Can Justin Masterson bounce back with the Boston Red Sox

After the Boston Red Sox failed to sign Jon Lester, many fans expected the team to immediately make a move to acquire an ace-caliber starter. You can imagine the announcement of Justin Masterson‘s signing didn’t end up sitting well with a lot of the Red Sox faithful. While some fans may not be happy with the decision, Masterson’s deal could turn out better than expected.

His 2014 season was a disappointment, with Masterson finishing with a 7-9 record and 5.88 ERA, but he dealt with a knee injury and an oblique strain. The previous season he went 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA. A big reason for the drop in production was because of a lack of velocity on his pitches.

In 2013 his fastball averaged 92-93 MPH. In 2014 it dipped to 90 MPH. To some it may not seem like a big deal, but Masterson also saw decreased velocity on his slider and sinker.

The key to getting Masterson back to his old form will be the work he puts in with Red Sox manager John Farrell and pitching coach Juan Nieves. If the pair are able to fix Masterson’s mechanical issues – believed to be a result of last year’s injuries – would end up giving the Red Sox a qualify fifth starter to round out their rotation.

While it may not be the popular opinion in Boston, the Red Sox view Masterson as a starter and not as a reliever. His one-year, $9.5 million deal contains incentives that could bring it’s total worth up to $12 million.

If Masterson is able to pitch like he did in 2013, producing a WAR around 3.5, then the contract could be a bit of a steal for Boston. If he produces more like he did this past season, you can expect the Red Sox to be looking at potential replacements before the July trade deadline.