‘Not overly tricky’: Why Red Sox have kept Ryan Watson amid recent bullpen churn

When the Red Sox made another bullpen swap Sunday, Ryan Watson stayed where he has been all season: corner locker by the laundry room, ready to throw as many innings as needed, whenever necessary.

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Watson, a rookie righthander pitching better lately, survived the latest round of reliever roulette — a decision that was “not that tough,” interim manager Chad Tracy said.

Instead, the Sox sent an undeserving Tyler Samaniego (1.04 ERA) to Triple-A Worcester to make room for Danny Coulombe, who returned from the injured list. That came two days after the Sox demoted Zack Kelly (3.31 ERA) to take a look at Tyron Guerrero.

“He’s done a pretty admirable job chewing up innings and keeping the bullpen intact in some certain spots,” Tracy said of Watson. “He has a role to fill and he’s been filling it, so not overly tricky.”

Among the reasons the Sox have kept Watson:

⋅ Watson is a Rule 5 draft pick, meaning he has to stay in the majors or be placed on waivers (and, if he clears waivers, offered back to his previous club, the Giants). He cannot be optioned to the minors. Samaniego and Kelly can. Since the Sox, like most teams, prioritize keeping as many pitchers as possible, Samaniego and Kelly became the tough-luck odd men out for now.

Rule 5 picks need to stay on the active roster for 90 days. If they are on the injured list for an extended period and don’t meet that minimum, the same rules apply the next season.

⋅ Watson owns a 3.46 ERA in May, an improvement over the 7.07 he posted in April.

“I’m just relaxing. I’m not trying to do too much, put too much pressure on myself to chase strikeouts or stuff like that,” Watson said, crediting advice from pitching coach Andrew Bailey for that mindset shift. “A couple of times it looked like I was tensing up a little bit, trying too hard to get a pitch to a location. That’s when things tend to go bad on the mound, when you try too hard to do certain things. So really just relaxing, trusting my ability.”

Perhaps related to his effectiveness: He has covered 13 innings across six appearances this month, with lots more rest mixed in. Last month, it was 14 innings in 11 games.

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⋅ Watson has covered three innings in three May appearances. There is value to having a reliever who can offer that length, sparing others from having to pitch in a game that seems decided.

“I’ve been kind of the bulk guy out of the ‘pen the last few weeks, so I’m just trying to embrace that role, eat up as many innings as I can, try to save some arms in the bullpen when we need it,” he said.

Samaniego, also a rookie, has been great, including opening his career with 15 consecutive scoreless innings. So Tracy didn’t enjoy sending him down.

“[Samaniego was] not surprised, but I think he was disappointed, as all guys are when you have this conversation with him,” Tracy said.

The Sox’ only other option was Greg Weissert. Other choices included cutting Watson or even Coulombe, who is guaranteed only $1 million this year.

“It’s not necessarily anything that [Samaniego] did wrong, but you’re trying as an organization to keep valuable resources and keep everything in line,” Tracy said. “Those guys [Samaniego and Kelly] will help us again. I told them both that.”

Roman Anthony (sprained right hand/wrist) remains in a no-swinging holding pattern. Tracy said the Red Sox would next consider having him try a dry swing with a bat in his hands on Tuesday — eight days after he experienced pain when he first tried to hit. In the meantime, he is running, throwing, and doing defensive work … Sunday marked the Twins’ first three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway since 1994, when Roger Clemens was on the Sox. His son, Kody Clemens, went 2 for 5 with an RBI … As Payton Tolle walked onto the rainy field Sunday morning, he offered a weather assessment and life advice in one fell swoop: ““The sun is out. You can’t see it, but it’s out there.”

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