Red Sox agree to one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Garrett Richards

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today signed right-handed pitcher Garrett Richards to a one-year contract for the 2021 season, with a club option for 2022. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated right-handed pitcher Joel Payamps for assignment.

Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.

Richards, 32, is 47-41 with a 3.62 ERA (324 ER/804.2 IP) in 187 career major league appearances (128 starts) with the Los Angeles Angels (2011-18) and San Diego Padres (2019-20). Since 2014, 99 of his 103 outings have come as a starter. In those seven seasons, he allowed only 0.75 home runs per 9.0 innings (48 HR/574.2 IP), the second-lowest mark in the majors (min. 500.0 IP). In the five years from 2014-18, Richards went 34-25 with a 3.15 ERA (180 ER/514.2 IP), the third-lowest ERA among AL starters (min. 500.0 IP) in that time behind Corey Kluber and Chris Sale.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2018, Richards missed a majority of the 2019 season and made only three starts for the Padres in September. In 2020 with San Diego, he made 10 starts before finishing the regular season with four relief appearances, going 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA (23 ER/51.1 IP) on the year. He held right-handed hitters to a .189 batting average (18-for-95) and a .589 OPS, surrendering only two home runs to his 103 righties faced. Richards made the first four postseason appearances of his career, three of which were scoreless.

Born in Riverside, CA, Richards was selected by the Angels in the first round of the 2009 June Draft (No. 42 overall) out of the University of Oklahoma. He currently resides in Chandler, AZ.

Payamps, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on November 25, 2020. He made two appearances for the Diamondbacks in each of the last two seasons, posting a 3.86 ERA (3 ER/7.0 IP) with five strikeouts, six walks, and a .261 opponent batting average (6-for-23).

BOSTON RED SOX 40-MAN ROSTER (40)

PITCHERS (23): Matt Andriese, Matt Barnes, Eduard Bazardo, Ryan Brasier, Colten Brewer, Austin Brice, Nathan Eovaldi, Jay Groome, Darwinzon Hernandez, Tanner Houck, Bryan Mata, Chris Mazza, Adam Ottavino, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Richards, Eduardo Rodriguez, Chris Sale, Connor Seabold, Jeffrey Springs, Josh Taylor, Phillips Valdez, Marcus Walden, Garrett Whitlock

CATCHERS (3): Kevin Plawecki, Christian Vázquez, Connor Wong

INFIELDERS (8): Jonathan Araúz, Christian Arroyo, Xander Bogaerts, Michael Chavis, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, Kiké Hernández, Hudson Potts

OUTFIELDERS (6): Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez, Hunter Renfroe, Jeisson Rosario, Alex Verdugo, Marcus Wilson