Red Sox Roster Cuts Clarify Opening Day Bullpen Lineup

With players returning from the World Baseball Classic, roster competition intensified at Fort Myers. Boston executed a second round of cuts on March 17.

The Red Sox reassigned four pitchers to minor league camp. Left-hander T.J. Sikkema and right-handers Seth Martinez, Wyatt Olds and Noah Song were sent down.

Camp math and roster context

Fifty-four pitchers remain in major league camp. That group includes 13 non-roster invitees.

Boston must trim to a 26-player Opening Day roster. The latest moves narrow the field for bullpen spots.

Individual reports

Seth Martinez

Martinez has major league experience across parts of five seasons. He owns a 4.00 ERA in 144 MLB innings with Houston and Miami.

This spring he struggled. Martinez posted a 7.27 ERA with 11 hits, seven runs, five strikeouts and four walks in 8.2 innings.

Noah Song

Song has returned from Tommy John surgery and worked through Boston’s minor-league levels. He threw 43 of his 55 innings with Double-A Portland.

Song’s minor-league line showed a 4.19 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 22 walks. In spring training he allowed one run on three hits in eight innings, striking out nine and walking five.

T.J. Sikkema

Sikkema joined Boston after departing the Cincinnati Reds organization this winter. He previously was a Yankees prospect and part of the Andrew Benintendi trade to Kansas City.

He allowed five runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts and one walk in five spring innings. A minor-league ramp-up is likely.

Wyatt Olds

Olds, a 2021 draft pick, remains a developing arm in the Red Sox system. He has shown swing-and-miss stuff but needs better command.

During spring action he yielded five runs on five hits while striking out nine and issuing five walks in five innings.

Previous cuts and next steps

These four join players reassigned after the first round on March 9. That earlier group included Jake Bennett, Nate Baez, Ronald Rosario, Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, Vinny Nittoli, Devin Sweet and Jeremy Wu-Yelland.

None of the moves are final. Boston will likely recall pitchers when bullpen needs arise over the season.

What it means for the bullpen

Red Sox Roster Cuts Clarify Opening Day Bullpen Lineup by reducing the number of candidates. The moves highlight the front-runners.

Seth Martinez appears the likeliest call-up because of prior big-league work. The others project as depth options if Triple-A seasons go well.

Filmogaz.com will monitor further roster adjustments as Boston finalizes its Opening Day staff. Expect more movement before the regular season begins.