Opening pitcher Garrett Richards and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a one-year, $ 10 million contract, sources told Jeff Passen of ESPN on Saturday.
The treatment is pending a physical examination.
Richards’ greatest success during the season shortened by the pandemic was staying healthy. The veteran right made 10 openings for the San Diego Padres in 2020, with a 2-2 record with 4.03 effectiveness, 46 strikeouts and 17 bases per ball. He was moved to the bullpen at the end of the season and during the playoffs.
The 32-year-old veteran was far better against right-handed hitters (589 OPS) than against left-handers, who had an OPS of 853 against him during the season.
Richards has a long history of injuries to his arms. He underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his damaged ulnar collateral ligament after making 16 openings with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, and signed with the Parents after this season with the knowledge that he would be rehabilitating during the most of the first year of his career. contract for two years and $ 15 million. He returned to the mound for San Diego at the end of the 2019 season, recording an effectiveness of 8.31 in 8 2/3 innings in three openings.
Another previous cruciate ligament injury, for which he underwent treatment with stem cells and platelet-rich plasma, limited Richards to only six openings in 2016, and only made six openings in 2017 due to biceps irritation.
He also tore his left patellar tendon in 2014 while covering first base at Fenway Park, prematurely ending a newly started season.
Richards, who was a member of the Angels during his first eight seasons, holds a career record of 47-41 with an effectiveness of 3.62 and 702 strikeouts and 291 tickets.