The Boston Red Sox reportedly have bolstered their pitching staff.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, the Red Sox and veteran pitcher Garrett Richards reportedly agreed to a one-year deal worth $10 million. Speier is reporting that the deal has an option for 2022.
Reports Friday indicated talks were heating up between the two sides Friday, while Speier noted earlier Saturday that things were getting close to the finish line.
Richards is coming off a modestly successful season with the San Diego Padres, his first full campaign since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018.
Used most often as a starter throughout his career, Richards is similar to another new Sox pitcher Matt Andriese in that he can serve as a swingman of sorts.
Over the course of his career, Richards has made 187 big league appearances, with 128 coming as starts. He has a 47-41 career record with a 3.62 ERA. Last season, he went 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in 14 appearances, 10 being starts.
Richards has an impressive spin rate, and his fastball (averaged out at 95 mph), was among the fastest of the starters on the market.
With Richards in the fold, the Red Sox will have Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Richards, Andreise, Tanner Houck and Nick Pivetta competing for roles in the rotation.
