Ryan

Watson

Ben Joyce got the night off after pitching in two of the last three games. It was Ryan Watson who got the call in the ninth to close out the game against the Mariners with a one-run lead. He worked around a base hit, inducing a ground ball double-play to end the contest with his third save of the season.

Watson was summoned to protect a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, but he allowed two earned runs on three hits and a walk, squandering the save opportunity. Ben Joyce was seemingly unavailable, as he has yet to pitch on back-to-back days since joining the big league club on August 5.

Watson, a Rule 5 Draft selection this year, has a 4.53 ERA in 55 2/3 innings with the Red Sox this year. He’ll provide depth to the Angels pen.

Watson is essentially the odd-man out in a roster crunch after the Red Sox picked up reliever Erik Miller from the Giants at the trade deadline. The 28-year-old has delivered a respectable 4.53 ERA across 55 2/3 innings in his first shot at the highest level. There should be some interest on waivers.

The 27-year-old left-hander came over from the Pirates in a trade this offseason along with Johan Oviedo. Samaniego had a good spring, throwing 5 1/3 shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six. However, he has minor league options left, and the Red Sox have three other left-handed relievers in their bullpen, so they opted to send Samaniego to the minors and kept Ryan Watson on the team. Watson is a Rule 5 pick, so he would have needed to be sent back to the Athletics if he didn’t make the Opening Day roster.

Watson was drafted in the Rule 5 draft by the A’s, but his chance to make his MLB mark will come with Boston. The 28-year-old will need to pitch well this spring to have any shot of making the Opening Day roster.

He’ll be traded to the Red Sox for infielder Justin Riemer, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The 28-year-old Watson has been a steady minor league reliever for several years, but it wasn’t enough to get him a chance with the Orioles or with the Giants, who acquired him in Aug. 2024. He had a 4.26 ERA and a 64/16 K/BB in 50 2/3 innings for the Giants’ Triple-A club last season.

The 26-year-old hurler has done a nice job in his limited minor league action this season, registering a 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 23/7 K/BB ratio over 22 2/3 innings between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He’ll add bullpen depth for the Giants.