The Boston Red Sox officially made a small move earlier in the week, signing a former New York Yankees first-round pick who didn’t do much in New York.
According to Christopher Smith of MassLive, Boston announced multiple non-roster additions to its spring training list, including left-hander T.J. Sikkema.
“The Red Sox on Tuesday announced seven non-roster spring training invitees, including former Yankees first-round draft pick T.J. Sikkema.
“Boston signed Sikkema, a 27-year-old left-handed pitcher, to a minor league deal. New York selected him 38th overall in 2019 out of Missouri. The Yankees traded him and two other minor league pitchers to the Royals for Andrew Benintendi on July 27, 2022,” he wrote.
Sikkema once had big expectations after being taken in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft, viewed as a legit college arm who could find a path to MLB playing time. Instead, injuries and other factors have slowed down that path, and he never reached the majors with the Yankees, Kansas City Royals, and Cincinnati Reds.
Now, Boston is taking a no-risk chance, one that might play out the way it wants it to, depending on how he looks.
He posted a 3.47 ERA in Triple-A last year.
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