Red Sox lose out on veteran free agent reliever Craig Breslow scouted over weekend (report)

With less than two weeks before the trade deadline, the Red Sox turned toward the free agent market in an effort to fortify their bullpen — and lost out.

Boston made a strong run at veteran reliever David Robertson but he agreed to re-join the Phillies on Sunday, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Per Nightengale, the Red Sox were one of nine teams to scout Robertson during a throwing session in Providence (where he lives) Saturday and even sent chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and assistant GM Eddie Romero to see Robertson throw.

“There were nine teams who scouted David Robertson in Providence on Saturday, including Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and assistant Eddie Romero, with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski winning the sweepstakes over his former team,” Nightengale reported on Twitter/X.

Robertson, 40, remained unsigned well into the season after a strong 2024 campaign in which he posted a 3.00 ERA and struck out 99 batters in 68 games (72 innings) for the Rangers. The deal he signed with the Phillies is a prorated version of a one-year, $16 million contract (according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand), which means he’ll be paid a little more than $6 million for the rest of the season. Robertson, who has pitched for eight teams in 16 big league seasons, pitched for the Phillies in both 2019 and 2022.

The Red Sox have been linked to Robertson as a potential suitor for years — in part because of his proximity to the club living in Rhode Island — but have never had him on their roster. Breslow aims to be busy between now and the July 31 trade deadline and bullpen help is an area of focus as the club looks to find the perfect setup combination ahead of All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman.

Assuming Robertson doesn’t need any time in the minors before joining Philadelphia’s bullpen, the Red Sox might have to face him very soon. Boston will face the Phillies for a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park from Monday through Wednesday.