While the New York Yankees are actively seeking reinforcements for their starting pitching, the Boston Red Sox are primarily focused on maintaining competitiveness within the AL East division. Despite making several offseason moves to strengthen their roster, Boston’s efforts may not be sufficient to contend at the highest level, especially considering the notable improvements made by both the Yankees and Orioles.
One recent addition to the Red Sox roster is Lucas Luetge, a former bullpen arm for the Yankees, who signed a one-year contract with Boston over the weekend. Expressing his enthusiasm for joining the Red Sox organization, Luetge, now 36 years old, brings veteran experience to the team. His performance with the Atlanta Braves last season saw him pitch 13.2 innings with a 7.24 ERA, following a more successful stint with the Yankees in 2022, where he posted a 2.67 ERA over 57.1 innings. However, Luetge’s velocity has noticeably declined with age, dropping from an average of around 90 mph to 87.6 mph on his fastball in recent years.
Despite relying less on his fastball during his time with the Yankees, Luetge contributed solid numbers and served as a reliable relief pitcher, providing support during challenging outings for the starting rotation.
While Luetge is approaching the twilight of his career, the Red Sox aim to extract any remaining value from his experience and skillset, contrasting with the Yankees’ strategy of prioritizing youth and maximizing talent aligned with their team dynamics.
