Tag: minor-league contract

Red Sox purchase contract of 6-foot-7 lefty PJ Labriola from Frontier League team

The Red Sox officially purchased the contract of left-hander PJ Labriola from the New York Boulders of the independent Frontier League on Wednesday, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log.

Labriola opened the 2025 season in New York after signing with the club in early March. The 24-year-old appeared in three games for the Boulders this month, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits, one walk, and two strikeouts over three innings. He recorded the first save of his professional career against the Rox in Brockton, Mass., last Friday.

“As soon as we started to pursue PJ this winter, we knew that he was a special player, and we also knew that he was very much of the radar of a few different organizations,” Boulders manager TJ Stanton said in a statement released by the team on Monday. “I could not be happier for PJ and absolutely love getting the opportunity to be a part of these great players’ baseball journeys. Hopefully there will be many more to come!”

A native of Sarasota, Fla., Labriola spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Clemson before transferring to North Carolina State in 2023. The lefty compiled an 8.58 ERA in 22 appearances (28 1/3 innings) over two seasons with the Wolfpack and went undrafted as a fifth-year senior last summer. He then spent the remainder of 2024 pitching for the Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League and the Rocky Mountain Vibes of the independent Pioneer League, forging a 6.00 ERA across 12 outings (12 innings) between the two clubs.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 223 pounds, Labriola was among the standout performers at Tread Athletics’ series of pro days back in January. As part of that showcase in Pineville, N.C., the towering southpaw featured a mid-90s fastball, an 89-90 mph cutter, and an 86-plus mph gyro slider. He likely caught the Red Sox’ attention at that time and, following a brief stint in the Frontier League, it ultimately culminated in an agreement between the two sides.

Labriola, who does not turn 25 until November, has been assigned to the Florida Complex League Red Sox for the start of his organizational tenure. With that being said, it would not be surprising if he were to join one of Boston’s lower-level full-season affiliates (either Low-A Salem or High-A Greenville) as an additional bullpen option before long.

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

Red Sox agree to minor-league deal with veteran reliever Austin Adams

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free-agent reliever Austin Adams, as was first reported by KPRC’s Ari Alexander. The deal, which is still pending a physical, includes an invite to major-league spring training and would be worth $1.5 million if Adams makes Boston’s active roster.

Adams, 33, is a veteran of eight big-league seasons who spent all of 2024 with the Athletics after being acquired from the Mets for cash considerations in March. The right-hander posted a 3.92 ERA (4.47 FIP) with 53 strikeouts to 23 walks over 56 relief appearances (41 1/3 innings) before being shut down with forearm tendinitis in mid-August. He was outrighted off Oakland’s 40-man roster in late October, which allowed him to reach free agency.

A Tampa native, Adams was originally selected by the Angels in the eighth round of the 2012 draft out of South Florida. The righty was traded to the Nationals in December 2016 and debuted for Washington the following July. He has since forged a lifetime 4.10 ERA (3.98 FIP) with a 31.6 percent strikeout rate and 13.9 percent walk rate in 188 career outings (155 2/3 innings) between the Nationals (2017-2019), Mariners (2019), Padres (2020-2022), Diamondbacks (2023) and Athletics (2024).

Although he has struggled with his command in the past (42 hit batsmen since 2021), Adams has proven to be effective when throwing strikes, as evidenced by the fact that opposing hitters have batted just .199 against him throughout his career. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound hurler relies heavily upon his upper-80s slider (thrown nearly 74 percent of the time this past season) and can mix in a lower-90s fastball and an occasional sinker as well.

Adams, who turns 34 in May, should get an opportunity to compete for a spot in Boston’s Opening Day bullpen alongside fellow non-roster invitees Isaiah Campbell, Michael Fulmer, Bryan Mata, and Wyatt Mills once camp begins in February. If he does not make the team, he will likely provide the Red Sox with an experienced depth option at Triple-A Worcester to open the 2025 season.

(Picture of Austin Adams: Eakin Howard/Getty Images)