{"id":123453,"date":"2026-06-05T15:31:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:31:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=123453"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:31:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:31:56","slug":"brayan-bello-optioned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/06\/05\/brayan-bello-optioned\/","title":{"rendered":"Brayan Bello Optioned: Boston Makes Bullpen Addition in Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After today\u2019s disastrous outing, followed by some post-game comments that didn\u2019t land well, Red Sox starter <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/gl.fcgi?id=bellobr01&amp;t=p&amp;year=2026\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brayan Bello<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been optioned and sent down to Triple-A Worcester. Bello\u2019s horrible run over the last couple of months came to a close on Thursday, giving up six runs in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles. In addition to this move, Boston also traded for Pittsburgh Pirates reliever <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lasorjo01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe La Sorsa<\/a> (for cash considerations)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brayan Bello makes it very clear he&#8217;s done with the conversation about him starting or coming out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;First of all, just stop talking about bullpen and starting games. I&#8217;ve always been a starter, and when I&#8217;ve been successful as a starter, no one has questioned\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Eq1QWoAMz8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Eq1QWoAMz8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tylermilliken_\/status\/2062642882381561998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><b>Bello\u2019s Disastrous 2026 Campaign<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brayan Bello hasn\u2019t exactly had the best season thus far in 2026, having the worst ERA in baseball at 6.34. He has a record of 2-6, giving up 10 home runs as well. This is confusing due to who he has been. Other than his rookie year, he\u2019s had a winning record every year he\u2019s pitched. Just last season, he went 11-9 with a solid 3.36 ERA. Yet the Red Sox are 2-10 in his appearances this year, even when he comes in relief. So what\u2019s the deal?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBw1ShBYji\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 3072px; aspect-ratio: 3072\/2049;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first inning is a complete collapse for him, having an ERA of 16.88 if he <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/baseballsavant.mlb.com\/savant-player\/brayan-bello-678394?stats=splits-r-pitching-mlb&amp;season=2026\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ends up starting <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the game in just that inning alone. Despite manager <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/tracych99.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chad Tracy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> saying that Bello needs to start to be successful, the numbers actually say otherwise. When looking past the fifth inning (assuming he comes out of the bullpen), he actually pitches better the later it gets in the game (1.80 in the sixth, 0.00 in the seventh and eighth).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Why did the Red Sox decide to start Brayan Bello today rather than use an opener?<\/p>\n<p>Chad Tracy: \u201cFor us to be successful, we need Bello to start.\u201d <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nmOIaznZOg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/nmOIaznZOg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 WEEI (@WEEI) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WEEI\/status\/2062556855642026165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem in his appearances is that whether he starts or not, the team can\u2019t seem to come back from the deficit. The openers, whether it\u2019s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moranjo01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jovani Moran<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0or an unlucky <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/samanty01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tyler Samaniego<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> start, can\u2019t seem to do any better than Bello. So the Red Sox weren\u2019t left with any other choice. They seemed to have to demote him for him to get back on track.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_123461\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-123461\" style=\"width: 4140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/06\/USATSI_29089705.webp\" alt=\"Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello pitching vs the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on May 29, 2026.\" width=\"4140\" height=\"2760\" class=\"size-full wp-image-123461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/06\/USATSI_29089705.webp 4140w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/06\/USATSI_29089705-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/06\/USATSI_29089705-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/06\/USATSI_29089705-1200x800.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4140px) 100vw, 4140px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-123461\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">May 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello (66) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><b>Who Will Take Over?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The demotion is a little concerning, seeing as the Red Sox gave him a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/03\/07\/red-sox-sign-bello-extension\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">big extension<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> back in 2024. But also because of the rotation issues. With ace <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/crochga01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garrett Crochet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in there, it wouldn\u2019t be an issue. But with Crochet<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/29\/red-sox-roster-moves-garrett-crochet-injury-nate-eaton-call-up\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out with injuries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, that leaves the number five starter open. The obvious answer right now, with <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/oviedjo01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Johan Oviedo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> still <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/03\/red-sox-roster-moves-before-home-opener\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">out<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, would be <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/benneja01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jake Bennett<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. When Crochet first went down, Bennett got called up and went 1-1 with a 4.36 ERA. But there\u2019s another option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should the spot be open for a while, <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sandopa02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patrick Sandoval<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could come back. He\u2019s coming off the injured list pretty soon, <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/nesn.com\/boston-red-sox\/news\/latest-news-injured-pitcher-hints-how-red-sox-will-use-him-after-two-year-absence\/8056713116331032c85adf1e\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">set to throw<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a one-inning rehab stint in Worcester on Friday. Now, this wouldn\u2019t be a full starter role if he\u2019s taking a one-inning outing. But there is a possibility of a bullpen game with him starting to ease back in. Bello\u2019s next start was originally slated for June 9 against the Rays. So there\u2019s a little time to figure it out.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Who Is Joe La Sorsa?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Sorsa has been around the majors since 2019, getting drafted out of St. John\u2019s in 2019 by the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-hander made his MLB debut in May of 2023, striking out two batters and walking one in a two-inning relief appearance. Over the next week and a half, he would make one more appearance before being designated for assignment and then signed by the Washington Nationals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the 2025 season, he would be released by Washington and then bounce around among the New York Mets, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Pirates. He would only make a major league appearance for Cincinnati, getting multiple starts, but ultimately failing to find success. In five games, he was 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA, giving up more home runs (four) than strikeouts (two).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His last stop before the Red Sox acquisition was in Triple-A Indianapolis. Since the issues in the majors, he\u2019s seemed to turn it around slightly. In 22 appearances, he went 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA and 22 strikeouts. He also pitched in the World Baseball Classic this year, joining now-teammate <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/weissgr01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greg Weissert<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with Team Italy. He did not get much playing time in the tournament, though, making four appearances and pitching less than three innings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Last Word: What To Make of These Moves<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regarding the Bello move, it\u2019s a frustrating one. He&#8217;s shown he\u2019s better than what\u2019s happening currently, but it\u2019s still a necessary move. He needs to get back on track, resembling the pitcher he was last year. He also needs to get his attitude in check. Depending on when he gets back to the majors, he may not be guaranteed a starting spot given how good the rotation is. He\u2019s got to learn how to take a bullpen role, as that\u2019s practically what he\u2019s been doing now. As for the fifth starter, that\u2019ll be revealed soon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now La Sorsa. Given his last major league stint, mixed in with the fact that his <a  href=\"https:\/\/baseballsavant.mlb.com\/savant-player\/joe-la-sorsa-686747?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fastball averages only<\/a> 92.5 MPH (for reference, last year\u2019s bullpen <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/redsox\/2026\/02\/why-red-sox-seem-obsessed-with-fastball-velocity-and-how-driveline-is-helping-them-increase-it.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was 95.4 MPH on heaters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). So it\u2019s hard to see how and where he\u2019ll be used and how successful he\u2019ll be. But given the current state of the Red Sox, it\u2019s worth a try.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After today\u2019s disastrous outing, followed by some post-game comments that didn\u2019t land well, Red Sox starter Brayan Bello has been optioned and sent down to Triple-A Worcester. Bello\u2019s horrible run over the last couple of months came to a close on Thursday, giving up six runs in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles. In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5767,"featured_media":123460,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1071,35],"tags":[6119,3614,6296,29182,4891,29569,5834,29431],"class_list":["post-123453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-redsox","category-mlb","category-news","tag-brayan-bello","tag-garrett-crochet","tag-greg-weissert","tag-joe-la-sorsa","tag-johan-oviedo","tag-jovani-moran","tag-patrick-sandoval","tag-tyler-samaniego"],"modified_by":"Augustus Oswald, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123453"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123462,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123453\/revisions\/123462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}