Fresh off his long-awaited first big-league win, righty starter Richard Fitts was optioned to Triple-A in a Tuesday afternoon pitching shakeup.
In exchange, the Red Sox called up reliever Isaiah Campbell. It’s a strategic move, as the club plans to activate rookie Hunter Dobbins later this week. With Dobbins likely taking Fitts’ spot in the rotation, but the next turn not until Saturday, this roster move creates a path for the Red Sox to add a fresh arm to the bullpen in the meantime.
“For now, this makes sense,” said manager Alex Cora. “(Bullpen) usage the last few days, certain guys it’s been up there.”
Sending Fitts down was the first of several tough decisions the Red Sox will make in the coming days. Masataka Yoshida should be activated Wednesday, and Alex Bregman could be back this weekend. The Red Sox are deeper than they’ve been in years, a good problem to have.
“This is the nature of the roster,” Cora said. “Fittsy, he won yesterday. His first big-league win, and we optioned him. It seems like the roster is a lot better than the last two years and last year, and now this is what it’s all about. Make decisions based on what we need up here, and understanding that there’s gonna be guys, if something happens, they’re going to be ready to come back and contribute.”
The returns of Yoshida and Bregman create new questions for the Red Sox to answer. The outfield, already full with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, and Rob Refsnyder, will add Yoshida to the mix part-time. (Cora said he envisions Yoshida “mostly” at DH.)
Abreu primarily plays right field, where he won the Gold Glove last year as a rookie. Rafaela has center on lock; he entered Tuesday tied for the MLB lead among outfielders with 14 Outs Above Average, second in Defensive Runs Saved (13), and leading the AL in assists.
Anthony has played more in right since making his debut, but worked out in left on Tuesday. Cora said Anthony could start in left on Wednesday, and clarified where the rookie will hit moving forward.
“Roman is going to hit second or third in our lineup,” the Sox skipper said.
Bregman’s return complicates the infield, where Marcelo Mayer, Nate Eaton, Abraham Toro, and Romy Gonzalez have each covered a mix of first, second, and third.
Campbell wasn’t on the 40-man roster, so the Red Sox transferred Liam Hendriks (hip inflammation) to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot. Unlike optioning Fitts, it wasn’t a strategic decision. The veteran reliever had a setback in his rehab work Monday, and will get a second opinion.
“It wasn’t good yesterday,” Cora said. “He said that the harder he pushed, he felt it. So now, I don’t want to say we’re back to Square One, but they’ll talk and seek other opinions and see what happens.”
Red Sox lineup
Nate Eaton 3B
Romy Gonzalez 2B
Roman Anthony RF
Rob Refsnyder DH
Trevor Story SS
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
Jarren Duran LF
Abraham Toro 1B
Connor Wong C
Colorado Rockies lineup
Check back later
Probable pitchers
LHP Kyle Freeland vs. RHP Brayan Bello
How to watch Rockies vs. Red Sox
When and where: July 8, 2025, 7:10 p.m. ET; Fenway Park
Watch: NESN (Red Sox), Rockies.TV (Rockies)
Listen: Red Sox – WEEI 93.7, WCCM 1490 AM (SP), WESX 1230 AM (SP) / Rockies – KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
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