The Boston Red Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Matt Andriese to a one-year contract with an option for 2022, the team announced Wednesday.
Andriese will receive $2.1 million in guaranteed money -- a $1.85 million base salary for 2021 and a $250,000 buyout on the club option -- sources said. The option for 2022 is worth $3.5 million and the deal can max out at $7.35 million over two seasons if all incentives and escalators are met.
Andriese’s incentives and escalators are tied to innings pitched and max out if he throws 150 innings, according to a source. Per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported, Andriese can earn up to $500k in incentives in each season (max. 150 innings) based on how much he pitches and the option can increase by up to $1 million based on the same factors.
Andriese has experience as a starter and reliever in the past and could fill either role for the Red Sox. He’s more likely to hit his incentives and escalators as a starter.
“I signed here with the Red Sox for the opportunity to do both (starting and relieving),” Andriese said during a Zoom call Wednesday. “I have a lot of flexibility in my career. I’ve started lots of games and I’ve come in (from) the bullpen more recently.”
Catcher Deivy Grullón was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds, opening a spot for Andriese on Boston’s 40-man roster.
The Los Angeles Angels non-tendered the 31-year-old righty earlier this month. MLBTradeRumors.com projected him to earn between $1.8 million and $2.8 million in salary arbitration before the Angeles non-tendered him.
He is a former Rays pitcher who Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom knows well from their time together in Tampa Bay. Andriese recorded a 4.50 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings and 3.1 walks per nine innings in 16 outings (32 innings) in 2020. He posted a 1.46 ERA over his final 12 ⅓ innings in September.
He has a 4.57 ERA and 4.23 FIP in 183 career outings (50 starts).
He posted a 4.30 ERA, 4.13 FIP and 1.28 WHIP in 99 outings (48 starts) in four seasons for the Rays from 2015-18. He averaged 7.8 strikeouts and 2.4 walks per nine innings.
He throws a four-seam fastball, changeup, cutter, sinker, slider and curveball. He has used his four-seamer and changeup the most in recent years as a reliever. His four-seamer averaged 91.9 mph in 2020, per Statcast.
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