Reliever Michael Fulmer spent the entire 2024 season under the radar in the Boston Red Sox's minor league system.
Boston signed Fulmer to a rare two-year minor league deal as he recovered from elbow surgery and intended to use him as a depth pitching option when he was ready to return to action. The Sox turned to him just once in their April 14 blowout loss to the Rays — he posted 2.2 innings and surrendered three runs on four hits — before he was designated for assignment.
Fulmer was outrighted to Triple-A Worcester on April 20 and elected free agency that day. He didn't last long on the market and has already agreed to a minor league deal with the Cubs, reported by Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register. Fulmer will join the Triple-A Iowa Cubs to start his second stint with Chicago.
Fulmer, the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year, last appeared with the Cubs in 2023 before his season-ending surgery. He clocked a 4.42 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 28 walks in 57 innings of work.
Former Red Sox sign-and-stash pitcher Michael Fulmer returns to Cubs on minor league deal
REPORT: Michael Fulmer has signed a minor league deal with the Cubs, per @TommyBirch. pic.twitter.com/V07hJloV8F
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 23, 2025
The 2023 season was just Fulmer's second as a reliever. His career began as a starter in the Tigers organization and he posted a solid 3.81 ERA over 456 innings in three seasons of work. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, missed the entire season and wasn't the same after his return. He registered an 8.78 ERA over 10 starts during the pandemic-shortened season, which spurred his transition to the bullpen. He started just four games in 2021 and posted a 2.97 ERA in 69.2 innings.
Fulmer's experience in the rotation and bullpen made him an ideal pitching depth candidate for Boston, which reportedly considered using him in the rotation early this season. The Red Sox lacked capable starting pitching depth until recently, following the breakout of top prospect Hunter Dobbins and a few sharp trade acquisitions by Craig Breslow in Richard Fitts and, formerly, Quinn Priester.
The Red Sox's decision to option Fulmer after one rough appearance in his first big league outing since 2023 was curious, especially considering they aren't out of the woods when it comes to pitcher injuries. It's nice that he found another job quickly, but hopefully, Boston wasn't too hasty in its decision to let him go while it still has starters on the injured list.