Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox Could Lose Fan-Favorite Depth Piece Due To Contract Stipulation

Boston could really use a reliable third catcher for the rest of the season
Scott Neville|
Worcester Red Sox's Ashley Green via USA TODAY Sports Images

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Boston Red Sox

Will the Boston Red Sox lose an important depth piece to start the month? 

It has become commonplace for fringe Major League Baseball players to add contract stipulations that allow them to either be elevated by a certain date or sent to another team that will give them a better opportunity.

Boston briefly took advantage of said rule when they traded for right-hander Zack Littell last month and then saw the other end of the spectrum when they essentially were forced to move outfielder Greg Allen -- who they traded to the New York Yankees. 

The latest contract complication involves a player who is on a tear offensively and plays a position where depth is often needed.

"Veteran backstop Jorge Alfaro, who has been with Triple-A Worcester all season after failing to make Boston’s Opening Day roster, can exercise an opt-out clause in his contract Thursday to pursue major league opportunities," MassLive's Chris Cotillo reported. 

"Though a similar clause came and went at the end of spring training with Alfaro remaining in the organization, his performance at the minors’ highest level may lead teams to have some interest."

Alfaro is hitting .320 with 21 extra-base hits including six home runs, 30 RBIs and a .887 OPS in 42 games for the WooSox this season.

The 29-year-old is considered to be somewhat of a defensive liability behind the plate, which certainly factored into Alfaro's struggles to make a big-league roster before eventually signing a minor-league deal with Boston.

That said, Alfaro's offensive production has improved his stock and one of his former teams, the San Diego Padres, is in desperate need of help behind the dish.

Reese McGuire and Connor Wong have done plenty to hold their spots on the Red Sox's active roster. Alfaro's only chance to be called up in his current situation would require an injury. 

UPDATE: Alfaro has indeed opted out of his contract with the Red Sox.

More MLB: Former Red Sox Slugger Becoming Solid Trade Chip Amid Hot Stretch In Worcester

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Scott Neville
SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer.  His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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