The Boston Red Sox and pitcher Lucas Luetge have reached an agreement, as announced on Luetge’s personal Instagram page. The specific details of the deal were not disclosed, but it is likely a minor league contract that includes an invitation to the team’s Spring Training.
Luetge, who will turn 37 next month, made his debut in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2012 with the Seattle Mariners. During his rookie season, the left-hander performed decently, recording an ERA of approximately league average at 3.98 and a FIP of 4.03. He struck out 21.3% of the batters he faced and induced ground balls at a rate of 46.9%. However, control issues plagued Luetge as he walked a high 13.5% of batters during his first year in the majors.
Over the next three seasons, Luetge moved back and forth between Triple-A and the MLB with the Mariners. He compiled a 4.66 ERA and 4.47 FIP in 48 MLB appearances, while maintaining a slightly better 4.21 ERA in 94 Triple-A outings. In late 2015, he was outrighted to the minors. Luetge subsequently became a free agent but did not return to the MLB until 2021, when he joined the New York Yankees as a member of their bullpen.
During his time with the Yankees in 2021 and 2022, Luetge had the best seasons of his career. He pitched to an impressive 2.71 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 129 2/3 innings. He struck out 25% of batters faced and walked only 5.8%. These strong numbers earned him many high-pressure opportunities with the team. However, Luetge’s tenure in New York unexpectedly ended during the 2022-23 offseason when he was designated for assignment to make room for Tommy Kahnle on the 40-man roster.
He was subsequently traded to the Atlanta Braves and began the 2023 season in their bullpen. However, he struggled, allowing eleven runs in 9 2/3 innings over his first nine appearances. As a result, he was sent down to Triple-A and remained with the Braves for the rest of the season. Luetge did make a return to the MLB team after the All-Star break, pitching four scoreless innings in three appearances. However, this was not enough for the Braves to keep him on the 40-man roster for the offseason. Luetge was outrighted off the roster in late September and became a free agent the following month.
Now, Luetge is back in the American League East, looking for his next opportunity in the MLB. The Boston Red Sox currently only have one left-handed relief option, Brennan Bernardino, expected to make their major league bullpen. Luetge will likely compete with non-roster pitchers Jorge Benitez and Cam Booser, as well as Bernardino and Joe Jacques, who are already on the team’s 40-man roster, for a spot in the bullpen this spring. If Luetge can regain the form he displayed during his time in New York, it would greatly benefit the Red Sox, as their bullpen posted a 4.18 ERA last year, ranking 16th in the league.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com