Hirokazu

Sawamura

Sawamura was unable to find an opportunity in the majors for the 2023 season after posting a respectable 3.39 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 101/59 K/BB ratio across 103 2/3 innings (104 appearances) over the last two seasons with the Red Sox before being released last September. The 34-year-old righty is headed back to Japan where he spent the first decade of his professional career.

The right-hander registered a 3.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts across 50 2/3 innings with the Red Sox during the 2022 season. He should be able to find an opportunity somewhere, even if he has to settle for a minor league deal with a spring training invite.

Sawamura was released and will now be a free agent after he was waived and assigned to Triple-A Worcester on August 31. He’ll get an opportunity to sign on with another organization after posting a 3.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts across 50 2/3 innings with the Red Sox this season.

Sawamura was designated for assignment by Boston on Sunday and made it through waivers unclaimed. The 34-year-old had registered a 3.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 40/27 K/BB ratio in 50 2/3 innings this season.

The Red Sox are making some changes in an effort to improve their overall bullpen performance, the the 34-year-old right-hander one of the hurlers to get the boot. It’s a bit surprising, as Sawamura had actually pitched pretty well in 48 appearances, registering a 3.26 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 39/25 K/BB ratio across 49 2/3 innings.

Sawamura has a 3.60 ERA over 18 appearances with the big club this season. He’ll work in low-leverage situations.

Sawamura has allowed just seven runs (six earned) on 14 hits with a 13/6 K/BB ratio across 15 innings (18 appearances) this season. The 34-year-old righty has pitched in three of the Red Sox’ last four games, so he’s been sent out to enable to club to bring up a fresh reliever ahead of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Orioles.

Sawamura will throw prior to Friday’s Game 6 and the team will make a determination on his status then. It’s not clear who would take his spot.

They will replace Matt Barnes and Austin Davis. Barnes was not on the team’s Wild Card roster and the former closer was shaky in his lone ALDS appearance, so the Red Sox felt they couldn’t afford to have him active.

Taylor hasn’t pitched since September 22 due to a lower back strain, so this qualifies as a bit of a surprise, but the Red Sox are confident he’s ready to go. Darwinzon Hernandez and Hirokazu Sawamura are not on the roster for Boston.