Veteran Red Sox Reliever Elects Free Agency After Injury-Plagued Season
The Boston Red Sox lost some of their organizational pitching depth on Thursday when veteran relief pitcher Nick Burdi elected free agency.
Burdi, 32, joined the Red Sox in 2025 and spent most of the season at Triple-A Worcester, where he went 4-0 with a 2.83 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 35 innings over 31 appearances. He also closed a bit for Worcester, finishing 15 games and notching five saves.
The right-hander saw some action in the Major Leagues as well, making four appearances for Boston from May 16 to June 2. He did not allow a run in those outings, finishing the year with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
The Red Sox were the fourth Major League team that Burdi has pitched for along with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2014, he debuted with the Pirates in 2018 and pitched three seasons there.
Burdi signed with the San Diego Padres after the 2020 season but missed the entire 2021 and 2022 campaigns after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He returned with the Cubs in 2023 and pitched for the Yankees in 2024 before signing a Minor League deal with Boston in February.
While he did not make the team out of camp, Burdi earned a promotion in mid-May with the Red Sox struggling to find their footing. Unfortunately, his season was derailed by injuries, as he suffered a foot injury in June before sustaining a hip injury as well, sending him to the 60-day injured list and knocking him off the 40-man roster.
Burdi was outrighted to Worcester in mid-August and did not return to Boston before the end of the season.
Given the crowded nature of the Red Sox’s pitching staff, Burdi will seek a role elsewhere this offseason. Since he already has more than three years of Major League service team, he was able to choose Minor League free agency.
In 30 1/3 career MLB innings, he’s 3-2 with a 5.34 ERA, a 1.65 WHIP, 44 strikeouts and 21 walks.
Buccaneers Get Crushing Injury Update for 49ers Game
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin and running back Rachaad White.
When it comes to injuries, it appears there is only bad news on the horizon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The latest blow might be the most disheartening to date as news broke that NFL All-Pro wide receiver Chris Godwin reportedly won’t play against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6.
“Bucs WR Chris Godwin (fibula) is not expected to play Sunday vs. 49ers, per source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account on Friday, October 10.
Godwin missed the last 10 games of the 2024 season and the first 3 games of the 2025 regular season as he recovered froma dislocated left ankle.
In the 2 games since his return, Godwin has just 6 receptions for 52 yards — 3 receptions and 26 yards in both a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 and in a road win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5.
“Chris Godwin is now NOT expected to play this week. Very interesting,” Dr. Jeff Mueller wrote on his official X account. “Hardware from his prior surgeries may be causing irritation because otherwise, fibula is a unique/specific injury designation.”
Bucs May Have Let Godwin Come Back Too Soon
Godwin was never placed on injury reserve this season due to the Buccaneers believing they would benefit more from having him practice the first 4 weeks and continue to recover from his injury with the thought he might play his first game in Week 5 against the Seahawks.
That’s why it was a surprise to see Godwin back against the Eagles — possibly giving in to the emotion of wanting to make his debut for a huge home game against the defending Super Bowl champions.
“Godwin hasn’t practiced this week and looked limited for much of the Seattle game,” NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on October 10. “More Shepard, more Tez vs. 49ers on Sunday.”
One thing the Buccaneers might have going for them is that the 49ers are just as badly hurt as them now, if not more so.
“Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Bucky Irving, Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison all in serious doubt for Sunday (against 49ers),” 10 Tampa Bay TV’s Evan Closky wrote on his official X account. “The Niners injury report is simply too long.”
Rookie Has Become WR1 for Buccaneers
Not having Godwin on the field against the 49ers would mean the Buccaneers will be without all 3 of their projected starting wide receivers for the first time this season.
NFL All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Second year wide receiver Jalen McMillan isn’t expected back until Week 10 and has yet to play this season with a severe neck sprain.
Fortunately for the Buccaneers, they’re off to a 4-1 start thanks to the brilliant play of 2025 first round pick and rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Egbuka, the No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, is fourth in the NFL in receiving through 5 games — his first 5 NFL games — with 25 receptions for 445 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“Emeka Egbuka is the 3rd player since 1970 with 425+ receiving yards and 5+ rec TD through 5 career games along with Randy Moss and Ja’Marr Chase,” CBS Sports researcher Doug Clawson wrote on X on October 5.
