The Boston Red Sox will have several new relievers on their roster once the 2025 MLB season begins, including left-handed reliever Matt Moore.
After failing to sign the veteran southpaw in the past, the Red Sox finally inked Moore to a minor-league contract last week. The 35-year-old hurler is coming off a forgettable run with the Los Angeles Angels last season, leaving time to tell if he can impress enough this spring to end up on Boston's final roster.
While signing Moore following an abysmal 2024 performance caught some Red Sox fans off guard, manager Alex Cora just gave a valid explanation behind the club's latest pitching signing.
Red Sox News: Matt Moore Signed to Add Veteran Leadership
On Sunday, Cora revealed to MLB.com's Ian Browne that Moore's signing stems from the Red Sox looking to add veteran experience and leadership into their spring training competition.
"Just another experienced guy that is going to compete for a spot," Cora said. "Physically, he looks great, just like Adam (Ottavino), just another adult in the room. They've been there for a while in this grind, and they understand what it takes."
"Where we are as a team now, experience comes into play."
The Red Sox haven't been secretive about their desire to improve their pitching situation — especially the bullpen. Boston's relievers struggled to salvage games last season by pitching to the seventh-worst bullpen ERA in the MLB (4.39), resulting in the club signing the likes of Moore, Ottavino, and Aroldis Champman this offseason.
Moore's experience from 13 seasons in the Majors could also bring some additional leadership to the clubhouse. Between the Rafael Devers controversy and the Triston Casas drama, having another adult voice in the room is never a bad idea.
Nevertheless, it's going to be interesting to see if Moore can help turn the Red Sox's bullpen situation around. The former All-Star reliever looked far from his best self with the Angels, pitching to a 5.03 ERA and 1.345 WHIP while allowing 2.0 home runs and 4.8 walks per nine innings.
Having said that, the Angels were among the MLB's worst teams last season, and joining a competitive-looking Red Sox squad could motivate Moore to return to form.
Moore's next opportunity to make his 2025 spring training debut will come when the Red Sox face the rival New York Yankees on Monday. The AL East exhibition contest can be viewed on NESN and the MLB Network at 4:05 p.m. ET.