After one-plus weeks in Boston, the Red Sox gave a trade deadline acquisition his walking papers.
Jake Rogers was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Tuesday, just eight days after he was a part of the trade deadline deal that sent fellow catcher Adley Rutschman to Boston.
The Red Sox acquired Rutschman, Rogers and cash considerations from the Orioles on Aug. 3 in exchange for a hefty prospect haul in pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, outfielder Enddy Azocar and catcher Carlos Narváez
Rutschman was activated from the injured list Tuesday after suffering a wrist injury while still a member of the Orioles.
He made his Red Sox debut in the team’s 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays, going 1-for-3 with two walks.
Rogers went 3-for-6 with two doubles while in Boston, and is known as a strong defensive catcher with a light bat.
Rogers, 31, is still owed about $765,000 on his $3.05 million contract this season, so Boston will surely hope that Rogers is claimed off waivers to bail the team out of paying his salary.
Boston also has Conner Wong, leaving the Red Sox no reason to carry three catchers once they pulled Rutschman off the IL.
Rogers was designated for assignment by the Tigers in July, though the Orioles chose to trade for the veteran instead of running the risk of being out-claimed by another team.
The Orioles sent Zane Barnhart to the Tigers in exchange for Rogers before he was shipped to Boston in the Rutschman trade.
It is possible that the Orioles opt to reclaim Rogers or perhaps the Yankees could take the plunge on Rogers after failing to acquire a catcher at the deadline – though they did sign veteran Mitch Garver to a minor league deal.
The Red Sox hope Rutschman is the missing piece as the team has skyrocketed up the standings with a 27-3 run that propelled them into the second Wild-Card spot behind the Yankees.
However, the team has now lost four straight to the A’s and Blue Jays as they hope to keep pace in a crowded American League playoff race.
Boston is 64-55 and nine games back of the division-leading Rays and three games behind the Yankees.
