Will Boston Red Sox middle infielder/center fielder Kiké Hernández be a casualty in the upcoming roster crunch?
The former starting shortstop will have to survive the addition of Pablo Reyes to the active roster, which could get dicey.
"Red Sox have not been afraid to shake up the roster coming out of the break before," MassLive's Chris Cotillo tweeted Sunday. "In 2021, (Jarren) Duran and (Tanner) Houck were called up on the first day of the second half. Have to wonder if Kiké Hernández is designated for assignment by the time they get to Wrigley."
Hernández and Christian Arroyo are the two likely candidates to be designated for assignment should Reyes return to the active roster prior to their series against the Chicago Cubs starting on July 14.
While Arroyo hasn't lived up to expectations fully, Hernández has an argument to be the worst player in Major League Baseball this season. He ranks dead last with a -1.2 fWAR -- a stat devised to accumulate the player's overall value. It's hard to stay on a fringe playoff contender as the No. 1273 player in the big leagues.
Cotillo saying Hernández could be designated for assignment does not mean he will not be traded. The team will have a few days to make a deal before Hernández hits waivers.
If anyone is willing to take a shot on him via trade or waiver claim, he will be owed $4.6 million the rest of the way. Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom can entice opposing organizations to trade for Hernández by offering to absorb a hefty amount of his remaining salary. That strategy would net the most significant return -- though no trade for Hernández would shake up the farm system rankings.
If not, the Red Sox cut bait with a player who is hitting .221 with 17 extra-base hits including six home runs, 31 RBIs, a .602 OPS and 62 OPS+ that also happens to have the league lead in errors with 15 in 79 games.
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