REPORT: Red Sox to Sign Royals All-Star Right-Hander to Solidify Bullpen
At last season’s All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox were in a strong position, sitting 10 games above .500 at 53-43 and holding a slim 1 1/2-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for the American League’s third Wild Card spot. Playoff hopes were high, but things quickly unraveled. Over their final 66 games, the Red Sox went 28-38, finishing with a disappointing 81-81 record, five games shy of a postseason berth.
What went wrong? The answer isn’t simple, but one clear culprit stands out: the bullpen. According to research by Boston Globe reporter Alex Speier, the Red Sox bullpen’s post-All-Star break collapse was the worst in the team’s history.
Even manager Alex Cora pointed to bullpen struggles as the key factor in the team’s downfall.
“Five plays here, five pitches there, a game here and there, we’d be having a different conversation,” Cora told Speier. “We have struggled. We have struggled out of the bullpen. It’s real.”
This late-season bullpen implosion proved costly, dashing Boston’s playoff ambitions and underscoring the need for significant improvements in that area moving forward.
Red Sox Have Already Bolstered Leaky Bullpen
Boston’s chief of baseball operations, Craig Breslow, has already made notable strides in bolstering the bullpen this offseason. He added Aroldis Chapman, a hard-throwing left-hander, as well as Justin Wilson, another lefty who impressed with 51 strikeouts and just 13 walks over 46 2/3 innings for the Cincinnati Reds last season.
However, Breslow has acknowledged that his work isn’t finished. As the offseason progresses, he’s actively seeking additional reinforcements for the bullpen, with a particular focus on pitchers who excel at generating swings and misses.
“The ability to generate swings and misses in the strike zone is kind of the time-tested, foolproof recipe for success, because you’re not influenced to a great extent by balls in play,” Breslow said earlier in the offseason. “So, kind of in a perfect world, we’ve got a host of pitchers who can generate swings and misses in the strike zone.”
The acquisitions of Chapman and Wilson align with this priority, as both are adept at missing bats. However, both are left-handers, leaving room for a complementary right-handed option. The Red Sox are now rumored to be targeting a nine-year veteran right-hander in free agency, who is comin
The right-hander in question is Jeff Hoffman, who most recently pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hoffman posted a career-high 89 strikeouts while walking just 16 across 66 1/3 innings last season, showcasing his effectiveness. His WHIP of 0.965 was the second-best of his career, only slightly behind his 2023 mark of 0.917. This stellar performance earned Hoffman his first All-Star selection in 2024.
Spotrac estimates Hoffman’s market value at $12.4 million over two years. However, Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report recently predicted that the Red Sox might make a more aggressive move by offering Hoffman a three-year, $36 million contract.
One potential hurdle in the negotiations is Hoffman’s reported interest in transitioning to a starting role. ESPN senior baseball insider Jeff Passan projected Hoffman might prefer this shift, aligning with reports that he is seeking a deal similar to the three-year, $38 million contract the New York Mets gave Clay Holmes when converting him from reliever to starter. This preference could influence both Hoffman’s decision and the Red Sox’s willingness to meet his asking price.
Jeff Hoffman May Command $36 Million Deal
Jeff Hoffman, who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies last season, is coming off a career-best year. He struck out 89 batters while issuing just 16 walks over 66 1/3 innings, posting an impressive WHIP of 0.965, the second-lowest of his career behind his 2023 mark of 0.917. These achievements earned him his first All-Star appearance in 2024.
While Spotrac projects Hoffman’s market value at $12.4 million over two years, Bleacher Report‘s Zachary Rymer recently speculated that the Red Sox could pursue him with a more substantial offer—a three-year, $36 million deal.
However, a potential obstacle in signing Hoffman is his interest in transitioning to a starting role. ESPN’s Jeff Passan suggested that Hoffman might prioritize a team willing to give him that opportunity. This aligns with reports that Hoffman is seeking a contract comparable to the three-year, $38 million deal the New York Mets gave Clay Holmes when they converted him from reliever to starter. This preference could play a significant role in determining Hoffman’s next destination.