According to an industry source, the Red Sox claimed right-hander Sandy Rosario on waivers from the Miami Marlins. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Rosario, outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin has been designated for assignment.
Rosario, 27, is a 6-foor-1, athletic reliever with a 93-97 mph fastball that has explosive late life in the strike zone. In 7 2/3 big league innings, he's allowed 13 runs while striking out four and walking three. However, he's been a consistent strike thrower in the minors, compiling 319 strikeouts and 73 walks in 310 minor league innings. He spent most of 2012 in Triple-A New Orleans, forging a 1.04 ERA with 24 strikeouts and just two walks in 26 innings -- and both of the walks were intentional.
He also features a hard changeup and a slider, both or which are inconsistent but that flash plus potential and which the Sox believe may not be far from getting there, particularly given the promising reports of his work ethic. Rosario has one option remaining.
Lin, 24, appeared in nine games for the Red Sox in 2012, his first taste of major league baseball, going 3-for-12 (all singles, no walks). In 198 Triple-A games over the last two years, he hit .242/.324/.305/.629 with four homers and 31 steals in 823 plate appearances. He has a reputation as a tremendous defensive outfielder, and he also is one of the fastest players in the Sox system, but his ability to hit in the upper levels is in question, and the 2008 All-Star Futures Game MVP has shown little game power in his pro career.
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