As the countdown to spring training continues, the Boston Red Sox have yet to fulfill fans’ hopes with a significant roster addition. The sluggish pace of the market for remaining top free agents suggests that resolutions may still be a while away.
Meanwhile, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has focused on bolstering the team’s depth, making strategic moves that include taking a gamble on a low-risk, high-reward power arm. Last Wednesday, the Red Sox officially signed Melvin Adón, a former pitching prospect from the San Francisco Giants, to a minor-league deal, as indicated in the club’s transactions log.
In the previous season, Adón struggled, posting a 7.43 ERA with a 50-to-37 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .297 batting average against, and a 2.10 WHIP over 40 innings across 32 relief appearances. Despite his challenging 2023 performance, the 29-year-old pitcher possesses a formidable arsenal, featuring a 100+ mph sinker and an above-average power slider that could serve as the catalyst for a turnaround.
The Red Sox’s new approach in pitching development seems to prioritize acquiring high-potential arms that can be molded. The focus is on refining control and pitch usage, recognizing the difficulty of developing elite arm talent from scratch.
Adding Adón to the roster at this stage in the offseason is a calculated move. The fact that he doesn’t occupy a 40-man roster spot adds to the appeal of this decision. This signing presents an opportunity for Adón to either emerge as a standout player or, with minimal cost, be released if needed in the future.
