The Red Sox have had multiple conversations with free agent reliever A.J. Minter this offseason, writes Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Cotillo lists a few other relievers with whom the Sox have had discussions: Carlos Estévez, Tommy Kahnle and Andrew Kittredge. However, he suggests that Boston could be on the periphery of the Estévez market and that “nothing has heated up” in their conversations with Kahnle.
Minter has been linked to the Blue Jays, Rangers and Cubs in recent weeks. Texas has already made a handful of bullpen signings, including last night’s one-year deal with former Boston righty Chris Martin. The Jays and Cubs should still be involved in the relief market. During the season, Minter had expressed some interest in returning to the Braves, though it’s not clear how seriously Atlanta has pushed for a reunion.
The 31-year-old has been one of the game’s more reliable lefty setup arms during his career. Between 2020-23, he combined for a 2.89 earned run average while striking out more than 30% of opposing hitters in more than 200 innings. Minter’s platform year was a little more questionable. He still managed good numbers, turning in a 2.62 ERA with a solid 26.1% strikeout rate. Left hip issues limited him to 39 appearances, though. He underwent surgery that ended his season in the middle of August.
Minter could be ready early in the year, so the injury should not be too detrimental to his market. That said, it may limit him to two years when he seemed on track for a three-year pact earlier in 2024. At the beginning of the offseason, MLBTR predicted a two-year, $16MM deal.
The relief market has moved slowly. Boston’s $10.75MM deal with Aroldis Chapman is one of four eight-figure reliever contracts thus far. The Sox also brought in Justin Wilson on a one-year deal at a low cost ($2.25MM). Minter would complete a trifecta of new southpaws in Alex Cora’s late-inning mix.
Kahnle is a righty who generally fares better against left-handed hitters. That’s a reflection of how often he uses his changeup. Kahnle turned to the “offspeed” pitch more than 70% of the time last season. It’s tough to argue with the results, as he turned in a 2.11 ERA while striking out more than a quarter of opponents across 42 2/3 innings for the Yankees. Kittredge, a righty who leans on his slider roughly half the time, is coming off a strong season for the Cardinals. The 34-year-old worked 70 2/3 innings of 2.80 ERA ball with a league average 23.3% strikeout rate.
Think this would be a really good add, the LH relief situation has been a disaster for years now.
bud – Agreed on both counts. This is a signing I’d like to see happen, and yeah other than a period of time in 2023 when Bernardino was good there really hasn’t been a solid lefty reliever on the Sox for a while.
The more the merrier i guess
Rsox – Maybe they should see if Tom Burgmeier is available?
He’s 81 but has had 40 years off. He may have a few innings left in him
this is exactly what they should be doing. if crochet and buehler crash and burn they’re not winning anyway but if the rotation stays healthy they’re likely in the postseason and it would be a disaster to have the pen be an achilles heel
I think the Red Sox bullpen has a chance to be really good this year, especially if they add one more dominant arm like Tanner Scott, Esteves, Minter, Yates, etc. A lot will depend of course on how well Hendriks pitches after his TJS and how soon Garrett Whitlock can come back, but for the first time in a long time, the Sox will have both talent and depth (minors) for their bullpen. I’m looking forward to see if Fulmer can make the team and be a part of the pen as well. It’s going to be difficult for Cora to pick the 7 pen members he’ll want to start the season with. Here’s a quick glimpse of his choices:
Hendriks, Chapman, Whitlock, Wilson, Slaten, Criswell, Kelly, Weissert, Fulmer, Bernardino, Winckowski, Penrod, Murphy, Shugart. Not to mention guys to stretch out like Priester, Fitts, Dobbins and Crawford who can all be long men or starters when needed.
said this elsewhere but the red sox have an extremely wide range of 2025 outcomes. i wouldn’t be shocked if they won the division by 6 games and i wouldn’t be shocked if they missed the playoffs
Daisy – it all hinges on SP. The lineup will score runs, they always find a way. BP help can easily be found at the deadline.
Can Crochet and Buehler pitch like the top of rotation arms the Sox needed? Will Houck, Bello and Crawford build on 2024? Then there’s Giolito, Whitlock (who should be in the BP) and Sandoval.
But one or two things don’t go well on the SP side and they start burning through arms early.
For the first time in years I’m excited for the season to start.
dasit – That’s what makes watching the games so much fun!
I wish others would do the same.
opening day can’t come soon enough
Luis Guerrero!!
Dotty – I totally agree! Last year they relied on a bunch of crap like Joely, Campbell, Booser, Kelly, Anderson, Keller, Horn, Garcia, Sims, Shugart, Uwasawa, Hill, Ramirez, Jacques, etc.
Minter would go a long way in replacing Martin.
FPG – Just seeing the name Joely gives me nightmares!
Dotty – I still can’t believe they gave that guy $4M for 24 total innings of 6.20 ERA pitching.
But they made that choice instead of paying Strahm what he deserved.
Assuming the hip isn’t a chronic issue ….
The Sox love themselves an arm on the mend.
Woah woah woah. It was a hip this time.
Come on Red Sox please sign that bum so I don’t ever have to watch him blow another game
This should be a no brainer for any team needing a LH reliever. The Sox can’t even be aggressive on something this simple.
Yankees have zero lefties in their pen.
Wish AA would just tell fans the truth that he’s just going to let everyone walk and isn’t going sign anyone of significance this year. It’s always a line every winter…. Financial Flexibility, Shop on any aisle, luxury tax not an issue…. All BS when the “we tried” excuse comes with the “Add what’s needed at the deadline” follow up. Sorry to say that with so many health and performance “ifs” with this team as it stands, they may be out of it before the deadline if some of these “ifs” and AAAA players filling holes don’t work out.
Adding players at the deadline is a valid strategy in general. Players get hurt and need to be replaced, or underperform and need to be replaced. Adding players at the deadline means the team is still in the hunt. Players cost less in terms of prospect capital, and salary at the deadline. Worked pretty well that one year. But if I had to guess, they’ll probably add another SP, OF, and possibly a reliever that had a down year last year by February. Braves will most likely be more active next offseason when they will need a new SS, among other positions they’ll need to address. Teams with strong cores don’t have to approach every offseason with a do or die mentality. Braves will be good this year, and next year, and probably for a couple years after that. Anything can happen in the playoffs, so unless they fall short of that, there’s no reason to operate in panic mode.
They can’t outspend the Dodgers, Mets, or Yankees, but there’s no reason to think this team, with a few additions and tweaks, and a few injured players returning, couldn’t beat any of those teams in a 3, 5, or 7 game series.
I certainly hope not…. Not what our pen needs
Minter’s caveat is he had a .223 BABIP versus a career .314. His FIP was also 4.46.
They have “interest” in every single free agent going back the last 10 years. Not everything is worth an article. No offense.
Jtc – Today alone there were SEVEN articles about the Red Sox or former Red Sox players.
It’s all about the traffic and comments :O)
And none of us read them, right?
Minter would be a good add for any bullpen.
Interest Kings have arrived!
I guess if Tanner Scott wants a multi year contact and 20 million per he’s not worth that. If drops to a more reasonable 4/60 then I would hope Breslow would be in on that.
I’d still like to see two more experienced relievers signed. Maybe even Minter and Kittridge. You can’t have two many relievers with Cora. He burns through them he’s awful at handling a bullpen.
Cost control ladies and gentlemen. They’r.e in on everybody. Short term contracts and staying well under the CBT.. This is money making at it’s best. Of course, I’m optimistic. Always am in January.