In many ways, the offseason of MLB can be far more interesting than much of the predictable monotony of the tedious regular season. The Red Sox continued to tinker with their roster for 2014 as today they added reliever Edward Mujica, formerly of the NL champion Cardinals. The righty signed a two-year deal worth $9.5 million.
Fantasy baseball fans will know Mujica because he came out of nowhere last season to save 37 games for St. Louis (it's funny how that seems to have frequently there). Next season will be his ninth in MLB and fifth team (Indians, Padres, Marlins & Cardinals). He was an All-Star for the first time in 2013 and chugged along as the Cardinals' very solid closer until groin and shoulder injuries derailed his performance level in September. He only appeared in two playoff games for the Cardinals and didn't pitch in the World Series.
Still, at 29 Mujica has a chance to be a good reliever for many additional years. In 65 appearances last season, he was 2-1 with 2.78 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 64.2 innings. He struck out 46 and walked only five so he obviously has great control. Where he fits in Boston's bullpen, we won't know until the spring but you can never have too many good arms. Outside of Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa and Craig Breslow, the Red Sox have plenty of innings to fill from its bullpen if you believe that Brandon Workman will either be a starter or possibly traded. Welcome aboard Chief (his nickname).
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