As June rolls in, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in need of a rejuvenation after a tumultuous May that saw them stumble through a challenging month with an 11-17 record. They kicked off June with a solid 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves, but consistency is key if they want to be seen as a legitimate playoff contender once again.
With the summer months heating up and the trade deadline just around the corner, the Red Sox are poised for some roster shake-ups in an effort to reassert themselves in the playoff picture. To start the month off with a bang, Boston made waves by designating a struggling veteran for assignment, signaling a shift in their strategy.
Red Sox DFA C/OF Blake Sabol
In a recent roster overhaul, the Red Sox announced that veteran catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol has been designated for assignment. This decision was made to open up a spot on the 40-man roster to facilitate the promotion of infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton from Triple-A Worcester.
The move comes as no surprise given Sabol’s struggles during his short stint with the team. In his first eight games—spanning just 16 at-bats—he managed a dismal slash line of .125/.167/.188, accompanied by only one RBI, one walk, and an eye-popping 38.9% strikeout rate. With numbers like these, it became increasingly clear that Sabol wasn’t fitting into the big-league picture at this moment.
At the age of 27, Sabol is considered a versatile player. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft and subsequently picked up by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2023 season. However, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants before even taking the field for the Reds.
The Red Sox saw potential in Sabol when they traded for him back in January, hoping to tap into the promise he displayed with the Giants. During his two seasons in San Francisco, Sabol built a respectable .243/.313/.392 line, belting 13 home runs and driving in 45 runs while showcasing his skills both behind the plate and in the outfield.
Sadly, that potential never translated to success in Boston. Now, as Sabol heads to the DFA list, the Red Sox have a week to determine his fate—whether that means waiving him, trading him, or letting him explore free agency if no deals materialize.
The reality of big-league baseball is that signings that seem promising on paper don’t always yield the results teams hope for. The Red Sox’s experience with Sabol serves as a reminder of that hard truth. As he seeks a fresh start, fans will be left wondering if he can bounce back in a new environment or if Boston’s decision to part ways was the right call to prevent his performance from declining any further.
