Sawamura returned to Japan on Saturday to sign with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Sawamura threw 103.2 innings of relief for the Red Sox over the last two years. His 3.39 ERA was a strong mark, but it was paired with a 4.16 FIP and 4.56 SIERA, as he walked 13.0 percent of opposing batters. It's no surprise that the 34-year-old's underlying numbers weren't enough to secure another major-league deal.
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Hirokazu Sawamura: Sent packing by Boston
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Sawamura was released by the Red Sox on Sunday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Sawamura was sent to Triple-A Worcester after clearing waivers in late August, but the Red Sox ultimately decided to let him pursue opportunities elsewhere. He'll receive $1 million as part of his buyout with Boston. Sawamura has appeared in 104 big-league games and has logged a 3.39 ERA while striking out nearly a batter per inning, so he could garner interest from several clubs.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Clears waivers
Rotowire
The Red Sox outrighted Sawamura to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Sawamura is in the second season of a relatively modest two-year, $3 million deal, but none of MLB's other 29 teams were willing to put in a waiver claim for him and assume the money remaining on his contract after he turned in a 3.73 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over his 49 appearances out of Boston's bullpen this season. Though he'll remain in the organization for now, Sawamura will likely hit free agency this winter, when Boston will presumably decline his $3 million club option for 2023.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: DFA'd by Boston
Rotowire
Sawamura was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Sunday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Sawamura struggled over the last week and a half, giving up five runs in 3.1 innings over his last four appearances. The 34-year-old has posted a 3.73 ERA in 50.2 innings over 49 relief outings this year but will now lose his spot on Boston's 40-man roster.
Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Back in big-league bullpen
Rotowire
Sawamura was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Monday.
Sawamura was optioned Saturday but will return just two days later with Matt Strahm landing on the COVID-19 injured list. Sawamura recorded a perfectly adequate 3.60 ERA in 15 innings before being sent down.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Optioned to Worcester
Rotowire
Sawamura was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.
Sawamura made 18 relief appearances for the Red Sox to begin the season and posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 15 innings. However, the right-hander will be sent down as part of a move to make room on the active roster for Ryan Brasier and Phillips Valdez.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Takes loss in 10th inning
Rotowire
Sawamura (0-1) was tagged with Saturday's extra-inning loss to Baltimore without getting an out. He gave up one unearned run on a walk and his own throwing error.
Sawamura came on in the bottom half of the 10th inning and intentionally walked the first batter, putting runners at first and second. He then fielded a bunt and airmailed a throw to third base that produced the winning run. He'd been effective in seven previous appearances, but the sequence of events following Nathan Eovaldi's seven scoreless innings was a microcosm of the team's performance in the month of April -- strong starting pitching, a lack of hitting/runs and the need for a reliable closer.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Makes quick work in win
Rotowire
Sawamura threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Tigers.
Sawamura needed just three pitches to prevent his first inherited runner of the season from scoring. He entered after Rich Hill walked Robbie Grossman with one out in the fifth inning and got a double play on three pitches. He's made two scoreless appearances thus far and could pop up whenever needed in the middle innings. In his first outing, Sawamura retired all three batters faced in the seventh inning against the Yankees last Saturday.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Expected to handle key bullpen role
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that he anticipates Sawamura (hamstring) filling a critical bullpen role in 2022, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports.
Cora didn't specify whether he envisions Sawamura stepping in as a key high-leverage reliever or more of a multi-inning option out of the bullpen, but in any case, the skipper's endorsement suggests that the right-hander is at least in a good spot health wise after he dealt with a hamstring injury during the postseason. Aside from a brief stint on the injured list last July due to a triceps issue, Sawamura mostly stayed healthy during his rookie campaign with Boston in 2021. He covered 53 frames out of the bullpen, posting a 3.06 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 61:32 K:BB while gathering five wins and 11 holds.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Dealing with hamstring issue
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Sawamura is dealing with a hamstring issue and may have be be replaced on the ALCS roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
It's unclear when Sawamura picked up the injury. He's made three appearances so far this postseason, allowing a run on two hits and two walks across two innings of work. If he needs to be replaced, he'll be ineligible to pitch in the World Series should the Red Sox advance.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Rejoins Boston bullpen
Rotowire
Sawamura is on Boston's roster for the ALCS against Houston, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
The righty will be available to make his postseason debut after being left off the roster for the first two rounds. Sawamura appeared in two games against the Astros earlier this season, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in an inning of relief. He doesn't throw many pitches in the strike zone, which is cause for concern against a talented and disciplined Houston lineup.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Not on wild-card team
Rotowire
Sawamura is not part of Boston's wild-card roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Sawamura has pitched well for the Red Sox this season, finishing the year with a 3.06 ERA in 53 innings of relief. He may not have been considered available after throwing 1.2 innings Sunday against the Nationals, though it only took him 15 pitches to record those five outs.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Back in action
Rotowire
Sawamura (illness) was activated from the injured list prior to Monday's game against Seattle, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Sawamura was expected to return sometime over the weekend, and while that didn't happen, it's good news for Boston that he's been cleared to play. The reliever has appeared in 50 games so far this season, posting a 3.09 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a 54:29 K:BB to go along with 11 holds across 46.2 frames.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Could return this weekend
Rotowire
Sawamura (illness) will throw a bullpen session this weekend, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Sawamura has been sidelined since the end of August after he tested positive for COVID-19, but manager Alex Cora said that the right-hander could be activated as early as this weekend if Friday's throwing session goes well. The 33-year-old posted a 5.14 ERA and 2.14 WHIP in seven innings across the 10 appearances prior to his absence.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Tests positive for COVID-19
Rotowire
Sawamura landed on the injured list after testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
The fact that Sawamura has a known positive test and isn't merely on the injured list due to contact tracing means he'll likely miss more than just a few days. His loss will hurt the Red Sox's bullpen, as he owns a 3.09 ERA in 46.2 innings this season.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Squelches threat
Rotowire
Sawamura struck out one over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Rays.
It was another gut-punch loss for the Red Sox, who failed to build on an early lead and watched the bullpen implode again, but Sawamura was a bright spot. He came on in the sixth with runners on first and second and quelled the uprising on nine pitches. The right-hander made his first appearance after avoiding a serious arm injury when he left Sunday's game with elbow tightness.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Available Tuesday
Rotowire
Sawamura (elbow) is available to pitch Tuesday against the Rays, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
It was reported earlier Tuesday that the right-hander has avoided a serious arm injury after he was forced to exit Sunday's game against the Blue Jays with right elbow tightness. Manager Alex Cora said that Sawamura is feeling better after receiving treatment, and that he won't be forced to miss any additional time.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Dodges serious arm injury
Rotowire
Sawamura has avoided a serious arm injury after leaving Sunday's game against Toronto with right elbow tightness, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
The right-hander's exit from Sunday's contest was deemed precautionary, and it sounds like further evaluations confirmed he's avoided a serious injury. It's not clear how much time Sawamura will be forced to miss, but his status should become more clear when the Red Sox provide additional update, likely Tuesday.
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Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura: Leaves with elbow tightness
Rotowire
Sawamura was removed from Sunday's game against the Blue Jays with right elbow tightness, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.
The Red Sox labeled the right-hander's exit as precautionary, but any elbow injury is a potentially concerning development. Sunday was Sawamura's fourth appearance since returning from the injured list July 30 after dealing with right triceps inflammation.
