Breaking Red Sox News: Boston ‘in active discussions’ with free agent Garrett Richards

The Boston Red Sox have been busy this Friday night signing utilityman Kiké Hernandez to a two-year, $14 million deal. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi is reporting the Red Sox “are in active discussions” with free agent starting pitcher Garrett Richards.

Richards, 32, has spent the last two seasons with the Padres. Last season, he made 10 starts for the San Diego, posting a 4.03 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. 

Sources: #RedSox are in active discussions with free agent Garrett Richards. Multiple teams were talking with Richards as of today. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 23, 2021

This past season, Richards was able to stay healthy and it was his first full healthy season since 2015. He made 32 starts back in 2015 for the Angels posting a 15-12 record and a 3.65 ERA. His career looked promising in Los Angeles but injuries have taken a tole on the veteran right-hander. 

Richards Medical Chart

If the Red Sox sign Richards there would be some risk involved given his past history. The current Red Sox rotation has some injury question marks with Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez and Nathan Eovaldi. But if he were to remain healthy, he would provide Boston some considerable depth in their flawed rotation.

Richards was having a highly successful 2014 season where he was looked at as the ace of the staff. After making 26 starts he would go on to tear a tendon in his left knee. He would finish the season with a 13-4 record and a 2.61 ERA. 

He would recover and he wasn’t quite the same in 2015. During the 2016 season, he would suffer a high-grade UCL tear in his pitching elbow. He wouldn’t pursue Tommy John surgery, but experimental stem-cell therapy. Over the course of the next few seasons, however, he had other issues including a right-biceps strain, a left-hamstring strain, ultimately he suffered more UCL damage, cutting the final year with the Angels.

Following his second UCL injury, Richards opted for Tommy John surgery. He would rehab and sign a two-year deal with the Padres. Richards enters this offseason as a free agent and looking for a new home. The Padres added Blake Snell and Yu Darvish this offseason basically ruling out a return to the team. 

Richards to Boston?

Source: Red Sox’ talks with Garrett Richards are active and evolving. So it looks like something may come together on that front.

Sides touched base early in winter but hadn’t gotten very far. It appears in the last few days, things have begun to get serious.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 23, 2021

Richards would give the Red Sox another legitimate starting pitcher in their rotation. If he can find his form he had in the 2014 season, Richards could be a steal for Boston.

There are going to be some major question marks surrounding his overall health. The Red Sox have made it public they weren’t expecting to sign any starter to more than a three-year pact. Based off Richards past history, it would be very surprising to see him get anything more than a one-year deal with a possible option-year.

Sources: Red Sox are expected to have a deal in place with Garrett Richards by the end of the weekend

— Anything But E (@Anything_ButE) January 23, 2021

The twitter handle, Anything But E was one of the first to report Hernandez to Boston last night. Tonight they are reporting Richards to Boston is done.

Sources: Red Sox’ talks with Garrett Richards are serious and have picked up significant momentum, but other teams are in the mix.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 23, 2021

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