Diamondbacks win a reliever that the Red Sox claimed on waivers.
The Boston Red Sox have been severely bitten by the injury bug and it’s forced management to be strategic with its pitching depth.
Left-handed reliever Joe Jacques was called up to Boston for its April 18 matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. Jacques pitched 1.2 innings, let up three hits, hit a batter, allowed an earned run and fanned one Guardian.
The next day, the Red Sox placed Jacques on the disabled list in order to make room on the roster for Cam Booser, a fellow Triple-A reliever who, on April 19, had an emotional big-league debut at the age of 31.
The 2023 World Series runner-up Arizona Diamondbacks claimed Jacques off waivers four days after he was DFA’d.
Recently, the Diamondbacks selected Joe Jacques, a former Red Sox DFA.
In 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jacques in the Rule-5 draft, and Boston acquired him. The Red Sox’s shoddy defense isn’t suited for this ground ball pitcher who doesn’t strike out many batters. In his six years in the minor leagues, Jacques has a 3.72 ERA, but in 2024, he’s been struggling. In four innings with the Woo Sox, Jacques has thrown 121 pitches and given up seven runs.
The Red Sox have more left-handed pitching depth this year, despite their tendency to be cautious with lefties. The left-handed possibilities the Sox still have include Booser, Lucas Luetge, Joely Rodríguez, and Brennan Bernardino; however, it should be noted that Rodríguez has cost them several games, and Triple-A has been rough on Luetge.
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