Red Sox Reportedly Sign Former Standout Reliever To Bolster Bullpen Depth

Boston added a low-risk, high-reward arm to their bullpen

The Boston Red Sox picked up an experienced arm in an effort to help an injury-plagued bullpen.

"Red Sox are signing veteran righty Kyle Barraclough to a minor league deal," MassLive's Chris Cotillo tweeted Monday. "Barraclough has 288 games of Major League Baseball experience, all in relief, but he’s been in the Atlantic League (High Point) this year and is actually stretched out as a starter. He’ll go to (Triple-A Worcester)." 

Barraclough posted a 1.00 ERA for High Point this season, with a 17-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 0.89 WHIP in seven games across 18 innings pitched.

The aforementioned tweet from Cotillo has Barraclough joining the Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox, where it's too early to tell if he'll be a starter or reliever. Given his career history, the latter is much more likely. 

Throughout his seven-year career, Barraclough has a 3.61 ERA and a 346-to-167 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .208 batting average against, and a 1.36 WHIP in 274 1/3 innings pitched across 288 games. 

The best stretch of his career was with the Miami Marlins from 2015-2017 where he had an impressive 2.87 ERA and 219-to-100 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .192 batting average against, and 1.29 WHIP in 163 innings pitched across 166 games. 

As of now, Barraclough can be considered organizational depth but the veteran could challenge some of the Red Sox's back-end relievers for a spot on the active roster down the stretch.

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