Red Sox: 5 DFA candidates to clear a roster spot for Chris Sale

5 of 6

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 28: Starting pitcher Garrett Richards #43 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Fenway Park on June 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Red Sox starter Garrett Richards

Garrett Richards is the most disappointing of the new additions to the Red Sox roster this season, or at least the one that has created the greatest source of frustration. The once-promising pitcher signed a short-term deal looking to restore his market value in the wake of several injury plagued seasons. Richards has proven he can remain healthy but that’s about the only positive he has going for him.

Richards is 6-7 with a 5.22 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 7.1 K/9, putting him on pace for his worst season of any in which he’s made at least 10 starts.

More from Chris Sale

It can be argued that no pitcher in baseball has been impacted more by MLB’s crackdown on sticky stuff. His spin rate was once among the elite but Richards has been forced to reinvent himself on the fly. It’s somewhat unfair to expect the transformation to happen overnight so his revised approach adding new pitches to his arsenal is understandably a work in progress. However, a Red Sox team in the thick of a tight division race can’t afford to have a starter who struggles to get through five innings every time he takes the mound.

Richards is the obvious choice to get booted from the rotation when Sale returns. He could go to the bullpen, a role he served for the Padres near the end of last season. He thrived in his short time as a reliever, posting a 1.80 ERA and striking out five batters with only one walk in five innings. That’s a very small sample though and Richards also had the benefit of whatever type of sticky stuff he’d been using up until this year.

It’s essentially a guarantee that Richards will have his $10 million team option for next season declined but no tears will be shed in Boston if the Red Sox part ways with him sooner.

On the other hand, Bloom might not be willing to sacrifice the depth. Perez could always rejoin the rotation if necessary and Whitlock could open the first few innings of a bullpen game. Seabold might contribute at some point this season. Boston has some options if any of their starters were to go down but if the rotation is hit with a rash of injuries then they could be in trouble. Remember the junk they were sending out to the mound to start games last year? Richards is at least better then some of those pitchers who never warranted a spot in the big leagues.

The Red Sox might be on the verge of washing their hands of the underwhelming Richards but considering a viable major league starter isn’t as easily replaced as other options on the roster, they might not be willing to deplete their depth at the position.

Home/Red Sox News