Red Sox to scout former Royals closer Greg Holland’s showcase
Holland missed all of the 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Red Sox will send scouts to watch former Royals closer Greg Holland pitch in a showcase Monday, WEEI reports.
Holland missed all of the 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Royals non-tendered Holland last winter, making him a free agent.
With Koji Uehara turning 42 next season, and with Junichi Tazawa’s effectiveness waning, the Red Sox might seek to shore up the bullpen this winter. The team will return Craig Kimbrel, and will have Carson Smith back sometime mid-season when he recovers from his own Tommy John surgery.
The rest of the bullpen is less clear, with Brad Ziegler entering free agency, although Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly, and Robbie Ross Jr. figure to be in the mix.
The 30 year-old Holland posted a 1.32 ERA over the 2013-14 seasons, but saw that number balloon to 3.83 in 2015. The closer was reportedly trying to pitch through his torn ulnar collateral ligament, but his maximum velocity plummeted from the high-90’s down to about 93 mph.
In addition to Holland, Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, and former Red Sox pitcher Mark Melancon headline the free agent relief pitchers.
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