Rockies pick up righty Seabold from Red Sox

DENVER -- Looking to bolster their starting rotation competition, the Rockies acquired right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold from the Red Sox for a player to be named or cash on Tuesday.

Seabold, 26, made one start in 2021 and five in '22 for the Red Sox, going 0-4 with a 10.55 ERA. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Last season, Seabold dealt with a right forearm extensor strain that forced Boston to rest him and monitor his health. In 19 mostly healthy starts at Triple-A Worcester, Seabold went 8-2 with a 3.32 ERA. The Red Sox designated Seabold for assignment on Friday.

"He has the ability to throw strikes, and he's pitched well in the Minor Leagues," Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said. "He hasn't figured it out at the Major League level yet. He has solid-average stuff. We'll see what happens, but we're trying to improve our depth and create some competition."

When healthy, Seabold presents a fastball that clocked in around 95-97 mph before the arm issues. He frequently uses a slider and he has a curveball, plus a changeup that is rated his best pitch -- particularly when he has his velocity. At the end of the season, Seabold was ranked No. 21 on the MLB Pipeline Top 30 Red Sox prospects list.

A third-round pick by the Phillies out of Cal State Fullerton in 2017, Seabold was dealt to the Red Sox with right-hander Nick Pivetta for righties Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman on Aug. 21, 2020.

With one remaining Minor League option, Seabold will enter competition with a host of Colorado pitchers trying to gain a footing in the Majors.

The Rockies' projected rotation to start the season has veterans Kyle Freeland, Germán Márquez and José Ureña. Austin Gomber will have a chance to regain his place in the rotation after being moved to the bullpen after early struggles last season. And Antonio Senzatela, in the second year of a five-year contract, is expected to return in May from left knee surgery.

Seabold joins a group of lesser service time pitchers led by Ryan Feltner, who made 19 starts in his 20 appearances as a rookie last season (4-9, 5.83 ERA). The Rockies hope Peter Lambert will shed the right elbow issues that have limited him to two Major League appearances since his rookie season in 2019. Then there is Noah Davis (who was called up from Double-A Hartford for one appearance at the end of last season), No. 19 prospect Jeff Criswell (who was obtained in a trade with the Athletics in December) and No. 22 prospect Ryan Rolison (who hopes to debut in the Majors after missing last season because of left shoulder surgery).