| News |
|---|
|
Patrick Sandoval Patrick Sandoval Gets $18.25M deal from Boston
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 10:02 AM
The Red Sox signed Sandoval (elbow) to a two-year, $18.25 million contract Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Sandoval underwent internal brace surgery in June and was non-tendered by the Angels last month. He will be sidelined until the second half of the 2025 season but nonetheless landed a strong contract from the Red Sox. It's a fit that makes sense on paper, as Sandoval has strong secondary pitches but a weak fastball and the Red Sox leaned on non-fastballs in 2024 under the guidance of new pitching coach Andrew Bailey. |
|
Garrett Crochet Garrett Crochet No plans to change mix
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 5:07 PM
Crochet said last Friday that he doesn't intend to have any radical change to his pitch mix for the upcoming season, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Crochet toyed with a sinker late last season and felt it gave him a fifth pitch to throw at any time, but the left-hander indicated he won't deviate much from the four-seamer/cutter usage this season. He made quite the jump in 2024, moving from the bullpen to the rotation while throwing 146 innings over 32 starts. Crochet projects as Boston's No. 1 starter. |
|
Michael Fulmer Michael Fulmer Could be stretched out to start
Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3:27 PM
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday that Fulmer (elbow) could be used as a starting pitcher in 2025, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Fulmer missed the 2024 season while recovering from UCL revision surgery and has been used as a reliever almost exclusively since 2021. He was a starter in his first four big-league seasons, however, and while it's much likelier that he'll ultimately settle into a relief role, it doesn't hurt to stretch him out a bit to give the Red Sox options. Fulmer is expected to be ready for spring training. |
|
Enmanuel Valdez Enmanuel Valdez DFA'd by Boston
Wed, Dec 11, 2024, 7:15 PM
The Red Sox designated Valdez for assignment Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Following the acquisition of Carlos Narvaez from the Yankees, Valdez will end up as the odd man out of a spot on Boston's 40-man roster. The 25-year-old utility man slashed just .214/.270/.363 in 223 big-league plate appearances last season, though his defensive versatility could prompt another team to take him in off waivers. |
|
Carlos Narvaez Carlos Narvaez Shipped to Boston
Wed, Dec 11, 2024, 7:07 PM
The Yankees traded Narvaez to the Red Sox on Wednesday in exchange for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international signing bonus pool money, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Narvaez appeared in six games for the Yankees in 2024, during which he went 3-for-13 at the plate with six strikeouts. However, he slashed .254/.370/.412 with 58 RBI and nine stolen bases in Triple-A, and he should have a solid chance to supplant Mickey Gasper as Boston's backup catcher during spring training. Enmanuel Valdez was designated for assignment in order to make room for Narvaez on the 40-man roster. |
|
Garrett Crochet Garrett Crochet Dealt to Boston
Wed, Dec 11, 2024, 12:57 PM
The Red Sox acquired Crochet from the White Sox on Wednesday in exchange for Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Red Sox missed out on free-agent lefties Max Fried and Blake Snell but have reeled in a big rotation addition via the trade route. Crochet, 25, had a breakout 2024 season in his first year as a starter, collecting a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209:33 K:BB over 146 innings. He is projected to earn around $3 million in 2025 and will be under team control in 2026, as well. |
|
Garrett Whitlock Garrett Whitlock Multi-inning relief role possible
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 8:38 AM
Red Sox chief of baseball operations Craig Breslow suggested Whitlock (elbow) could be used as a multi-inning reliever in 2025, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports, "He was very successful in a multi-inning leverage role, to the point that he was a real weapon that Alex (Cora) could deploy," Breslow said.
Analysis: Whitlock underwent an internal bracing procedure last May and may best be deployed out of the bullpen. Following a successful 2021 as a multi-inning reliever, Whitlock spent the next three seasons in a hybrid starter/reliever role but dealt with injuries. As the Red Sox talk about adding a front-end starter this offseason, it makes sense from a health and workload-management perspective for Whitlock to work out of the bullpen in 2025. In four seasons as a reliever, Whitlock has a 2.65 ERA and 10.2 K/9 over 132.2 innings. |
|
Liam Hendriks Liam Hendriks Optimism in front office
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 8:21 AM
Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Hendriks (elbow) should be "fully healthy" to begin the 2025 season, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Breslow also cited Hendriks' "impressive track record at closing games," which suggests the door is open for the right-hander to win the closer's job. He didn't pitch in a competitive game during the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The identity of Boston's closer was thrown into uncertainty after the team agreed to terms last week with Aroldis Chapman on a deal that becomes official once Chapman passes a physical. |
|
Aroldis Chapman Aroldis Chapman Gets one-year deal with Boston
Tue, Dec 3, 2024, 9:50 AM
Chapman agreed to a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Control continues to be a major issue for Chapman, who issued 39 free passes over 61.2 innings with the Pirates in 2024. However, he also struck out 98 batters and, even though he will turn 37 years old in February, he still ranked in the 98th percentile in fastball velocity this past season. With Kenley Jansen expected to depart in free agency, Chapman will be a candidate to close in Boston, along with Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten. |
|
Rafael Devers Rafael Devers Position switch being discussed
Mon, Nov 25, 2024, 8:35 AM
The Red Sox have had internal discussions about moving Devers off third base, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Devers battled through lingering issues with both shoulders during the 2024 season and again graded out poorly defensively at third base with a minus-six Outs Above Average rating. If the Red Sox do ultimately decide to shift him away from the hot corner, they would likely have both Devers and Triston Casas bounce back-and-forth between first base and designated hitter. Third base would then be filled by a free agent or trade acquisition, with Boston being connected to Alex Bregman, Willy Adames and Nolan Arenado. Finding a taker for Masataka Yoshida's contract is also part of the equation. |
|
Isaiah Campbell Isaiah Campbell Quick return to Boston
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 9:37 PM
Campbell agreed to a minor-league deal with the Red Sox on Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Campbell was non-tendered by the Red Sox on Friday, but just hours later this new deal was announced. He's likely to begin the season working in relief with Triple-A Worcester. |
|
Bryan Mata Bryan Mata Staying in Boston
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 9:34 PM
The Red Sox signed Mata (elbow/lat) to a minor-league contract Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Boston non-tendered Mata on Friday after designating him for assignment Tuesday, but the 25-year-old right-hander will stick around with the Red Sox organization. He'll continue to work through his rehab program for right shoulder and elbow soreness, and if he's healthy, he'll have a chance to earn a spot on the Red Sox's major-league roster in spring training. |
|
Nate Eaton Nate Eaton Latches on with BoSox
Wed, Nov 20, 2024, 9:18 PM
Eaton signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday and received an invitation to spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: Eaton spent the entirety of last season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, where he slashed .252/.299/.439 with 16 homers and 59 RBI across 460 plate appearances. A career .201 hitter in the majors, Eaton is unlikely to break camp with the big-league squad and will presumably spend most of the year at Triple-A Worcester. |
|
Seby Zavala Seby Zavala Latches on with Boston
Wed, Nov 20, 2024, 1:02 PM
The Red Sox signed Zavala to a minor-league contract on Monday.
Analysis: Zavala, 31, is a career .205/.271/.342 hitter over parts of five major-league seasons. He will give the Red Sox some veteran catching depth at Triple-A Worcester. |
|
Bryan Mata Bryan Mata Cast off 40-man
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 7:05 PM
The Red Sox designated Mata (elbow/lat) for assignment Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Mata missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury and missed the final three months due to shoulder and elbow soreness and never got surgery, which likely contributed to him getting squeezed off the 40-man roster. He is 25 and hasn't thrown more than 30 innings in a season since he threw 83 innings in 2022. Mata has a career 4.87 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 70 strikeouts in 61 innings at Triple-A and his best path forward is likely as a reliever who can just let it rip with his fastball and slider in short bursts. |
|
Isaiah Campbell Isaiah Campbell Loses 40-man roster spot
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 7:00 PM
The Red Sox designated Campbell (elbow) for assignment Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Campbell missed the second half of 2024 with elbow inflammation and never got surgery, so the injury may have played a role in him losing his spot on the 40-man roster as Boston looked to protect some prospects from the Rule 5 draft. Campbell had a 2.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 19:5 K:BB in 14 appearances at Triple-A, but he gave up 12 earned runs in 6.2 MLB innings and his fastball velocity was down to 93.8 mph from the 95.0 mph he averaged in 2023 with Seattle. |
|
Justin Wilson Justin Wilson Agrees to deal with Boston
Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 11:51 AM
The Red Sox signed Wilson to a one-year, $2.25 million contract Thursday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Analysis: He will have the ability to earn an additional $750,000 in incentives. After missing the 2023 season following Tommy John surgery, Wilson held a 5.59 ERA but a 51:13 K:BB across 46.2 frames for the Reds in 2024. The 37-year-old will give the Red Sox another lefty in the bullpen alongside Brennan Bernardino. |
|
Tanner Houck Tanner Houck Open to contract extension
Tue, Nov 12, 2024, 10:27 AM
Houck is "always open" to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Analysis: Houck is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under team control through 2027, so it's not clear how much of a priority he is for the team to lock up on a long-term deal. The 28-year-old is coming off a terrific 2024 campaign, having collected a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames covering 30 starts. |
|
Garrett Whitlock Garrett Whitlock Role for 2025 undecided
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 1:13 PM
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday that the team is undecided on what role Whitlock (elbow) will fill in 2025, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Breslow added that he does plan to define Whitlock's role eventually, but factoring into the decision will be what happens with other potential pitching additions the club makes this offseason. Whitlock underwent an internal brace procedure in May and is likely to get a late start to 2025 regardless of the role he fills, although the rehab would take longer if the Red Sox elect to stretch him out to be in the rotation. |
|
Rob Refsnyder Rob Refsnyder 2025 option exercised
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 10:09 AM
The Red Sox exercised Refsnyder's $2.1 million club option for 2025.
Analysis: Refsnyder was a useful platoon bat for the Red Sox again in 2024, slashing .283/.359/.471 with 11 homers over 93 games, which included a .941 OPS versus left-handed pitching. Boston currently projects to be very left-handed heavy again in 2025, so Refsnyder should be busy again as a short-side platoon outfielder. |
Connect With Us:
