The Red Sox' initial foray into the free agent pool was no dive into the deep end. It was more like a slow wading into the water.
The Sox announced Wednesday that they had signed veteran lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez to a one-year deal for 2023 with an option for 2024.
Rodriguez will earn a $1.5 million base salary. He can add another $2 million in active roster bonuses and up to $250,000 in performance bonuses. The 2024 team option is worth $4.25 million with a $500,000 buyout, bringing the guaranteed portion of the deal to $2 million, though Rodriguez could potentially earn as much as $8.25 million if he reaches all of his available incentives.
Rodriguez, 31 was 2-4 with a 4.47 ERA in 55 games for the New York Mets last season. He's pitched five seasons in the big leagues for four different organizations -- Philadelphia, Texas and both New York teams. The Yankees acquired him at the trade deadline in 2021 in the deal that also sent Joey Gallo to New York. The lefty also spent parts of two seasons pitching in Japan.
BSJ ANALYSIS
The signing fills an obvious void in the Red Sox' bullpen. Having traded Jake Diekman to the White Sox last August, designated Austin Davis for assignment in September and allowed Matt Strahm to reach free agency, the Sox had just one lefty in their bullpen with major league experience: Josh Taylor. And Taylor missed all of the 2022 season with back issues and can hardly be counted upon for 2023.
Rodriguez was fairly effective for the Mets in 2022, though he was seldom used in high-leverage spots. Some of his peripherals were more encouraging that his standard numbers, beginning with a FIP of 3.23, more than a run lower than his ERA. He also averaged 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings and his strikeout rate of 26.4 percent was higher than the MLB average of 22.3 percent.
He proved to be effective against both lefties and righties, a trait increasingly more important now that rules ensure that relievers have to face a minimum of three hitters. He allowed opposing lefties a .645 OPS and righties a .625 OPS while allowing a total of just three homers in 50.1 innings.
Rodriguez relies almost exclusively on his fastball -- both a sinker and a four-seamer, combined averaging 93 mph -- and a changeup, though he does very occasionally throw a slider. His repertoire is tough to square up, as evidenced by the fact that his average exit velocity was in the 96th percentile last year, while his hard-hit percentage was also in the 91st percentile. He also featured an elite chase rate (91st percentile).
However, Rodriguez has struggled at times to consistently command the strike zone, with a career-high 12.0 percent walk rate, well above the MLB average of 8.5. He issued 26 walks in his 50.1 innings of work, which translated into a 4.6 walk per nine innings rate.
That the Red Sox would sign a reliever with obvious control issues is something of a surprise, since the club said it would attempt to improve that area of the bullpen. Last season, Red Sox relievers issued 268 walks, a figure topped by only four other teams -- all of them, like the Red Sox, non-playoff teams.
Then again, it's doubtful that Rodriguez is the last lefty reliever signed by the organization this winter. A reunion with Strahm can't be ruled out. Beyond that, a number of other lefty free-agent relievers remain available, including Taylor Rogers, Andrew Chafin, Richard Bleier, Matt Moore and Jake McGee.
The Sox could utilize a number of starter prospects in that bullpen role, including Brandon Walter and Chris Murphy.
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Hours after the Red Sox made their first signing of the winter, they also consummated their first trade, acquiring infielder Hoy Park from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for young pitching prospect Inmer Lobo.
Park, 26, has played several infield positions and all three outfield spots in his brief major league career, spent with the Yankees (2021) and Pirates (2021-2022). In 68 major league games, he's hit .201/.291/.346 with five homers and 20 RBI. Presumably, the versatile Park could replace Yu Chang on the roster as the team's utility infielder. The Red Sox declined to tender a contract to Chang last week.
Lobo had been taking part in the Red Sox Dominican Summer League program, having signed with the Sox last January as an international free agent.