BOSTON — The Red Sox cleared a roster spot for the return of Masataka Yoshida by sending down a player who has served as their leadoff man for the last four days.
Boston informed infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton after Tuesday’s win that he is being optioned to Triple-A Worcester, sources confirmed. That move will clear a spot for Yoshida, who is expected to be activated Wednesday after missing the first 93 games of the season due to a slow recovery from October labrum surgery. Boston will need to clear a 40-man spot for him Tuesday, too.
Eaton, a 28-year-old former Royal who joined the Sox on a minor league contract in late November, was Alex Cora’s surprise choice to lead off for Boston (and play third base) during a four-game stretch in which Boston faced all left-handed starters. Eaton went 3-for-13 with two doubles and three runs in that stretch, adding a stolen base. The speedy right-handed hitter has impressed the Red Sox with his instincts in plate approach since joining the roster to fill Rafael Devers’ spot in the wake of the mid-June blockbuster that sent Devers to San Francisco. In total, Eaton has appeared in 14 games since June 17 (7 starts) at third base, left field and center field. He hit .250 (6-for-24) with two doubles, three steals and 10 strikeouts in that span.
The Red Sox have some relatively tough roster decisions to make this week with Yoshida (who will slot in as a designated hitter/left field option) and Alex Bregman both returning. At third base, Bregman is about to take over on a full-time basis and Boston has Marcelo Mayer, Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez on the roster as fill-in options. Bregman won’t be active Wednesday but could rejoin the Red Sox as soon as Thursday when the Rays come to town to start a four-game series before the All-Star break. At that point, Mayer and David Hamilton will be candidates to be sent down.
“He feels good,” Cora said of Bregman after Tuesday’s win. “Let’s see how he reacts tomorrow to everything he did today. Then, we’ll make a decision on him, probably tomorrow.”
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