Recently Released Red Sox Hurler Signs With Contender For Playoff Run

The Boston Red Sox have had to make some tough cuts this season, including a plethora of relievers the organization expected to make a greater impact than they did.

One of the more recent moves made was the release of left-hander Richard Bleier — whom the organization traded Matt Barnes for in a deal with the Miami Marlins. He’s now found a new home.

“Always looking for more depth at Triple-A Iowa, the (Chicago) Cubs have signed lefty reliever Richard Bleier to a minor-league deal,” The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney tweeted Thursday. “Bleier, who was released by the Red Sox last week, has a 3.27 career ERA in 335 major-league appearances, mostly with the (Baltimore) Orioles and (Miami) Marlins.”

The 36-year-old has had an impressive career but appeared to be out of gas in his strange stint with Boston. Bleier posted a 5.28 ERA with a 16-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .306 batting average against and 1.37 WHIP in 30 2/3 innings this season.

It’s hard to be a productive Major League Baseball reliever without generating swings-and-misses — he did not possess that ability in his stint with the Red Sox.

If he can bounce back, Bleier will have a chance to appear in a playoff run. Despite being 62-58 — a worse record than Boston — the Cubs currently hold a Wild Card spot in the much weaker National League race.