The Red Sox are reportedly interested in free agent reliever David Robertson, but for less than the three years he is looking for.
While there has been interest shown from both sides, the Boston Red Sox might not be willing to give free agent reliever David Robertson the 3-year deal he is looking for.
The 33-year-old Robertson is reportedly seeking at least three years this offseason. However, according to George A. King III of The New York Post, “the Red Sox are in for less.”
Robertson, who interestingly enough has decided to forgo an agent and represent himself this offseason, has told teams he would prefer to pitch somewhere in the northeast so that he can be close to his home in Rhode Island.
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The 2011 All-Star, who was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 Amateur Draft, spent the last season and a half back in the Bronx after a 2017 mid-season trade from the Chicago White Sox. Robertson hits free agency after completing a four year, $46 million contract he signed with Chicago in 2014.
Boston, who may lose Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly to free agency, could look to Robertson to fill a hole in their bullpen.
Robertson’s 2018 saw him pitch 69 2/3 innings over 69 appearances, with a 3.23 ERA to go with five saves, 21 holds and a 91/26 K/BB rate in a setup role to Aroldis Chapman. This was Robertson’s eighth consecutive season with an ERA under 3.50.
Over his 11-year career, Robertson has 137 saves, which includes a three-year stretch where he had at least 34 saves between 2014-2017 pitching in the Bronx followed by Chicago.
Robertson has enjoyed a relatively healthy career, which has allowed him to pitch 60+ innings each of the last nine seasons. He has also been able to maintain his velocity, with his cut-fastball averaging 91-92 MPH. His repertoire also includes a curveball and a slider.
With Robertson’s comments about staying in the northeast, that leaves the Yankees, Mets, Phillies as other teams that could be looking to sign the reliever this offseason.
For the Red Sox, their top priority in the bullpen is likely a reunion with Kimbrel, whose 108 saves and 305 strikeouts the last three seasons would be near impossible to replicate. However, with the 30-year-old Kimbrel reportedly seeking a six-year deal, combined with a dip in velocity in 2018, Dave Dombrowski could very well be planning on a fresh face closing out games come 2019.