MLB Rumors: Red Sox Bring Back Relief Pitcher For Second Stint

The Red Sox apparently are interested in seeing if an old friend could be an effective addition to their pitching staff.

According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Boston on Tuesday agreed to a minor league deal with Robert Stock that includes an invitation to major league spring training. The reported pact marked a return to the Red Sox organization for Stock, who pitched the second half of the 2020 season in Boston.

The 35-year-old has not pitched in an MLB game since July 2021 when he logged a brief stint with the New York Mets. Stock latched on with the Chicago Cubs after leaving the Red Sox and proceeded to pitch all over the globe, including South Korea and Mexico. Stock’s Mexican winter league team, Naranjeros de Hermosillo, confirmed last week that he was traveling to the United States for a physical.

Stock pitches with a unique arm angle and boasted a high-90s fastball when he was a member of the Red Sox a few years ago. But when you consider the other relief-pitching additions Boston made earlier in the offseason, Stock’s chances of making the Opening Day roster probably are pretty low.

The veteran right-hander and the rest of Boston’s pitchers are scheduled to report to Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 12.