Red Sox Designate Sean Newcomb for Assignment Following Roster Changes

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox announced on Saturday that they have designated left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb for assignment after his appearance in the first game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles. This decision opens a spot on the active roster for right-hander Luis Guerrero, who is being recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

Newcomb, set to turn 32 next month, was originally drafted 15th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in 2014. He made a name for himself after being traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he spent parts of six seasons from 2017 to 2022. During his tenure with the Braves, he achieved an average 4.25 ERA over 144 games. Despite a promising start, Newcomb’s performance declined significantly in the later years, resulting in a 7.45 ERA between 2020 and 2022 before joining the Red Sox.

After signing a minor league deal with Boston earlier this winter, Newcomb earned a spot in the starting rotation due to injuries among the team’s pitchers. He delivered a respectable 3.95 ERA across 41 innings pitched this season, showing flashes of effectiveness in both starting and relief roles. However, following the return of healthier pitchers, Newcomb was moved into a long relief position.

In six relief appearances, he maintained a strong 3.06 ERA through 17 and two-thirds innings. Even with solid results, the team opted for a fresh arm, leading to his designation for assignment. “We needed to make room,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora on the decision.

Guerrero, the right-hander called up in place of Newcomb, has impressed by not allowing an earned run in 14 innings pitched over the past two seasons at the major league level.

Newcomb has one week to be claimed by another team before potentially returning to the minors or entering free agency. Given his recent performance, he may attract attention from other major league clubs in need of pitching depth.