Red Sox Demote Campbell Amid Devers Trade, Tension

The Boston Red Sox have demoted rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester after a prolonged slump at the plate and defensive struggles, despite his strong start and early AL Rookie of the Month honors. Campbell, who signed an eight-year, $60 million contract extension, has hit just .159 since May, committing seven errors—the second-most among MLB second basemen. The demotion follows the recent high-profile trade of Rafael Devers to the Giants and comes amid rumors of clubhouse tension, though manager Alex Cora clarified that Campbell did not volunteer to play first base as speculated. Outfielder Wilyer Abreu is expected to return from injury to fill Campbell's roster spot. The Red Sox, currently 39-37 and in Wild Card contention, continue to rely on young prospects like Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony. While Campbell’s struggles mark a setback for Boston’s youth movement, his long-term potential remains high.