Brentz (illness) was a late addition to the Red Sox's lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. He'll start in left field and hit ninth.
Brentz will enter the starting nine in place of J.D. Martinez, who was scratched after experiencing back tightness. The 30-year-old Brentz missed some time last week due to an illness, but his availability Wednesday suggests he's back to full strength. As a non-roster invitee, Brentz is a long shot to break camp with the big club and is expected to open the 2019 campaign at Triple-A Pawtucket.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Dealing with illness
Rotowire
Brentz was scratched from Monday's game against the Mets due to an illness, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Brentz is the latest Red Sox player to come down sick, joining Steve Pearce and Brian Johnson. He should be considered day-to-day.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Scratched from Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Brentz was scratched from the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
The reason for Brentz's scratch is not yet clear. Tate Matheny will take his place in the lineup, batting sixth and playing left field.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Back to Boston
Rotowire
Brentz signed a one-year minor-league deal with the Red Sox that includes an invitation to spring training, Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times reports.
The 30-year-old Brentz will rejoin the organization he started with back in 2010. The Red Sox eventually cut ties with Brentz -- the victim of a roster crunch -- after the 2017 season. There's some power potential, as he's whacked 46 home runs with an .877 OPS over 175 games at the Triple-A level the last two seasons. The deal also includes opt-out language, allowing Brentz to bolt if a better opportunity comes along. He's not expected to challenge for a spot in Boston, so if he remains in the organization, it'll be as an outfielder at Triple-A Pawtucket.
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Mets' Bryce Brentz: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Brentz cleared waivers Wednesday and will be outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.
Brentz was claimed off waivers from the Pirates on Monday. The 29-year-old hit .271/.344/.529 with 31 homers in 120 games for Triple-A Pawtucket in the Red Sox system last year, though he's appeared in just 34 major-league games in his career. He'll provide organizational depth for the Mets this season and is unlikely to receive significant playing time at the major-league level.
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Mets' Bryce Brentz: Scooped up by Mets
Rotowire
Brentz was claimed off waivers by the Mets on Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Brentz will join the Mets after being designated for assignment by the Pirates over the weekend. The 29-year-old outfielder, who is out of options, could stick on the Mets' roster as a temporary replacement for Michael Conforto, though there's also a chance the team tries to send him through waivers. He led the International League with 31 homers in 2017 while also hitting .271/.334/.529 in 494 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Bryce Brentz: Won't making Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Brentz on waivers Saturday, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Pittsburgh would like to add him to its Triple-A Indianapolis roster, but there's a chance another organization first claims him. Brentz batted .250 with one homer and three RBI in 40 at-bats during spring training and was outplayed by Jose Osuna. He led the International League with 31 homers in 2017.
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Pirates' Bryce Brentz: Awaiting roster decision
Rotowire
Brentz is still in the running for an Opening Day bench spot, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
A decision on Brentz, who is out of options, may ultimately be decided by whether the Pirates keep an extra pitcher on the roster or go with a position player. Brentz, who's hitting just .216 in 37 at-bats, is competing with Jose Osuna and Jordan Luplow -- both of whom have arguably had better springs but have options remaining. The former Boston property has done little to distinguish himself this spring, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the Bucs attempt to slide him through waivers.
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Pirates' Bryce Brentz: Slow spring start
Rotowire
Brentz, who's competing for a backup outfielder spot, is hitless in his first nine Grapefruit League at-bats.
Along with fellow reserves Jose Osuna, Max Moroff and Jordan Luplow, Brentz is looking to nail down an Opening Day roster spot. Although he's not off to a great start, the Pirates will likely give him plenty of spring playing time as the former Boston property is out of options.
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Pirates' Bryce Brentz: Shipped to Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Brentz was traded to Pittsburgh for cash considerations Tuesday.
The Red Sox no longer had room for Brentz on the 40-man roster after signing J.D. Martinez. The 29-year-old outfielder spent the entirety of the 2017 season at Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting .271/.334/.529 with 31 homers in 120 games. On a team bereft of power hitters, Brentz has an excellent opportunity to make the team with a strong spring training -- he's also out of minor league options.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Favorite to win fourth outfield spot
Rotowire
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said Brentz has the inside track on the Red Sox's fourth outfield spot, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Brentz, who was recently added to the 40-man roster, spent all of last season with Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting a respectable .271/.334/.529 with 31 homers and 85 RBI in 120 games. With Chris Young gone to free agency, the Red Sox have decided to give Brentz a chance to earn a reserve outfield role out of spring training. He's held his own during a couple of brief major-league stints in 2015 and 2016, slashing .287/.311/.379 with one homer in 34 games.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Brentz was placed on the Red Sox's 40-man roster Thursday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Brentz didn't spend any time with the big-league club this past season, but slashed .271/.334/.529 with 31 home runs and 85 RBI with Triple-A Pawtucket. The outfielder had a rough spring training in 2017, but will look to build upon his minor-league success and fight for a spot on the club's active roster next season.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Clears waivers, outrighted to minors
Rotowire
Brentz cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday.
The left fielder struggled mightily throughout spring camp, finishing with a .182 average and 15 strikeouts in 55 at-bats. Brentz will look to rediscover his swing in the minors and likely serves as the first outfielder who could be recalled in the event of an injury.
Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Uncertainty entering spring training
Rotowire
Brentz is out of options and will have to pass through waivers if Boston wants him to start the year in the minors.
Brentz is not a lock for a spot on the major league roster as he enters spring training, and he could be moved off the 40-man roster if Boston acquires a more experienced outfielder this spring. At the moment, the orgnization is thin on that front. The Sox do have Chris Young and can use Brock Holt there, but Young might be a regular at DH and Holt isn't a long-term solution in the outfield. That leaves Brentz and non-roster invitees Junior Lake, Brian Bogusevic, Allen Craig and Rusney Castillo as the sole MLB-experienced outfielders in major league camp.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Could be headed back to Boston
Rotowire
Brentz was pinch hit for before his first at-bat in the second game of Triple-A Pawtucket's double header Sunday, Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald reports.
Brentz, who was in the starting lineup as the designated hitter, did not suffer an injury, so it appears he was pulled for a pending call up to Boston. The Red Sox need another bat after it was announced that Hanley Ramirez is headed to the bereavement list.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket
Rotowire
Brentz was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald reports.
Brentz was sent down in a corresponding move to the club calling up left-hander Roenis Elias from Pawtucket. The outfielder has gone 17-for-61 with the Red Sox this season, adding in one home run and seven RBI for the big league team. He will go down to Pawtucket for now, where he has spent 38 games this year.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: In Sunday's starting lineup
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Brentz is in the starting lineup Sunday against the Twins, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.
Brentz will start in left field while Brock Holt moves to right. Ostensibly, Brentz is taking over for Michael Martinez, who filled in in right field for the injured Mookie Betts (knee) and badly misplayed two balls in Boston's 11-9 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. The Red Sox may state that they wanted Brentz's right-handed bat in the lineup against the left-handed Tommy Milone, but Martinez's adventures in right field Saturday likely factored into this decision.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Brentz is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald reports.
Brentz drew the start in left field Saturday, and has started three of the last four overall, but will take a seat in favor of Brock Holt on Sunday evening. Holt is 4-for-18 with two doubles against opposing starter Masahiro Tanaka, while Brentz has just faced him once, so manager John Farrell likely wanted to go with the more experienced, left-handed option.
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Red Sox's Bryce Brentz: In starting lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Brentz is starting in left field Saturday against the Rays, Scott Lauber of ESPN Boston reports.
Brentz is filling in for the injured Brock Holt, who suffered a sprained ankle in Friday night's win. You can expect Brentz to start Sunday, too, the final game before the All-Star break.
