today: Fulmer cleared the waiver and surpassed Boston’s 40-man roster, but Musliffe Christopher Smith wrote that Fulmer chose to be a free agent rather than take on direct missions.
April 18: The Red Sox announced they have been designated as right-handed Michael Fulmer Make allocations. This opens the roster for Righty Hunter Dobbinshe was recalled to the major league club. Sox also restores the third baseman Alex Bregman From the paternity test list and select infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard.
Fulmer, 32, was just selected for Boston’s roster a few days ago. Monday, first release Tanner Houck The rays were eliminated, allowing 11 points in 2 1/3 innings. Fulmer came in and threw 2 2/3, allowing three runs to be obtained on four hits and two shots, while hitting two runs at the same time. He hasn’t pitched since then, but Sox needs to make room for Dobbins, who will start the game tonight, which takes Fulmer off the roster.
It could end up being a pretty long ending of a fairly long pairing between Sox and Fulmer. He underwent UCL revision surgery in late October 2023 and will miss the entire 2024 season. He then signed a two-year underage league contract with the Red Sox to make up for his recovery and potential returns in 2025.
The Red Sox reached out as a starter this year, an interesting option for him to work before signing with them before he was working on relief. He reached 0.79 ERA in the spring era, then scored 3.09 ERA on three minor league outings before heading to the major league for the aforementioned mop outing on Monday.
This is a very small sample and it is difficult to draw many conclusions from it. Now that he has been sent to DFA Limbo, Sox will have a week to trade him or pass a waiver. The exemption process takes 48 hours, so any trade negotiations must come together within the next five days.
Fulmer had some interesting career highlights before his long layoffs. He won the U.S. Rookie of the Year in 2016, throwing 159 innings for the Tigers with a 3.06 ERA. His grades dropped over the next few years, and then he missed 2019 when he recovered from Tommy John’s surgery. He returned and had some success with the transfer to the bullpen, with ERA having an ERA of 2.97 in 2021.
Perhaps Fulmer will find some interest based on this record. If he clears the immunity, he has enough service time to refuse direct missions and elect free agents.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Image
