Free agent lefty Matthew Boyd threw for representatives of 17 of MLB’s 30 clubs yesterday, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Boyd remains unsigned just under one year after he underwent Tommy John surgery last June, prematurely ending his 2023 campaign with the Tigers.
Boyd, now 33, has long intrigued teams thanks to his ability to post high strikeout rates as a left-handed starter. The southpaw struck out a whopping 30.2% of batters faced for Detroit in 2019 while posting roughly league average run prevention numbers (104 ERA+), but has not completed a wire-to-wire 162-game season since then thanks a variety of injuries, including both flexor tendon surgery and the aforementioned Tommy John surgery.
Those injury woes have limited him to just 163 innings of work in the majors since the start of the 2021 season, but the results were those of a decent back-of-the-rotation arm despite the injury woes: he posted a 4.36 ERA and 4.12 FIP across 40 appearances (30 starts), both of which were roughly league average figures during that period. He struck out 22.1% of batters faced while walking a slightly elevated 8.1% and allowing 10.3% of is fly balls to leave the yard for home runs. That’s generally consistent with his performance even dating back to the 2018 season, with the shortened 2020 campaign standing out as Boyd’s only performance in his past half decade of work that fell below his roughly league average standard.
That sort of back-end rotation help would surely be greatly appreciated by a number of clubs as teams around the league have found themselves ravaged by starting pitching injuries this season. It’s not clear which teams were at Boyd’s showcase, although the Astros, Giants, Padres, Red Sox, Brewers, and Diamondbacks are among the many clubs that have multiple key pieces of their expected rotation currently on the shelf. For clubs in that situation, the idea of bringing Boyd in as a potential depth option on a low-deal deal is surely appealing particularly at a time when trade season is unlikely to begin in earnest for several more weeks.
Of course, it’s possible that clubs will view Boyd with caution thanks to his lengthy injury history and difficult 2023 season; prior to his surgery last year, the southpaw posted a lackluster 5.45 ERA in 15 starts with Detroit. It also remains unclear how close Boyd is to being able to impact a big league pitching staff, although Heyman notes that the southpaw was throwing in the 92-93 mph range during his showcase yesterday. That’s a tick above Boyd’s career 91.8 mph fastball velocity in the majors, which would seem to indicate that he’s fairly far along on the road to recovery.
Even if he’s nearly ready to return to pitching in games, however, the lefty would surely need time to build up his pitch count in the minor leagues before he could be a realistic option to start games at the big league level. Despite those potential question marks, it would hardly be a surprise to see a pitching-hungry team take a shot on Boyd with a minor league deal in hopes of shoring up their rotation depth ahead of the second half.
steven st croix
Houston will def take a look, they watched Bauer this week.
mostlytoasty
after seeing several clips of Bauer taunting folks and being a total tool while facing washed up AAAA guys in MXL… I can better understand why nobody in the league likes him for just his general attitude
its_happening
No different than silly bat flips in May up 6 runs. What, Liam Hendriks swearing after numerous pitches in the All-Star game not as bad as Bauer’s verbal antics?
Stop it.
HeedFrodo
Bauer is a tool. No coach wants that in their locker room. Most owners don’t even want him. And a lot of them have no idea the importantance of a sustainable locker room. Makes sense with the Astros though. Team is trash
Rexhudler86
He’s definitely a blow hard, not sure if that’s much different from most of the guys in the mlb. He definitely knows his stuff about pitching. Does help players out if they ask, about mechanics still dont think it’s a big deal on a minimum deal if it goes south.
davidk1979
Source?
User 3014224641
“a potential depth option on a low-deal deal”
What?
Fever Pitch Guy
Long – He’s brand new, give him some time like the Sox have with Bobby Dalbec.
letitbelowenstein
Hey, Dalbec homered today. It’s a sign.
Fever Pitch Guy
let – With the Devers injury, it looks like Dalbec will get a few more opportunities to show what he can do.
But up next is 6 against the Phillies and Yanks, not the best timing for Bobby. Let’s hope the Phillies will be suffering from jetlag.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
M’s need more lefty relievers because our entire bullpen is injured
fred-3
Can he hit?
letitbelowenstein
.300 career average.
SportsFan0000
If Matthew Boyd is healthy,
then he will have value as a back of the rotation starter for many contenders.
You can never have too much pitching.
brewers214
Brewers
blueboy714
I’m sure the Brewers will take a look at him although I’m not sure they could afford him
burrwick
Matt Boyd is a high class individual. Just hasn’t been able to remain healthy. I hope he finds a team and has success. He deserves it.
SportsFan0000
I say that Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies have the “inside track”
to sign Boyd.
Dombrowski acquired Boyd for the Detroit Tigers in a deal with the Blue Jays. Dombrowski and ‘Boyd have a good prior relationship
Boyd is coming back from injury/surgery where he was out for the year
It is going to take time for Boyd to build his arm back up to handle starting duties.
If the Phillies sign Boyd, then Boyd can be used in a “flexible role” such as a “spot starter” , long relief or even back of the bullpen set up. closing or closing by committee. Boyd is fearless and will not wilt under the pressure like some relievers..
Dombrowski made a similar deal with former Tigers Starter Spencer Turnbull who previously pitched a “No Hitter” for the Tigers.
Turnbull was drafted by Dombrowski for the Tigers.
He was coming off injury and surgery when Dombrowski signed him for the Phillies.
Dombrowski stockpiling great arms is very smart since the injury bug is unpredictable and it is added insurance if 1 or more of the Phillies starters decide to test free agency.
Turnbull, Boyd, Dombrowski could all be “at the right place and the right time” to get their band back together and get a New World Series Ring and Championship together.
its_happening
If Boyd is signed to be the #4 starter in AAA, sure.
SportsFan0000
Why would he take a deal like that when other major league clubs will sign him to a major league rotation?!
If he signs with Philadelphia, then it would be for a major league job.
Otherwise, he would pass
stymeedone
Any team that signs him will want him to build up his arm in the minors. I don’t know if he could start on the IL if he’s no longer injured. It might have to be on a minor league contract.
SportsFan0000
Very unrealistic and unlikely to happen.
Very doubtful that Boyd would sign a minor league deal when so many ballclubs need more major league quality pitching.
its_happening
Philly doesn’t need Boyd and that was the point. Many teams could use him. Philly does not.
SportsFan0000
In baseball, business, all types of organizations it is about relationships, character and talent.
Boyd checks all those boxes for Dombrowski and the Phillies.
He is super in the clubhouse, very popular etc.
Boyd and his wife also have a foundation “Kingdom Home”
that rescues and saves young girls in Uganda from
sexual trafficking.
mlb.com/news/matthew-boyd-kingdom-home-update-2020
its_happening
Boyd does nothing for the Phillies. They need a CF. His foundation has nothing to do with on-field performance.
“Can Boyd start for us?”
“No but look at his foundation!”
Stop….
SportsFan0000
Boyd has “high value” for the Phillies as a pitcher, player and also a chemistry guy.
Work ethic and talent are off the charts.
Foundation is one piece of the puzzle proving good character, unlike a former Guardians, Dodgers pitcher and others.
Spencer Turnbull was a great pickup.
Boyd could also be a great pickup for the Phillies.
As far as “getting up to speed” in the minors for a week or two.
It is a possibility, but Boyd and his Reps would only agree to that if the deal included a “free agent opt out clause”
if Boyd was not promoted to the major league
team by a certain date etc,.
Buzzz Killington
Tigers should’ve traded him. Sometimes it’s understandable to wait but with Boyd it was such a common sense move time to trade him.
SportsFan0000
Depends on the offers. If clubs were “low-balling” the Tigers,then the Tigers made the right call.
So many factors that have never been disclosed to the public.
UWPSUPERFAN77
Who was the better Boyd? This Boyd or Oil Can Boyd of the Red Sox years ago!
warnbeeb
Oil Can by a mile.
Paleobros
Chef Boydardee
partyatnapolis
remember when the tigers could have gotten a kings ransom for this man? and they held?
jammin464_
Nope. I remember when The Tigers HELD OUT for a King’s Ransom for him, but they never got that kind of offer.
pharmor_loverchicagoridge
Word on the street in Bridgeport Chicago is that Getz has his radar set on signing him. Also while sitting at Taco Bell heard that Bauer is another name as a possible starter for the whitesox. That ding bat owner has a history of bringing in washed up veterans.
Dogbone
Not so fast there, pharmor. I heard that Tony LaRussa was seen the other day at the Bora Bora smoothie shop, having a cool one.
Tony could be in town advising on this big decision.
This one belongs to the Reds
I’m sure everyone will take a look at him.
Hawktattoo
Wondering at this point in career he might look at reliever? Did a good job for Mariners in 2022 in that role.
Seattle be good spot for him and he would be coming home also.
SportsFan0000
San Diego Padres could use some depth in the back of their rotation and maybe alternate in the bullpen as he builds up his arm strength for starting.
Fbi
Paging Ross Atkins… bowden francis and his 9.00 era take note
Melchez17
” the lefty would surely need time to build up his pitch count in the minor leagues before he could be a realistic option to start games at the big league level. ”
He will need time, and don’t call me Shirley.