Red Sox Make Unusual Roster Move On Fourth Of July

The Boston Red Sox did some clerical work on Independence Day.

Zack Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, but just four days later, the club voided that transaction and retroactively placed him on the injured list with a right oblique strain in an unusual roster move.

How?

It’s one of those weird things you rarely see, as the right-hander left Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Blue Jays with oblique tightness that would ultimately require an MRI. The Red Sox didn’t have much time to wait on the results, so they optioned him to open up a roster spot for Jordan Hicks’ return from the IL.

Kelly didn’t have any structural damage, but the pain persisted and left him unavailable this week, which led to the organization’s decision to void the transaction to place him on the major league injured list.

Simple.

Kelly, 30, makes out pretty well in the deal, as he’ll continue to accrue service time and will receive his major league salary while injured. The Red Sox essentially did him a favor by going back and making the change, which is nice.