The Boston Red Sox have been monitoring the Jordan Montgomery situation, hoping for a potential decrease in his asking price along with agent Scott Boras. Owner John Henry’s cautious spending habits have left the team waiting. Meanwhile, Craig Breslow, the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer, has been making strategic signings within budget constraints. Their latest addition, Jason Alexander, joins on a minor league deal, aiming to provide depth in both the rotation and bullpen. It’s important to clarify that this Jason Alexander is not the actor known for portraying George Costanza in Seinfeld but rather a seasoned pitcher looking to contribute to the Red Sox’s plans for the upcoming season. Alexander’s recent performance has been inconsistent, with a 5.86 ERA, a 35-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .322 batting average against, and a 1.66 WHIP in 55 1/3 innings pitched for Triple-A Nashville last season.
While Jason Alexander’s recent stats were indeed disappointing, his low strikeout rate and high batting average against suggest that his struggles were not merely a fluke. However, looking back a year prior paints a different picture. In that season, he boasted a much-improved 2.84 ERA, with a better strikeout-to-walk ratio, a lower batting average against, and a lower WHIP while pitching for the Nashville Sounds. This performance earned him a promotion to the big leagues, although he struggled there, posting a 5.40 ERA.
Joining the Red Sox, Alexander will aim to turn his career around, benefiting from the team’s revamped pitching development program. Yet, concerns linger due to his continued low strikeout rate and susceptibility to contact. It remains to be seen if Craig Breslow and the rest of the Red Sox’s staff can help him develop into a more effective pitcher in the upcoming months.
