Red Sox Sign Hurler With 102 MPH Sinker To Bolster Bullpen Depth

The Boston Red Sox have yet to make the splash fans have been yearning for with just a few weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

The market for some of the top free agents remaining has moved at a snail's pace and could take some time to be resolved.

Meanwhile, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has made some depth moves, including taking a lottery ticket on a low-risk, high-reward power arm.

The Red Sox signed former San Francisco Giants pitching prospect Melvin Adón to a minor-league deal last Wednesday, per the club’s transactions log.

Adón posted a 7.43 ERA with a 50-to-37 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .297 batting average against and a 2.10 WHIP in 40 innings last season across 32 relief appearances.

The 29-year-old did little to prove himself in 2023 but he does have a 100+ mph sinker and an above-average power slider that could be the key to his turnaround.

The new pitching development regime appears to be looking for high-end arms they can mold, with the idea that it's hard to develop elite arm talent but they'll be able to improve pitchers' control and pitch usage.

Adón is a great player to take a shot on at this point in the winter. The fact that he does not take up a 40-man roster spot makes this a fantastic move. He'll either become something special or be released down the line for little cost.