Rumored Red Sox Target Reportedly Signs Elsewhere; Inks Short Deal With Diamondbacks

Boston will have to look elsewhere if it wants a new reliever

One potential Boston Red Sox target reportedly is off the market. 

Boston -- who recently has been heavily tied to seemingly all free left-handed relief pitchers -- missed out on former Detroit Tigers hurler Andrew Chafin as he reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Free-agent left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin in agreement with Diamondbacks on one-year contract, sources tell @TheAthletic. The deal, which is pending a physical, is expected to be in the $6.5M range with a chance to increase to mid-$7.5M range with incentives.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 11, 2023

Chafin began his Major League Baseball career with the Diamondbacks in 2014 after being drafted by the club in the first round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft. The lefty spent the first seven years of his career in Arizona. Since leaving the Diamondbacks in 2020 Chafin is been somewhat of a journeyman playing for the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Tigers. 

It was unsurprising that the Red Sox were linked to Chafin as they certainly were in the market for a left-handed reliever. Before dealing Matt Barnes for Richard Bleier the club only had one lefty in the team's bullpen. With the addition of Bleier, the club now has two including himself and Joely Rodriguez. Adding a third left-handed reliever wouldn't hurt and Chafin made perfect sense. 

Chafin has a career ERA of 3.23 in nine MLB seasons and has been electric over the last two years. The 32-year-old compiled a 1.83 ERA in 71 appearances and struck out 64 batters in 68 2/3 innings pitched. He impressed once again in 2022 with a 2.83 ERA in 64 appearances to go along with 67 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings pitched. 

The hurler could have fit in perfectly in a Boston bullpen that has been greatly improved this offseason but now the team will need to look elsewhere if it wants to make another addition. 

More MLB: Ex-Red Sox Pitcher Officially Signs With Dodgers As He Attempts Big League Return