Boston Red Sox: Matt Strahm signed to one-year contract

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly signed left-handed pitcher Matt Strahm to a one-year, $3 million contract. FanSided’s Robert Murray was first on the signing, with Jon Heyman coming back with the monetary details.

Strahm, 30, is a left-handed swingman capable of providing long relief out of the bullpen or the occasional start for his new club. His repertoire features a total of five pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, sinker and changeup. His slider allowed just a .143 batting average-against last season, routinely hitting 88 mph with a 67 PLUS% per Pitcher List.

The six-year major league vet spent the first two seasons of his career with the Kansas City Royals before being traded to the San Diego Padres with Travis Wood for Trevor Cahill, Ryan Buchter, and Brandon Maurer back at the 2017 trade deadline.

Strahm’s strongest attribute is undoubtedly his ability to exceptionally limit the walk. In 2019, he walked just 22 batters in nearly 115 innings, good for a walk-percentage of just 2.8%.

Last season, Strahm did not get much major league action as he struggled to recover from right knee surgery that he underwent in October of 2020. He was limited to just six games for the Friars in which he posted an 8.10 ERA across 6.2 innings. All of his appearances came out of the Padres’ bullpen in August.

The Red Sox have quietly put together one of the stronger bullpens in the big leagues, including Garrett Whitlock, Matt Barnes, and Ryan Brasier, as well as southpaws Josh Taylor, Austin Davis, and Darwinzon Hernandez. Matt Strahm will slot into the long relief role and will most likely end up splitting his time with one of the six pitchers aiming for a starting rotation spot.

The Boston Red Sox have signed free agent lefty Matt Strahm to a team-friendly one-year, $3 million contract. He is capable of operating as a relief pitcher or a starting pitcher and will likely see time in both roles for the Red Sox moving forward.