The Red Sox reportedly are releasing pitcher Matt Dermody, who made a homophobic tweet in 2021. Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
The Red Sox released left-handed pitcher Matt Dermody, a source told MassLive’s Sean McAdam on Friday afternoon.
Dermody, who signed a minor league deal with the organization in January, was the subject of controversy last week when the Red Sox promoted him to start a game in Cleveland despite a homophobic tweet from 2021.
Reached Friday, Red Sox General Manager Brian O’Halloran said multiple factors contributed to Dermody’s release.
“We will have a series of of pitcher promotions in the coming days and wanted to give opportunities to other players,” O’Halloran said. “Of course, we consider all factors when making a decision like this.”
Last Wednesday, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom told MassLive that the organization was not aware of Dermody’s tweet when they signed him but met with him to discuss it once they became aware during spring training.
“It’s important to us that he had taken the tweet down and important why he had done it,” Bloom said. “I talked to him personally about that and what he told me was that it really came down to two things. One, he didn’t realize that his words would be hurtful and he didn’t want to hurt anybody and when he realized that they were, he took (the post) down.
“He also understood that it’s not the right use of his platform. He knows he made a mistake tweeting that. That’s why he took it down. Obviously, that doesn’t mean that we endorse anything he said or anything he believes. But the fact of the matter is, if we’re committed to creating an (inclusive) environment, it’s not right for us to police what people believe.”
Dermody was immediately designated for assignment after his start in Cleveland last Thursday and was outrighted to Triple-A Worcester. He pitched for the WooSox on Wednesday night despite Bloom telling The Boston Globe that the team was reconsidering its vetting process after more controversial tweets surfaced.
As to why the Red Sox chose to outright Dermody on Sunday rather than release him altogether, one mitigating factor may have been contractual timing. Had the Sox released him after he cleared waivers Sunday, they would have owed him the prorated remainder of the major league minimum salary of $730,000. By waiting until until Dermody was again on the Triple-A Worcester roster before cutting ties, the Red Sox now owe him only the termination pay based on his Triple-A salary, believed to be something less than $200,000.
ONE OFFICIAL WITH another American League club reports that the Red Sox are asking around for some infield help, preferably someone who could play shortstop, second base or both.
On the surface, that’s hardly surprising. The Red Sox have used a half-dozen players at shortstop this year and recently decided to greatly reduce Kiké Hernández’s playing time there. In the meantime, Yu Chang continues to deal with wrist pain following his surgery to remove the hamate bone and was forced to halt his rehab assignment a second time.
Meanwhile, Pablo Reyes is an offensive liability and the team has privately resigned itself to the fact that Adalberto Mondesi won’t return until after the All-Star break – at best.
But it’s not just shortstop that’s become a black hole. Enmanuel Valdez is suspect with the glove at second and not ready, and while Hernandez may be better suited for second because of the shorter, easier throws, he’s not had a great year with the bat, as his .650 OPS attests.
Then there’s the disappointing season being had by Christian Arroyo, who, in addition to a series of nagging injuries, has slashed just .240/.274/.380.
One name that’s been linked to the Red Sox: Oakland’s Aledmys Diaz. Diaz is 32 and having a down year offensively (.525 OPS), but has experience all over the infield and only last year, was still good for 12 homers in just 92 games. And, obviously, the A’s are willing to move anybody and everybody.
BOBBY DALBEC continues to rip it up at Worcester. He recently hit eight homers in 15 games, has 16 homers in 47 games for the WooSox and is slugging .652.
With the trade deadline less than six weeks out, what is Dalbec’s value? Would other organizations have interest, believing that only a change of scenery could unlock his plus-power potential at the major league level.
“I saw him briefly (recently) and I thought he looked much more confident at the plate, with more of a plan,” reported one major league scout. “I still believe there’s some value there. The issue is going to be whether a team will be comfortable enough with his defense to give up something solid for him. My guess is, he’s only a second piece in a (larger) deal, or the only piece for an average bullpen arm or some infield depth.’’
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