Left-hander Ryan Sherriff announced over the weekend that he’s signed with the Red Sox (Twitter link). Presumably, it’s a minor league deal for the southpaw that’ll give him a chance to compete for a job during spring training.
Sherriff, 32, has pitched in parts of four Major League seasons, most recently with the Rays in 2021. He sports a career 3.65 ERA with an 18.7% strikeout rate, 8.8% walk rate and 56% ground-ball rate in 44 1/3 innings at the MLB level. He originally reached the Majors with the 2017 Cardinals and pitched quite well during his debut (3.14 ERA, 15-to-4 K/BB ratio in 14 1/3 innings). However, Sherriff suffered an elbow injury in 2018 that required Tommy John surgery, which wiped out the remainder of his 2018 season.
The Cardinals released Sherriff after that surgery-shortened campaign, at which point he latched on with the Rays on a minor league contract. He made it back to a minor league mound for seven innings in 2019, remained with the organization into the shortened 2020 season, and was back in the big leagues that summer, when he tossed 9 2/3 shutout innings (albeit with only two strikeouts). Sherriff tossed two shutout innings for the Rays in that year’s World Series against the Dodgers.
Sherriff’s 2021 season, however, didn’t prove as fruitful. He pitched just 14 2/3 big league innings and was rocked for 11 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits and nine walks. He struck out 16 batters along the way but also plunked four hitters. He pitched well enough in Triple-A that the Phillies claimed him off waivers after the Rays designated him for assignment, but Sherriff spent the majority of his 2022 season with the Phillies on the injured list due to a shoulder strain.
Though injuries have slowed his career at various junctures, Sherriff boasts a 3.11 ERA in 170 2/3 Triple-A innings and a 3.65 mark in 44 1/3 MLB frames. He’s not a flamethrower (92.3 mph average sinker in 2021) and has below-average strikeout rates, but Sherriff has been a ground-ball machine who’s had success at every level when healthy enough to take the mound.
Joely Rodriguez and Josh Taylor are the Red Sox’ two primary lefty options in the bullpen. There’s not a great deal of depth beyond that pair, so Sherriff could be a viable option at some point if he’s back to full strength.
The Rangers should have picked up Sherriff.
Then, there would be at least 1 real man on the team.
There’s a new Sherriff in town!
Exactly what I was going to say, Bosox!
Im still hoping for Britton, Moore, or Chafin.
With Taylor returning and all the guys they’ve added to the pen already, I can’t see them adding any more relievers unless they’re on minor league deals. Which doesn’t necessarily rule out Britton IMO, I could see him needing to settle for a split contract, but it still seems unlikely
Yeah, unless Bloom decides to DFA Tanner Houck. I wouldn’t put it by him.
Too bad the Cubs didn’t sign him – they could have had two “sheriffs” then.
But they did not sign the deputy
The Phillies shot Sherriff, apparently.
He will be up once Saux fans get a taste of Lowly Rodriguez
Still having coffee. Will comment soon
Regular or decaf?
Espresso
Since the bullpen now has a Sherriff, does that make the rest of the relievers the “Posse”?
Watch your language!!!
Well if he was Magnum on the new TV show, it would be included.
Sherriff will have to do until a Marshall is brought in.
Will he be playing second base?
Another bum to add to the shelter.
Teams need this pitcher types to fill out the split squads in spring training.
Red Sox Spring training could be a freaking blast for them if they lower their expectations and hope for a miracle. They come home with shirts and autographs.
Like fantasy camp.
They signed the Sherriff, but they did not sign the deputy.
We don’t talk about that.
That’s the first rule of MLBTR Club.
Eleven seasons in the minors and four seasons and 44.1 IP in the majors.
Anything odd about signing this guy to a minor league contract? Normally, yes. With Bloom, absolutely not. He’s in his wheelhouse. Great pick-up Bloom. Good thing the team will have to cut someone to make room for this guy.
I often wonder if people realize that for every junk player Bloom has added he’s had to discard someone to make room for them. I would love to see if any of the discards have been greater than the additions in the long run. More than likely we’re talking completely ineffective players going in and coming out but someone should do an inventory of those entering and leaving through the revolving door just to validate they were all bad and no gems ended up outside the organization.
Minor League Contract. This means no one from the 40 gets bumped. At worst, some mid level prospect stays at lasts years level.
He doesn’t have to discard anyone when he signs someone to a minor league contract. This guy will be at Worcester
Good God dude.
Curtisrowe – Are there a set number of players on each roster at each level? If so, then one player gets added and one player gets dropped.
This is the problem with guys like you. You don’t really understand how things work. The minor league player that will be released to make room for this bum could become a star down the road. It’s not very likely but with each gamble of a guy getting better is a gamble of the guy being released getting better.
The unlimited moves by Bloom all have corresponding releases. Good God dude. Learn the game.
Pulled – yes and no.
I’m fine with this move and related is as a good pick up, you can always hope for a miracle where he bumps brasier away. You hear that JoeBrady? I said good job to bloom on this one.
Now, as for MiLB, AAA has a 28man active roster, and, up to 10 more players (38 total) that can be with the team but not count as eligible to play.
As a practical matter, those extra 10 spots (which also exist at AA) are for filler like this. Players who aren’t playing aren’t developing, so, there’s not a huge point is stashing guys who just sit there all season like the 14 extra 40 man players do on a MLB roster by play in the minors.
That gives you 20 free-for-all spots heading into ST to see what may happen. While lower levels of MiLB ball also have extra roster spots, theres age and experience considerations that apply to hold one.
Some Sox fans have gotten to the completely irrational point of complaining about literally everything Chaim Bloom does. Their whole premise is “if Bloom made a move it must be wrong” even if they just criticized him for making the polar opposite type of move a hour ago.
kingken67 – Well articulated. Not true but well articulated.
Bloom simply makes lots of bad moves. Each person has reasons to not like them so it’s not just because he did it. It’s expected because he’s so bad but EVERYONE on the site reviews the move and comes to their own conclusion as to whether it’s bad or good. Nobody just says it’s bad because Bloom did it but if they did their chance of being right is significantly high!!!
NM
There’s an old Sherriff in town.
Tony Fossas wannabe.
Too bad he couldn’t work with Bill Monbouquette.
Not a bad signing. I can live with this. No lose situation
There’s a new sherrif in town…..and his name is Reggie Hammond.