Red Sox Rumors: Free-Agent reliever Steve Cishek wants to sign with Boston

Free-agent reliever Steve Cishek is rumored to have an interest in signing with the Boston Red Sox but it’s unclear if the feeling is mutual.

The Boston Red Sox could use a reliable bullpen arm to help bridge the gap to the ninth inning but they are bargain shopping on a budget. That makes right-handed reliever Steve Cishek an ideal match.

According to Peter Gammons, Cishek would like to sign with Boston. The Falmouth native could be drawn to pitching closer to home as he approaches the later stage of his career.

Gammons cautions that there is some question about whether or not that interest is mutual. It’s not that the Red Sox couldn’t use a pitcher of Cishek’s caliber, it’s the price tag that could be a roadblock. Cishek earned $6.5 million with the Chicago Cubs last season and the Red Sox may not be willing to pay that much for a middle reliever.

It might not take that much to land Cishek though. While plenty of free agents have cashed in with lucrative deals this winter, the relief pitcher market has been slow to develop. Several comparable reliever options remain available, including Daniel Hudson, Will Harris, and Craig Stammen, potentially limiting Cishek’s leverage.

MLB Trade Rumors projected Cishek to receive a 2-year, $10 million deal. That price tag isn’t going to break the bank and he may be open to taking a bit of a discount if Boston is his preferred destination.

Cishek owns a solid 2.69 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 for his career. He’s been fairly durable, topping 60 innings in six of the last eight seasons.

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The right-hander’s sidearm delivery presents hitters with a different look that can be difficult to pick up. He thrives on inducing weak contact, ranking in the 99th percentile in terms of opponent exit velocity and hard-hit percentage. Cishek’s 84.5 mph average exit velocity was tied for fifth in the majors, per Statcast.

His strikeout and walk rates are trending in the wrong direction. Cishek’s 8.0 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 last season were his worst marks since 2015. He still produced a respectable 2.95 ERA but his 4.54 FIP was the worst of his career. While the regression in his strikeout-to-walk ratio was the primary factor in the inflated FIP, Cishek’s style enables him to get away with pitching to contact more than other pitchers. Therefore, the gap between his ERA and FIP isn’t as much of a warning sign as it appears.

It’s been a few years since Cishek has been utilized as a full-time closer but he has tallied 132 career saves and converted seven rouge opportunities last season. Brandon Workman has earned the role for the Red Sox heading into next year but Cishek would provide a proven backup plan if the incumbent closer falters or misses significant time due to injury.

Boston’s bullpen recovered from a slow start last season once they established a clear hierarchy with Workman at the top. They should continue to improve next season but will be relying on a few young arms in key roles. Fortifying the bullpen with an established veteran would help stabilize the pitching staff late in games to limit the dreaded blown saves that were an Achilles heel for the Red Sox this year. Cishek can fill that role and his desire to pitch in Boston makes him an appealing target.