As the Red Sox come off a day off on Friday and looking for their fifth straight win on Saturday, they’ll be without their best hitter in the early portion of the season for at least a day. Prior to Saturday’s game, the Red Sox announced that they will be putting J.D. Martinez on the COVID list. Taking his place on the roster is Michael Chavis.
The #RedSox today placed DH/OF J.D. Martinez on the COVID-19 Related Injured List.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 10, 2021
To fill his spot on the 26-man roster, INF Michael Chavis was recalled from the Alternate Training Site.
Obviously it is never good to see anyone being put on the COVID list, but it’s important to remember that this does not necessarily mean that a player has tested positive for COVID. In Martinez’s case, he has been suffering through some cold symptoms and is awaiting test results. Alex Cora indicated that it is possible he’ll be back as soon as tomorrow if he gets negative test results tonight and prior to Sunday’s series finale in Baltimore. Martinez has been a big part of this current win streak and has been the team’s best hitter a week into the season, so his absence will be felt tonight.
In the meantime, this move allows them to keep a full roster for this game with Chavis coming up. Chavis, of course, did all he could to make the roster out of camp but was a victim of having options remaining while Christian Arroyo did not. Even if this is a short stay on the major-league roster, he’ll get a longer chance in Boston at some point this year.