It's minor league deal season, and the Boston Red Sox have been active in the market for bullpen depth.
Boston reunited with reliever Adam Ottavino on Feb. 18, and two days later, it signed lefty reliever Matt Moore to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, reported by Rob Bradford of WEEI. He'll have the opportunity to opt out of his deal with Boston if he doesn't make the major league roster out of camp.
Moore, 35, is a 13-year MLB veteran who most recently played for the Angels. He was formerly a top prospect during his tenure with the division-rival Rays (then Devil Rays) and even earned Cy Young Award votes and an All-Star nod in 2013. He never fully lived up to his hype, though, and has been a journeyman ever since. He's played on eight different MLB teams, the Sox will be his ninth.
Moore posted a 5.03 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 26 walks over 48.1 innings with the Angels last year, but he's been excellent as recently as 2023. He logged a 2.56 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 15 walks with three different teams two seasons ago and a 1.95 ERA over 74 frames the year before that.
Red Sox sign former Rays reliever Matt Moore to minor league deal with spring training invite
Red Sox, Matt Moore Agree To Minor League Deal https://t.co/e0GbxGb6zh pic.twitter.com/74PhvfSRz8
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) February 20, 2025
Alex Cora announced earlier on Feb. 20 that lefty reliever Zach Penrod has been experiencing elbow soreness and underwent an MRI to check for any damage. Cora sounded concerned for the 27-year-old and Boston's quick signing of Moore suggests Penrod could be sidelined for a long time, although his MRI results have not yet been released.
Moore joins Ottavino, Michael Fulmer, Jovani Moran, Austin Adams, Isaiah Campbell and more as non-roster invitees in the mix for spots in Boston's bullpen.