The Boston Red Sox have granted right-hander Adam Ottavino his release after he exercised an opt-out clause in the minor league contract he signed in February. Meanwhile, left-hander Matt Moore, who had a similar clause, opted to stay with the team and will begin the season at Triple-A Worcester.
Both pitchers, who joined Boston on non-roster deals early in spring training, were informed Saturday that they would not be included on the Opening Day roster, which has yet to be finalized. They were then given 48 hours to decide their next steps.
“Decisions they have to make, and that’s what they decided,” said manager Alex Cora.
Ottavino is now back on the free-agent market, likely seeking a major league deal. It remains uncertain whether he would consider returning to the Red Sox in a Triple-A role. Over the winter, he declined a major league offer due to geographic preferences and instead signed with Boston, where he previously pitched in 2021. A New York native and Northeastern University alum, Ottavino has spent the past six seasons with teams in the Northeast, including the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets.
Ottavino struggled in spring training, posting a 10.80 ERA, largely due to a rough outing on March 11 when he allowed six earned runs while recording just one out. However, he otherwise performed well, including a scoreless inning with two strikeouts against the Pirates on Friday.
Moore, who joined Boston after a difficult season in Anaheim that was cut short due to flexor tightness in his throwing arm, pitched only three scoreless innings this spring, striking out two. His limited workload—caused by a late arrival to camp and a stomach virus that spread through the team—was not enough to secure him a roster spot.
“Signing a non-roster deal, this is part of it,” Moore said Sunday. “I knew there was a chance I’d either not perform well or things just wouldn’t work out. It’s a long year.
My plan is to build a body of work, find a rhythm, and get back to a better form than I’m in now. I was sick for about a week, and with my late start, there wasn’t much room for setbacks.”
Moore will aim to perform well in Worcester and position himself for a big-league call-up early in the season. Boston’s bullpen includes presumed closer Aroldis Chapman and veteran Justin Wilson, with the possibility of carrying a third lefty in Brennan Bernardino. Moore appears to be next in line for a promotion and has another opt-out opportunity on May 1.
“They’ve been pretty understanding about where I’m at in my career,” Moore said. “They’re willing to work with me and give me what I need. Hopefully, there’s a path to the big club at some point.”
The Red Sox have locked in five relievers for their eight-man bullpen: Chapman, Wilson, and right-handers Liam Hendriks, Justin Slaten, and Garrett Whitlock. The remaining three spots are being contested by Bernardino, Cooper Criswell, Zack Kelly, Bryan Mata, and Greg Weissert.
