Tag: minor league contract

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)

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 to sign veteran righty Nick Burdi to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free-agent right-hander Nick Burdi, as was first reported by Beyond the Monster’s Chris Henrique. The deal does not come with an invite to major-league spring training, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Burdi, 32, was originally selected by the Twins in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Louisville. The Illinois native switched organizations for the first time during the 2017 Rule 5 Draft and made his major-league debut the following September. He has since logged 31 relief appearances over parts of five seasons with the Pirates, Cubs, and Yankees.

After signing a minors pact with the Yankees last January, Burdi made the club’s Opening Day roster out of spring training. The righty forged a 1.86 ERA (5.44 FIP) with 12 strikeouts to nine walks in 12 outings (9 2/3 innings) out of the bullpen. He averaged 97.5 mph and reached 99 mph with his fastball while sitting in the upper 80s with his slider before hitting the injured list with right hip inflammation for the second time in as many months in late May.

Burdi missed the following two months and spent the remainder of the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre upon returning to action in July, compiling a 2.65 ERA (3.63 FIP) with 24 strikeouts to 11 walks in 18 appearances (17 innings) for the RailRiders. He returned to minor-league free agency at season’s end after being designated for assignment and subsequently outrighted off New York’s 40-man roster in September.

Missing time due to injury has, unfortunately, been the story of Burdi’s career thus far. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2017 and October 2020 and also had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in June 2019. More recently, he had an emergency appendectomy in May 2023 and — as previously mentioned — was bothered by hip issues throughout the 2024 campaign. Altogether, he owns a 6.48 ERA (4.16 FIP) in 25 career innings at the big-league level.

If healthy, Burdi figures to provide the Red Sox with experienced bullpen depth at Triple-A Worcester to open the upcoming season. His younger brother, Zack, was the 26th overall pick in the 2016 draft and appeared in a total of 18 games for the White Sox, Orioles, and Rays from 2020-2023.

(Picture of Nick Burdi: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Red Sox to sign former All-Star lefty Matt Moore to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free-agent left-hander Matt Moore, as was first reported by WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford. The deal, which is presumably pending a physical, comes with an invite to major-league spring training, according to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman.

As an Article XX(B) free agent, Moore will have three opt-out clauses in his contract with the Red Sox. The 35-year-old will have the ability to return to free agency on March 22 (five days before Opening Day), May 1, and June 1 if he has not yet been added to Boston’s 40-man roster.

Moore, who turns 36 in June, is a veteran of 13 major-league seasons who was originally selected by the Rays in the eighth round of the 2007 draft out of Moriarty High School in New Mexico. A former top prospect, the Florida-born lefty broke in with Tampa Bay in 2011 and burst onto the scene two years later by being named a 2013 American League All-Star and finishing ninth in American League Cy Young voting. He underwent Tommy John surgery the following April and was later traded to the Giants in August 2016.

Moore struggled in San Francisco and bounced around a bit between the Giants, Rangers, and Tigers before suffering a torn right meniscus in just his second start for Detroit in April 2019. He underwent season-ending surgery as a result and subsequently took his talents to Japan for the 2020 campaign. He then leveraged a strong showing with the NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks into a one-year deal with the Phillies for 2021. The Red Sox were interested in his services at that time but came up short in their pursuit.

Though his return to the United States did not go well out of the gate, Moore latched on with the Rangers on a minor-league pact before the start of the 2022 season and found new life as a reliever. He forged a 1.95 ERA (2.98 FIP) in 63 relief appearances (74 innings) for Texas and parlayed that bounceback effort into successive one-year deals with the Angels in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Moore wound up splitting the 2023 campaign between the Angels, Guardians, and Marlins, compiling a 2.56 ERA (3.73 FIP) in 50 total outings (52 2/3 innings). He returned to the Halos on a one-year, $9 million contract last January but struggled to a 5.03 ERA (6.17 FIP) with 41 strikeouts to 21 walks over 51 appearances (48 1/3 innings) before suffering a left forearm strain that ended his season a month early. He appears to be healthy now, however.

All told, Moore owns a lifetime 4.39 ERA (4.38 FIP) with 1,053 strikeouts to 486 walks across 369 outings (164 starts) spanning 1,142 2/3 career innings at the major-league level. That includes a 2.98 ERA (4.08 FIP) with 184 strikeouts to 79 walks in 164 relief appearances (175 innings) over the last three seasons.

While the surface-level numbers from last year may seem discouraging, Moore did hold opposing hitters to a .218 batting average. Left-handed hitters batted just .174 against him. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound southpaw also ranked in the 79th percentile of all big leaguers in expected batting average (.216) and the 76th percentile in hard-hit rate (35.5 percent), according to Baseball Savant. His average fastball velocity fell from 94 mph to 92.7 mph, though that may have been due in part to the aforementioned forearm strain he sustained.

The reported addition of Moore comes on the same day Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) in Fort Myers that rookie lefty Zach Penrod underwent an MRI on his elbow Wednesday after experiencing soreness in the area earlier in the week. While the team plans on having more information relating to his results on Friday, there are some initial concerns about potential ligament damage that could lead to a lengthy absence.

Moore, meanwhile, becomes the 14th pitcher to receive a non-roster invite to camp from the Red Sox this spring. He joins fellow lefties Jovani Moran and Sean Newcomb in that regard. Boston also has southpaws Brennan Bernardino, Aroldis Chapman, Chris Murphy (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery), Penrod, and Justin Wilson as left-handed bullpen options on the 40-man roster.

(Picture of Matt Moore: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Red Sox bring back veteran reliever Adam Ottavino on minor-league deal

The Red Sox are bringing back veteran reliever Adam Ottavino on a minor-league contract, as was first reported by The New York Post’s Jon Heyman. The deal comes with an invitation to major-league spring training.

Ottavino, who has already arrived at the Fenway South complex in Fort Myers, will earn a base salary of $2 million if he makes Boston’s major-league roster, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The 39-year-old will also have the ability to opt out of his contract and return to free agency if he is not added to the 40-man roster by the end of camp.

Ottavino previously pitched for the Red Sox in 2021 after being acquired from the Yankees in a rare trade between the division rivals that January. The right-hander posted a 4.21 ERA (3.96 FIP) with 71 strikeouts to 35 walks over 69 relief appearances (62 innings) in which opposing hitters batted .239 against him. He then signed with the Mets as a free agent and spent the last three seasons in Queens, most recently forging a 4.34 ERA (3.67 FIP) with 70 strikeouts to 23 walks across 60 outings (56 innings) in 2024. This offseason, he appeared in three games for the Toros del Este of the Dominican Winter League and allowed one earned run on four hits, zero walks, and two strikeouts over three innings.

A former 2006 first-round draft selection coming out of Northeastern, Ottavino broke in at the big-league level with the Cardinals in 2010 but did not truly establish himself until he was claimed off waivers by Colorado two years later. Dating back to the start of the 2012 season, the Brooklyn native owns a lifetime 3.33 ERA (3.53 FIP) with 847 strikeouts to 317 walks in 719 career relief appearances (720 2/3 innings) between the Rockies, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets in the majors.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, Ottavino threw six different pitches with the Mets last season. The burly righty averaged 78.9 mph with his sweeper, 92.1 mph with his sinker, 87.9 mph with his cutter, 93.2 mph with his four-seamer (that topped out at 95.4 mph), 87.2 mph with his changeup, and 83.2 mph with his slider. He ranked in the 92nd percentile of all big leaguers in expected batting average (.198), the 88th percentile in average exit velocity (87.1 mph), the 86th percentile in strikeout rate (28.6 percent), the 84th percentile in expected ERA (3.19), and the 81st percentile in hard-hit rate (34.7 percent), according to Baseball Savant.

Ottavino, who does not turn 40 until November, becomes the 13th pitcher to receive a non-roster invite from the Red Sox this spring. For the time being, he will wear the No. 00 at camp after donning the No. 0 in his first stint with the club. That number has since been taken by Walker Buehler.

(Picture of Adam Ottavino: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox to sign former Angels two-way prospect to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent left-hander Erik Rivera to a minor-league contract, as was first reported by Hunter Noll of Beyond the Monster. Rivera himself appears to have confirmed the signing on his Instagram account.

Rivera is a former 2019 fourth-round draft pick of the Angels out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. The 23-year-old Caguas native was taken 121st overall and forewent his commitment to Florida International by signing with Los Angeles for $597,500.

A two-way player coming out of high school, Rivera signed with the Angels as an outfielder and batted .208/.313/.264 with four doubles, nine RBIs, eight runs scored, nine walks, and 31 strikeouts over 21 games (83 plate appearances) in the 2019 rookie-level Arizona League. His first full professional season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and he emerged as a full-time pitcher beginning in 2021.

Rivera entered the 2021 season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 14 prospect in Los Angeles’ farm system. The lefty made his professional pitching debut at Low-A Inland Empire that May but then suffered a sprained UCL in his left elbow that ultimately required surgery. As a result, he missed the remainder of the 2021 campaign and all of 2022 before making his way back to the mound in August 2023. He closed out the year by forging a 4.09 ERA (5.90 FIP) with 16 strikeouts to 15 walks in seven total outings (11 innings) between the Arizona Complex League and High-A Tri-City.

Rivera returned to Tri-City for the start of the 2024 season and posted a 3.31 ERA (4.94 FIP) with 39 strikeouts to 20 walks over 10 appearances (eight starts) spanning 35 1/3 innings in which opposing hitters batted .213 against him. The southpaw was released by the Angels in late July and spent the remainder of the year in free agency. Most recently, he enjoyed a productive offseason back on his home island by pitching to a 1.04 ERA (0.86 WHIP) with 21 strikeouts to 10 walks in 16 relief appearances (17 1/3 innings) for the Leones de Ponce of the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Rivera has been described as having a smooth and athletic delivery. In the past, he has reached 95 mph with his fastball which typically sits in the lower-90s. He has also featured an upper-70s curveball that resembled a slider and a lower-80s changeup with fade, per his July 2021 Baseball America scouting report.

Rivera, who turns 24 in April, should provide the Red Sox with additional pitching depth from the left side in the lower minors to open the 2025 season. It remains to be seen what affiliate he will break camp with later this spring, though Low-A Salem or High-A Greenville would appear to be the most likely destinations.

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