Red Sox Designate Justin Masterson For Assignment
BOSTON (CBS) -- With an eye to the future, the Red Sox designated Justin Masteron for assignment on Sunday.
Boston now has 10 days to trade or release the struggling right-hander, who was ineffective in the rotation and out of the bullpen this season.
The Red Sox signed Masterson to a one-year, $9.5 million deal over the offseason, hoping he could bounce back from a tough season in Cleveland and St. Louis. But the 30-year-old went 4-2 with a 5.61 ERA in 18 appearances and struggled with his command and consistency.
Masterson made seven starts before hitting the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis in mid-May, and was moved to the bullpen after two more ineffective starts. He went 3-2 with a 6.14 ERA in those nine starts, and then 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in nine appearances out of the bullpen.
He pitched an inning in Sunday's win over Detroit, getting out of a jam in the sixth inning before allowing a lead off homer to start the seventh. Manager John Farrell let Masterson know of the move following the game, citing his inconsistencies throughout the season.
"He was tough on right-handers at times, and flashes of solid contributions, but it was the inconsistencies," Farrell told reporters in Detroit.
Younger arms in the Boston organization will now benefit from more innings the rest of the way with Masterson out of the picture.
