The Red Sox have acquired right-hander from the Rays, per . had relayed earlier that the righty triggered an a signment clause and the Rays were close Tommy Kahnle Jersey to making a trade. The Rays will receive cash considerations, per . Uwasawa, 30, has a long track record of succe s in Japans Nippon Profe sional Baseball but inked a minor league pact with the Rays over the winter. He most recently to sed 170 innings with a 2.96 ERA in NPB, though that strong mark was accompanied by a lackluster 17.8% strikeout rate and sub-par velocity. Last September, that Uwasawas fastball velocity was averaging 90.8 mph during the 2023 NPB season. Uwasawa does boast a strong 7.5% walk rate, which dropped as low as 5.9% in 2023, but hes generally viewed as a soft-to sing fine se pitcher. Its been a tough spring for Uwasawa, though the bulk of the damage against him came in his debut effort with the Rays. The Braves tattooed the right-hander for seven runs on eight hits in just two innings of work. Uwasawa has had two sharp outings (one against the Red Sox) and another rough one (also against Boston) in the weeks since that time. His spring ERA sits at a dismal 13.03, owing largely to that first meltdown of an outing. For a Red Sox club in need of rotation depth, however, theres little harm in adding Uwasawa to the fold particularly since hell only cost them cash considerations. In parts of nine NPB seasons, Uwasawa has ama sed 1118 1/3 innings of 3.19 ERA ball with a 19.7% strikeout rate and 7.5% walk rate. Hes been particularly effective in recent years, compiling a 3.08 ERA over his past six NPB seasons. He made the NPB All-Star team in both 2021 and 2023. Uwasawa also to sed two shutouts and averaged better than seven innings per start during the 2023 season. The Red Sox will open the season with a rotation including , , , and . They recently signed veteran righty to a big league deal, giving them some additional depth, though he could begin the season as a long man in the bullpen. Theres plenty of talent in the group but also some injury risk and plenty of short MLB track records. Boston tried to addre s some of its rotation deficiency this offseason by signing to a two-year contract, but he suffered a UCL tear earlier this spring and will mi s the entire 2024 season after . Depth starter , too, will mi s the season due to his own UCL surgery. Uwasawa will join a group of depth options including not only Anderson but also lefty and righty . The Red Sox still have far more questions than sure things on the starting staff, but Uwasawa will at least give them another wild card option at a negligible cost of acquisition. Josh Maciejewski Jersey