The Boston Red Sox have made their first move for the 2025 season by signing veteran left-handed reliever Justin Wilson. While the team hasn’t made any major acquisitions yet, this signing is a step towards addressing their bullpen, which struggled significantly in the second half of the 2024 season. After the All-Star break, the Red Sox bullpen ranked last in every major pitching category, and they were especially lacking in left-handed options. Several pitchers were shuffled between the majors and Triple-A to fill the lefty roles, highlighting the team’s need for improvement.
Wilson, a 12-year veteran, most recently played for the Cincinnati Reds, where he had a 5.59 ERA over 60 appearances. Despite the high ERA, he struck out 51 batters in 46 2/3 innings, showcasing his potential to be more effective if he can minimize hard contact. His primary pitches are a four-seam fastball, slider, and cutter, and his 95th percentile chase rate in 2024 suggests he has the ability to get hitters to chase pitches outside the strike zone. However, his advanced metrics show that he may have been unlucky last season, with his expected wOBA being lower than his actual wOBA.
The Red Sox’s deal with Wilson is a one-year contract worth $2.25 million in base salary, with the potential for an additional $750,000 in bonuses. While Wilson is not a long-term solution for the bullpen, at 37 years old, he provides some much-needed experience and depth for 2025. The team is still looking to add more to its bullpen, including potentially pursuing Tanner Scott, one of the top left-handed free-agent relievers, which suggests that this is just the beginning of their off-season moves.
This signing is seen as a low-risk move for the Red Sox, providing some veteran presence and depth to a bullpen that was one of the worst in baseball. Wilson’s strikeout ability gives the team hope that, with the right coaching and adjustments, he could be more effective in 2025. Though he is not expected to be a cornerstone of the bullpen, if his strikeout stuff can be utilized more efficiently, he could prove to be a valuable asset for the Red Sox during the season.
While such moves may not generate much excitement in the off-season, they can have significant impacts as the season progresses. Red Sox fans may not be very familiar with Wilson yet, but if his performance improves, he could become a key contributor, especially in the late summer and fall when bullpen depth becomes crucial. If the Red Sox can find a way to maximize his potential, Wilson could play an important role in strengthening their pitching staff for 2025.
