Manager Alex Cora announced today that Drew Pomeranz is being shifted to the bullpen, as Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe was among those to tweet.
The move hardly comes as a surprise by measure of Pomeranz’ merit. After all, the lefty has walked more batters than he’s struck out in three starts since returning from his second stint on the disabled list already this season. On the whole, the 29-year-old has averaged fewer than five innings in his 11 starts on the season while pitching to an eye-popping 6.31 ERA (5.96 FIP). He currently owns a 1-5 record, and although that’s not the greatest measure of a pitcher’s talent, he also allowed at least four earned runs in four of those five losses.
The move will make room for the return of Chris Sale to the rotation when he ultimately returns from the DL this weekend, leaving Rick Porcello, David Price, Brian Johnson and the recently-acquired Nate Eovaldi to round out Boston’s starting five. Though Pomeranz certainly won’t intimidate many hitters coming out of bullpen if he continues to pitch the way he has, it’s interesting to point out that he’ll become the lone left-handed reliever that Sox have on hand. Though his overall 2018 performance has been thoroughly disastrous, a quick look at his splits show that Pomeranz has actually done a reasonable job at getting out opposing left-handed hitters. They own just a 3.61 FIP against him in a limited sample.
Of course, there’s not much in the way of a silver lining for Pomeranz himself. The timing of his struggles couldn’t be worse, as the southpaw is slated to hit free agency at season’s end and previously figured to be one of the most sought-after targets in a thin 2018-2019 free agent starting pitcher class. After some early-career struggles that led to somewhat of a journeyman adventure, Pomeranz caught fire with the Athletics in 2014 and went on to hurl 499 1/3 innings through the end of the 2017 season. During that span, he managed to consistently out-pitch his peripherals and earned a 3.24 ERA mark that bested his FIP by more than half a run. He also struck out more than a batter per inning during that time.
For now, though, it seems as though Pomeranz is destined to pitch out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season. In order to restore his free agent stock, he’ll need to pitch well enough to earn a place in Boston’s playoff rotation, and he’ll face a difficult battle in that area considering how little time he has to make that case.
Lingering injuries…..
That’s probably the case. If his contract had another year, he probably would still be on the DL. Solid pitcher who can’t stay healthy.
I was wrong. This guy is your Sonny Gray!
Just kidding. Sonny was brilliant in his first relief outing.. We’ll see if Pomeranz can transition. His numbers look much worse, and sadly, this might make it even tougher for the Yanks, to make up the 9.0 game deficit in the AL East.
Pomeranz did great when he was in the bullpen with the A’s after struggling in the rotation so I makes sense to give him a shot there
Xab, please don’t compare the two. Pomerantz did fine in Boston until this year. Gray had a solid rookie year but has been more down than up since. The only comparison I see is Gray also couldn’t stay healthy in Oakland.
They were both traded for.
Both injury-prone. (You said it yourself)
Both came from California team.
Both SP disappointments converted to long man.
Admire your respectful manner for which you disagreed, so I’ll admit Pomeranz was successful with BOS initially, but it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish ;)
PS: Sonny had relative success his first year NYY, with 3.72 ERA with the Yankees.
Xabial- I agree 100% and I’m a Red Sox fan
Killed it with the A’s as a pen guy. So there is hope.
As a Red Sox fan I hope he can provide some value out of the bullpen, the Red Sox rotation September 1 should look something like Sale, Porcello, Erod, Evo and Price
MB hope is good. There is a glimmer but he can’t find the plate.
Something tells me Walkeranz will be mopping up blowouts.
After September 1st he will provide relief to the starting staff as their innings load create DL stints.
Not wishing anything bad—just saying that history has a way of repeating itself.
Price will be first.
Next stop Pawtucket
Trade him back to the Padres
Why would they be interested in trading for a pending FA with an ERA in the 6’s?
It’s where he had his biggest success?
PETCO park factor? (Easier to pitch there)
*shrugs* I’m outsider, you know more about Pads
If Padres want him they won’t trade for him they’ll just sign him in the offseason
I don’t imagine that was a serious suggestion.
You can have 3 trash cans and a case of Gatorade. Morejon is staying here, stop being salty that one trade didn’t go your way.
Drew was amazing as a reliever with the A’s. Maybe that is the direction he needs to take – David Price too – and forget about that nonsense of being a starter…
A $33 million reliever.
Lol
Hey Mikeyank have you heard the those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones you just got swept so go back under your bridge troll.
1012….Must be mad because Price shut down NY in his last start. Tears flowing all over his coloring book.
Could be as good as any acquisition for the bullpen!
Doubtful. He was moved since he is pretty awful
Long overdue
Pomeranz lost his fastball late last year.
Kenny Lofton should be moved to the Hall of Fame