Red Sox add pitching help on eve of Opening Day
Even with the start of the 2024 season just one sleep away, the Red Sox have added another pitcher to the mix, with the team acquiring righty Naoyuki Uwasawa from the Rays, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa in a trade with Tampa Bay, sources tell ESPN. Uwasawa, 30, had signed a minor league deal with the Rays and wasn’t going to make the team. Boston, looking for pitching, adds the veteran who pitched nine years in Japan.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2024
In the MLB after spending nine years in Japan, Uwasawa will come to the Red Sox following a spring training run that featured an 0-1 record, 13.03 ERA, and 2.38 WHIP in 9.2 innings of work over four appearances (two starts) for Tampa.
Naoyuki Uwasawa throws seven pitches.
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) March 27, 2024
4-seam - 40.8% - 90.3 MPH
Curve - 14.3% - 75 MPH
Forkeball - 13.1% - 86.2 MPH
Slider - 12.9% - 81 MPH
Cutter - 9.8% - 86.9 MPH
Changeup - 6.1% - 81.1 MPH
2-seam - 3% - 89.2 MPH
Spent his offseason at @DrivelineBB. Finesse starter.
Credit… pic.twitter.com/uxbnsBrZPX
In his final season in Japan, the 30-year-old Uwasawa posted a 9-9 record with a 2.96 ERA, along with 124 strikeouts and 1.14 WHIP, in 170 innings in 24 games for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Naoyuki Uwasawa throwing his first complete game shutout since 2018 with 9 k's 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DezyFSPMTw
— Driveline Baseball (@DrivelineBB) May 18, 2023
Overall, Uwasawa’s career in Japan featured a 70-62 record, 3.19 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings over 173 total games in the NPB, all of which came with the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
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Red Sox announce starting rotation to begin 2024 season
Brayan Bello
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 20: Brayan Bello #66 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on September 20, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The least shocking development of the year is that Brayan Bello will be Boston’s Opening Day starter.
The 24-year-old Bello, who recently signed a six-year extension worth $55 million, has the highest ceiling out of any Red Sox arm, and is coming off a 2023 campaign that included 12 wins and a 4.24 ERA in 28 starts. In addition to the 12 victories, Bello recorded 132 strikeouts over that 157-inning sample, and held batters to a .270 average.
Bello will also be the youngest Opening Day starter for Boston since Aaron Sele in 1995.
Nick Pivetta
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 09: Nick Pivetta #37 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 9, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Utilized by the Red Sox in every which way a season ago, Nick Pivetta will be Boston’s No. 2 pitcher this season.
Pivetta is coming off a 2023 campaign that included a 10-9 record, career-best 4.04 ERA and .208 batting average against, and a team-leading 183 strikeouts over 142.2 innings of work. The Canadian-born Pivetta was downright electric in June and July last season, and gave Cora a much-needed do-it-all weapon for a pitching staff full of question marks.
Kutter Crawford
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kutter Crawford #50 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2023 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
In the No. 3 spot, the Red Sox will turn to Kutter Crawford.
On the hill for 31 games last season, the righty-throwing Crawford established career-highs in wins (six), starts (23), innings (129.1), strikeouts (135), ERA (4.04), and batting average against (.221) for the club last season. What was most interesting about Crawford’s 2023 season is that he was phenomenal on the road (6-3 with a 2.49 ERA) but absolutely dreadful at home, with an 0-5 record and 6.00 ERA in 15 games (11 starts) at Fenway.
Garrett Whitlock
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 20: Garrett Whitlock #72 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
After ending his 2023 season back in a bullpen role (where he’s truly thrived since joining the club), Garrett Whitlock will move back to Boston’s rotation, where he’s expected to be the club’s No. 4 pitcher in the rotation.
That role has been rather hit-or-miss for Whitlock, all things considered.
In 19 career games as a starter, Whitlock has posted a 5-4 record and 4.76 ERA, along with a 1.29 WHIP and 15 homers allowed, in 90.2 innings of work. But in the bullpen, Whitlock has been dynamite, with a 2.65 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 132.2 innings. There’s also been questions as to whether or not Whitlock has the arm strength needed to ‘last’ as a starter over the course of a full, 162-game season.
Tanner Houck
Tanner Houck of the Red Sox pitches against the Yankees at Fenway Park on June 16, 2023. (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Another player who’s been in and out of the rotation and bullpen, the right-handed Tanner Houck will round out the Boston rotation as Cora’s fifth starter. The 6-foot-5 Houck, who has been a starter in three of his four years with the Red Sox, is coming off a 2023 season that included a 6-10 record and 5.01 ERA over 21 starts.
