McGuire’s underwhelming offensive numbers, the Red Sox decided to bring in Jansen, who, along with Connor Wong, will now handle the catching duties. McGuire, who is out of options, faces removal from the roster altogether. He earns a relatively modest salary of $1.5 million and has the potential to be retained for an additional year through arbitration. His poor performance this season may limit his chances of a significant raise, so other teams might view him as a defensive-focused backup catcher.
Chase Anderson, a 36-year-old veteran, was also designated for assignment. Anderson signed a $1.25 million deal with the Red Sox for the current season and has been utilized primarily in a long-relief role. Over 52 innings and 27 appearances, Anderson has posted a 4.85 earned run average (ERA). His 8.5% walk rate is average, but his 15.6% strikeout rate and 32.5% ground ball rate fall below league standards. The low batting average on balls in play (.229) has somewhat masked his struggles, as his performance might have been worse without this factor.
With the trade deadline approaching on Tuesday, the Red Sox have a limited window to trade either McGuire or Anderson. If no trade materializes, both players could end up being placed on waivers. Anderson, due to his extensive service time, can refuse an outright assignment and opt for free agency while still receiving his full salary. On the other hand, McGuire, with more than three but fewer than five years of service, would have the option to elect free agency but would forfeit his remaining salary if he chooses to do so. Consequently, he might remain with the Red Sox as non-roster depth if he goes unclaimed.
Yohan Ramírez, 29, has had a tumultuous season, pitching 43 2/3 innings across stints with the Mets, Orioles, and Dodgers. His performance has been inconsistent, reflected in a 5.98 ERA, with a 22.1% strikeout rate, 8.5% walk rate, and a 44.4% ground ball rate. These statistics are close to league average, suggesting that his higher ERA could be influenced by factors such as a .339 batting average on balls in play and a 60.8% strand rate. His fielding independent pitching (FIP) of 4.18 and Skill Interactive ERA (SIERA) of 3.77 indicate potential for improvement.
Since Ramírez is also out of options, he will need to be added directly to the Red Sox’s active roster. This move will necessitate another player from the bullpen being optioned to make room for him. If Ramírez can maintain his roster spot, the Red Sox have the option to keep him for up to three more seasons.