Key Red Sox Acquisition Already Facing Demotion After Disastrous Start

After seven games and 12.79 ERA in a Red Sox uniform, it looks like Isaiah Campbell might have already pitched himself down to Triple-A.

In 6.1 IP this season, the first-year Sox has allowed 9 earned runs and a 2.053 WHIP.

The impending Campbell demotion comes on the heels of disastrous appearances in the last two games of a three-game sweep to the Baltimore Orioles. In both contests, Boston's starting pitching was tremendous, only allowing a single earned run over 10 IP. In both nights, they handed the lead over to their bullpen, which blew both games and allowed 11 earned runs over 9 IP. Campbell appeared in both bullpen meltdowns, giving up 3 earned runs in an inning of work on Wednesday and 5 earned runs in 1 IP on Thursday.

Campbell, a former second round pick out of Arkansas back in 2019, was acquired in a one-for-one trade for Luis Urias back on Nov. 17. Campbell, 26, was expected to be a promising young arm and key part of a revamped Red Sox bullpen that was re-emphasized under former reliever-turned-chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and new pitching coach Andrew Bailey.

Prior to coming to Boston, Campbell was 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA and 10.4 K/9 in 27 games with the Seattle Mariners.

Fear not Red Sox fans, as another offseason acquisition, pitcher Cooper Criswell, was placed on the taxi squad on Friday. Criswell could potentially start Saturday's matchup against the Los Angeles Angels.

Criswell was signed by Boston on a one-year, $1 million deal on December 13. The 27-year-old has an incredibly limited MLB sample size, with only 12 big league appearances under his belt. In those 12 outings, Criswell has 1-2 with a 5.97 ERA.

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