Tag: minor league contract

Red Sox sign 6-foot-6 righty Patrick Halligan to minor league deal

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with free-agent right-hander Patrick Halligan, as was first reported by Andrew Parker of SoxProspects.com. It does not appear as though the deal comes with an invitation to major league spring training.

Halligan, 26, has never pitched in the majors. The Virginia native was originally selected by the Royals in the 13th round (397th overall) of the 2021 draft out of Pensacola State College (Fla.). He received a $132,500 signing bonus but spent just one full season in Kansas City’s system before being released in March 2023.

Days after being cut loose by the Royals, Halligan latched on with the Braves and split the 2023 campaign between the High-A and Double-A levels while also pitching in the Arizona Fall League. The righty followed that up by putting together arguably his best professional season to date in 2024, as he forged a 3.02 ERA with 67 strikeouts to 25 walks in a career-high 41 appearances (one start) spanning 50 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Opposing hitters batted just .191 against him.

Following the start of the 2025 season, Halligan was dealt to the Astros on April 11 as the player to be named later in the trade that sent veteran reliever Rafael Montero to the Braves three days prior. He reported to Houston’s Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi and worked his way up to Triple-A Sugar Land of the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in mid-June. Though he surrendered six earned runs in four outings (4 2/3 innings) for the Space Cowboys before being sent back down on July 1, Halligan finished the year having posted a 3.48 ERA with 62 strikeouts to 21 walks in 35 relief appearances (51 2/3 innings) for the Hooks.

Altogether, Halligan owns a lifetime 4.34 ERA with 282 strikeouts to 104 walks over 146 career minor league outings (14 starts) totaling 265 1/3 innings dating back to August 2021. That includes a 7.30 ERA with 10 strikeouts to 13 walks across 12 1/3 frames in parts of three seasons (2022, 2024-2025) at the Triple-A level.

Listed at an imposing 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Halligan fits the physical mold the Red Sox have sought in pitchers under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Co. In his four Triple-A appearances last year, the burly hurler featured a lower-90s four-seam fastball, a mid-80s slider, and a lower-80s splitter, per Prospect Savant.

It remains to be seen whether Halligan, who does not turn 27 until October, will start the 2026 season at Double-A Portland or Triple-A Worcester. Nonetheless, he is coming off an impressive stint in the Puerto Rican Winter League that saw him produce a 2.82 ERA with 30 strikeouts to six walks in 20 relief appearances (22 1/3 innings) for the Indios de Mayaguez. He has since joined the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League as a reinforcement for the playoffs there.

(Picture of Patrick Halligan: Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Yankees first-round pick TJ Sikkema to minor league contract

The Red Sox have signed free-agent left-hander TJ Sikkema to a minor league contract, the club announced on Tuesday. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Sikkema, 27, has never pitched in the majors. The Iowa native was originally selected by the Yankees with the 38th overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Missouri. He received a $1.95 million signing bonus and made his professional debut that June.

After not pitching in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic or in 2021 due to lat and shoulder issues, Sikkema was traded by the Yankees to the Royals alongside right-handers Beck Way and Chandler Champlain for outfielder Andrew Benintendi in July 2022. The lefty entered the 2023 season ranked by Baseball America as Kansas City’s No. 16 prospect but struggled to a 5.85 ERA in 34 relief appearances (72 1/3 innings) at the Double-A level. He was then scooped up by the Reds in the minor league phase of that December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Sikkema spent the last two seasons in the Reds organization before electing free agency in November. In 2025 alone, he posted a 4.57 ERA with 72 strikeouts to 31 walks in 23 appearances (15 starts) spanning a career-high 86 2/3 innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. That includes a 3.47 ERA with 16 strikeouts to eight walks over five outings (four starts) and 23 1/3 innings for Cincinnati’s top affiliate after being promoted in late August. In his first taste of action at the Triple-A level, opposing hitters in the International League batted .247 against him.

Listed at 6-foot and 211 pounds, Sikkema featured five different pitches in his brief stint with Louisville last year. He worked with a lower-90s four-seam fastball and sinker, a lower-80s changeup, an upper-70s slider, and a sparsely-used mid-70s curveball. His 1.4 percent barrel rate ranked in the 85th percentile of all Triple-A pitchers in 2025, per Prospect Savant.

With experience as a starter and coming out of the bullpen, Sikkema figures to provide the Red Sox with versatile pitching depth from the left side at Triple-A Worcester to open the 2026 season. In addition to Sikkema, Boston added fellow southpaw Alec Gamboa, righties Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, and Devin Sweet, catcher Jason Delay, and infielder Vinny Capra to its spring training roster as non-roster invitees on Tuesday.

(Picture of TJ Sikkema: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Red Sox agree to minor league deal with former Pirates farmhand Matt Fraizer

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with outfielder Matt Fraizer, as was first reported by Chase Ford of MiLB Central. The deal, which Fraizer himself confirmed on Instagram, does not include an invite to major league spring training.

Fraizer, who turns 28 later this month, has spent the entirety of his professional career to this point with the Pirates but has never played in the majors. The California native was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (95th overall) of the 2019 draft out of the University of Arizona. He received a $525,000 signing bonus and emerged as an intriguing prospect on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Following a breakout 2021 season in which he batted .306/.388/.552 with 23 home runs and 68 RBIs in 112 games (499 plate appearances) between High-A and Double-A to earn minor league player of the year honors within the organization, Fraizer entered 2022 as Baseball America’s 12th-ranked Pirates prospect. From there, however, he stalled out in the upper levels of Pittsburgh’s system.

After first reaching Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024, Fraizer spent most of last year with the Pirates’ top affiliate. The left-handed hitter slashed .305/.361/.452 with 18 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 20 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 19 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 62 games (220 plate appearances). He did not make his season debut until May 2 and ended the campaign on the injured list before electing free agency in November.

Defensively, Fraizer has plenty of experience at all three outfield positions. In 2025 alone, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder made 23 starts in right field, 16 starts in left field, and 10 starts in center field, recording two assists and committing just one error in 112 total chances. He also made five starts at DH.

As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have an exorbitant amount of outfield depth at the major league level, but were somewhat light in that area at Triple-A Worcester this winter following the departures of Jhostynxon Garcia (who was traded to the Pirates last month) and Trayce Thompson (who is a minor league free agent). To that end, Fraizer now figures to join the likes of Braiden Ward, Corey Rosier, and Phillip Sikes as outfielders not on the 40-man roster who could see significant playing time with the WooSox out of the gate in 2026.

(Picture of Matt Fraizer: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Red Sox agree to minor league deal with former Dodgers farmhand Alec Gamboa

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with free agent left-hander Alec Gamboa, as was first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring training and a salary of $925,000 if Gamboa makes it to the majors.

Gamboa, who turns 28 next month, has yet to reach the majors since being selected by the Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2019 draft out of Fresno City College. The California native spent parts of seven seasons in Los Angeles’ system, making 53 appearances (17 starts) in total for the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City before being released this past May.

After posting a 4.19 ERA (4.74 FIP) with 12 strikeouts to 12 walks in eight outings (two starts) and 19 1/3 innings for Oklahoma City in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League to begin the 2025 season, Gamboa was released on May 13 so that he could sign with the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization. While overseas, the lefty forged a 3.58 ERA (3.47 FIP) with 117 strikeouts to 49 walks over 19 starts (108 innings) in which opponents batted .236 against him.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Gamboa featured a five-pitch mix with Oklahoma City earlier this year that consisted of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, an upper-80s slider, a lower-90s sinker, an upper-70s curveball, and a mid-80s changeup.

Though it remains to be seen how the Red Sox will deploy Gamboa, he likely projects as a left-handed relief option who will start the 2026 campaign in Triple-A Worcester’s bullpen. Like recent trade addition Tyler Samaniego, Gamboa should provide Boston with some much-needed depth in that area following the departures of Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy via trade, and Steven Matz via free agency.

Unlike Samaniego, however, Gamboa will not occupy a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster once his signing is made official.

(Picture of Alec Gamboa: John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Athletics, Cardinals farmhand Osvaldo Berrios to minor league deal

The Red Sox signed free agent right-hander Osvaldo Berrios to a minor league contract on Monday, as was first reported by Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. It is unclear if the deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Berrios, who turns 26 later this month, has yet to make his big league debut and was originally selected by the Athletics in the 20th round of the 2017 draft out of Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. The Caguas native spent the first seven seasons of his professional career in Oakland’s system, though he did not pitch in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic or in 2023 due to injury.

After reaching free agency for the first time in November 2023, Berrios signed on with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League for the start of the 2024 campaign. His contract, however, was later purchased by the Cardinals last June, and he spent the better part of the previous two seasons working his way up St. Louis’ organizational pipeline.

Berrios opened the 2025 season at Double-A Springfield, pitching to a 3.74 ERA (4.14 FIP) with 48 strikeouts to 15 walks over 28 outings (four starts) spanning 43 1/3 innings (in which opponents batted .212 against him) before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Memphis in early August. He then struggled to a 9.20 ERA (7.86 FIP) with 14 strikeouts to nine walks in 12 relief appearances (14 2/3 innings) for the Redbirds.

Altogether, Berrios forged a 5.12 ERA (5.08 FIP) with 62 strikeouts to 24 walks in 40 total appearances (four starts) and 58 total innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound righty’s arsenal includes a 91-94 mph fastball, a 76-78 mph curveball, an 82-84 mph changeup, and an 81-85 mph slider.

Assuming he does not get taken in either phase of next month’s Rule 5 Draft, Berrios is a candidate to open the 2026 season in Triple-A Worcester’s bullpen. In the meantime, Berrios is pitching for the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Winter League. Entering play on Thursday, he has yet to allow a run through four relief appearances and five innings of work.

(Picture of Osvaldo Berrios: Jared Blais/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox re-sign LHP prospect Michael Sansone to minor league contract

In addition to Eduardo Rivera and Reidis Sena, the Red Sox have re-signed left-hander Michael Sansone to a minor league contract, according to Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com.

Like Rivera and Sena, Sansone was slated to reach free agency next month but is now in line to return to the Red Sox organization in 2026. The soon-to-be 26-year-old is not currently ranked among the system’s top pitching prospects.

A Connecticut native, Sansone went undrafted as a senior coming out of Fairfield in 2022 and signed his first professional contract with the Rays that summer. He spent part of the next two seasons in Tampa Bay’s farm system before being released in July 2023.

Last March, Sansone signed with the Yolo High Wheelers of the independent Pioneer League, only for his contract to be purchased by the Red Sox a few weeks later. The lefty then spent all of 2024 with Low-A Salem, compiling a 3.11 ERA (3.25 FIP) with 68 strikeouts to nine walks over 20 appearances (three starts) spanning 72 1/3 innings.

Sansone returned to Salem for the start of the 2025 season and put up a 2.75 ERA (2.81 FIP) with 22 strikeouts to one walk in 10 relief appearances (19 2/3 innings) before being promoted to High-A Greenville in late May. In 16 outings (seven starts) for the Drive, he posted a 3.84 ERA (4.18 FIP) with 50 strikeouts to 13 walks over 65 2/3 innings. He received another promotion to Double-A Portland on September 9 and made the most of his lone outing for the Sea Dogs five days later by striking out a pair in three scoreless, one-hit frames of relief.

Though Sansone was elevated yet again to Triple-A Worcester on September 16, he was subsequently placed on the development list to end his season. So, altogether, he forged a 3.46 ERA (3.80 FIP) with 74 strikeouts to 14 walks across 27 appearances (seven starts) totaling 88 1/3 innings between Salem, Greenville, and Portland in 2025. Opposing hitters batted .249 against him.

Among the 14 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, threw at least 85 innings this year, Sansone notably ranked second in walks per nine innings (1.43) and walk rate (3.9 percent), fifth in swinging-strike rate (13.8 percent) and WHIP (1.11), and seventh in ERA (3.46), per FanGraphs.

Standing at 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, Sansone throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates some deception into his repeatable delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the compact southpaw features an 86-88 mph fastball while also mixing in a 75-78 mph changeup, an 81-83 mph slider, and a 74-76 mph curveball.

Assuming his name does not come up in either phase of December’s Rule 5 Draft or any other transaction this winter, Sansone is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland as a member of the Sea Dogs’ bullpen to begin the 2026 campaign.

(Picture of Michael Sansone: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox re-sign RHP prospect Reidis Sena to minor league contract

In addition to left-hander Eduardo Rivera, the Red Sox have re-signed right-hander Reidis Sena to a minor-league contract, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Like Rivera, Sena was slated to become a free agent next month but is now in line to return to the only organization he has ever known in 2026. The 24-year-old Dominican native originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent in December 2018. He is not currently ranked among the system’s top pitching prospects.

A member of Boston’s 2025 Spring Breakout roster to begin the year, Sena broke camp with Double-A Portland in April. The righty posted a 4.13 ERA (3.29 FIP) with 30 strikeouts to 19 walks through his first 15 outings (one start) and 24 innings for the Sea Dogs before landing on the injured list with a shoulder impingement in late June.

Upon returning to the mound in early August, Sena closed out the season by compiling a 2.55 ERA (3.74 FIP) with 19 strikeouts to 11 walks in 10 more appearances (one start) and 17 2/3 innings. Altogether, he forged a 3.46 ERA (3.48 FIP) with 49 strikeouts to 30 walks across 25 outings (two starts) spanning 41 2/3 innings for Portland in 2025. He converted six of his eight save opportunities while opposing hitters in the Eastern League batted just .186 against him.

Among the 144 pitchers who threw at least 40 innings in the Eastern League this year, Sena ranked sixth in groundball rate (54.7 percent), 14th in batting average against, 31st in strikeouts per nine innings (10.58), 34th in strikeout rate (27.4 percent), 38th in swinging-strike rate (13.6 percent), 58th in FIP, 59th in ERA, and 71st in xFIP (3.81). On the flip side, however, he also ranked 140th in walks per nine innings (6.48) and 141st in walk rate (16.8 percent), per FanGraphs.

Presumably larger than his listed height and weight of 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, Sena throws from a vertical arm slot and incorporates a medium leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the undersized hurler features a 94-96 mph fastball that can reach 98 mph and complements it with a 90-92 mph cutter, 85-87 mph curveball, and 89-92 mph changeup.

Sena, who turns 25 in April, is Rule 5 Draft-eligible this offseason but is unlikely to be added to Boston’s 40-man roster ahead of the November 18 protection deadline. Assuming that happens and he does not get picked in the Rule 5 Draft itself in December, Sena is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland’s bullpen for the start of the 2026 campaign.

In the meantime, Sena was assigned to the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League on October 15 but has yet to appear in a game for the club.

(Picture of Reidis Sena: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox re-sign LHP prospect Eduardo Rivera to minor league contract

The Red Sox have re-signed left-hander Eduardo Rivera to a minor league contract, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.

Rivera was slated to reach free agency next month, but is now tentatively in line to return to the organization he has spent the better part of the last two seasons with. The 22-year-old is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 43 prospect, which ranks 25th among pitchers in the system.

Originally selected by the Athletics in the 11th round of the 2021 draft out of Colegio Cadest in Puerto Rico, Rivera joined the Red Sox as a minor league free agent shortly after being released by the A’s last May. The San Juan native split the remainder of the 2024 season between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, then returned home to dominate for the Cangrejeros de Santurce and Indios de Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican Winter League.

After pitching for Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series in February, Rivera understandably did not see much action in his first spring training with the Red Sox before breaking camp with High-A Greenville. Though he did not make his season debut until April 16, Rivera impressed to the tune of a 1.61 ERA (2.21 FIP) with 68 strikeouts to 16 walks in 10 outings (six starts) spanning 44 2/3 innings for the Drive. Opposing hitters in the South Atlantic League batted just .138 against him.

Alongside fellow lefty Payton Tolle, Rivera was promoted to Double-A Portland in late June. While Tolle was in the process of being fast-tracked to the major leagues, Rivera experienced some growing pains with the Sea Dogs. In 10 appearances (nine starts) for Boston’s Eastern League affiliate, he posted a 3.40 ERA (4.28 FIP) with 40 strikeouts to 30 walks over 42 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .214 against him. He ended the season on a high note by fanning seven and walking only one across six scoreless, one-hit frames against Binghamton on September 9.

Overall, Rivera finished the 2025 campaign having forged a 2.48 ERA (3.22 FIP) with 108 strikeouts to 46 walks in 20 appearances (15 starts) totaling 87 innings between Greenville and Portland. Among the 14 Red Sox minor leaguers who threw at least 85 innings this year, regardless of level, Rivera ranked first in groundball rate (54.5 percent), second in batting average against (.177), ERA, and swinging-strike rate (15 percent), third in strikeouts per nine innings (11.17), fourth in FIP and strikeout rate (29.7 percent), fifth in xFIP (3.33), and seventh in WHIP (1.16), per FanGraphs.

Listed at a physically imposing 6-foot-7 and 237 pounds, Rivera throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a very high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the burly southpaw primarily operates with a five-pitch mix that consists of a 93-97 mph fastball that can reach 98 mph, an 87-89 mph cutter, an 83-86 mph slider, an 85-89 mph changeup, and a 78-80 mph curveball.

Even though Rivera is back with the Red Sox on a minor league contract, his status for next season is still technically up in the air since he is Rule 5-eligible this winter. In other words, Rivera could be taken by another club in December’s Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by the November protection deadline.

Given his past struggles with command and control, however, Rivera could very well be left unprotected by the Red Sox and then go unselected in the Rule 5 Draft. If that does turn out to be the case and he remains in the organization through the offseason, Rivera — who does not turn 23 until next June — is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland in 2026.

(Picture of Eduardo Rivera: Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Red Sox bring back former catching prospect Ronaldo Hernández on minor-league deal

The Red Sox are bringing back former catching prospect Ronaldo Hernandez on a minor-league contract, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. He is expected to rejoin Triple-A Worcester and be active for Friday’s series opener against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at Polar Park.

Hernandez, 27, was originally acquired by the Red Sox from the Rays alongside utilityman Nick Sogard in the February 2021 trade that sent pitchers Jeffrey Springs and Chris Mazza to Tampa Bay. The native Colombian spent the better part of the next three seasons with Worcester (where he hit 17 home runs in 2022 and 2023). He was called up to the major leagues on two separate occasions in 2022 but never debuted and was outrighted off Boston’s 40-man roster that winter.

After reaching free agency at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, Hernandez spent all of 2024 in the Diamondbacks organization and then signed a minors pact with the Yankees in February. The right-handed hitter broke camp with New York’s Triple-A affiliate (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) and batted .221/.287/.351 with four doubles, two home runs, 13 RBIs, seven runs scored, one stolen base, eight walks, and 19 strikeouts in 25 games (88 plate appearances) for the RailRiders, making 14 starts at catcher, nine starts at DH, and one start at first base. He was released earlier this month and briefly joined the Pericos de Puebla for a two-game stint in the Mexican League before receiving an offer to return to the WooSox.

Hernandez figures to provide the Red Sox with experienced catching depth at Triple-A behind the likes of Seby Zavala, who had emerged as Worcester’s top backstop following the departures of Blake Sabol (traded to the White Sox for cash considerations last Saturday) and Yasmani Grandal (placed on restricted list last month with intention to retire) in recent weeks.

(Picture of Ronaldo Hernandez: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Athletics, Braves farmhand Jorge Juan to minor-league deal

The Red Sox signed free-agent reliever Jorge Juan to a minor-league contract on Tuesday. He was assigned to Double-A Portland but was subsequently placed on the Sea Dogs’ suspended list due to a “prior three-game suspension he had to serve from his previous organization for on-field actions,” according to a team source.

Juan, 26, was released by the Braves earlier this month after spending the last season-plus in the organization. The right-hander posted a 5.11 ERA (4.50 FIP) with 53 strikeouts to 28 walks over 34 relief (37 innings) at Double-A in 2024, then logged a 7.50 ERA (6.27 FIP) with 11 strikeouts to six walks in seven appearances (six innings) between Low-A and Double-A to begin this year.

Juan threw behind a batter and was ejected from his final game with Atlanta’s Double-A affiliate, the Columbus Clingstones, on May 10. He was then cut loose by the Braves on May 11, but not before apparently being handed down a three-game suspension that did not go into effect until he signed with the Red Sox this week. As such, it does not appear as though he can make his organizational debut for Portland until Friday at the earliest.

Juan is now in line to pitch for the third organization of his professional career. The righty originally signed with the then-Oakland Athletics as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic in July 2017. He was added to Oakland’s 40-man roster for Rule 5 protection purposes in November 2021, only to be designated for assignment and released the following May. He was re-signed to a minor-league deal but never advanced past the Double-A level before leaving the A’s for the Braves as a minor-league free agent at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.

Altogether, Juan owns a lifetime 4.74 ERA (4.68 FIP) in 120 career minor-league appearances (22 starts) spanning 216 1/3 innings dating back to June 2018. That includes a 5.61 ERA with 99 strikeouts to 68 walks over 66 total relief outings (77 innings) at the Double-A level, where opposing hitters have batted .223 against him.

Listed at an imposing 6-foot-8 and (likely heavier than) 200 pounds, Juan has struggled with injuries and his command in the past, but has proven to be effective when healthy and locating his pitches. His arsenal has primarily consisted of a mid-90s fastball that touches 99 mph, a mid-80s power breaking ball, and a 90 mph changeup. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen ranked Juan as the Braves’ No. 37 prospect earlier this spring, writing the following:

“Juan is enormous, but he’s a short-strider who generates much less extension than you’d expect from a pitcher this big. He tends to be relatively upright at release, which gives his pitches the steep plane of a runaway truck ramp. This most benefits Juan’s power breaking ball, which doesn’t pop out of his hand in an identifiable way. Juan’s size, arm strength, and breaking ball performance give him a shot to break into a big league bullpen as a late-bloomer.”

Juan, who does not turn 27 until next March, becomes the latest in a long line of behemoths the Red Sox have added to their pitching pipeline under chief officer Craig Breslow. It should be worthwhile to see how they handle his development moving forward.

(Picture of Jorge Juan: Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)