Red Sox left-handed reliever elects free agency after DFA; Giants place southpaw on waivers
Joely Rodriguez has elected free agency, following being designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Worcester, as first reported by Beyond the Monster’s Andrew Parker.
The Red Sox designated Rodriguez for assignment on Monday and selected the contract of Brad Keller from the WooSox. Boston had recently selected the lefty to the 40-man roster on Friday before using him over the weekend in the series sweep to the Diamondbacks.
The 32-year-old pitched in three straight games, appearing in games Friday through Sunday, logging 2 2/3 innings and allowing a run on four hits and no walks with one strikeout.
Rodriguez pitched in 14 games this season, posting a 5.93 ERA with 12 strikeouts to two walks over 13 2/3 innings.
The lefty hurler originally made the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster, then was designated for assignment in April. He was outrighted to Worcester, where he spent four months while seeing time on the 7-day injured list on May 11 with right hip inflammation and didn’t return until June 25.
He dealt with the same ailment during an injury-riddled 2023 season with the big league club. Rodriguez missed 134 games with his hip issue, a right oblique strain, and left shoulder inflammation last year.
While pitching for the WooSox, Rodriguez has posted a 1.88 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and recorded 13 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .157 with one home run off of the lefty.
The Red Sox have left-handed relief depth, with Rodriguez moving on from the organization. Rich Hill and Brennan Bernardino are the only lefties on the 26-man roster, with Cam Booser beginning a rehab outing with the WooSox this week. He is battling back from left elbow inflammation and is expected back sooner than later.
Left-handers Bailey Horn and Zach Penrod remain as options in Worcester, Horn is on the 40-man roster, while Penrod has been discussed as a September call-up earlier in the month.
San Francisco Giants place left-hander on waivers
The Giants planned left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers on waivers on Wednesday, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The move makes him available to any team willing to claim the lefty and pay the prorated remainder of their respective salaries this season.
Rogers also has a $12 million guarantee for the 2025 season.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Red Sox are a team to watch as a possibility to claim Rogers off waivers.
“Two teams interesting to watch in the Taylor Rogers waiver claim: the Mets and Red Sox,” Olney posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Boston could pass because it has Liam Hendriks on the way back, but the Mets could use the help and block other contenders—and would have a player for their bullpen in '25. Rogers is owed $12m for next season.”
Rogers is having a strong season out of the Giants bullpen, posting a 2.45 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings (54 games).
If Boston were to claim Rogers, they’d be on the hook for his salary next season, but with Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin coming off the books, he could be part of a bullpen that’ll include Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten.
The Giants entered Thursday with a 67-67 record, putting them 12 1/2 games back in the National League West and 6 1/2 games behind the last wild-card spot.
