One Boston Red Sox player has moved on to a new place.
Many former Red Sox players are still available in free agency at the moment, and one pitcher is no longer available. Will Sammon of The Athletic reports that former Boston fireballer Yacksel Ríos has signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.
“Mets signed (right-handed pitcher) Yacksel Ríos to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training,” said Sammon.
Following a disappointing season in 2023, Ríos hopes to earn his way back up to the major leagues. With the Oakland Athletics, the right-hander appeared in just three major league games and gave up seven earned runs in just one and a half innings pitched.
Still, he performed better in the minors. In 22 games, he pitched 25 1/3 innings for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, recording a 2.49 ERA and a 30-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
He has played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Red Sox, and Athletics at the major league level throughout his career. Though his exact role with New York is unknown, adding veterans on minor-league deals with big-league upside is always a good idea.
Ríos might be able to join the team before Opening Day if he does well in Spring Training. If not, the team might not incur significant losses if he is released or begins the season in the minor leagues.
