Ahead of their Opening Day victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday, the Boston Red Sox made several roster moves—including parting ways with a pitcher from the 2021 trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals.
The team released right-hander after three seasons in their minor league system. Of the five players acquired in the Benintendi deal, only Josh Winckowski, who is starting the season with Triple-A Worcester, remains with the organization.
He had shown promise toward the end of the 2023 season after overcoming a benign heel tumor that sidelined him for all of 2022 and required multiple surgeries. He excelled at Double-A Portland before earning a promotion to Triple-A Worcester, where he impressed with a 1.69 ERA in two starts to close out the year.
However, he struggled to replicate that success last season, making 16 starts for Worcester and posting a 4-6 record, 4.09 ERA, and 1.42 WHIP. He also battled right forearm inflammation, which landed him on the 60-day injured list.
The other three players from the Benintendi trade—Franchy Cordero, Freddy Valdez, and Luis De La Rosa—were previously released by Boston. Meanwhile, Benintendi is now in his 10th MLB season and third with the Chicago White Sox.
