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Red Sox roster notes: Could pitching prospect return from Jays? Where’s Tommy Kahnle?
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- Red Sox roster notes: Could pitching prospect return from Jays? Where’s Tommy Kahnle?
In the coming days, the Red Sox will not be re-acquiring former pitching prospect Jedixson Paez , who made the White Sox ’ Opening Day roster after Chicago took him from Boston in December’s Rule 5 draft. But a technicality in the Rule 5 process might lead to Boston re-acquiring a young arm with some promise from Toronto .
Right-hander Angel Bastardo , who the Blue Jays took from the Red Sox in the 2024 Rule 5 draft, did not crack Toronto’s Opening Day roster and is therefore a candidate to be returned to Boston. The 23-year-old missed all of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and therefore would have had to spend 90 days on Toronto’s active roster to be retained by the Jays. He did not make the Opening Day roster after allowing four runs, five hits and seven walks in 7 ⅔ spring training innings.
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Bastardo, who reached Double-A Portland in both 2023 and 2024, was ranked the No. 27 prospect in Boston’s system by Baseball America last winter. The Venezuela native had a high strikeout rate before hurting his elbow in June 2024.
Bastardo is currently on waivers, and if he clears, the Blue Jays will have to offer him back to the Red Sox for a marginal fee. The teams can also work out a minor trade if Toronto wants to keep Bastardo. As of Friday, Bastardo’s status remains “TBD.”
Rodgers likely to re-sign
At the end of camp, former Gold Glover Brendan Rodgers, who was in camp with the Red Sox on a minor league deal and had shoulder surgery last month, was released by the club. That would seem to be a contract-related development because a source said Friday that Rodgers is likely to re-sign with the Red Sox on a new minor league deal soon.
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Rodgers injured his shoulder diving for a ball on February 25, and within weeks, underwent right shoulder labral revision surgery, performed by Dr. Neal El Attrache . Rodgers will miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season, so his new deal is likely a two-year agreement that would keep him in the organization through 2027.
The Red Sox also released righty Vinny Nittoli , who similarly underwent surgery after a camp injury, plus organizational outfielders Corey Rosier and Phillip Sikes.
Kahnle stays back
Veteran right-hander Tommy Kahnle didn’t make the trip north to Worcester once he was re-assigned to minor league camp Monday. Instead, he stayed behind in Fort Myers to continue his build-up for the season in a more controlled environment.
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The plan for Kahnle is to have him pitch in extended spring training/minor league games in Fort Myers for a “week or so,” a source said, so that he can build up on his own schedule and pitch on back-to-back days before joining an affiliate. A target for his activation by Worcester could be a week from Tuesday when the WooSox return from a week-long trip to St. Paul.
Kahnle was thought to be a candidate for the Opening Day roster even after signing a minor league deal so late that he arrived in camp just seven days before the opener . The Red Sox liked what they saw from the 36-year-old but ultimately decided to stash him in the minors and carry Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson in the majors instead. Kahnle is locked into his Red Sox deal through at least May 1, when he has an upward mobility clause that allows him to pursue other opportunities if there’s interest elsewhere. If he pitches well, he’ll be a candidate for the Red Sox bullpen before then.
Worcester’s Opening Day roster, which was released Thursday, has Kahnle on the “development list,” meaning he’s not active. The WooSox also put lefty Alec Gamboa and catcher Juan Montero on the development list and three players (pitchers Hobie Harris and Osvaldo Berrios and outfielder Matt Fraizer) on the injured list.
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