Red Sox Roster Moves: Chang and Wong to Make Team
The decision to send Alfaro to AAA opens up the door for Conner Wong to make the big league club while Dalbec's optioning leaves room for Yu Chang, fresh off his dominant run for Chinese Taipei at the World Baseball Classic. He was named the MVP of Pool A at the WBC after hitting .438.
Dalbec is the most recognizable name of the group after having debuted with the Sox in 2020. He will head to Worcester and reportedly move around the infield, allowing him to utilize versatility as a way to potentially get back to the majors. He's played all four infield positions with the Sox but has the most experience at first (233 games). He's also played 40 games at third base, three at shortstop and two at second base. Due to desire for increased flexibility and guys being gone for the WBC, Dalbec played all over the diamond in spring training as well.
The positional flexibility seems like a beneficial thing for him as the Sox are set at third base after inking Rafael Devers to a 10-year extension, and appear set at first with the emergence of Tristan Casas. But there are injury histories with both SS Kiké Hernández and 2B Christian Arroyo, so if Dalbec can play there adequately, it would help his chances of getting back. He will also have to figure out his approach at the plate, where he struck out in 33% of his plate appearances in both 2021 and 2022. He hit just .215 a season ago.
As for Wong, he is one of the pieces acquired in the 2020 Mookie Betts trade with the Dodgers. He's never really found his footing in the big leagues, playing just 33 career games in three seasons. He's a career .213 hitter in limited action and will be part of a catching staff tasked with keeping together a rotation full of question marks.
Alfaro, 29, is a career .256 hitter in parts of seven seasons with the Phillies, Marlins and Padres.
The Red Sox open up the season Thursday at home against Baltimore. First pitch is 2:10.
