BOSTON - On Thursday, rosters will expand for major league teams, enabling them to add as many as 15 more players -- if they so choose.
The Sox, of course, won't be adding nearly that many. In fact, they'll probably only promote three or so players by Sept. 1, with additional players added after minor league seasons end on Labor Day.
The Sox call-ups will come in two waves. A look at who might be called up and when.
FOR FRIDAY: (the Red Sox are off Thursday)
* catcher Ryan Hanigan
* reliever Joe Kelly
* outfielder Bryce Brentz.
Boston Red Sox
Hanigan is finishing up a rehab assignment and will provide the Sox with a third catcher, enabling John Farrell to either pinch-hit or pinch-run for one of his two catchers (Bryan Holaday and Sandy Leon) without worrying that he's putting himself in a potential bind.
Kelly would give the Red Sox another swing-and-miss bullpen option, though he's yet to establish himself as big league reliever.
Meanwhile Brentz would give the Sox another outfield option with the injury to Andrew Benintendi and further free up Brock Holt for infield duties.
FOR TUESDAY: (Day after International League season ends):
* reliever Heath Hembree
* infielder Deven Marrero
* reliever Noe Ramirez
Hembree has been effective in spurts and could offer some match-up options against righthanded hitters.
Marrero was a September call-up last year and could be a late-inning defensive replacement for Travis Shaw at third, or spell Xander Bogaerts at short if the Sox want to rest Bogaerts in one-sided games.
In the bullpen, Ramirez would serve as a long man in games in which a starter is knocked out early.