With just under a month until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Boston Red Sox remain active in the reliever market. On Jan. 14, they reunited with a former bullpen depth arm.
The Red Sox signed Robert Stock, a member of the 2020 squad, to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. The news was first reported by Stock's current team, los Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League (MXPW), on Twitter and later confirmed by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
Stock, 35, appeared in 10 games with the Red Sox during the 2020 season and pitched to a 4.73 ERA over 13.1 innings. He debuted with the Padres in 2018 and appeared with the Mets and Cubs in 2021, along with stints in MXPW, KBO, Mexican League and Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of MLB.
Stock is an intriguing addition to Boston's bullpen depth options. He's fresh off a Triple Crown victory in MXPW with a stellar 1.60 ERA, 10 wins, 78 strikeouts and a 1.067 WHIP over 84.1 innings.
Red Sox reunite with former pitcher Robert Stock, who appeared in 10 games during the 2020 season
Robert Stock's Filthy Stuff.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) December 31, 2024
[Mexican Winter League Pitching Triple Crown Winner]
Nasty movement & he also switches sides of the rubber to change angles. @RobertStock6 pic.twitter.com/XHLpi1131o
MLB spring training report dates revealed: Red Sox pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12
MLB insider and former GM Jim Bowden on Jan. 14 revealed teams' first workout dates for spring training 2025. Red Sox pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers on Feb. 12 to begin the sprint to Opening Day, which is March 27 this year.
Boston's first whole squad workout will be Feb. 17. Some Red Sox are already back in the saddle, though, at Trevor Story's fielding and rookie development camps.
Blue Jays emerge as finalist for Roki Sasaki as Red Sox whiff again
On Jan. 13, international free agent flamethrower Roki Sasaki began eliminating teams from the race to sign him. The Toronto Blue Jays, a late entrant into the mix, are among the three finalists to land Sasaki alongside the Padres and Dodgers.
Boston never secured a meeting with Sasaki, and according to Cotillo, it has not entered the running for his services. The 22-year-old righty expressed interest in playing in a smaller market with less rigorous media coverage than he's used to from his time in Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Red Sox don't exactly meet that criterion, but fans are left wondering why they couldn't even land a meeting with the future ace.
Now, all Red Sox fans can hope is that Sasaki signs with the Padres — it's hard to imagine the Dodgers getting any better and if he came to Toronto, Boston would have to face him three to four times a year for the duration of his contract.