The Red Sox have re-signed pitchers Isaiah Campbell and Bryan Mata to minor-league contracts, as was first reported by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The pair of right-handers will remain with the organization for the time being after being designated for assignment and subsequently non-tendered by Boston on Friday.
Campbell and Mata were designated for assignment on Tuesday after the Red Sox added prospects Hunter Dobbins and Jhostynxon Garcia to their 40-man roster. Though neither was tendered a contract and was granted free agency on Friday, Cotillo notes that Boston remained interested in keeping both Campbell and Mata in the organization. The club was able to secure new deals that include non-roster invites to major-league spring training with each pitcher, though they could both generate interest in next month’s Rule 5 Draft.
If they remain with the Red Sox through the winter, however, both Campbell and Mata should have a chance at competing for a spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster this coming spring. They can otherwise serve as depth pieces at Triple-A Worcester if they do not break camp with the big-league club in March.
Campbell, 27, was acquired from the Mariners for infielder Luis Urias last November. On the heels of a successful rookie campaign with Seattle, the Arkansas product got his 2024 off to an encouraging start by compiling a 2.08 ERA through five relief appearances (4 1/3 innings) on Boston’s season-opening west coast road trip. He then surrendered nine total runs (eight earned) in back-to-back blowups against the Orioles at Fenway Park before being placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement on April 12.
Following a lengthy stint on the injured list, Campbell returned to the majors on June 24. He yielded three earned runs in one-third of an inning against the Blue Jays. That proved to be his final big-league outing of the season, as he was optioned to Worcester shortly thereafter and was then shut down with right elbow inflammation in late July. Altogether, he posted a 6.20 ERA in eight appearances (6 2/3 innings) for the Red Sox and a 2.20 ERA in 14 appearances (16 1/3 innings) for the WooSox this year.
Mata, meanwhile, was once regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization after originally signing with the Red Sox as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in January 2016. Equipped with an electric pitch mix, the 25-year-old righty spent four seasons on Boston’s 40-man roster without making his major-league debut due to various injuries and instead exhausted all of his minor-league options in that time.
After opening the 2024 season on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, a rehabbing Mata proceeded to forge a 4.37 ERA over 22 2/3 innings across four minor-league levels. He re-joined Worcester in late June as part of his comeback attempt but was unable to take the next step to the majors due to a bout with right elbow soreness that landed him on the 60-day injured list in July.
This offseason, Mata has been pitching for the Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League. Coming into play on Saturday, the Maracay native owns a 2.70 ERA with one strikeout to one walk in four relief appearances (3 1/3 innings) for the Valencia-based club.
