Red Sox Release Outfielder Despite Strong Start To 2023 Campaign In Surprise Move

Boston is not going to retain a serviceable role player

Scott Neville | Jun 12, 2023

Red Sox Release Outfielder Despite Strong Start To 2023 Campaign In Surprise Move /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox made a questionable move to release a solid veteran instead of retaining him with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox but it might not have been entirely their decision.

The Red Sox released outfielder Raimel Tapia on Sunday, just days after designating him for assignment. The 29-year-old cleared waivers and instead of joining the WooSox, has become a free agent.

Tapia hit .264 with six extra-base hits including a home run, 10 RBIs and a .701 OPS in 39 games for the Red Sox this season. He was a solid contributor as a left-handed bench option -- both as a spot starter and especially as a pinch hitter.

Now, it would have made all of the sense in the world to retain Tapia but it's possible that the veteran asked for his release in order to find a better opportunity.

If not, it would be very odd for Boston to just outright release him when he'd be a prime call-up candidate should any position player go down via injury.

Some fans were upset Tapia was not traded but MassLive's Sean McAdam reported that the team did what they could to send him elsewhere before his release.

It's also apparent that there was no viable trade partner seeing as Tapia cleared waivers -- meaning nobody took him for free after the fact.

More MLB: Ex-Red Sox Slugger Latches On With New Team After Electing Free Agency

Published Jun 12, 2023

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