Outfieler player Jackie Bradley Jr. has been assigned the task, according to a league source.
Bradley, who was involved in a foreign trade for Hunter Renfroe that brought the former Sox All-Star and Gold Glove winner back to the Red Sox, hit 0.210 with a 0.578 OPS and three homers during his second run with the Red Sox.
The move means Bradley, 32, is dropped from the team’s 40-man roster — a move that opens up a place for newly acquired first baseman Eric Hosmer, who is expected to join the Sox team in Kansas City.
Bradley would be placed in irrevocable waivers and, if not claimed (he likely still owes about $3 million for the rest of the season), could become a free agent. If he signs with another club, the Sox will be responsible for all the remainder of his salary except for the pro-rata minimum salary.
The timeout takeover of Tommy Pham appears to have left Bradley spent, with the Sox choosing to go with Garen Duran as their daily quarterback despite his struggles (.181 with 36 hits in his last 104 appearances plus minus five in defensive drills saved). Alex Verdugo, who has moved into the right field, is minus two in defensive passes saved this year. Meanwhile, Pham is plus 4, which means that the combined starting pitch is minus 3
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