The Boston Red Sox struggled mightily with their bullpen last season, finishing 24th out of 30 MLB teams in ERA at 4.39. Their relievers blew 31 saves, the second-highest total in the league, trailing only the Chicago White Sox. In total, the pitching staff surrendered 39 leads, tying with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third-most in the majors.
Additionally, the bullpen allowed 79% of inherited runners to score, ranking 11th-worst among all teams.
Closer Kenley Jansen was a rare bright spot, converting 27 of his 31 save opportunities. However, Jansen has completed his two-year deal with Boston, and at 37 years old, he appears uninterested in returning to the team.
Red Sox Need Bullpen Help, Badly
The Red Sox seem focused on bolstering their bullpen in the free agent market as the offseason unfolds. As of Thanksgiving 2024, their only signing has been left-handed reliever Justin Wilson, a 37-year-old former Cincinnati Reds pitcher, whom they brought on board on November 14.
Left-handed relief pitching was a notable weakness for the Red Sox in 2024. Among the four lefty relievers who pitched at least 10 games for the team, only Cam Booser—a remarkable comeback story who retired in 2017 without a prior MLB appearance—managed an ERA under 4.00.
However, analysts suggest the Red Sox aren’t done addressing their bullpen needs. They are expected to continue pursuing left-handed options, with Atlanta Braves veteran A.J. Minter reportedly among their potential targets.
Minter’s Price Could be as Low as $5.4 Million Over 2 Years
Minter endured an injury-filled 2024 season, ultimately ending it in August to undergo hip surgery. Despite the setbacks, he delivered some of the best performances of his eight-year career—all spent with the Braves, who selected the Texas native in the second round of the 2015 draft out of Texas A&M University.
In just 34 1/3 innings, primarily in a middle relief role, Minter struck out 35 batters and posted an impressive 2.62 ERA—the second-best mark of his career in seasons where he pitched over 25 innings. His 26.1% strikeout rate surpassed the MLB average of 22%, and his 28.4% swing-and-miss rate was the highest among left-handed relievers on the free-agent market.
The Red Sox, whose pitching staff ranked 23rd in strikeout percentage last season at 21.9%, have emphasized improving their ability to miss bats. Craig Breslow, Boston’s head of baseball operations, has highlighted this as a key focus in reshaping the roster.
However, the cost of acquiring Minter as a free agent remains uncertain. Last season, he avoided arbitration by signing a $6.2 million deal with the Braves and has expressed a preference to stay in Atlanta. Nonetheless, SpoTrac, a sports business site, has assigned him a surprisingly low market value, estimating a two-year contract at $5.4 million due to his injury history. Other analysts, however, find this valuation unrealistic and project Minter’s contract to be closer to $16 million over two years.
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