Boston Red Sox Rumors: Justin Masterson Designated For Assignment

The 2015 season has been a lost campaign for the Boston Red Sox, and on Sunday, they decided to dump one of the team’s biggest underachievers by designating Justin Masterson for assignment. The Red Sox have been unable to find a team that wants to trade for Masterson so he will likely become a free agent.

Masterson pitched on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers and allowed a solo home run to Jefry Marte in his one inning of work. NESN is reporting that manager John Farrell felt that inconsistency is what cost Masterson his roster spot.

“It was consistent strike-throwing, when you boil it down to it. He flashed some better arm strength at various points in time this season, but the overall consistency just wasn’t there. He was tough on some right-handers, and then the ability to hold it together in a starting role — multiple times through the order — that came and went. And then when we got him in the bullpen, he’d again have flashes of solid contributions, but again, it’s the inconsistencies that led to this.”

Masterson understands where the Red Sox are coming from. He told ESPN after Sunday’s game that he really wasn’t surprised by the move.

“I don’t really figure into their future, per se, at this point. Guys need to get innings. What’s the point of leaving me out there?”

The Red Sox signed Masterson to a one-year-deal this past offseason. His career has taken a downturn the last couple of seasons. He was an All-Star with the Cleveland Indians in 2013. Becoming a free agent may turn out to be a blessing for Masterson as he may just get a chance to be part of a pennant race in 2015. Fans know that wasn’t going to happen in Boston this year.

The only things left for the Red Sox is to figure out why things went so wrong this season and just how the team is going to fix this mess. As reported earlier at the Inquisitr, general manager Ben Cherrington came into the season claiming he was fine with a rotation of Clay Buchholz, Wade Miley, Rick Porcello, Joe Kelly, and Masterson. Together they have made 88 starts and have a record of 28-35, fans doubt that is what Cherrington had in mind when he put this collection of starters together.

Now that the Boston Red Sox have sent Justin Masterson down the road, who will the team get rid of next?

[Image by Leon Halip/Getty Images]