Former Red Sox players on the move as signings open up

Former Red Sox players moving on across MLB

The labor dispute has ended, and with it, a flurry of activity as the logjam over signings is now broken. Several players with a Red Sox connection have moved on. First up on the list goes back into a previous decade as a member of the Red Sox.

Right-hander Anibal Sánchez never tossed an MLB pitch for the Red Sox, but he was instrumental in the 2007 championship team. Sánchez was a highly valued prospect traded to the Marlins as part of a package for Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett.

Sánchez has bounced around MLB for 15 seasons with varying degrees of success, including a no-hitter, ERA title, and getting torched in 2020, his last MLB season. Sánchez has signed a minor league deal with the Nationals.

One I hated to see getaway did with the Rockies signing righty José Iglesias to a one-year deal at $5 MM. In 2021 the Red Sox picked up Iglesias after his release from the Angels, and Iglesias sparkled, hitting .356 with solid defense.

Right-hand flame thrower Joe Kelly was flamboyant and waivered between mediocre and dynamic, and now is a Chicago White Sox. The deal is $17 MM for the former Dodger, Red Sox, and Cardinal. Kelly was a crucial piece in the success of the 2018 team working out of the bullpen with six shutout innings in five games against the Dodgers.

Right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino is going back to New York only with the Mets and not the Yankees. Ottavino established a love-hate relationship with Boston fans over his often inconsistent performance. Ottavino did post a 7-3 record and notch 11 saves in his 69 games out of the bullpen. Ottavno’s contract is for one year and $4MM.

The Red Sox signed Tim Locastro off waivers from the Yankees in November, and by the end of the month, the 29-year-old right-hand hitting outfielder was again on the market as a free agent. Locastro has now signed on again with the Yankees and will vie for a fourth outfielder spot.

Locastro has service time with both the Dodgers and Arizona with a .231 career average in 209 games spread over five seasons. Locastro’s claim to fame is speed, with 31 career steals in 34 attempts.

Martin Pérez will not be around for a third tour with the Red Sox. The lefty has signed with the Rangers for one-year and $4 MM. In 2022 Perez was in and out of the rotation making 22 starts and another 14 out of the bullpen. Pérez’s final tally was a 7-8 record and 4.74 ERA.

Though none are on the highest tier of players in the league today it could’ve been beneficial for the Red Sox to bring back one if not a few of these names. Iglesias would’ve offered great stability for the infield though he’ll likely see more playing time in Colorado. Kelly and Ottavino would’ve given the bullpen two more tests and proven arms but Chaim Bloom may not be interested considering the money.

Boston still has its needs and luckily there hasn’t been that frenzy to sign free agent players, yet. Bloom has inked some names here and there and is addressing the gaps in the roster but has not dipped into the nice-sized pool of money he has available. His ways have worked up to this point, but he’ll need to put pen to paper with someone big, and soon.