Red Sox Shockingly Leave Breakout Star Off Opening Day Roster

Boston has a deep bullpen for the upcoming season

Scott Neville | Mar 26, 2024

Aug 6, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Brennan Bernardino (83) / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox did not have as much star power as expected when spring training kicked off due to false promises from ownership and those in charge of baseball operations.

However, one area Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow did improve was the bullpen. He did not go out and spend for marquee talent but was able to acquire some young, controllable arms who have impressed since arriving at Fort Myers.

The acquisitions of Justin Slaten -- who has to remain on the big-league roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick -- Isaiah Campbell and Greg Weissert have made competition for a spot in bullpen much more intriguing. Breslow also surprisingly locked Chase Anderson (1-6, 5.42 ERA in 2023) onto the roster by signing him to a Major League deal on Sunday.

With all of those additions, some tough decisions have been placed on manager Alex Cora's shoulders. After securing spots for the aforementioned names, Cora revealed that one of the breakout stars from a season ago will start the season with Triple-A Worcester.

"The club confirmed that lefty Brennan Bernardino, who emerged as a consistent contributor in 2023, was optioned to Triple-A Worcester to begin the season," MassLive's Chris Cotillo wrote Monday.

Bernardino posted a 3.20 ERA with a 58-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .250 batting average against and a 1.30 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings last season.

The 32-year-old was a waiver claim from the Seattle Mariners on April 16 and become one of the most impactful relievers on the roster. He also was the lone productive southpaw from last year's less-than-stellar club.

The Red Sox appear to be playing the long game by starting Bernardino in the minors. Joely Rodríguez -- the only other lefty who had a shot to make the Opening Day roster following the elbow injury to Chris Murphy -- opted out of his minor league deal days ago.

This meant that the Red Sox either had to put him on the big-league roster or let him go. So, by giving
Rodríguez Bernardino's spot, they are able to retain both. Bernardino can be called up when the first transaction is needed -- whether that is dictated by injury, fatigue or performance.

While it is a surprise to see Bernardino left off the Opening Day roster, he'll almost certainty spend the majority of the season in Boston.

More MLB: Red Sox Shockingly Release Prospect Acquired In Andrew Benintendi Trade

Published Mar 26, 2024

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