The Pink Sox are planning to pick out the contract of right-hander Richard Fitts tomorrow, in keeping with Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Per Smith, there’s a “actually nice probability” Fitts begins tomorrow’s sport towards the White Sox, although it’s additionally potential he’s used as a bulk reliever behind an Opener. The membership’s 40-man roster is at present at capability, that means corresponding strikes will probably be essential to accommodate Fitts’s addition to each the 40-man and lively rosters earlier than tomorrow’s sport.
Fitts, 24, was a sixth-round decide by the Yankees within the 2021 draft. After making his professional debut the next yr, he reached the Double-A stage with New York final yr and delivered a powerful season with a 3.48 ERA in 152 2/3 innings of labor throughout 27 begins the place Fitts struck out 25.9% of batters confronted. Over the offseason, Fitts was shipped to Boston alongside right-hander Greg Weissert and pitching prospect Nicholas Judice within the commerce that despatched Alex Verdugo to the Yankees.
It’s a commerce that now seems to be quite lopsided in favor of the Pink Sox, as Verdugo has struggled to an 84 wRC+ with New York this yr and his lackluster efficiency has even prompted the membership to take into account bumping him from the lineup to accommodate prime prospect Jasson Dominguez, although that has not occurred up to now. In the meantime, Weissert has supplied the Pink Sox with strong center reduction this yr with a 3.81 ERA and 4.14 FIP in 52 innings of labor. Now Fitts is about to hitch him within the majors coming off what has been a strong season at Triple-A, albeit not one as spectacular as he posted at Double-A with the Yankees final yr. In 116 2/3 innings of labor this yr, Fitts has posted a 4.17 ERA with a 22.6% strikeout fee towards a 7.5% stroll fee, in addition to a career-best 42.4% grounder fee.
The correct-hander will now make his method to Boston and look to hold that success he’s seen within the higher minors over into his main league debut. Ought to he begin tomorrow’s sport as anticipated, he’ll pitch reverse White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen, who sports activities a 5.36 ERA in 29 appearances with Chicago this yr. Whereas the Pink Sox have a full rotation that includes Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Cooper Criswell in the meanwhile, the membership will now have the ability to provide their common rotation additional relaxation forward of a pair of powerful collection towards the Orioles and Yankees subsequent week by slotting Fitts in for a spot begin.
In fact, the Pink Sox are longshots to make the postseason at this level with a lackluster file of 72-70. Fangraphs provides the membership a 9.9% probability to make the playoffs, though so as to take action they would want to run down both the Twins (76-66) or Royals (78-65) to seize an AL Wild Card spot with the AL East virtually actually out of attain. Even when getting their common starters an extra day of relaxation forward of a tricky stretch of the schedule is unlikely to make an affect within the standings, nonetheless, it’s value noting that the Pink Sox would’ve wanted so as to add Fitts to the 40-man roster this offseason even when they didn’t need him to get him massive league publicity down the stretch so as to defend him from the Rule 5 Draft, from which he’ll should be protected this winter.
