Although the Boston Red Sox have made many additions this offseason, there's still a sense that they haven't done enough to be truly competitive.
This criticism is primarily centered around their inability to bring in a big-name righty bat, such as Alex Bregman. If they can't add to the lineup, an alternative could be to add another veteran to the bullpen — like David Robertson.
Robertson has been quite the journeyman recently, having played for five different teams in the last three seasons. In that span, he's rekindled the magic from early in his career with the Yankees, posting a 2.82 ERA, 1.154 WHIP and 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings across 201 innings for the Cubs, Phillies, Mets, Marlins and Rangers. He also has notable postseason experience and has pitched effectively in October, with a career 3.04 playoff ERA. Robertson is projected to earn about $7.1 million in 2025.
David Robertson is the only pitcher this season to strike out Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in succession.
— MLB (@MLB) June 14, 2024
He's done it in back-to-back games. pic.twitter.com/5RRl51XBB8
Red Sox could consider veteran reliever David Robertson to bolster bullpen depth
The biggest drawback for Robertson is his age, as he'll turn 40 in April. That becomes even more of a concern when you consider that the bullpen that already includes 36-year old Aroldis Chapman and 35-year old Liam Hendriks, both recent acquisitions. Injuries are liable to become an issue in that bullpen.
That being said, Robertson isn't a long-term solution for the Sox 'pen. Any contract he signs at his age is bound to be for just a year, and he's been very effective over the last few seasons. Signing him wouldn't require much of a commitment, he has postseason experience, and he would add depth to a bullpen that could use it.
If the Red Sox are thinking about their outlook for this upcoming season, signing Robertson could make a lot of sense. It's undoubtedly a win-now move, but it's pretty low-stakes given what he's projected to make. Adding depth would be smart, especially when you don't know what you'll get out of Hendriks, who didn't pitch at all in 2024. You can never have too much pitching.