Garrett Richards is officially a member of the Boston Red Sox as the team announced their signing of the right-hander to a one-year contract.
Richards, 32, spent the first eight seasons of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels and his last two with the San Diego Padres. There, he became teammates with Mitch Moreland when the Red Sox traded the first baseman in 2020.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE Apparently, Moreland played a part in bringing Richards to Boston. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Richards recalled what Moreland had to say about the team he won a World Series title with in 2018.
“He had nothing but great things to say about the Red Sox,” Richards said, via MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo. “From top to bottom, they’re first-class with how they handle the family stuff and how they give their players everything they need to be successful.
"Obviously, they’ve won championships. They’ve won a lot over the last 10 years or so. It was kind of a no-brainer for me. Obviously, I want to go somewhere that checks a lot of boxes. I wanted to go somewhere that’s going to provide everything we can for us to win ballgames.”
Along with Moreland's influence, playing on the East Coast for the first time in his professional career played a part in Richards' decision.
Boston Red Sox
Find the latest Boston Red Sox news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
“I’ve been on the West Coast my entire career,” Richards said. “I’ve pretty much covered from (the West Coast) to Texas, pretty frequently throughout my entire career. It was something we thought might be a new opportunity, something different. Something new and exciting. Playing in this division, you’ve got to make sure your game is at a high level. I think that’ll be something good for me. Plus, a chance to see the other side of the country.”
In his return from Tommy John surgery, Richards went 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in 14 appearances (10 starts) in 2020. He'll join a Red Sox starting rotation that also currently consists of Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck.
Moreland still is a free agent, though he and the Red Sox reportedly have discussed a potential reunion for 2021.