Alfredo Aceves‘ latest stint in Boston lasted just one day.
Red Sox manager John Farrell announced Tuesday that the right-hander, who allowed one run on seven hits and three walks in a win Monday night, has been optioned to Triple-A and replaced on the roster by Franklin Morales. This marks a return to the majors for Morales, who began the season on the disabled list.
While rehabbing a bulging disk in his back throughout the first two months of the season, the 27-year-old southpaw has made stops at Class-A Greenville, Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, posting a 3.18 ERA over 17 innings in five starts.
Morales can work as either a starter or long reliever, and Farrell said the plan is to use him out of the bullpen for now, especially with the early struggles Tuesday night’s starter, Ryan Dempster, has experienced recently. In 73 appearances (including nine starts) since being acquired by the Red Sox midway through the 2011 season, Morales is 4-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Farrell also did not rule out the team making another roster move before the end of the night, as it may activate an additional position player for the upcoming two-game trip to Philadelphia, which will be played under National League rules. The manager said outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who has tallied a .360/.461/.547 slash line in 19 games with Pawtucket, is “a candidate” for promotion. After a torrid spring, Bradley struggled when he began the season with the big league club, hitting .097 over 12 games before being optioned to Triple-A.
