Red Sox designate former SF Giants, Phillies reliever for assignment

The Boston Red Sox designated former SF Giants and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Mauricio Llovera for assignment on Wednesday.

The Boston Red Sox designated right-handed relief pitcher Mauricio Llovera for assignment on Wednesday to clear a 40-man roster spot for recent free agent acquisition Lucas Giolito. The Red Sox acquired Llovera in a trade with the SF Giants earlier this year, that sent pitching prospect Marques Johnson to San Francisco. Llovera seems like a decent candidate to be claimed off waivers by another team.

SF Giants reliever Mauricio Llovera throws a pitch. (2022) / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

While Llovera was buried by the Giants quality bullpen depth at Triple-A for most of the 2023 season, he was a mainstay in Boston's pen after he was dealt. Between both franchises, Llovera finished the season with a 4.89 ERA (4.34 FIP) in 35 innings pitched (30 appearances) in the majors with 29 strikeouts and 15 walks. At Triple-A, Llovera had a 3.97 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 6 walks in 22.2 innings pitched (19 appearances).

Llovera was originally signed as an international free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2015 and quickly moved through their organization as a starting pitcher. While Llovera was an effective starter in the upper minors, the Phillies moved him to the bullpen in 2020, and he made his MLB debut during the pandemic-shortened season. He remained effective at Triple-A the following year but posted a 9.45 ERA in six big-league appearances.

Given his struggles, the Phillies designated Llovera for assignment and outrighted him to the minor leagues. Following the season, Llovera became a free agent and inked a minor-league deal with the Giants. After an incredible start to the season where he allowed just one unearned run across 20 innings pitched at Triple-A (with 28 strikeouts and just four walks), Llovera was called up to the majors.

He quickly showed promise before suffering an elbow injury that ultimately ended his season. Nevertheless, in 17 MLB appearances with the Giants in 2022, Llovera recorded 20 strikeouts and eight walks in 16.1 innings pitched with a 4.41 ERA (3.71 FIP). The Giants designated Llovera for assignment following the injury but retained him on a minor-league contract during the offseason. Perhaps the Red Sox will look to do the same thing this year, but he will have to clear waivers first.

While the SF Giants have not gotten any big-league contributions from their trade return for Mauricio Llovera yet, Johnson's early performance was promising. An 11th-round draft pick by the Red Sox in 2022 out of Cal State Long Beach, Johnson's numbers drastically improved with Single-A San Jose after struggling at Single-A Salem. In fact, he did not allow an earned run once he joined the Giants. He also made a couple of appearances at the Arizona Fall League.