Red Sox make stunning roster move, option LHP Brennan Bernardino to Triple-A

The Red Sox made a stunning roster move late Monday night, announcing that left-hander Brennan Bernardino had been optioned to Triple-A following the club’s exhibition win over the Texas Rangers.

Bernardino was Boston’s top left-hander throughout last season and one of the club’s biggest recent success stories, and coming into camp he was widely considered a lock to make the Opening Day roster.

Originally claimed off waivers from Seattle last spring, Bernardino emerged as a key part of Boston’s bullpen and as a stabilizing force when the club’s other lefties were mostly hurt. Bernardino appeared in 55 games and posted a 3.20 ERA over 50.2 innings, and this spring he’d posted a perfect 0.00 ERA in seven Grapefruit League appearances.

So why wouldn’t Bernardino make the team? Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters following the game the move was made to preserve roster flexibility given that Bernardino has minor league options and can be moved up and down from Triple-A freely. The same can’t be said for fellow left-hander Joely Rodriguez, who was added to the big league roster this past weekend in part to keep him in the organization after he’d triggered an opt out provision in his contract.

Lucas Luetge, Boston’s other veteran left-hander and one of six non-roster invitees remaining in camp, is not currently on the 40-man roster and wouldn’t be optionable if he were added either.

With Monday’s move Boston’s Opening Day bullpen is nearly set, likely featuring Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, Josh Winckowski, Joely Rodriguez, Justin Slaten, Isaiah Campbell and newly acquired right-hander Chase Anderson. The eighth spot that presumably would have been Bernardino’s could now go to either right-hander Greg Weissert, Luetge or an outside addition.