3) Wyatt Mills will eat up innings out of the Red Sox bullpen
The Red Sox have plans for Wyatt Mills. Acquired as part of a three-team deal with the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals this offseason, he’s going to provide the ball club with some depth. If they’re lucky, he becomes more.
Mills joins the Red Sox with a lifetime 6.21 ERA in 42 big league innings. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners in 2021 and the start of 2022 before finishing up with the Kansas City Royals. He has been very successful in Triple-A, most recently going 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 33.2 innings of work last year.
The upside for Mills isn’t massive. He fits the bill as an innings eater to give the Red Sox irregular frames throughout the year. Existing minor league options will make him a guy to call up for even just a day to have someone fresh. Mills isn’t in serious contention to steal anyone’s job. He has a role and that’s to make sure the Red Sox have available pitchers throughout the entire 162-game season.
Mills was never a realistic candidate to make the Red Sox Opening Day roster. Some rough outings this spring have done little to change the perception. He’ll have an impact on the 2023 season. What no one knows quite yet is whether it’ll be good or bad.