Red Sox Sign 29-Year-Old Pitcher After Stint With Phillies

The Boston Red Sox signed 29-year-old reliever Devin Sweet to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, per his transaction log.

Sweet was assigned to Triple-A Worcester after spending all of last season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He elected free agency from the Phillies on Oct. 10 and officially signed with the Red Sox on Dec. 18.

Sweet is a low-risk signing for the Red Sox. He did not have a great year with the Phillies organization, but if he can bounce back, he can be a depth option stashed in Triple-A. In 46 outings last season, he had a 5.08 ERA.

In 107 total Triple-A games, Sweet has a 4.42 ERA. He has some work to do to become a reliable option in the big leagues. He does have limited experience in the big leagues, but not much success.

He made his debut on July 19, 2023, for the Seattle Mariners. He was designated for assignment on Aug. 31 that season and claimed by the Athletics. For the A’s, he pitched in five games, allowing three home runs and eight earned runs.

He has not appeared in the big leagues since. Sweet is not a signing that is going to dictate the fate of the Red Sox’s season. However, he is a player whom the Red Sox may be able to fix.

Perhaps some adjustments in spring training and a fresh start could get him on track to be a solid player in Triple-A. He could then be called upon to fill in innings in case of an injury. He also has an option year remaining.