Minor Notes: Song returns, Teel moves up to Greenville

The trade deadline has come and gone. The Red Sox were rather quiet on deadline day, making just one significant deal with the Brewers. We go over that trade and the fallout from it in this week's notes column. We also cover a pair of veterans getting designated for assignment, a former top pitching prospect returning to the organization that drafted him, a current top catching prospect earning a promotion, injury updates, and much more. 

Trade deadline fallout

Shortly after the 6 p.m. ET deadline passed last Tuesday, the Red Sox announced that they had acquired infielder Luis Urias from the Brewers for minor-league right-hander Bradley Blalock. Urias was initially optioned to Triple-A Worcester before being added to the major-league roster on Friday. In his first four games with Boston, the right-handed hitting 26-year-old has gone 4 for 14 (.286) at the plate with one double, one RBI. two runs scored, two walks, and five strikeouts while making appearances at second and third base.

To make room for Urias on the 26-man roster, the Red Sox designated fellow infielder Christian Arroyo for assignment. Arroyo, who has appeared in 224 games with Boston over the last four seasons, cleared waivers on Sunday and was subsequently outrighted to Worcester. The versatile 28-year-old is still owed the remainder of his $2 million salary for the 2023 campaign (just under $700,000) and will have the ability to become a free agent this winter unless he is otherwise added back to the Sox' 40-man roster.

Blalock, meanwhile, was originally selected by Boston in the 32nd round of the 2019 amateur draft out of Grayson High School (Loganville, Ga.). After undergoing Tommy John surgery last March and missing all of 2022 as a result, the 22-year-old righty returned to the mound in May and posted a 2.19 ERA with 58 strikeouts to 13 walks in 11 starts (53 1/3 innings) between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville. He made his organizational debut for the Brewers at High-A Wisconsin on Sunday and allowed two runs over four innings.

Podcast

Our own Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall recap all the events from last week's trade deadline on the latest installment of the SoxProspects.com Podcast. 

Bleier designated, Lamet selected

Before opening a three-game series against the Royals on Monday, the Red Sox selected the contract of right-hander Dinelson Lamet from Worcester. In order to make room for Lamet on the major-league roster, left-handed reliever Richard Bleier was designated for assignment, the club announced.

Lamet, 31, signed a minor-league deal with Boston after being released by Colorado in late June. In five outings (four starts) for Worcester, the former Padres and Rockies hurler pitched to a 3.72 ERA with 16 strikeouts to seven walks over 19 1/3 innings of work. He will wear the No. 32 and will be used out of the bullpen out of the gate.

Bleier, 36, was acquired from the Marlins for fellow reliever Matt Barnes back in January. The veteran southpaw struggled to a 5.28 ERA with 16 strikeouts to five walks in 27 relief outings (30 2/3 innings) for the Red Sox this season. Digging even deeper, opposing left-handed hitters slashed a staggering .372/.400/.628 in 47 plate appearances against Bleier this year. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the Red Sox will owe Bleier the remainder of his 2023 salary, which comes out to about $1.1 million.

Song returns to organization

After being designated for assignment in late July, Noah Song (pictured, above) was returned to the Red Sox from the Phillies for $50,000 on Friday. Song, who was surprisingly taken by Philadelphia in last December's Rule 5 Draft, returned to professional baseball this spring after having his naval service transferred from active duty to select reserves. As part of a month-long rehab assignment that included stops at Philadelphia's Low-A, Double-A, and Triple-A affiliates, the 26-year-old righty allowed nine earned runs over 11 innings of relief. Now that he is back with the Red Sox, Song has been assigned to Greenville.

Teel promoted

It did not take long for 2023 first-round draft pick Kyle Teel to earn the first promotion of his professional career. According to multiple reports, the 21-year-old backstop out of Virginia was promoted to Greenville on Monday after going 3 for 7 (.429) with one home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, two walks, and zero strikeouts in three Florida Complex League games. Teel, who debuted as the No. 5 prospect in the organization, is expected to move through the system quickly. 

Injury updates

At the major-league level, shortstop Trevor Story (right elbow surgery) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list and return to Boston's lineup on Tuesday. Lefty Chris Sale (stress reaction in left shoulder blade) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list and get the start in Friday's series opener against the Tigers. Righties Garrett Whitlock (elbow bone bruise) and Tanner Houck (facial fracture) will pitch for Worcester on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

At the minor-league level, top prospect Marcelo Mayer was placed on Double-A Portland's 7-day injured list on Saturday due to left shoulder inflammation. The injury is not believed to be serious and Mayer can return to the Sea Dogs' lineup as soon as this Thursday since his stint on the injured list was backdated to August 3.

Where are they now?

Former Red Sox catching prospect Kole Cottam was named the Atlantic League Player of the Month for July on Friday. Cottam batted .379 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs for the Spire City Ghost Hounds last month. The 26-year-old originally signed with the ALPB club in March and has slashed .294/.376/.601 with 22 doubles, 23 home runs, 61 RBIs, 46 runs scored, two stolen bases, 34 walks, and 61 strikeouts in 82 games (340 plate appearances). He has also thrown out 22 of 80 possible base stealers from behind the plate.

Players of the Week

Ceddanne Rafaela, SS/CF, Worcester Red Sox

6 G, 24 AB, 9 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 6 R, 9 RBI, 1 SB, 4 BB, 5 K, .375/.448/1.042

It was quite the week in Syracuse for Rafaela, who homered in the first five games of the series before settling for a three-hit showing in Sunday's series finale. The right-handed hitting 22-year-old is now riding an eight-game hitting streak in which he is batting .419/.487/.968 with five homers and 10 RBIs over his last 37 trips to the plate for Worcester. Already on the 40-man roster, Rafaela could put himself in position to make his major-league debut before season's end.

Jedixson Paez, RHP, Salem Red Sox

1 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

For the second week in a row, this honor belongs to Paez, who yet again tossed six scoreless innings in his latest start for Salem on Saturday. Over his last six outings dating back to June 28, Paez has gone 3-0 with a miniscule 0.58 ERA and 23 strikeouts to two walks across 31 innings in which he has held opposing hitters to a .150 batting average against. Still just 19 years old, Paez is currently ranked as the No. 40 prospect in the organization.

Photo Credit: Noah Song by Kelly O'Connor

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