Re-Grading every Red Sox offseason move two months in
By Daniel Fox
Red Sox sign Matt Strahm to a 1-year, $3 million deal
Matt Strahm’s arrival in Boston came largely in the shadow of fellow lefty Jake Diekman. He didn’t possess overpowering stuff, didn’t have any closer experience, and had pitched just 27 innings over the past two seasons due to leg injuries. Forget being an impact reliever: Strahm was just looking for a roster spot.
Yet while the aforementioned Diekman has been maddeningly inconsistent, Strahm has become arguably the Red Sox best reliever. His control is unmatched by any other arm in the bullpen, evident by his terrific 1.8 BB/9 rate, and he still has struck out over a batter an inning. His ability to get both righties and lefties out, holding both to a below average OPS, has allowed manager Alex Cora to use him in any situation.
The even better news for Strahm is that his success looks sustainable. He somehow added over a mile per hour on his fastball, which has allowed him to hold batters to a .133 BA and .200 SLG on the pitch. Opponents haven’t fared any better against his slider, batting just .200 and slugging just .267. There also isn’t anything lucky about his performance, as his advanced metrics rate near the top of the leaderboard in just about every category. If it wasn’t for a blowup in his last appearance against the Orioles, Strahm would be in serious consideration for an All-Star appearance.
To get your premier reliever in free agency is a win. To get your premier reliever in free agency for $3 million is a grand slam. Signing Strahm was unquestionably Bloom’s best offseason acquisition thus far.