jake reed – Blogging the Red Sox

Red Sox lose Jake Reed on waivers to Dodgers

Three days after designating him for assignment, the Red Sox have lost reliever Jake Reed on waivers to the Dodgers, the club announced earlier Friday afternoon.

Reed, 30, was designated for assignment on Tuesday alongside catcher Caleb Hamilton so that the Red Sox could create space on their 40-man roster for the prospect quintet of Chris Murphy, Brandon Walter, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and David Hamilton. Those five minor-leaguers needed to be added in order to receive protection from next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

Boston originally claimed Reed off waivers from the Orioles on October 13. The right-hander posted a 7.02 ERA and 5.09 FIP with 13 strikeouts to eight walks over 18 relief appearances (16 2/3 innings) for the Mets, Dodgers, and O’s this past season.

A former fifth-round draft pick of the Twins out of the University of Oregon in 2014, Reed first broke in with the Dodgers last July after spending seven years in the Minnesota organization and part of the 2021 campaign with the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City.

Since being released by the Angels last June, Reed has been signed and designated by the Dodgers, claimed and designated by the Rays, claimed and designated by the Mets, claimed and designated by the Dodgers, claimed and designated by the Orioles, claimed and designated by the Red Sox, and claimed by the Dodgers again.

Between all those stops, Reed has pitched to a 5.74 ERA and 4.33 FIP with 23 strikeouts to 10 walks in 28 career appearances (one start) and 26 2/3 innings at the big-league level. That includes a 2.70 ERA (3.94 FIP) across 11 total outings (10 innings pitched) with Los Angeles.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Reed possesses a unique delivery and arm angle while primarily working with a sinker-slider combination that is complimented by a four-seam fastball and changeup. The Arizona native has one minor-league option remaining, so the Dodgers could elect to shuttle Reed between Los Angeles and its Triple-A affiliate next season if he can stick on their 40-man roster this winter.

(Picture of Jake Reed: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Red Sox designate Jake Reed, Caleb Hamilton for assignment

The Red Sox have designated right-hander Jake Reed and catcher Caleb Hamilton for assignment, the club announced earlier Tuesday evening.

Boston came into the day with 37 players on its 40-man roster. Ahead of Tuesday’s Rule 5 protection deadline, the club needed to clear two spots in order to add the prospect quintet of Chris Murphy, Brandon Walter, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and David Hamilton. They did so by designating two recently-acquired players in Reed and Hamilton.

Reed, 30, was claimed off waivers from the Orioles on October 13. The righty had posted a 6.35 ERA in eight relief appearances (5 2/3 innings) with Baltimore after the O’s claimed him off waivers from the Dodgers in early September.

Up until that point in the year, Reed had split the 2022 season with the Dodgers and Mets, pitching to a 7.36 ERA with eight strikeouts to seven walks over 10 appearances (11 innings pitched) between the two clubs through the end of August.

A native of Arizona, Reed was originally selected by the Twins in the fifth round of the 2014 amateur draft out of the University of Oregon. He reached minor-league free agency at the end of the 2020 season and signed a minors pact with the Angels that November.

After appearing in eight games for the Halos’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City to begin the 2021 campaign, Reed was released last May. He inked a minors pact with the Dodgers shortly thereafter and made his major-league debut for Los Angeles in July.

Since then, Reed has been designated for assignment by the Dodgers, claimed and designated for assignment by the Rays, claimed and designated for assignment by the Mets, claimed and designated for assignment by the Dodgers, claimed and designated for assignment by the Orioles, and claimed and designated for assignment by the Red Sox.

It has certainly been an interesting journey for Reed, who now owns a lifetime 5.47 ERA and 4.33 FIP with 23 strikeouts to 10 walks across 26 2/3 innings at the big-league level. The fact that he possesses a unique delivery and has one minor-league option remaining could make him appealing to other teams.

Hamilton, meanwhile, was claimed off waivers from the Twins on Oct. 11. The 27-year-old backstop was originally selected by Minnesota in the 23rd round of the 2016 amateur draft out of Oregon State University. He spent six years in the minors before making his major-league debut in July.

In 22 games with the Twins this season, the right-handed hitting Hamilton went just 1-for-18 (.056) with one home run, one RBI, five runs scored, four walks, and 14 strikeouts. He also logged 38 innings behind the plate and 19 innings at first base.

At the Triple-A level this year, Hamilton batted .233/.367/.442 with 10 doubles, 11 homers, 43 runs driven in, 34 runs scored, one stolen base, 43 walks, and 67 strikeouts in 62 games (251 plate appearances) with the St. Paul Saints. Though catcher is his primary position, the 6-foot, 185-pounder has past experience at every other defensive position.

Hamilton, who turns 28 in February, has two minor-league option years remaining. So, he, too, could be of interest to opposing clubs. The Red Sox will have the next seven days to either trade, waive, or release Hamilton and Reed.

Neither Hamilton nor Reed has been outrighted before in their careers, so the Red Sox could look to retain both as non 40-man roster players if they clear waivers in the coming days.

By adding Murphy, Walter, Rafaela, Abreu, and Hamilton and subtracting (Caleb) Hamilton and Reed, Boston’s 40-man roster is back at full capacity. With the non-tender deadline looming on Friday, though, that status could soon change.

According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the likes of Franchy Cordero, Ryan Brasier, Josh Taylor, and Darwinzon Hernandez are all candidates to be let go before Friday’s deadline. Cotillo notes that the Red Sox are “considering options” when it comes to Cordero, so he could be on the immediate chopping block.

(Picture of Jake Reed: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Red Sox offseason: Eduard Bazardo elects free agency after clearing waivers

Eduard Bazardo has cleared waivers and was outrighted off the Red Sox’ major-league roster, the club announced earlier Monday afternoon. Rather than accept an assignment to Triple-A Worcester, Bazardo has elected to become a free agent.

Bazardo, 27, was designated for assignment on Thursday after fellow reliever Jake Reed was claimed off waivers from the Orioles. Because he had previously been outrighted in his career, the right-hander had the ability to reject a minor-league assignment in favor of free agency if he went unclaimed.

Originally signed out of Venezuela for just $8,000 in July 2014, Bazardo first burst onto the scene in the wake of the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Although there was no Minor League Baseball in 2020, the Maracay native impressed at fall instructs in Fort Myers and was ultimately added to the Sox’ 40-man roster that November in order to receive protection from the Rule 5 Draft.

The following April, Bazardo made his big-league debut in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Twins at Target Field. He tossed a scoreless seventh inning and was sent back down to Worcester. His only other appearance of the 2021 season came on May 12, when he tossed two scoreless frames of relief against the Athletics while filling in for a sick Nick Pivetta.

Shortly after returning to the WooSox, Bazardo suffered a right lat strain that resulted in him being sidelined for nearly three months. The Red Sox placed him on the 60-day injured list last July and did not activate him until mid-September.

On the heels of an up-and-down debut season, Bazardo came into spring training this year with a chance to earn a spot in Boston’s Opening Day bullpen. But the righty was optioned on April 2 and was designated for assignment five days later.

After clearing waivers for the first time, Bazardo was outrighted to Worcester. He spent the majority of the 2022 campaign with the WooSox before having his contract selected again last month. In his second go-around with the Red Sox, the 6-foot, 165-pound hurler posted a 2.76 ERA and 6.05 FIP to go along with 11 strikeouts to four walks over 12 relief appearances spanning 16 1/3 innings of work.

While the ERA is encouraging, the peripherals certainly say otherwise and likely played a role in Bazardo losing his 40-man roster spot to Reed last week.

Given that he does not turn 28 until next September, though, it seems likely that Bazardo will have plenty of suitors (the Red Sox included) this winter if he is willing to entertain minor-league offers. He has, after all, produced a 4.33 ERA across 48 appearances (four starts) and 68 2/3 innings in parts of the last two seasons with the WooSox.

(Picture of Eduard Bazardo: Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox claim Jake Reed off waivers from Orioles, designate Eduard Bazardo for assignment

The Red Sox have claimed right-hander Jake Reed off waivers from the Orioles. In order to create space for Reed on the 40-man roster, fellow righty Eduard Bazardo was designated for assignment, per the team’s transactions log.

Reed, 30, was designated for assignment by the O’s on Tuesday after they claimed veteran outfielder Jake Cave off waivers from the Twins.

Interestingly enough, Reed was originally selected by Minnesota in the fifth round of the 2014 amateur draft out of the University of Oregon. The Arizona native did not make his major-league debut until last July with the Dodgers and has since pitched for two different clubs in the Mets and Orioles.

In 10 appearances (one start) between Los Angeles and New York last season, Reed allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits, two walks, and 10 strikeouts over 10 innings of work. That is good for an ERA of 3.60 and FIP of 3.07.

While those numbers are certainly respectable, it was more of a struggle for Reed this year. In the process of bouncing around between the Mets, Dodgers, and Orioles, he surrendered 15 runs (13 earned) on 17 hits, eight walks, and 13 strikeouts across 16 2/3 innings. That translates to a 7.02 ERA and 5.09 FIP.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Reed primarily operates with a sinker and slider, though he also mixes in a four-seam fastball and changeup from time to time.

Given that he still has one minor-league option remaining, Reed has the ability to be shuttled between Boston and Triple-A Worcester for one more season. For his minor-league career, he owns a lifetime 3.84 ERA in 150 outings (215 2/3 innings) at the Triple-A level.

Bazardo, meanwhile, has now been designated for assignment on two separate occasions this year. After clearing waivers in April, the 27-year-old hurler spent the majority of the season with the WooSox before having his contract selected in September.

Upon returning to the big-league club, Bazardo pitched to a 2.76 ERA and 6.05 FIP to go along with 11 strikeouts to four walks over 12 relief appearances spanning 16 1/3 innings of work. He owns a 2.33 ERA since breaking in with Boston last April.

Unlike Reed, Bazardo has two minor-league options remaining, which could make him more appealing to other teams. Should he clear waivers in the coming days, the native Venezuelan will have the ability to reject an outright assignment to the minors in favor of free agency since he has previously been outrighted.

By effectively swapping Reed for Bazardo, the Red Sox’ 40-man roster remains at full capacity. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has been plenty busy this month, as Easton McGee was claimed from the Rays last Wednesday and Caleb Hamilton was claimed from the Twins on Tuesday.

Since this particular transaction took place during a postseason game, it will not be officially announced until Friday morning.

(Picture of Jake Reed: Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)