Former Red Sox Prospect Likely Headed Back To Boston After Stint With Division Rival

Boston might be bringing back an old friend

A Boston Red Sox 2018 draft pick may be coming back as organizational depth this season. 

Andrew (A.J.) Politi was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft back in December. He spent nearly all of spring training with Baltimore until news broke of his status with the Orioles. 

“Reliever Andrew Politi, a Rule 5 selection by the Orioles from the Red Sox, has been designated for assignment by Baltimore,” The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier tweeted Monday.

The Rule 5 Draft allows clubs to draft prospects in opposing teams’ farm systems, with a few stipulations.

In order for a team to keep a prospect that they drafted during the Rule 5 Draft he needs to remain on their 26-man roster for an entire season. If the prospect is cut from the roster he can either be picked up by another club on the waiver wire, where he will need to remain on their 26-man roster, or he would return to his original team. 

In Politi’s case, if he isn’t scooped up by another team he’d return to the Red Sox's farm system.

Politi posted a 2.34 ERA with an 83-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .186 batting average against and 0.97 WHIP in 69 1/3 innings between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.  

After being designated for assignment Monday night there are 28 teams that can still pick up Politi. However, if he isn’t claimed off waivers he would return to Boston’s system to potentially give the Red Sox an extra arm in the bullpen.

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