Boston Red Sox Place 8-Year Veteran Outfielder On Waivers

The Boston Red Sox made a surprising move on Monday as they designated outfielder Raimel Tapia for assignment.

Tapia, a 29-year-old veteran, had been serving as a reserve outfielder for the team.

Despite his limited playing time, Tapia had put up respectable numbers this season with a batting average of .264, an on-base percentage of .333, and a slugging percentage of .368.

Raimel Tapia has been DFA’d to open up a roster spot for Christian Arroyo, per @alexspeier.

Tapia has been a solid bench piece this year, but with Duvall returning, Duran playing a key role the last 6 weeks, and Refsnyder being the lefty masher, it was a tight room.

More tough… pic.twitter.com/eeLtFsNqNK

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) June 5, 2023

He contributed with one home run, six stolen bases, and displayed versatility by playing all three outfield positions, primarily focusing on left field.

Initially, there were speculations that Tapia's roster spot might be in jeopardy once Adam Duvall returned from injury later in the week. However, the Red Sox decided to make the move earlier to accommodate the return of infielder Christian Arroyo.

The team's decision indicates that they value Arroyo's presence more than Tapia's contributions.

Raimel Tapia has been DFA’d by the Red Sox to make room for Christian Arroyo, who the team is activating. pic.twitter.com/9OQgOgSbOm

— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) June 5, 2023

Tapia's versatility and the potential for improvement make him an intriguing option for teams in need of outfield depth and, as a result, he'll likely draw some interest on waivers.

Overall, the Red Sox's move to designate Raimel Tapia for assignment has raised eyebrows, considering his respectable numbers and contributions.

It will be interesting to see if Tapia finds a new opportunity with another team or if he remains within the Red Sox organization. Photo Credit:  Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports