Sox make deals for Diekman, Strahm official

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox finalized a two-year deal with free-agent lefty reliver Jake Diekman on Wednesday, a day after announcing their one-year deal with lefty reliever Matt Strahm.

Diekman, a 35-year-old veteran, pitched in 67 games for Oakland last season, notching a 3.86 ERA. He was fairly equal against lefties (.716 OPS) and righties (.711 OPS).

In 529 career appearances, all in relief, Diekman has a 3.73 ERA. His career splits are also almost identical.

Strahm underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his right knee in October of 2020, limiting him to just six outings for the Padres last season.

In ’20, Strahm was an important pitcher for a San Diego team that made it to the playoffs, posting a 2.61 ERA in 19 games.

Strahm spent the first two years of his career with the Royals and the last four with the Padres, posting a 3.81 ERA in 157 appearances, 25 of them starts.

A late bloomer, Strahm was a 21st-round pick of the Royals in 2012 after pitching at Neosho County (Kan.) Community College. Interestingly, Diekman was also a late-round pick in the Draft, getting taken in Round 30 by the Phillies in 2007 out of Cloud County (Kan.) Community College.

The Red Sox suddenly have a crowded crew of lefty relievers in Spring Training that also includes Josh Taylor, Austin Davis and Darwinzon Hernandez.

That could enable chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom to unload a lefty or two to address other needs on the club.

The Sox are known to be looking for a right-handed bat and perhaps some more relief help from the right side.