Marcelo Mayer’s Red Sox career came to a remarkable, if unceremonious, end on Monday.
Before MLB’s trade deadline, the Sox sent him to the Giants for lefthanded reliever Erik Miller, a move to bolster the bullpen at the cost of a former perennial top prospect.
“[Mayer] was a really big part of this organization, someone that was looked upon to be part of a core,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said. “And I still think that’s going to happen. It’s going to happen with the San Francisco Giants at this point, but he’s an incredibly talented player.”
The Red Sox also got outfield prospect Carlos Gutierrez in the deal.
When the Sox drafted him No. 4 in 2021, Mayer was supposed to be the shortstop of the future, an impact player at the plate and in the field, presented as a foundational piece of the rebuild under Chaim Bloom.
During his climb through the minors and upon his arrival in the majors, however, Mayer had trouble staying on the field, particularly because of shoulder and wrist injuries. He has never played more than 91 games in a season — and even that high-water mark came back in 2022.
Across parts of two seasons in the majors, Mayer hit .223/.278/.346. He had wrist surgery last summer and has missed the past month-plus with a stress reaction in his left forearm.
“In no way is this [trade] an indictment of Marcelo,” Breslow said. “In some ways it’s probably a credit to the player development group and the organization that we were able to make this trade and still feel like we’ve got players in-house or who are able to fill a major league shortstop role.”
Mayer long was a premier trade chip but, at a low point in his value, the Sox cut bait for a reliever — a potentially very good reliever, but still a reliever.
Miller, 28, had been enjoying a second consecutive strong season with San Francisco (2.76 ERA), with his strikeout rate shooting up (to 31.7 percent from 17.2 last year). The Giants dabbled with using him in high-leverage spots, and with the Sox, Miller figures to join — with a chance to surpass — Jovani Morán as the go-to southpaws out of the bullpen.
Miller is listed at 6-foot-5-inches and 269 pounds, primarily throws a sinker (97 miles per hour on average) and slider, and wouldn’t be a free agent until after the 2029 season.
The Sox figure he can join a potentially monstrous back end of the bullpen that features closer Aroldis Chapman and setup men Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, and Tyron Guerrero.
“As you think about a bullpen down the stretch and potentially into the postseason,” Breslow said, “the ability to bring guys in who can get swings and misses and shorten the game when relievers are available almost every night because of the schedule becomes really, really valuable.”
Buzz on White
The Red Sox added Eli White in a minor deal to be a true all-three-spots backup outfielder, sending pitcher Tyler Uberstine to the Braves.
White, 32, has proven solid against lefthanders this season (.241/.312/.446), not so much against righties (.220/.235/.340). Breslow highlighted his “really, really” strong defense and said he can “change a game with his speed.”
“There are ways to make this work [despite a crowded depth chart],” he said. “We are going to do that and feel like he adds another level of athleticism to what I think has become the identity of this team.”
Chapman, Rafaela honored
Chapman was named the AL Reliever of the Month for July. He had a 0.75 ERA and converted on all 10 of his save opportunities amid the Red Sox’ best month in franchise history.
Ceddanne Rafaela was selected as the AL Player of the Week. He hit .419 with five home runs last week, including four in three games against the Dodgers.
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.