To make room for newcomers Victor Martinez and Casey Kotchman, the Red Sox sent righty Marcus McBeth to Triple-A Pawtucket and placed catcher George Kottaras on the 15-day disabled list.
Kottaras was put on the DL for the first time this season with a lower back strain. The Sox batckup catcher was batting .224 with one home run and nine RBIs in 36 games this year. He ranks among A.L. rookie leaders in doubles (tied for fifth with 10) and extra-base hits (10th with 11). Kottaras has served as knuckler Tim Wakefield’s personal backstop, catching all 17 of the veteran righty’s starts this year. The 26-year-old has made 33 total appearances (24 starts) behind the plate this season.
McBeth made his first Major League appearance since 2007 on Friday when the Sox brought him up to the bullpen in the absence of Justin Masterson who was traded off in the Martinez deal. The 29-year-old is 2-0 with three saves and a 2.28 ERA in 34 games (one start) at Triple-A Pawtucket and ranks fourth among all qualifying Triple-A pitchers with a .182 opponents batting average out of the bullpen and is seventh among International League relievers with 9.49 strikeouts per nine innings.
