The Boston Red Sox made a minor move on Thursday, signing left-handed reliever Matt Moore to a minor league contract.
The signing comes amid troubling news that one of the team’s lefty relievers, Zach Penrod, has been dealing with elbow soreness. Penrod will have an MRI, as the level of concern is “pretty high.” While his prognosis is unknown as of now, he may need Tommy John surgery, which would all but end his season.
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A loss of Penrod would be unfortunate for the Red Sox, as the rookie appeared in seven games for the major league club last year, pitching to a promising 2.25 era. He was expected to compete for a roster spot, with hopes of making the team as a lefty option out of the bullpen.
In comes Matt Moore, a veteran starter turned reliever who last pitched for the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. While the soft paw had a rough 2024, pitching to a 5.03 era and an 84 ERA+ in 48.1 innings, Moore has had several seasons where he proved to be a dependable piece out of the ‘pen. In 2023, Moore, who spent time with the Angels, Cleveland Guardians, and Miami Marlins, pitched to a 2.65 ERA and a 162 ERA+ in 52.2 innings of work.
Moore has proven his quality before, and while he is initially a depth signing, he could become a valuable addition to Alex Cora moving forward.
For Penrod, the Red Sox could only hope for the best, as the former top-30 prospect has the potential to be a strong multi-inning reliever for the club down the line.
