The Boston Red Sox have just signed reliever John Brebbia to a deal, first reported by Tom Caron from NESN. Brebbia has previously pitched games with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves (twice).
The 2025 MLB season has been a rocky road for Brebbia, who's already been designated for assignment twice. Now, he's joining the Red Sox and Boston fans are hoping that a fresh start will help him turn his outlook around.
Vet Reliever John Brebbia Lands Fresh Start with Red Sox
The Detroit Tigers took a chance on Brebbia in the offseason, signing a one-year deal that included a club option for the next year. In his 19 appearances with them, he had an ERA of 7.71, allowing 16 earned runs with 11 walks, striking out 20 batters. He was then designated for assignment by the Tigers in June before being picked up by the Braves shortly after, returning to them for the second time in as many years.
In only three appearances with the Braves, Brebbia pitched 4.2 innings while posting a 7.71 ERA as well, but in a shorter time span. He gave up four earned runs, but still struck out six batters in that small sample size. He elected free agency two days after being DFA'd again on Monday, and now the Red Sox are the next stop on his journey.
Even with a high ERA, Brebbia's strikeout numbers were pretty much consistent. So what's the problem with him? Let's break it down.
He's been getting hit hard these past couple of seasons since leaving San Francisco, but remember who his pitching coach was then? That's right, Andrew Bailey. The two will be reunited once again in Boston, as Bailey could be the only person who can make him better.
Brebbia's biggest weakness is against left-handed hitters, especially off his changeup. He's missing his spots and allowing his fastballs to be thrown right down the middle.
Brebbia needs to get rid of his changeup entirely. He should add a cutter or at least change the grip of his current changeup to gain more spin and inch drop. If the Red Sox try that out with him, expect a better and broader pitch mix, resulting in a lower ERA. He's always been a strikeout pitcher, but he could be more consistent if he had that one knockout pitch.
Brebbia's slider, out of all his pitches, can be that knockout pitch if he had a counterpart that can fool hitters. That's why adding a cutter to his arsenal would be a lethal step-back pitch. He hasn't switched up any of his pitches in his career, and that's alarming. Mostly, pitchers adjust by adding a pitch or two, or subbing one out for something else to adapt to the modern game.
Brebbia needs to do this, and if he does, expect a much easier time for the newest Red Sox.