The Boston Red Sox have added some reinforcements before opening a crucial three-game series against the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom announced Monday that left-handed pitcher Josh Taylor has been reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list.Taylor was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Aug. 31 after the reliever was ruled a close contact of All-Star closer Matt Barnes, who tested positive for the coronavirus the day before.Barnes is one of 10 Red Sox players who remain on the COVID-19 injured list. The other players are All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, All-Star closer Matt Barnes, utility player Enrique "Kiké" Hernández, starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, rookie outfielder Jarren Duran, utility player Danny Santana, infielder Christian Arroyo, right-handed pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura, left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez, and infielder Yairo Muñoz.Taylor has appeared in a career-high 54 games for Boston this season, posting a 3.38 earned run average with 54 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings pitched. In 45 appearances since April 30, he's had a 1.83 ERA in 34 1/3 innings and has held opponents to a .195 batting average.The 28-year-old was previously placed on the COVID-19 IL on Aug. 15, but was reinstated two days later after he tested negative for the coronavirus.In addition, the Red Sox signed shortstop José Iglesias to a major league contract on Monday and added him to the active roster.Iglesias began his professional career with Boston after signing with the club as an international free agent on Sept. 8, 2009.The Cuba native debuted for the Red Sox in 2011 played the first 2 1/2 seasons of his MLB career with Boston before he was dealt to the Detroit Tigers at the 2013 trade deadline.Iglesias played with the Tigers through 2018, and was named an American League All-Star in 2015. He joined the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent in 2019 and suited up for the Baltimore Orioles the next season. The Orioles traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in December 2020, and the Angels released him on Sept. 3.The 31-year-old has batted .276 with 186 doubles, 43 home runs and 312 runs batted in across 955 major league games. He has made 854 starts at shortstop, as well as 36 at third base and one at second base.The Red Sox also added right-handed pitcher Michael Feliz to the active major league roster. The 28-year-old has appeared in two games with Triple-A Worcester, allowing no runs in two innings with four strikeouts, zero walks and one hit allowed.Feliz, 28, has made 222 major league appearances, including one start, across seven seasons with the Houston Astros (2015-17), Pittsburgh Pirates (2018-21) and the Reds, who released him on Aug. 25 after claiming him off waivers from the Pirates on May 14.To make room on their active roster, the Red Sox sent right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford, infielder Jack López and right-handed pitcher John Schreiber down to Triple-A Worcester.Crawford made his MLB debut Sunday against the Cleveland Indians as an emergency replacement for Pivetta. The 25-year-old allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in two innings against the Indians with two strikeouts.López started five games at second base for the Red Sox this month and went 2 for 12 at the plate with two doubles and one walk. The 28-year-old has played 58 games for Worcester this year and five for Double-A Portland, combining to hit .274 with 20 extra-base hits and 39 RBI. He was also a member of the U.S. national baseball team that won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer.Schreiber made his Red Sox debut on Sunday, throwing three innings and allowing one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts. The 27-year-old has made 28 appearances, including eight starts, for Worcester this season, posting a 2-3 win-loss record with a 3.10 ERA in 58 innings pitched.Entering Monday, the Red Sox were eight games behind the Rays for the AL East lead. Boston was three games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the second AL Wild Card spot and trailed the New York Yankees by a half-game for the top Wild Card spot.
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have added some reinforcements before opening a crucial three-game series against the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom announced Monday that left-handed pitcher Josh Taylor has been reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list.
Taylor was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Aug. 31 after the reliever was ruled a close contact of All-Star closer Matt Barnes, who tested positive for the coronavirus the day before.
Barnes is one of 10 Red Sox players who remain on the COVID-19 injured list. The other players are All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, All-Star closer Matt Barnes, utility player Enrique "Kiké" Hernández, starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, rookie outfielder Jarren Duran, utility player Danny Santana, infielder Christian Arroyo, right-handed pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura, left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez, and infielder Yairo Muñoz.
Taylor has appeared in a career-high 54 games for Boston this season, posting a 3.38 earned run average with 54 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings pitched. In 45 appearances since April 30, he's had a 1.83 ERA in 34 1/3 innings and has held opponents to a .195 batting average.
The 28-year-old was previously placed on the COVID-19 IL on Aug. 15, but was reinstated two days later after he tested negative for the coronavirus.
AP Photo/Mary Schwalm
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Josh Taylor (38) pitches during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo)
In addition, the Red Sox signed shortstop José Iglesias to a major league contract on Monday and added him to the active roster.
Iglesias began his professional career with Boston after signing with the club as an international free agent on Sept. 8, 2009.
The Cuba native debuted for the Red Sox in 2011 played the first 2 1/2 seasons of his MLB career with Boston before he was dealt to the Detroit Tigers at the 2013 trade deadline.
Iglesias played with the Tigers through 2018, and was named an American League All-Star in 2015. He joined the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent in 2019 and suited up for the Baltimore Orioles the next season. The Orioles traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in December 2020, and the Angels released him on Sept. 3.
The 31-year-old has batted .276 with 186 doubles, 43 home runs and 312 runs batted in across 955 major league games. He has made 854 starts at shortstop, as well as 36 at third base and one at second base.
Nick Wass
In this file photo, Boston Red Sox infielder Jose Iglesias throws to first to get out Baltimore Orioles’ L.J. Hoes out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 28, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo)
The Red Sox also added right-handed pitcher Michael Feliz to the active major league roster. The 28-year-old has appeared in two games with Triple-A Worcester, allowing no runs in two innings with four strikeouts, zero walks and one hit allowed.
Feliz, 28, has made 222 major league appearances, including one start, across seven seasons with the Houston Astros (2015-17), Pittsburgh Pirates (2018-21) and the Reds, who released him on Aug. 25 after claiming him off waivers from the Pirates on May 14.
To make room on their active roster, the Red Sox sent right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford, infielder Jack López and right-handed pitcher John Schreiber down to Triple-A Worcester.
Crawford made his MLB debut Sunday against the Cleveland Indians as an emergency replacement for Pivetta. The 25-year-old allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in two innings against the Indians with two strikeouts.
López started five games at second base for the Red Sox this month and went 2 for 12 at the plate with two doubles and one walk. The 28-year-old has played 58 games for Worcester this year and five for Double-A Portland, combining to hit .274 with 20 extra-base hits and 39 RBI. He was also a member of the U.S. national baseball team that won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Schreiber made his Red Sox debut on Sunday, throwing three innings and allowing one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts. The 27-year-old has made 28 appearances, including eight starts, for Worcester this season, posting a 2-3 win-loss record with a 3.10 ERA in 58 innings pitched.
Entering Monday, the Red Sox were eight games behind the Rays for the AL East lead. Boston was three games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the second AL Wild Card spot and trailed the New York Yankees by a half-game for the top Wild Card spot.
