Boston Red Sox send Jarren Duran back to WooSox, cut two pitchers (including Yacksel Ríos) in flurry of roster moves
The Red Sox made a series of roster moves Thursday in advance of their big series against the Yankees, including reinstating outfielder Jarren Duran from the COVID-19 injured list and optioning him to Triple-A Worcester.
Boston also optioned infielder Jonathan Araúz to the WooSox and designated two pitchers — righties Geoff Hartlieb and Yacksel Ríos — for assignment.
Duran, who hit .215 with a .578 OPS in 33 games in the majors during the second half of the season, was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Sept. 3 and was later revealed to have tested positive for the virus. The 25-year-old began a rehab assignment with the WooSox on Sept. 17 and has been with the club since.
Duran’s demotion isn’t that much of a surprise, as the Red Sox are at full strength positionally after welcoming Kiké Hernández, Xander Bogaerts, Christian Arroyo and others back from the COVID list in recent weeks. It’s likely that — barring an injury to a big-league outfielder — Duran will play out the rest of the season with Worcester. He is a candidate to make a potential postseason roster as a pinch-running/speed option if the Red Sox make it.
Araúz has played in 28 games over four stints with Boston this season, batting .185 (12-for-65) with three home runs and three doubles. He was placed on the COVID-19 list on Sept. 10 after experiencing symptoms consistent with the virus.
While on the COVID list, Duran and Araúz didn’t count against Boston’s 40-man roster. To clear room for them, the Sox had to cut Hartlieb (a 27-year-old they claimed from the Mets on Sept. 4 who has made two appearances for Worcester) and Ríos (who had a 3.70 ERA in 20 big-league games this summer). Boston has seven days to waive or release both pitchers.
With Duran and Araúz active, the Red Sox have three players — utility men Yairo Muñoz and Danny Santana and pitcher Phillips Valdez — still on the COVID-19 list. To activate Santana and Valdez, the club will need to clear two more 40-man spots. Valdez is more likely to be activated than Santana, who is out of options.
