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The Boston Red Sox have granted outfielder Ryan Sweeney his unconditional release, the team has announced.
More Sox: Boston Pitchers Pick Up the Pace
Sweeney, 28, had asked for his release on Friday after he was informed that he would not make the club's Opening Day roster. Due to the opt-out clause in Sweeney's contract, the club had two days to find a willing trade partner for him before they had to heed his request. They obviously didn't find any takers.
Drew to DL
Boston's shortstop will start the season on the special 7-day concussion DL.
Following an injury-plagued 2012 season that left him non-tendered by the Red Sox, Sweeney re-signed with Boston on a minor-league deal in late January. He seemed to be a safe bet to make the club's 25-man roster after Ryan Kalish went down with yet another major injury, but the emergence of Jackie Bradley this spring left Sweeney without a role.
As all teams are in the process of locking in their roster's for Opening Day on Monday, Sweeney is likely going to have a tough time finding a team that will sign him to a big-league deal right now. However, his chances of latching on with someone on a minor-league contract and working his way back into the majors are probably better elsewhere than they would be in Boston.
Sweeney has just over five years of MLB service time, so if he is able to garner significant playing time somewhere this year, he will become a free agent at the season's end.
