Giants Reportedly Sign Ex-Red Sox Flamethrower After Inconsistent Season
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The San Francisco Giants are taking a chance on a former member of the Boston Red Sox.
Former Red Sox pitcher Justin Garza has been looking for his next opportunity since rejecting an assignment to the minor leagues and becoming a free agent in November.
He reportedly now has found his next home and has signed a minor league deal with the Giants, according to KPRC 2 Houston's Ari Alexander.
"The Giants signed (right-handed) reliever Justin Garza to a minor league deal," Alexander said. "Garza has 38 games of (Major League Baseball) experience with the Guardians and Red Sox. 95 MPH Fastball guy with a cutter, change, and slider."
Boston claimed Garza off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels toward the beginning of the 2023 season and he made 17 appearances at the big league level with the club. Over that stretch, Garza logged a 7.36 ERA and a 17-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 1/3 innings pitched.
Garza appeared in 24 games last season with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox and had a 4.82 ERA and 28-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 28 innings pitched.
The righty still is just 29 years old and has a blistering fastball that can come close to 100 miles per hour. He was more impressive at the big league level with the Cleveland Guardians in 2021 than he was with Boston. Garza had a 4.71 ERA in 21 appearances with Cleveland.
San Francisco has been looking for ways to improve the roster all offseason and it never hurts to add a veteran with big league upside to a minor league deal.
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