The Boston Red Sox have had a few players come through the organization in recent years who lost the backing of the fanbase.
With the exception of Matt Dermody -- who was hated for his off-the-field actions -- those players were under scrutiny for a consistent lack of production.
After a last-place finish, there was plenty of blame to go around. Ryan Brasier held the torch to open the season and quickly handed it to Kiké Hernández. With both players gone, there was only one player the fanbase almost unanimously wants gone -- and his time in Boston appears to be coming to a close.
"Told the Red Sox have placed right-handed pitcher Kaleb Ort on outright waivers," The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham tweeted Wednesday.
Ort posted a 6.31 ERA with a 51-to-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .297 batting average against and 1.68 WHIP in 51 1/3 innings over the last two seasons with the Red Sox.
The 31-year-old threw hard but never went on a run that would instill confidence in the reliever. He hurt the team nearly every time he touched the ball. Even when the Red Sox would have massive leads, he would give it right back and force Kenley Jansen into save situations.
Unfortunately, Ort still could find his way back into a Red Sox uniform. His placement on waivers removes him from the 40-man roster but he could return to the organization.
A move would have to be made to elevate him again, which bodes well for him staying off the roster. It's also almost a forgone conclusion that when a player is placed on waivers at this point in the season, he eventually elects free agency in an attempt to find a place where he'd have a higher standing in the organization.
The waiver move likely is the first step in Ort moving on but it's not a guarantee.
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