Red Sox option Josh Smith and Óscar Hernández

The Red Sox are getting some of their regulars back on the roster following relatively short absences. David Price is set to come off the injured list for Monday afternoon’s start in Toronto while Sandy León is going to rejoin the roster for this game as well after missing the weekend series on paternity leave. In order to make room on the active roster, Boston has optioned right-handed pitcher Josh Smith and catcher Óscar Hernández.

None of this is particularly surprising, of course, as these were the most likely names to be sent to Pawtucket with Price and León returning. Hernández in particular was obvious as he didn’t even appear in a game this weekend. He was simply an emergency catcher who was called up over Juan Centeno because he had options and Centeno did not. In the event of a longer absence from one of the catchers, Centeno will get the call. As for Smith, it was really between him and Ryan Weber for this roster spot. Weber has had a few really impressive appearances in long relief that made his spot safe for the time being. Smith pitched in four games with a 4.91 ERA over 7 ¹⁄₃ innings in his stint.

The real interesting part of this will come in the next week or two with Brock Holt, Brian Johnson and Dustin Pedroia all rehabbing in Pawtucket. Weber, Tyler Thornburg, Colten Brewer, Steve Pearce and Eduardo Núñez could all be sweating out their roster spots as these guys return to the active roster. These things tend to have a way of working themselves out, but it’s the situation most worth monitoring right now.