Veteran lefty Derek Holland is headed to the Red Sox, as Holland himself strongly hinted this afternoon on Twitter. MLBTR has confirmed that Holland will join the Red Sox on a minor league deal, although the team has yet to officially announce the move.
Holland has pitched in each of the past 13 MLB seasons, spending time with the Rangers, White Sox, Giants, Cubs, Pirates and Tigers. He is probably best known for his time in Texas from 2009 to 2016, appearing in 179 games, including 158 starts. He threw 985 innings with a 4.35 ERA, 18.9% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate.
A one-year, $6MM deal with the White Sox in 2017 didn’t go as planned, with Holland’s ERA shooting up to 6.20 over 135 innings. His 16.6% strikeout rate and 12% walk rate also didn’t inspire much confidence. However, he had a terrific bounceback in 2018 after signing a minor league deal with the Giants. He eventually made 30 starts and came out of the ’pen six times, throwing 171 1/3 innings with a 3.57 ERA, 23.2% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate.
That was enough for the Giants to bring him back for 2019 with a one-year deal that came with a $7MM guarantee. Holland’s pendulum swung back the other way, though, as his ERA went back up to 6.08. Despite still getting strikeouts at a healthy rate of 21.8%, his walk rate went back up to 12% on the year.
The past two years have seen Holland sign minor league deals with rebuilding clubs, then soaking up innings throughout the year, primarily out of the bullpen. Between his 2020 season with the Pirates and 2021 season with the Tigers, he logged 90 1/3 total innings, with a 5.88 ERA, 23.8% strikeout rate and 8.7% walk rate.
The Red Sox don’t have a strong need for southpaws in their bullpen, as they recently added Jake Diekman and Matt Strahm to a relief corps that already had Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez. However, the rotation has some uncertainty, as it was recently revealed that Chris Sale is going to be sidelined with a stress fracture in his rib. Nathan Eovaldi has been healthy the past couple of years, but has dealt with his share of injuries prior to that. Rich Hill threw 158 2/3 innings last year, the second-highest mark of his career, but has frequently been injured before and is now 42 years old. Michael Wacha hasn’t topped 130 innings since 2017. Holland, on the other hand, has only been on the MLB injured list three times in his career, and never for more than about a month, giving the Red Sox as a veteran safety net, should they need one over the course of the season.
Chaim
Gives me PTSD from the white sox
I usually see Bloom finding gold mines while dumpster diving but I’m not sure this is one of them.
No lose situation. If he sucks in FL, he doesn’t come north and if he does, it suggests he outperformed others.
Holland led the league in shutouts…uh…11 years ago. He can still surprise.
I know it’s a no lose situation, I’m just not getting my hopes up, that’s all.
Cool.
A.L East is always such a tough division. Every year you never know who will win the division. Red Sox, Rays are still power houses, elite ran organizations… It’ll be a battle to win that division. I’m worried already as a Jays fan.
I wouldn’t be. This is a Jays/Rays race imo. Boston is an unknown. They over performed last year and havent done a lot to improve. The Yankees could put up a fight for 2nd but I think itll finish Jays, Rays, Yanks, Sox, O’s this year.
Could be any one of those 4.
Track record is not good on this one, and what will it be in the AL East?
Yeah. Can never have too many lefties I guess
As long as a pitcher with past success is breathing, someone will throw a minor league contract at him.
Lmao
I know……I know……
Chaim should have traded their 2 best prospects for Kimbrel and given him a 2 year extension for $37m.
We would appreciate that, yes… phone lines are now open.
Very cool of holland to keep trying, no one can tell you stop doing what you love. Even though his ERA has been over a 5 since 2015, I hope he can go out on his own terms.
No risk move but still pointless. Guy is awful. Watched him on the pirates a few years ago and it was batting practice whenever he was on the mound
Tanking team’s wet dream.
He will great at throwing batting practice during real MLB games.
now lets read the’
chaim is a genius in this move, he knows what hes doing’
no, he doesnt, and this is an awful signing.
Amanda you make me glad there is a mute button, so I will no longer your cr@p
we are no longer a ‘ powerhouse’ in pitching, with or without sale, we are going to end up having 1 of the worst rotations in the AL.
I’m hoping this means with end up with a couple solid lefty relievers. I think this makes 5. We’re watching all the impact Free Agents sign elsewhere. Maybe Chaim is making a serious play for Story??
side note,
why is chaim bloom obsessed with getting guys who are 32 years old or older? is that like, his favorite number?
Innings eater if he makes it. Sox are going to be without Sale early and Rich Hill isn’t good for a lot of innings so Holland could come in handy early
ENOUGH WITH THE MINOR LEAGUE DEALS!!!
Random, but it’s absolutely a disgrace how Curt Schilling is not in the hall of fame, over his own personal views. It’s an absolute joke. Those losers voting shouldn’t even be allowed to vote on baseball.
Holland has made 44million and qualifies right now for a full mlb pension with his 12 yrs completed.I’m jealous.
Apparently Clay Buchholz and the late Bill Monbouquette didn’t return Bloom’s calls.
Bloom must be a disciple of Dan Duquette. He has even more scratch ticket arms than Duquette ever had. He has assembled pitching that was great 5 to 10 years ago.
He is like Duquette too in Being in on everything but coming up a day late and a dollar short. Bloom always comes up empty. Even the trade of Betts was not a great one.
Way to go Bloom!!! We’re back baby!!! What is it with this guy and his dumpster diving bargains. For God’s sake pick up some good players. It’s quality not quantity Bloom!!