The Boston Red Sox acquired Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason, but could it make sense to option him to Triple-A?

Oviedo has started 67 of the 82 big league games he’s played in. He started 105 of the 110 minor league games he played in on his way to the big leagues. He is not in the starting rotation right now because the Red Sox needed length in the bullpen to help cover innings while Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello finish their build-up.

Suarez and Bello both missed time in spring training to play in the World Baseball Classic, so they are a bit behind. The Red Sox opted to have Connelly Early pitch in the rotation to start the year, but noted they would re-assess when Suarze and Bello are good to go, likely after two goes through the rotation.

Oviedo struggled in his Red Sox debut, allowing four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. His velocity was also down. Meanwhile, Early allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings in his first start. If Oviedo continues to struggle and Early continues to pitch well as a starter, it would not make sense to remove Early from the rotation for Oviedo.

However, if Oviedo is best suited to be a starter and is not good out of the bullpen, then what should the Red Sox do? Well, he has one option left, so they could send him to Triple-A and keep him stretched out as a starter. Injuries are bound to happen, and having him ready to go would be more beneficial than keeping him in the big league bullpen after Suarez and Bello are built up.

Sending Oviedo down to Triple-A would allow him to continue to work on his stuff and improve the Red Sox’s depth. It may be a surprising move considering what they gave up to get him, but if Early is dealing, he needs to stay in the rotation.

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