Red Sox Bullpen Revamping Underway
The Boston Red Sox are coming off a thrilling season that finished with a World Series championship.
Heading into the offseason, the Sox didn’t have much to worry about. The only real area of concern came from the bullpen, considering both Joe Kelly (signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers) and Craig Kimbrel were both heading to free agency.
The Sox needed to add some bullpen arms this offseason and they got to work yesterday signing both Erasmo Ramirez and Zach Putnam to minor league deals. Yes, they are minor league deals, but both pitchers have legitimate shots to make the roster in 2019.
The 28-year-old Ramirez had a less than desirable 2019 with the Seattle Mariners, but was a solid swingman between 2015-17 posting a 3.97 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
Putnam is a whole seperate case as he missed all of 2018 recovering from Tommy-John surgery, but before the injury to his elbow, Putnam was a reliable reliever for the Chicago White Sox. Between 2014 and 2017, he posted a 2.71 ERA in 130 games, striking out 149 batters along the way. If his recovery went and continues to go well, don’t be surprised if Putnam is a guy Cora goes to a lot in 2019.
There is no way that the Red Sox are finished with the bullpen but this is a good start. Relievers pop up from anywhere (ex. Ryan Brasier) and collecting a couple of pitchers with major league experience helps Boston’s depth.
-Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)
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