The Red Sox have signed right-hander Wyatt Mills to a minor league contract covering both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports (X link). The length of the deal reflects Mills’ health situation, as he underwent Tommy John surgery last July and may not pitch at all during the 2024 season.
Mills has a 6.21 ERA over 42 career innings in the majors, all with the Mariners and Royals during the 2021-22 seasons. While the early returns on his big league career have been uninspiring, Mills has a 3.25 ERA, 32.06% strikeout rate, and grounder rates usually over the 50% mark over his 188 1/3 innings in the minors.
Working out of the bullpen for all but one of his 155 games in the minors, Mills has some interesting potential as a bullpen arm, which is why both Kansas City and Boston have acquired the righty in trades during his young career. Mills went to K.C. as part of the Carlos Santana swap with the Mariners at the 2022 trade deadline, while the Red Sox then picked Mills up in a deal last winter.
Unfortunately for Mills, he has yet to throw an official pitch as a member of the Red Sox organization. He developed elbow inflammation during Spring Training and was sidelined for months before it was ultimately decided that Tommy John surgery was necessary. He did earn a full year of MLB service time for spending the season on the big league injured list, yet that’s small consolation considering the injury will now cost Mills (who turns 29 in January) possibly two full years of his career.
Mills wasn’t yet eligible for salary arbitration, but the Red Sox non-tendered him anyway last week to remove him from the 40-man roster. It’s safe to assume a handshake deal might’ve been in place to bring Mills back so quickly after he was non-tendered, and the Sox will now get to continue overseeing his TJ rehab and see what Mills can still bring to the table in 2025. It’s not out of the question that he can bank at least some minor league innings in late 2024, since as a reliever, Mills won’t need to rebuild his arm to quite the same extent that a starter would when coming back from a Tommy John procedure.
WTF
He’s not owed a 40-man spot, who cares? No need to get worked up
U say that now, but when Ps n Cs start reporting n Wyatt Mills is still in ur top3 of big off-season acquisitions ull need a backup team to root4 by March.
floater – He was named after Wyatt Derp.
Seriously? He’s barely in the the top three acquisitions NOW and it isn’t even December yet.
M sry, im nt sure wat ur talkin bout
Extremely fortunate circumstance for the kid. Some people obv think a lot of his arm. Best of luck sir.
Small sample to be sure but Mills had some decent metrics according to Baseball Savant during the 2022 season.
It will be funny if someone picks him in the rule 5 draft which is possible because he is available in it.
“Pick him in the rule 5 draft”
And lose a 40-man roster spot all winter. And part of next season. Then same thing next winter. —- Highly unlikely.
He will likely spend the entire year on the 60-day IL, so a claiming team would only have their 40-man impacted for the winter. However, it’s still super unlikely he gets claimed, as he’d be subject to Rule 5 restrictions in 2025 too, which I doubt any team would want to deal with (especially seeing as no one just took the much simpler route of giving him a league-minimum contract when they had the chance).
“He will likely spend the entire year on the 60-day IL, so a claiming team would only have their 40-man impacted for the winter.”
And next season, you can’t put a Rule V player on the IR, then drop him off the 40-man after the season. He hasn’t completed his obligation yet. He would be taking up a roster spot all next off season too.
Why would we care we dropped him anyway..lol
In anyone going to sign anytime soon?
There will likely be a flurry of signings and trades in the league during and after the Winter Meetings from Dec. 3-6
Define “soon”.
MLB drives me nuts. In the NHL basically every free agent would have been signed by now.
@stubby66 – A team can select somebody who was enabled to become a free agent and later chose to sign a 2 yr minor league deal as a free agent? Are you sure that is true? Just curious. I suspect that once somebody has become a free agent, the Rule 5 draft is no longer part of their life, but I could certainly be wrong.
He was drafted in 2017 and is 28. Regardless or being a free agent or on a 40 man roster in the past, he is still rule 5 eligible.
Did Bloom get fired or rehired?
Right. So tired of the Sox signing injured pitchers. Hey guys there are plenty of healthy arms out there or don’t you want to spend the cash to sign them? Get to it! Chop chop!!
Yeah but at least the Tanaka rehab appeared to be a methodical process with a plan of action whereas this Mills situation appears to be more kicking the can down the road and twiddling thumbs & indecision. But this could be an ungenerous take.
Bloom’s replacement still needs to fill out the minor league rosters as well as the major league roster.
It’s early on but he has major Bloom vibes. We kept saying the same thing about Bloom and he ended up making the major league voids filled with pitchers like this. When Breslow does something meaningful, I’ll give credit where credit is due, but right now he has Bloom vibes.
This is not filling a major league void as it is a minor league deal. Mills is not even on the 40 man roster. He is far from the major league roster.
It’s a minor league deal but I wouldn’t take that at face value. A lot of those guys Bloom signed as Minors were used as key guys in the Majors at some point.
All I’m saying is we can’t give Breslow credit if credit isn’t due. He did a good job with the Seattle trade, but that’s all he’s done. He has not done much to separate him as any better or worse, his moves just remind me of Bloom. Let’s see if he finally makes some more meaningful deals or dumpster dives for talent like Bloom did.
It could very well be Bloom 1.0…maybe just added some stage makeup, a bit of strategic Botox, and added former MLB relief pitcher to his resume. The brain trust may have thought us rubes wouldn’t look into it very closely. We’re not as dumb as we look Henry!
He’s going to play at the Majors level or at least compete for a spot there, whether it’s a Minor League deal or not. Have you seen his stats?
A minor league deal, yes, but Major League depth. Very reminiscent of Bloom.
The minor leagues is mostly major league depth and players teams think can potentially have value at the major league level. Breslow is acquiring minor league depth like other teams. You make it sound incriminating that Mills will work in the minors toward making it to MLB. That is what the minor leagues are for. Some players will succeed in making it to MLB, but most will fail. There is also a shortage of good pitching in baseball. So, a lot of minor league depth pitching will be mediocre pitchers.
He’s going to play at the Majors level
========================
No, he won’t. He might not pitch at all this season.
Which is fine, I’m just hoping these dumpster dives aren’t the end all be alls like it was under Bloom.
I think he will. But maybe I’m wrong, we will see. The point is, Bloom signs these guys and has them play at the Majors. Breslow needs to do better than Bloom did. These can’t be his only deals.
Exactly my comment as well. I made it before I saw this, so I’ll give you a thumbs up. It’s like Bloom 2.0.
Since Saturday (just 2 days ago) The Red Sox, Phillies, Giants, Angels, Reds, Tigers, Braves, Angels and Mariners have signed players to minor league or minimal major league deals. Bloom must be working for a lot of teams.
Or maybe, this is the time of year teams like to add depth pieces that they may or may not need later. And these deals are largely inconsequential to the bigger picture. Nah, thats crazy talk. — Bloom’s definitely behind it.
Bigger deals should be made. Look at the Cardinals. They’re actually signing the big boys. Breslow knows we need Major Peague pitching, so where is it? I guess patience is a virtue, but until I see it, he’s not getting much credit from me at least.
Wow did Boston bungle his Tommy John surgery date or what? He sat for months with his arm in disarray before any decision could be made. I would think Boston could do better on the health evaluations and screenings geez.
You are presuming an awful lot with this post..have you been in the traners room with him?
No. I took my presumption straight from the article “He developed elbow inflammation during Spring Training and was sidelined for months before it was ultimately decided that Tommy John surgery was necessary.” That doesn’t sound very complimentary to the Red Sox trainers/medical staff to me.
I’ll take that over the Yankees’ failure to properly diagnose Rizzo’s concussion. Sometimes rehab can avoid TJS like Masahiro Tanaka who had a partially torn UCL and went on to pitch well for years.
Ignorant – Agreed, hafta wonder how much of a part the Sox medical staff also played in the disastrous Sale and Story contracts, to name a couple.
I was always under the impression that once you are selected to a 40 man roster or become a minor league free agent you are no longer rule 5 eligible. I cannot find any documentation that supports that but I also cannot remember any listed eligible player who had either of those criteria.
Looks like the only rules are:
“Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.”
mlb.com/glossary/transactions/rule-5-draft
Noah Song was taken in Rule 5 draft last year and added to the Phillies 40 man roster. He was later returned to the Red Sox, but not added to their 40 man roster and he is reportedly eligible for the Rule 5 draft this year.
Song was added via the rule 5 draft and returned whereas I don’t believe Mills was a rule 5 pick. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Mills is available, but no team would waste a pick on him.
The claiming team has to add him to their 40-man roster. Those spots during the winter are very valuable as teams try to hoard talent until sorting thing out in the spring.
If a team selects Mills they would be forfeiting a 40-man spot all winter, then place him on the 60-Day IR for most/all of the season. Then he would have to eat up a 40-man spot all next off-season with hopes of him making/contributing on the 2025 teams roster.
So selecting Mills loses you a 40-man spot, in both 2024 and 2025 off-seasons. Mills was waived only a few weeks ago. If any team really wanted him and wanted to use a 40-man spot, all they had to do was claim him then, and there would be no obligation to fulfill due to Rule V, and he would be on the team’s 40-man roster.
Basically there is no chance Mills will be claimed.
Rumor Mills. Yup.
Breslow’s looking like Bloom 2.0 early on. It’s early but that’s the vibe I’m getting so far
Believe he has same bosox FO handcuffs on as Bloom did.
I don’t know. Its got to be somewhat different if Bloom was fired
Is there an echo in here? How many times are you clowns gonna say Bloom 2.0?
“It’s early on but he has major Bloom vibes.”
“his moves just remind me of Bloom. ”
“Very reminiscent of Bloom.”
“It’s like Bloom 2.0.”
“Breslow’s looking like Bloom 2.0 early on”
Tell us how you really feel about Breslow? The dude makes one good trade, and one minor league depth signing, and you’re already looking for a safe space?
NOT “FULL THROTTLE” BRESLOW & that’s all I have to say about that Forest!
Starting to talk about Bloom 2.0 is just ignorant. You can start to criticize Breslow after the 40 man is set before the season. The moves he is making now are minor league additions but with one caveat Breslow comes with the reputation of understanding pitchers well and I think we should wait a while to start going Bloom 2.0.
The competition for free agent pitchers and quality pitchers available via trade is very fierce this year. It won’t surprise me if no top of the rotations arms are added. If that happens is that Breslow’s fault? The answer is probably not. Let’s just wait to see what happens but making silly comments after two inconsequential minor league additions is well ridiculous.
Bruin I agree. I call these ignorant comments “Beverly Hills Bias”. Which I define as: ” if it doesn’t have a designer label and cost the most it is no good.” It is a method used by non-thinkers to feel comfortable.
jmi1950 – So you are cheap. It’s ok just admit it. It’s not your money but you like the Bloom K-MART mentality. And you are judgemental. What a great combination. And you call others ignorant!!! hahahaha
Bruin1012 – Calling everyone ignorant suggests you haven’t lived the horror that was Bloom. When you spend four years in hell you are paranoid that things haven’t changed. People aren’t ignorant for feeling the after effect of four horrendous years. Might I add that you liked Bloom so maybe you don’t have their perspective. I do.
Reputations are not too relevant since you preached Bloom having a great reputation and we all know how that turned out. Clearly, you didn’t feel the same level of pain that others have felt the last four years.
If no top pitchers are added, who do you blame for the lack of action? If it happens because nobody wants to pitch with Devers at 3B then it’s on Breslow if he doesn’t fix the defense. If they don’t come to Boston because they don’t want to play for a cheater, then that’s on Breslow for not firing Cora.
Breslow needs to take responsibility for his lack of actions as well as his brilliant moves. His first trade was brilliant. Since then, nothing noteworthy which is why it feels like Bloom 2.0. These are natural responses from beleaguered fans who suffered through Bloom.
To me, not recognizing the woes of the fan base you are calling ignorant is in fact ignorant. Calling their feelings ridiculous shows you didn’t suffer like many of us did with Bloom. You are the one that is out of touch with reality. Bloom was a disaster and everyone is afraid it’s going to happen again. Bloom had great credentials and failed miserably. There are no guarantees related to Breslow, just hope.
For me, if he can’t move Devers and he can’t fire Cora then he’s doing his job with his hands tied behind his back and his chances of being successful are low.
If he lands Yamamoto fans will be able to believe in him for accomplishing something Bloom couldn’t do in four years, add talent to the team.
I’m not calling everyone ignorant I’m saying lumping him with Bloom at this point is an ignorant statement. The guy has had the job for one month and he’s already hired a guy that universally seems to be looked at as an excellent hire for pitching coach. He’s added a couple of pieces on the periphery that are minor league signings seriously who gives a rats ass. Let’s at least see what he accomplishes in the off-season before saying your getting Bloom 2.0 vibes.
I mean cmon the chances of signing Yamamoto or Ohtani are really thin and it’s not up to him those kind of contracts are ownership decisions not the guy that had the job for 1 month. Let’s let this guy a super smart guy with real life baseball experience do his thing. Imo it’s going to be at least a year before we really see what he brings I doubt that he signs Yamamoto unless Yamamoto secretly really wants to play for Boston with his old teammate and apparently friend. I just highly doubt Boston is going to be the highest bidder for his services. Is he a failure if he doesn’t sign Yamamoto, of course not, the competition is going to be ridiculous to sign that guy and Ohtani.
I know Breslow doesn’t read these comments so I guess why should I care what someone says but if you make that dumb of a comment and I read it I’m calling it you out on it period end of story.
Bruin1012 – It’s only a stupid comment to you because you have a different perspective. You didn’t agonize over Bloom like many of us did. You didn’t appreciate the massive fall-off in talent from DD to Bloom like many of us did.
I think people saw his first trade as a real positive. I am probably in the minority when it comes to criticizing not non-tendering Verdugo but I truly believe my opinion will turn out to be accurate just like my assessments of Bloom, Cora, Downs and so many others but it’s not true as of today.
This last move is insignificant which is why folks consider it Bloom-like. That’s a fair evaluation of the action. You keep wanting to talk about what might happen and everyone else is talking about what actually happened that’s why you aren’t on the same page with most people.
We all hope Breslow turns out to be great but neither you nor I or anyone else knows that will happen, all we can do is evaluate each move just like each play in a baseball game. If a player gets a hit like Breslow did on his first trade then whiffs on not non-tendering Verdugo and then hits a dribbler to the pitcher like this last move someone watching the game isn’t going to declare the player is ready for the hall of fame based on his future greatness. They are simply evaluating each action as it happens which is totally fair and their opinion of the last action was accurate. It’s inconsequential and that should remind them of Bloom because most of his moves were the same.
Someday you need to recognize perspective when evaluating others and their comments. You simply don’t get how beat up Red Sox Nation is from Bloom’s actions. The average person doesn’t have your down the road perspective about Breslow because they have heard that from you and others about Bloom so they are skeptical. You call them ignorant for being skeptical. I call them smart for being guarded about their opinion of the new guy who hasn’t proven his potential will be realized.
The “end of story” final line is very telling of your perspective that you are right and EVERYONE else is wrong because they don’t see it the way you do. This isn’t like reading stats that document performance, Breslow has no performance so let the fans evaluate each move like they should without being called names.. You are better than that.