FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It worked for Mookie Betts, Daniel Nava and Brock Holt, all of whom changed positions at the behest of the Red Sox and increased their value to the club by doing so. The Sox now hope the same formula works for third baseman Garin Cecchini, who was optioned to the minors Thursday with the mandate to add first base and outfield to his repertoire.
The reason, of course, is simple. With Pablo Sandoval in the first year of a five-year deal, Cecchini’s path to the majors is blocked in Boston, and the Sox like his left-handed bat enough to move him around and give him added versatility.
“The way he swung the bat when he came up last September and the way he swung the bat this spring, it looks like his bat will be ready before a defensive opening at third base is going to present itself,’’ manager John Farrell said. “He’s embraced it.''
The Sox cut their roster to 43 players on Thursday. They released former big-league setup man Mitchell Boggs, who underwent a hernia procedure this winter in an effort to regain his form; assigned left-hander Henry Owens to minor-league camp; and optioned Cecchini, outfielder Bryce Brentz and pitchers Heath Hembree and Zeke Spruill to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Owens, regarded as one of Boston’s top pitching prospects, struggled in camp, giving up 12 hits, six walks and 11 earned runs in just 11 1/3 innings, for an 8.74 ERA. He made two starts among his five appearances.
“There’s more work to be done, obviously, particularly with command of his glove side of the plate,’’ Farrell said. "I thought he showed an improved breaking ball with added tightness and sharpness to the pitch.
"I think there were some inconsistencies when he went to the glove side. He yanked some balls in there. He never got into a rhythm that allowed him to command both sides of plate.''
-- The Sox are still hopeful that Koji Uehara (strained left hamstring) will pitch off a mound this weekend.
