Red Sox look to add depth as Anthony, Story and Kiner-Falefa begin rehab assignments

The Red Sox are planning for a sturdier look down the stretch after it was reported that Roman Anthony, Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are scheduled to open Minor League rehab assignments in the coming days. The timing matters for a club that often needs established bats and experienced infield defense to keep production steady while the regular season winds down toward postseason seeding.

According to the Red Sox report, Anthony is expected to be first out of the gate among the three players. That sequence suggests Boston is prioritizing a measured return to game action, using the rehab framework to ramp up without immediately asking players to resume full workloads at the major-league level.

Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are listed as next in line for rehab stints, part of the same broader plan to bring back multiple pieces. In practical terms, rehabs allow a team to evaluate readiness, track performance under live-game conditions, and adjust timing based on how each player responds to hitting and/or fielding demands.

The announcement also reflects how Boston is approaching roster depth in the final stretch. Players returning from time away can change lineup construction, both in terms of who bats where and how the infield and utility roles get distributed. Even without immediate guarantees of starting spots, the availability of experienced options typically gives a manager more flexibility for matchups and late-inning needs.

The team’s late-season planning is being shaped by the rehab calendar rather than by short-term moves. Rehab stints are commonly used to bridge the gap between training and full MLB responsibilities, and starting multiple assignments close together can shorten the overall runway to reintegration if each player progresses as expected.

While the reported rehab plan points to a potential boost for Boston’s upcoming weeks, the precise impact will depend on how each player performs during the stint and whether they advance through the standard progression. For now, the immediate storyline is sequencing, with Anthony’s start serving as the first checkpoint for when Boston can realistically begin thinking about reinserting these players into its everyday plans.

As the Red Sox move from announcement to execution, the key thing to watch will be how quickly each assignment translates into on-field readiness and how Boston manages the transition between rehab games and major-league duties. The return of multiple position players, if it stays on track, could tighten the lineup and stabilize defensive alignments as the season heads into its most consequential phase.