The Boston Red Sox knew they were going to need bullpen help once the MLB lockout concluded. With that in mind, it was no surprise to see them aggressively attack the reliever market right out of the gate.
Boston was talking with any reliever that woud listen, and that included looking at some of the top names on the market, such as Kenley Jansen and Collin McHugh. While both are still available, neither guy wound up being part of the group of two relievers the Sox brought in during their first wave of post-lockout signings.
Those two relievers wound up being Matt Strahm and Jake Diekman. Both guys are left handed pitchers, which was an area of weakness in Boston’s bullpen last season. Aside from Josh Taylor and occassionally Darwinzon Hernandez, the Red Sox didn’t really have a consistent lefty presence out of their bullpen.
So far, Boston’s free agent signings have only consisted of pitchers, as these guys join Michael Wacha, James Paxton, and Rich Hill as the team’s five major league signings. Pitching, particularly the bullpen, was big need coming into the offseason (even before the lockout) and it’s nice to see the front office working to address it. So let’s take a look at both of the deals, and give them a final grade.
Boston Red Sox free agent signing No. 2: Matt Strahm
San Diego Padres reliever Matt Strahm became Boston’s first post-lockout signing when he signed a one year, $3 million deal. Strahm has had a bit of interesting career, as he’s traded stints where he looks absolutely dominant with ones where he looks unplayable. The low price tag associated with his deal shows the front office is willing to take a flier on him in hopes he can find his old form.
Strahm’s best season of his career came in 2018, his first season with the Padres. Strahm posted a 2.05 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 41 appearences, and was one of the Padres most trusted lefty arms. The issue is, aside from the shortened 2020 season, Strahm has come nowhere close to hitting those heights again.
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Strahm spent pretty much the entire 2021 season on the injured list, and even when he was on the mound, he wasn’t exactly good. He posted an 8.10 ERA, which was admittedly inflated considering he pitched in just six games. Still, not exactly an encouraging sign whichever way you look at it.
Struggles aside, Strahm has some clear potential that the Sox are looking to tap into. He spent some time with the Padres as a starter too, so he could fill a long reliever/middle innings guy if he pans out. All he has to do is be better than a guy like Hernandez of Austin Davis, which shouldn’t be too hard truthfully speaking.
FINAL GRADE: B
This isn’t a move that’s going to radically change Boston’s outlook for the 2022 season, but Strahm will fill a position of need if he can stick with the major league team. Even if he doesn’t, his deal is only worth $3 million, which isn’t the sort of financial commitment that will make the front office sweat. Strahm’s inconsistencies aren’t ideal, but he’s a low-risk/high-reward signing who could end up being a solid piece in the bullpen.
Boston Red Sox free agent signing No. 1: Jake Diekman
The Sox quickly followed up the addition of Strahm with another left handed reliever in Jake Diekman. Terms of the deal were not immediately reported, although it is known to be a multi-year deal. One can reasonably assume Diekman is probably going to make a similar total to Strahm, although he will probably earn a bit more.
Pending physical, per source. 2-year deal would make sense but haven’t confirmed specific terms. https://t.co/QzlG5DcbVh
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 13, 2022
Diekman has bounced all over the league (this will be his sixth team in his now 11 year career), but he has been regarded as one of the better left handed relievers in the league during this time. He won’t have numbers that consistently pop off the page, but he’s about as reliable as they come. He’s coming off a pretty solid 2021 campaign, where he finished with a 3.86 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 67 appearences.
Whereas Strahm is a bit more unpredictable per se, Diekman is way more consistent. He will immediately slot into a middle-to-late innings role, and his dependability gives manager Alex Cora another option to use at the backend of the bullpen. Diekman is a perfect fit towards the back of the bullpen, and should be a valuable piece throughout the season.
The lack of full details make it a bit tough to grade the deal, but assuming the Sox didn’t pay an outrageous fee for his services, there’s not too much to dislike about this deal. From what we know, he probably got a two year deal within the $6-8 million dollar range, which is extremely reasonable. Anything above $5 million per year though is a bit out of hand, though still not necessarily a bad deal.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Assuming Chaim Bloom didn’t just hand away an unruly amount of money, this is a great signing for the Boston Red Sox. Diekman is a great pickup who can be counted on to deliver when called upon, and he’s a left hander on top of that. While Diekman and Strahm are both pretty solid pickups, the Sox still could use some bullpen help, so don’t be surprised if this isn’t the last move at this position.