Red Sox decline Craig Breslow’s club option

The Red Sox released a report last night, stating that the team has declined Craig Breslow‘s $4M club option for the 2015 season, effectively making the 34-year old southpaw a free agent.

Breslow, a key component of a stingy 2013 Red Sox bullpen– when he posted a 1.81 ERA in 61 relief appearances for the BoSox, struggled mightily in 2014. He missed the early portion of the season with shoulder soreness and lingering effects from his heavy workload in 2013 and was never the same after returning. In 60 games for the Red Sox, Breslow’s ERA ballooned to 5.96, the highest such mark of his career, and his mediocre peripherals– 6.1 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, and 5.34 FIP– show that bad luck was not a major factor in Breslow’s collapse.

With that being said, the larger body of work over Breslow’s career suggests that the 6’1″ lefty could rebound from his tough 2014 season. Breslow has a career 3.20 ERA over a nine-year career and, though the Red Sox declined his $4M option (which was absolutely the right move), there’s a decent possibility that they could bring him back for a less expensive price.

Even after re-signing Koji Uehara, there are only three current relievers that are locks to start next year in the Boston bullpen: Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, and Edward Mujica. The Red Sox will likely pursue a left-handed reliever or two and, if he comes at enough of a discount, there’s a possibility that Breslow could fill one of those roles. If the Red Sox opt not to re-sign Breslow, however, we wish him all the best in his Major League career and thank him for his contributions to the 2013 World Champions.