The Boston Red Sox had been anticipating this roster change for a few weeks, but that didn’t make it any easier. To make room on the active roster for the activation of slugging first baseman Triston Casas from the 60-day injured list, the Red Sox had to designate Dominic Smith for assignment. Smith, a well-regarded player in the clubhouse, was the unfortunate casualty.
Manager Alex Cora acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but spoke highly of Smith’s contributions. “He was outstanding. Outstanding,” Cora told reporters, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “It’s a tough call, but one that everyone expected. Given the roster constraints, it was challenging to keep him. Despite one rough defensive week, Smith played great at-bats and provided significant stability at first base. He was a huge presence in the clubhouse—always positive and ready to go. He hit his stride a few weeks ago.”
Even Casas, whose return led to Smith’s departure, was saddened by the move. “It was unfortunate to hear about Dom’s departure because he was such a crucial part of the team for much of the season,” Casas said. “I developed a strong bond with him, and I plan to continue from where he left off.”
Meanwhile, outfielder Jarren Duran saw a spike in his jersey sales despite a suspension he received for an outburst at a heckler.
During his suspension, Duran received considerable support from fans on social media and through increased jersey sales. According to Fox News, his jersey briefly became the top seller on the MLB’s online store, though it has since disappeared from the top spots.
Claims that Duran’s jersey sales broke a single-day record were unverified and lacked official confirmation, with some sources pointing to an unverified social media post.
Additionally, Duran wore a shirt with the phrase “f*ck ’em” during a pregame press conference, which some speculated was a response to his suspension. However, Duran had previously worn similar shirts, and MLB had even warned him about potential fines earlier in the season.
