Red Sox: 5 starting pitchers to target in pursuit of depth
Alvarez was an all-star only two years ago but has since seen his career fall apart before his eyes due to injury. The right-hander compiled a 2.65 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 30 starts for the Miami Marlins in 2014. He also collected three complete game shutouts and finished 12th in National League Cy Young voting. Since then, he’s dealt with a flurry of injuries that have put his major league future in jeopardy.
He underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after making just four starts for the Marlins in 2015 and was later non-tendered and declared a free agent. After signing with the Athletics last season, he pitched just 33 minor league innings before undergoing another shoulder surgery. He then opted for free agency after being outrighted to AAA.
There is obviously a ton of inherent risk when dealing with a pitcher that has chronic shoulder ailments. For a team dealing with so many health concerns in their rotation, Alvarez probably isn’t the best candidate to provide stable innings if called upon. But at 26, he still has the potential to regain some of the skill that made him one of the better young pitchers in baseball only two years ago.
He also threw a bullpen session for scouts in late February and is expected to land a minor league deal at some point down the line.