WORCESTER — Over the last couple years of WooSox manager Chad Tracy’s tenure, the big league club hasn’t been in a position to be buyers at the trade deadline.
That changed this week, as the Red Sox made a number of deals and roster moves ahead of the July 30 deadline, resulting in one of the craziest weeks of personnel changes ever at Polar Park.
“At least [we] kind of [knew] it could happen, you’re prepared for it and you could switch [the lineup] quickly,” Tracy said.
“I’m used to it at this point, but not to that magnitude. Not that many guys at once.”
Let’s take a look at how the roster changed just this week:
- Nick Yorke was traded to Pittsburgh for pitcher Quinn Priester on Monday, July 29. Priester, 23, will make his WooSox debut on Sunday afternoon.
- Six minutes before Tuesday’s trade deadline, Tracy had to shuffle his lineup since two position players (Niko Kavadas and Matthew Lugo) and a reliever (Ryan Zeferjahn) got shipped to the Angels for reliever Luis Garcia, who joined the Red Sox on Wednesday. Kavadas led the WooSox in doubles and home runs this season.
- On Wednesday morning, Nick Sogard, who played 266 games for the WooSox, got the call of a lifetime when he was promoted to Boston. Also on Wednesday, pitcher Grant Gambrell was placed on the 7-day injured list with right forearm inflammation. Brian Van Belle was reinstated from the development list and Tyler McDonough came up for Portland to provide some reinforcements.
- On Thursday, Jamie Westbrook came back to Polar after he was optioned from Boston on Wednesday. Greg Weissert, who came over to the Red Sox in the trade that also brought Richard Fitts to Boston, was optioned to Worcester.
- Friday, Corey Rosier was promoted for a game, got into the lineup as Eddy Alvarez was scratched with neck stiffness. Bailey Horn was also optioned as Garcia was activated on the major-league roster.
- Saturday saw veteran reliever Lucas Luetge exercise his opt-out and he was released. Luetge compiled a 3.02 ERA and racked up six saves in 31 appearances for the WooSox. Luetge had been one of the most consistent member of the WooSox bullpen. Catcher Reese McGuire (DFA’ed July 28) and reliever Yohan Ramirez (DFA’ed July 31) both were outrighted to Worcester and were at Polar Park on Saturday.
Worcester has already used 64 players this season (28 position players and 36 pitchers). Pitchers Priester, Weissert, and Ramirez along with catcher McGuire will make 65, 66, 67, and 68 when they make their respective WooSox 2024 debuts.
WooSox 10, Bisons 7
The WooSox exploded for seven runs in a wild sixth inning in which they sent nine batters to the plate before recording an out.
Triston Casas had a nice day during his ongoing rehab assignment, going 2-for-4 with an infield single and a deep two-run double to left-center that left the bat at 105 mph.
Eddy Alvarez had three hits including a two-run double, and nearly made the catch of the season in center field, somersaulting to try to make a diving catch.
Jamie Westbrook smacked his sixth homer of the season, a 441-foot shot over the berm in left-center. Chase Meidroth walked four times atop the WooSox lineup, with the WooSox racking up 10 walks on the afternoon.
Brad Keller went three innings and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. Alex Speas faced only three batters before he was removed from the game with an injury. Greg Weissert made his WooSox debut and gave up a solo home run in his two innings of work.
The Bisons threatened with the WooSox holding onto a four-run lead in the ninth, scoring a run off of Chase Shugart, but Shugart struck out the final batter leaving the bases loaded.
Notes
Six-time All-Star and long-time Cincinnati Red Joey Votto was at Polar Park this week as he tries to get healthy and work his way back to the majors. Votto hasn’t played in the majors since last season, and made his Triple-A debut on Friday night, lacing a pinch-hit single and scoring the game’s tying run on a three-run home run while he was on base.
He made another pinch-hitting appearance on Saturday, drawing a walk.
Six-time All-Star Joey Votto scores a run during a WooSox game against the Buffalo Bisons on August 2, 2024 at Polar Park.Katie Morrison-O’Day
It was the final Bark in the Park of the 2024 season, and plenty of good boys and girls turned out for a trip around the Polar Park warning track.
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans came out with their dogs for a puppy parade around the Polar Park warning track before the game on August 2, 2024.Katie Morrison-O’Day
What’s Next
New acquisition Priester will make his Red Sox organizational debut against the Bisons with first pitch at 1:05 p.m. Triston Casas will play first base for the WooSox.
