3 Players on the Red Sox’ 40-Man Roster Who Don’t Deserve a Role in 2024
![Sep 15, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox third baseman Luis Urias (17) kneels on the field after being hit in the leg against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports Sep 15, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox third baseman Luis Urias (17) kneels on the field after being hit in the leg against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6a71fa269701b3f6e3a572522c1b85ffad500fa7fd639b65bad9001d97558368.jpg)
The 2023 MLB regular season is winding down and the Boston Red Sox will be on the outside looking in once the playoffs arrive, staying home in October for the fourth time in five years.
Some Red Sox supporters will blame injuries for the underwhelming result while others might point fingers at management and the coaching staff. The truth is that a big chunk of the blame also falls on players who failed to meet expectations.
If Boston is to come back stronger than ever, tough offseason decisions must be made regarding player personnel. That means ownership must take a hard look at the 40-man roster to find out where to trim the fat in favor of players ready to contribute to winning baseball.
Keeping that in mind, here are three players on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster who don’t deserve a role next season.
3 Red Sox Players Who Shouldn’t Be On 40-Man Roster in 2024
3. Luis Urias
In one of the more underwhelming trade deadlines in recent memory, Boston acquired infielder Luis Urias from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Bradley Blalock.
Red Sox fans were unimpressed by the move as Urias’ arrival didn’t exactly improve the team’s playoff hopes. The 26-year-old peaked in 2021 and has been declining since then, tallying only 3 homers and 18 RBIs while slashing .194/.333/.302 in 50 games this season.
Bounce-back campaigns are possible, but I don’t see that being the case with Urias. For starters, his baserunning has declined over the last year, going from a 43% extra-base-taken percentage in 2022 to 15% this season (for reference, the MLB average is 41%).
Boston needs players who can contribute to a winning mindset, and Urias clearly isn’t cut out for it. I also wouldn’t mind starting him in the minors next year and waiting to add him to the 40-man roster until he proves himself.
Regardless, it’s better to move on in favor of an infielder who can make more of an impact for the time being.