The Boston Red Sox have signed left-handed reliever Justin Wilson to a short-term deal worth $2.25 million, aiming to strengthen their bullpen, according to the Washington Post.

Justin Wilson made 60 relief appearances for the Cincinnati Reds in 2024, posting a 5.59 ERA and a 1-5 record. It was his 12th season in the majors and marked the first time he had spent three seasons with a single team since his early years with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Despite his underwhelming stats, Wilson brings versatility to the mound with a mix of pitches. According to Baseball Savant, his four-seam fastball, cutter, and slider all have similar velocities, which aligns well with the Red Sox’s pitching approach under coach Andrew Bailey, who has focused on reducing fastball usage. Wilson, Boston’s first free agent signing of the year, will need to stay healthy to see more action. Historically, he’s been durable, averaging 67 appearances per season from 2013 to 2018, but 2024 marked his first time reaching 60 appearances since then.

How do the Red Sox look heading into 2025?

The Red Sox faced significant setbacks early in the offseason, losing both Chris Martin and longtime closer Kenley Jansen to free agency. While the team will try to re-sign them, other bullpen members will need to shoulder more of the workload. Much of the burden will likely fall on Liam Hendricks, who missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He will be backed by Garret Whitlock, returning from a UCL injury, and Justin Wilson, along with other pitchers such as Zack Kelly and Justin Slaten. Additionally, Boston will have a new bullpen coach in Chris Holt, who replaces Kevin Walker for the upcoming season.