Like any team in Major League Baseball, the Atlanta Braves have had plenty of different faces in their bullpen. While some have found success with their new teams, others have had a hard time getting going after leaving Atlanta and even began a tour around the league.
That’s been the case for one former Braves reliever, who has been traded for the fourth time despite a respectable start to the season. Although he pitched well, his underlying metrics suggest that regression is coming and his new team sought to get out while they still could.
Former Braves Pitcher Sean Newcomb Traded By Red Sox to Athletics
The Boston Red Sox announced on Tuesday afternoon that they are trading left-handed reliever Sean Newcomb to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations. Newcomb posted a 3.95 ERA in 41 innings for the Red Sox to begin the season and his 3.41 FIP suggested he could be on the way for some positive regression as the calendar turned to June.
But there are some underlying factors that caused the Red Sox to move on. Newcomb’s hard-hit rate of 50.4% ranks in the fifth percentile this season according to Baseball Savant and he also ranked in the 20th percentile or lower in expected batting average (.279), fastball velocity (92.2 mph), average exit velocity (91.4 mph) and whiff rate (20.2%).
It’s the type of performance that has made the 32-year-old an average major league reliever over nine seasons. Newcomb began his career as a starter with the Braves and made 49 starts over his first two seasons before transitioning to the bullpen in 2019. Although he went 6-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 2019, he posted a 7.45 ERA in 73.2 innings over the next three seasons before he was designated for assignment and traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2022.
That’s led Newcomb to bounce around the majors since 2023. He signed a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants to open the 2023 season but was traded to the Athletics that August. Newcomb stayed with the Athletics until he was released on July 5, 2024 but signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox last winter.
Newcomb’s latest stop wasn’t a long one and the Athletics are hoping he can strengthen their bullpen. If he can find his old form, he could experience a revival in Sacramento, but it’s unlikely considering how he’s performed since leaving Atlanta.