GARRETT WHITLOCK NEWS

Inks four-year extension Whitlock agreed to a four-year extension to remain in Boston through 2026 on Sunday, with two additional club options for 2027 and 2028.

Impact The base of the deal will cover each of the seasons for which Whitlock is arbitration eligible, and the club options cover his first two years of free agency. Whitlock is a valuable arm out of Boston's bullpen, as he is capable of working multiple innings or in high-leverage roles. He could also shift into the starting rotation at some point, though he has yet to do so at the big-league level.

APRIL 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Throws multiple innings Whitlock allowed a run on two hits and struck out four over 2.1 innings in Friday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Yankees.

Impact Whitlock entered the game in the sixth inning and breezed through seven outs before allowing a game-tying home run to DJ LeMahieu in the eighth inning on a fastball up in the zone. He was immediately removed following the homer, and it was not clear if manager Alex Cora would have used Whitlock for a four-inning save had he retained the lead. The Red Sox have not named a closer, and the bullpen structure was not made any clearer after Opening Day, which also included news of Matt Barnes' back injury.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Donaldson lifts Yankees to opening win over Red Sox in 11th

Josh Donaldson capped his Yankees debut with an RBI single in the 11th inning, lifting New York over the Boston Red Sox 6-5 for its first walk-off win on opening day since Yogi Ber...

APRIL 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Red Sox, Yankees notice it's back to normal as opener nears

Gerrit Cole notices the changes at Yankee Stadium: no masks, breakfast spreads and couches back

APRIL 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Set to form tandem with Hill Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed Monday that Whitlock will serve as a piggyback pitcher behind fifth starter Rich Hill to begin the season, Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.co...

Impact According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, Cora has said the goal is to get more than 70 innings out of Whitlock for the second year in a row, and deploying the 25-year-old as a quasi-sixth starter rather than a traditional reliever should help accomplish that. The arrangement should also help ease the burden on the 42-year-old Hill, who is coming off a season with the Rays and Mets in which he covered 158.2 innings, but otherwise hasn't been durable for the majority of his career. Since Whitlock has been steadily increasing his pitch count throughout the spring, he's expected to be available for an extended relief outing behind starter Nathan Eovaldi in Thursday's Opening Day game against the Yankees, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. With the benefit of a team off day Friday, Whitlock should then be ready to pitch on four days' rest when Hill's first turn in the rotation comes up April 12 in Detroit.

APRIL 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Shines in spring start Whitlock allowed one hit and walked one while striking out two over three scoreless innings in a spring training start against the Twins on Sunday.

Impact This was Whitlock's first Grapefruit League start and first start of any kind since July 2019 prior to undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery. Although used exclusively out of the bullpen last season, Whitlock's in the mix for the final rotation spot along with Rich Hill, who also pitched three innings Sunday. That starting spot will last as long as it takes Chris Sale (rib) to get over his injury. Sunday's outing was the second time both pitchers have appeared in the same game this spring. Both hurlers will likely appear in the same game this Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. Boston manager Alex Cora has not revealed how he plans to utilize Whitlock, whose versatility in relief was key for the Red Sox, but it's safe to say he'll be an high-leverage piece if relegated to the bullpen.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Garrett Whitlock shines in first start since 2019, but role for Red Sox still TBD Whitlock and Rich Hill are in the mix for the final spot in Boston's rotation.

MARCH 28, 2022 • MASSLIVE.COM

Sunday's Red Sox spring training report: Garrett Whitlock looks strong, but Hirokazu Sawamura makes a mess - The Boston Globe Whitlock allowed just a single and a walk on 47 pitches, but Minnesota scored five times in the eighth inning to beat their Fort Myers neigh...

MARCH 27, 2022 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Works two innings in debut Whitlock allowed three hits and two walks over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring training game against the Rays.

Impact Whitlock followed game starter Rich Hill, who threw two scoreless innings himself, albeit with less base traffic than Whitlock. The two are ostensibly competing for the No. 5 starter job, but the Red Sox understand what Whitlock meant to them last season as a bullpen workhorse. He came up through the Yankees' system as a starter but underwent Tommy John surgery several years ago, and Boston may have found an ideal spot for him as a multi-inning reliever who could also potentially fill a closer role.

MARCH 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox rotation picture becoming clearer with Michael Wacha as No. 4 starter; Rich Hill, Garrett Whitlock in the mix for fifth spot The rotation is coming into focus with less than three weeks to go before Opening Day.

MARCH 23, 2022 • MASSLIVE.COM

With innings badly needed, Red Sox stretching out Garrett Whitlock as a starter for now Whitlock was an elite reliever in 2021, but he has great potential as a starter and the Red Sox need flexibility from their pitchers now.

MARCH 13, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Getting stretched out Whitlock is getting stretched out this spring, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Impact Manager Alex Cora wouldn't say if Whitlock or Tanner Houck would be in the Opening Day rotation, explaining that they are being stretched out to help with innings early on. The Red Sox have five veteran starters on the roster, with Whitlock and Houck representing the exciting potential next wave. We already know Whitlock's stuff plays well in a high-leverage relief role, but he could be more valuable to Boston long term if he successfully transitions back to being a starter. The 25-year-old righty has a starter's pitch mix and came up as a starter with the Yankees before being poached by Boston in the Rule 5 draft last offseason.

MARCH 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Leaving the Yankees was disappointing The Boston Red Sox selected right-hander Garrett Whitlock in the Rule 5 Draft and he became a high-leverage bullpen arm for manager Alex Cor...

FEBRUARY 24, 2022 • NJ.COM

Catching up with Garrett Whitlock, keeping the faith down South during the offseason lockout - The Boston Globe The Red Sox righthander reflected on his desire to start again, being left unprotected by the Yankees, and his most important priorities in...

FEBRUARY 23, 2022 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

'One-Nothing!': Rookies Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock will compete over anything, and the Red Sox benefit “We may be picking on each other but it’s clearly brotherly picking on each other. Everyone else is like, you guys are children," Houck said

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

After going from last place to ALCS, Red Sox optimistic

The Boston Red Sox say their rebuilding plans are ahead of schedule

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros awaken for 7 in 9th, beat Boston 9-2 to tie ALCS 2-2

Jose Altuve hit a tying home run in the eighth inning and the Houston offense awakened with seven runs in the ninth on Tuesday night as the Astros came back to beat the Boston Red...

OCTOBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets final six outs of ALDS Whitlock (1-0) logged two perfect innings Monday, taking the win in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Rays.

Impact Whitlock got the final six outs to close out Tampa Bay. He has emerged as one of Boston's most valuable pitchers this season, and his importance is only amplified in October. It will be interesting to see whether he can wrangle the closing duties next season or if he will remain in a fireman role.

OCTOBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Walk it off: Red Sox eliminate Rays 6-5 with late sac fly

Kiké Hernandez delivered Boston’s second straight walk-off win, scoring pinch-runner Danny Santana with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to send the Red Sox to the AL Championsh...

OCTOBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ground Rule Trouble: Red Sox bounce Rays in 13 on odd call

The Boston Red Sox were saved by a lucky bounce that cost Tampa Bay a certain run and maybe more in Game 3 of the AL Division Series

OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

A capsule look at the Red Sox-Rays playoff series

A capsule look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays

OCTOBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox top plays: AL wild card goes to BoSox

The Red Sox toppled the Yankees in a win-or-go-home battle at Fenway. Check out the top plays from the AL wild-card clash.

OCTOBER 6, 2021

AL wild-card game: The Yankees and Red Sox every baseball fan can root for

You don't have to like the Yankees or Red Sox to enjoy watching these players on Tuesday, Jordan Shusterman writes.

OCTOBER 5, 2021

AL wild-card game: Six ways Yankees vs. Red Sox could play out

Before the Yankees and Red Sox square off at Fenway, Jake Mintz lays out six possibilities for this epic wild-card game.

OCTOBER 5, 2021

Fans two in return Whitlock (pectoral) pitched a perfect inning and struck out two in Sunday's 7-5 win over Washington.

Impact The right-hander missed nearly two weeks with a pectoral strain, but he was solid in his return in the regular-season finale. Whitlock has a 1.96 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB across 73.1 innings this year. He's added a pair of saves and 14 holds, so he could be a quality high-leverage option if Boston goes on an extended postseason run.

OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE