The Boston Red Sox today made the following roster moves:
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
The Red Sox' 40-man roster is now at 37.
Kimbrel, 29, earned Major League Baseball's 2017 Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award after going 5-0 with a 1.43 ERA (11 ER/69.0 IP) and 35 saves for the Red Sox. This past season, he led all major league relievers in WHIP (0.68) and strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (16.43), also ranking second in ERA (1.43) and third in opponent batting average (.140). Kimbrel struck out 126 of 254 batters faced (49.6%)-the highest single-season rate ever for a Red Sox pitcher-and was named to the AL All-Star team for the second time in as many seasons. Originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2008 June Draft, Kimbrel has recorded at least 30 saves in each of the last seven seasons (2011-17).
Sale, 28, went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA (69 ER/214.1 IP) over 32 starts during his first season with Boston. The left-handed pitcher led the majors in innings, strikeouts (308), and scoreless starts (10) and was named to the AL All-Star team for the sixth consecutive season. His 308 strikeouts trailed only Pedro Martinez (313 in 1999) for the highest single-season total in Red Sox history, and the Elias Sports Bureau notes that it was only the 35th 300-strikeout season since 1900. Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (13th overall) of the 2010 June Draft, Sale joins Max Scherzer as the only pitchers with at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last five seasons. Since the start of 2012, Sale leads the AL in wins (87), strikeouts (1,441), and ERA (3.01).
Hernandez, 25, had his third year in the Red Sox organization cut short due to season-ending left shoulder surgery performed on May 26. Over 21 games with Boston in 2017, he hit .276 (16-for-58) with seven runs scored, three doubles, and two RBI while appearing defensively at third base (nine starts), shortstop (five starts), and second base (four starts). Originally signed by the Chicago Cubs in 2009 as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic and acquired by the Red Sox via trade in 2014, Hernandez has hit .284 (31-for-109) in 61 major league games, all with Boston from 2016-17.
Thornburg, 29, missed the entire 2017 season, his first in the Red Sox organization, while on the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement. On June 16, he underwent treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder. Selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round of the 2010 June Draft, he went 14-9 with a 2.87 ERA (70 ER/219.2 IP), 220 strikeouts, and a .213 opponent batting average (170-for-799) in 144 career appearances (10 starts) for the franchise from 2012-16 prior to being acquired by the Red Sox via trade in December 2016.
Wright, 33, made five starts for the Red Sox in 2017 before undergoing season-ending left knee surgery on May 8. The knuckleballer made his first career All-Star team in 2016, finishing the season with a 13-6 record, a 3.33 ERA (58 ER/156.2 IP), and four complete games in 24 starts. Since his 2013 major league debut, the California native has made 40 starts and 15 relief appearances for the Red Sox, going 21-14 with a 3.97 ERA (127 ER/287.2 IP). Wright was acquired by Boston at the non-waiver trade deadline in 2012.
Ross, 28, made Boston's Opening Day roster for a third consecutive season in 2017 but was limited to eight games due to left elbow inflammation and a back injury. Originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the 2008 June Draft, the left-hander is 16-12 with 3.92 ERA (144 ER/330.2 IP) in 266 career appearances (12 starts) over six major league seasons with the Rangers (2012-14) and Red Sox (2015-17).
Rutledge, 28, hit .224 (24-for-107) with 10 runs scored, two doubles, one triple, and nine RBI in 37 games for the Red Sox before being placed on the disabled list on June 24 with a concussion and missing the remainder of the season. Originally selected by the Colorado Rockies in the third round of the 2010 June Draft from the University of Alabama, he holds a .258 career batting average (284-for-1,101) with 156 runs scored, 51 doubles, 14 triples, 20 home runs, and 111 RBI over six major league seasons between the Rockies (2012-14) and Red Sox (2015-17).
Brentz, 28, represented Pawtucket as an International League mid- and post-season All-Star in 2017, finishing the year tied for fifth among all minor leaguers with a career-high 31 home runs in 120 games. The 2017 Triple-A Home Run Derby champion spent the entire season with the PawSox, batting .271 (122-for-450) with 75 runs, 85 RBI, and a .529 slugging percentage. In 34 major league games-all with Boston in 2014 and 2016-the outfielder has hit .287 (25-for-87) with five doubles, one home run, and nine RBI. He currently leads Mexican Pacific League with six home runs in 15 games for Hermosillo, including a three-homer effort on October 26 vs. Culiacan.
Jerez, 25, went 2-2 with four saves, a 3.27 ERA (23 ER/63.1 IP), 57 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 38 relief appearances between Pawtucket and Double-A Portland in 2017. The left-handed pitcher began last season in Portland, where he posted a 3.16 ERA (18 ER/51.1 IP) over 29 appearances, including 21 without an earned run allowed. The Dominican Republic native was promoted to Pawtucket on August 1 and spent the remainder of the season at the Triple-A level, going 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA (5 ER/12.0 IP). Originally selected by Boston in the second round of the 2011 June Draft, Jerez has pitched exclusively in relief since converting to a pitcher before the 2014 season, going 12-13 with a 3.33 ERA (93 ER/251.1 IP) and 248 strikeouts in 133 outings.