The Red Sox have sent John Lester to the minors but he will likely return to regain his starting job next week with the Red Sox when rosters expand.  Lester has started 6 games this season for the Red Sox and he is 2-0 with a 5.67 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.  In 33.1 innings for the Sox Lester has allowed 33 hits, walked 14 batters and whiffed 24.  Julian Tavarez will take Lester’s next start on Sunday against the White Sox.  Tavarez has pitched in 27 games (20 starts) this season for the Red Sox and he is 6-9 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.  In 116.2 innings this season Tavarez has allowed 132 hits, walked 44 batters and whiffed 68.  The Red Sox have recalled lefty reliever Javier Lopez to replace Lester on the active roster.  Lopez never deserved to get sent to the minors in the first place as he has pitched in 44 games this season for the Red Sox and he is 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.

The Red Sox have signed shortstop Royce Clayton to a minor league contract.  He played in 69 games this season with the Blue Jays this year and he was 48 for 189 (.254 avg, .648 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 1 homer and 12 RBIs.  The Red Sox will probably call Clayton up to the majors next week when rosters expand on September 1st.

David Ortiz is still ripping the baseball.  He has been good all season but he’s really picked it up lately.  Since the All-Star Break, Ortiz has played in 34 games and he is 45 for 134 (.336 avg, .925 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 7 homers and 28 RBIs.  Ortiz is having another monster season in Boston as he has now played in 115 games this season and he is 137 of 427 (.321 avg, .997 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 21 homers and 80 RBIs.

The Red Sox were probably screaming “Yahtzee” when they found out that Chris Carter was the player to be named later for Wily Mo Pena.  Carter is a 25-year old lefty swinging 1B who was ranked by Baseball America as the Diamondbacks #17 ranked prospect before the season started.  Carter has played in 126 AAA games this season and he is 163 for 503 (.324 avg, .904 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 18 homers and 84 RBIs.  Look for the Red Sox to call Carter up when rosters expand on September 1st.

The Boston Red Sox have ridded themselves of Wily Mo Pena by trading him + cash to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.  Pena was having a rough time this season for the Red Sox as he could never get enough playing time to get his bat going.  But, he played often got booed lustily by the Fenway Faithful due to his propensity to whiff and make errors.  He might turn out o.k. in Washington where he will likely get to play everyday and have a lot less pressure than he was under playing in Boston.  The Red Sox have recalled Bobby Kielty who is much more suited to come off the bench than Pena was.  Kielty played in 10 games at AAA Pawtucket and he was 9 for 38 (.237 avg, .747 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 5 RBIs.