Tag: jose de leon

Red Sox bring back former top pitching prospect José De León on minor-league deal

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free-agent right-hander Jose De Leon, a source confirmed to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. De Leon effectively announced the signing on Tuesday, when he posted a video of himself putting on a Red Sox hat to Instagram with the caption: “We’re back in business.”

This will mark the start of De Leon’s second stint with the Red Sox. The 32-year-old first joined the organization on a minors pact in August 2021 after being released by the Reds. He spent the remainder of the season in Fort Myers and made just two appearances for Boston’s rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate before leaving for the Blue Jays as a minor-league free agent that November.

Originally selected by the Dodgers in the 24th round of the 2013 draft out of Southern, De Leon was once viewed as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. The native Puerto Rican broke in at the big-league level in 2016 but was traded to the Rays for infielder Logan Forsythe the following January. He began to deal with arm troubles during the 2017 season, which led to him undergoing his first of two Tommy John surgeries in March 2018.

De Leon missed the entirety of the 2018 campaign and has seen limited in the majors since then. Altogether, the righty owns a lifetime 7.44 ERA (5.41 FIP) in 34 total outings (seven starts) spanning 65 1/3 innings between the Dodgers, Rays, Reds, and Twins. He logged a 4.67 ERA (3.83 FIP) in 12 appearances (17 1/3 innings) for Minnesota in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery for a second time that June.

De Leon was subsequently outrighted off the Twins’ 40-man roster and spent all of 2024 in free agency without pitching at the major- or minor-league level. After finishing his rehab, though, De Leon showed flashes of his past potential in winter ball in Puerto Rico during the offseason. In 12 appearances (two starts) between the regular season and the Caribbean Series, he forged a 1.32 ERA with 15 strikeouts to 10 walks over 13 2/3 innings.

As noted by Cotillo, Red Sox manager Alex Cora presumably got a good look at De Leon over the winter since he pitched for Cora’s hometown team in Caguas. With that being said, De Leon — who does not turn 33 until August — figures to provide Boston with upper-minors pitching depth and seems likely to open the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester if there is a spot for him there.

(Picture of Jose De Leon: Edgardo Medina/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Red Sox sign left-handed reliever Alex Claudio to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed left-handed reliever Alex Claudio to a minor-league contract and have assigned him to Triple-A Worcester, per SoxProspects.com.

Claudio, 29, was released by the Angels on July 30 — five days after being designated for assignment by the club.

In 41 relief appearances for Los Angeles this season, the veteran southpaw struggled to the tune of a 5.51 ERA and 5.10 FIP to go along with 30 strikeouts and 15 walks over 32 2/3 total innings of work.

A former 27th-round draft pick of the Rangers out of Isabel Flores High School (Puerto Rico), Claudio inked a one-year, $1.125 million deal with the Angels last December after spending the 2019 and 2020 campaigns with the Brewers and being non-tendered by Milwaukee over the winter.

Per Baseball Savant, Claudio — a native of San Juan — operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a sinker, slider, changeup, and four-seam fastball.

While he endured his fair share of difficulties with the Halos in 2021, Claudio has proven to fairly effective in the past, especially when going up against fellow left-handed hitters.

Across four seasons between the Rangers and Brewers from 2017 through 2020, the 6-foot-3, 190 pound hurler posted a respectable 3.65 ERA over 239 total appearances (two starts) and 232 innings while holding left-handed bats to a .205/.255/.313 slash line against during that stretch.

As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have looked to bolster their left-handed bullpen depth behind Josh Taylor as of late with Darwinzon Hernandez currently sidelined because of a right oblique strain he sustained in late July.

In addition to signing Claudio to a minors pact, Boston acquired left-handed reliever Austin Davis from the Pirates on July 30 and moved Martin Perez to the bullpen last week.

By bringing in Claudio, the Red Sox have now signed a pair of Puerto Rican hurlers to minor-league deals within the last week, as former Reds righty Jose De Leon joined the organization on Thursday.

Both Claudio and De Leon have been assigned to the WooSox, for what it’s worth.

(Picture of Alex Claudio: John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)