The Boston Red Sox need arms in the back end of their rotation, and it appears help is on the way.
The Red Sox on Friday claimed veteran right-hander Doug Fister off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels, filling an open slot on their 40-man roster.
Fister hasn’t pitched in the majors yet this season, making three starts for the Angels’ Triple-A club before opting to become a free agent Wednesday. The 33-year-old made a career high 32 starts for the Houston Astros last season, though, compiling a 12-13 record with 4.64 ERA.
Fister’s most effective years as a starter came with the Detroit Tigers under current Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. He compiled a 32-20 record during two-plus seasons with Detroit from 2011 to 2013, posting a 3.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in that span.
The California native followed that up with a strong campaign for the Washington Nationals in 2014 in which he finished eighth in the National League Cy Young Award voting with a 2.41 ERA in 25 starts.
Boston has cycled through fifth starters after losing Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez to injuries, most recently turning to right-hander Hector Velazquez.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
