Pair Of Ex-Red Sox Hurlers Released By NL Club After Failing To Latch On

Two familiar faces attempted to make their mark in Colorado

Two former Boston Red Sox pitchers couldn’t quite keep up with the major league pace in Colorado. 

Veterans Fernando Abad and Phillips Valdez were both released by the Colorado Rockies, per the Major League Baseball transaction wire. 

The Red Sox traded for Abad in 2016 and lasted through 2017 before becoming somewhat of a journeyman. His latest stint is now over.

Abad had a 4.26 ERA, a pair of strikeouts and threewalk, a .379 batting average against and a 2.21 WHIP across 6 1/3 innings pitched in six games for the Rockies this season. He had been up and down with the club before his release.

As for Valdez, 2022 was the last time he saw a major league mound, and he was wearing a Red Sox uniform. The right-hander played for Boston from 2020-2022 when he was a very streaky performer. Since being designated for assignment by Boston, the righty had a short stint with the Philadelphia Phillies, then signed with the Rockies in free agency.

Valdez didn’t get a call-up to the majors and posted an abysmal 8.15 ERA, a 49-to-41 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .325 batting average against and a 1.95 WHIP in 67 1/3 innings pitched across 22 games for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.  

It'll be interesting to see where they end up, though they'll be hard-pressed to find an opportunity this season.

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