Drake Britton never saw it coming.
The Boston Red Sox designated Britton for assignment last week when they signed right-handed pitcher Alexi Ogando to a one-year contract. Britton has since been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs, ending the left-hander’s quest to win a spot in Boston’s bullpen this season.
“Obviously I’ve been in the (Red Sox) organization long enough and gone through some things that I understand the business side, which is they have their reasons for what they’re doing. I can’t control it,” Britton told WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford by phone Wednesday. “I would have loved to play my whole career in Boston. I loved it there, everything about it.
“It definitely caught me off guard. But when one door closes, another one opens. I’m just excited to be part of the Cubs now.”
Britton struggled last season — his first as a full-time reliever — with Triple-A Pawtucket. He posted a 5.86 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 58 1/3 innings over 45 appearances. His strikeout rate (5.7 per nine innings) dropped well below its career norm as his walk rate (5.9 per nine frames) soared.
Britton still had a chance to make the Red Sox’s major league roster this season, but those chances dipped considerably when the club re-signed lefty Craig Breslow and acquired southpaw Robbie Ross Jr. from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Anthony Ranaudo. The Red Sox ultimately decided Britton was expendable upon signing Ogando, in large because Britton is out of minor league options.
“I have respect for those guys. I would like to think part of it was tough, and that I made enough of an impact on the field that it wasn’t an easy decision,” Britton told Bradford. “I respect their decision and they’re going to have a great team. It just caught me off guard.”
Britton, a 23rd-round pick in 2007, has upside, evidenced by his 2.93 ERA in 25 career big league relief appearances spanning 27 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old could carve out a role with the Cubs after spending this offseason working out in Boston, according to Bradford.
“I was excited to go into spring training with the Red Sox just to show that they should keep me and prove to them I made the proper adjustments and the things I needed to do to stand out,” Britton told Bradford. “I didn’t get that opportunity with them, but now I have the opportunity to go over to Chicago and show them what I got.”
Britton might have been shocked by the Red Sox’s decision to cut ties. But he’s also motivated to show Boston made the wrong move.
Thumbnail photo via Jonathan Dyer/USA TODAY Sports Images
