The Boston Red Sox on May 24 designated pitcher Sean Newcomb for assignment. But before letting him clear waivers and hit free agency, the Sox got some value for him.
The Red Sox have traded Newcomb to the A's for cash considerations, per a release from the team. The Athletics were Newcomb's most recent MLB club before signing with Boston, and he pitched for them with mixed results from 2023-24.
Newcomb began the 2025 season in Boston's rotation after an excellent spring training and injuries to Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito. The lefty logged a 0.63 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 14.1 innings in the Grapefruit League, but his success at camp did not carry through to the season.
The Middleborough, MA. native clocked a 3.95 ERA over 41 innings between the rotation and bullpen with his hometown team. Newcomb's ERA looks better on paper than most Sox fans would expect — he began his season with a four-inning, four-run outing against the Orioles and started Boston's 11-1 loss to the White Sox, although he only registered two earned runs in that game due to the shoddy defense behind him.
Red Sox trade recently-DFA'd pitcher Sean Newcomb to the A's, his former team
Newcomb turned into a long reliever for Boston after its injured pitchers returned to the rotation. He pitched 17.2 innings out of the bullpen over six appearances in May and saved the Sox's other late-inning arms on multiple occasions.
Newcomb only pitched 25 innings in his two seasons with Oakland due to injuries, but he'll return after a rather successful stint with the Sox. He posted a 4.32 ERA over the two seasons, combined, after 12 appearances out of the bullpen and two as a starter.