Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox bring back right-handed pitcher Brandon Workman

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:28 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Tyler Hetu/FanSided via BoSox Injection

After sitting out all of 2016 from Tommy John Surgery, the Red Sox are bringing back Brandon Workman on a one year deal for $635,000, avoiding arbitration.

The Boston Red Sox welcome back right-handed pitcher Brandon Workman to a one year deal worth $635,000. The contract was agreed to last night, and was announced by Tim Britton of the Providence Journal on Twitter.

Workman, who sat out all of last season due to Tommy John Surgery, will avoid arbitration and will join a long list of relievers behind the powerful Red Sox rotation.

While there is obvious risks of bringing back Workman due to his recent surgery, the Red Sox are showing that they are willing to take the chances on Workman. He can work out of either a long relief or a spot start role if needed, something he has done in both seasons he played at the Major League level.

Most of the already limited salary figure won’t even be guaranteed until camp is about to break next spring, which adds to the whole “low risk, high reward” saying.

Workman has the ability to impress, but has struggled lately. The move is more than likely to give Workman a second opportunity, and to fill out the 40-man roster. He’ll join Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree, Robbie Ross, and Roenis Elias as back end of the bullpen arms who will both eat up innings to bridge the gap into the set up men of Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith.

While I am not particularly fond of Workman, he does pose an upside. The former second round pick has an obvious value, as shown earlier in his career. His past few seasons have been poor, especially at the Major League level.

The idea of having a surplus of arms that are Major League ready is a bonus for clubs, but I believe that Workman is a player the Red Sox should of passed on. At 28, and coming off Tommy John, he poses a similar situation as Clay Buchholz – cut ties, or make one last run. I am all for second chances, and it could be that this is one last chance for Workman to keep his Major League hopes alive through improving his value.

In his 128 2/3 total major league frames, Workman has totaled a 5.11 ERA with 8.2 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9. Historically, he has been better in the minors, tossing 17 starts at Triple-A, where he owns a 3.63 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9.

Not impressive numbers, but anything better than this shows that things will be moving in the right direction for Workman and that the Red Sox made the right decision in re-signing him.

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