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RED SOX NOTEBOOK

Red Sox close to deals with Matt

Strahm and Jake Diekman to
address bullpen depth
By Peter Abraham Globe Staff, Updated March 13, 2022, 5:43 p.m. 18

Chaim Bloom's search for players (and room on his 40-man roster) has been "relentless" since the lockout
ended, according to manager Alex Cora. BARRY CHIN/GLOBE STAFF

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox are closing in on deals with free-agent
lefthanders Jake Diekman and Matt Strahm.

Strahm and the Sox agreed on a one-year, $3 million deal according to

sources, pending a physical. That is no minor matter considering the 30-year-
old appeared in only six games for the Padres last season following patellar
tendon surgery on his right knee.

Strahm made his season debut on Aug. 3, then returned to the injured list on
Aug. 18 with inflammation in his knee.

Prior to last season, Strahm was a reliable option for the Royals and Padres
over five seasons. He has a career 2.90 ERA as a reliever, with opponents
hitting .209. Strahm also has shown an ability to handle righthanded hitters.

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Watch: Rich Hill throws during offseason

How will Jake Diekman fit in with the Red Sox' plans this season? EZRA SHAW/GETTY

Diekman, 35, has 10 years of major league experience with five teams. He has
averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in his career, 12.3 last season with
Oakland.

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An agreement with Diekman was reported by MassLive, but could not be

confirmed. The holdup is likely related to the Red Sox not having any
openings on their 40-man roster and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom
needing to create space, perhaps via trade.

Manager Alex Cora described the search for more players since the lockout
ended as “relentless.”

She votes yes

No Red Sox manager has ever worn a beard based on photos dating back to
1900 and a clean-shaven Jimmy Collins. But Cora plans to stick with his
salt-and-pepper model based on the approval of his partner, Angelica.

RELATED: As Red Sox collect in Fort Myers, plenty of roster questions need
answering

“There’s a lot of people out there, they like it,” Cora said. “The most important
person is Angelica and she loves it.” MOST POPULAR ON BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Cora said he tried a beard during the 2019 season and it didn’t work. Not 1. Tom Brady’s return unsurprising, but
still a thrill in every way
much did that year.
2. UPS failed to make ferry reservations
to Nantucket for the summer. Now
Nearly a full house islanders foresee ‘a world of hurt’

3. EPA designates Lower Neponset River

With the sudden clearance to start camp, the Sox were worried some of their a Superfund site

Latin American players would be late while arranging a visa. But all are 4. ‘My place is still on the field.’ Tom
Brady says he’s returning to the NFL.
expected to arrive on time outside of catcher Ronaldo Hernández, who
should arrive from Colombia by Tuesday or Wednesday . . . All Grapefruit 5. Tom Brady’s retirement never made
much sense in the first place
League home games will start at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are on sale at
6. The show will go on: Boston’s newest
redsox.com/tickets or at the JetBlue Park box office from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. music venue is opening into a changed
world for concerts
Advertisement
7. William Hurt, star of ‘Broadcast News,’
‘Body Heat,’ dies

8. ‘He was such a beautiful human.’

Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe. Nieman fellows mourn killing of
journalist in Ukraine.

9. Fans and former players come together

Show 18 comments
to celebrate as Kevin Garnett’s No. 5
hoisted up to the rafters

10. Zelensky vows to keep negotiating with

Russia

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SPONSORED BY: HARVARD TARA SULLIVAN

PILGRIM HEALTH CARE Tom Brady’s return
Red Sox player Alex Verdugo unsurprising, but still a thrill in
lends advice to student-athletes every way
sharing their stories Not yet do we have to relegate Brady’s
From pre-game routines to relying on inspiring story from NFL draft
teammates, making mental health a priority afterthought to seven-time Super Bowl
takes practice, too. champion to the dusty shelves of
history. These are Brady’s good old
days, and their return is a gift from the
football gods.

UPS failed to make ferry EPA designates Lower Neponset

reservations to Nantucket for River a Superfund site
the summer. Now islanders After years of lobbying by local and
foresee ‘a world of hurt’ state officials for federal help to clean it
up, the US Environmental Protection
By the time the apparent error came to
Agency will designate a 3.7-mile stretch
light, ferries to Nantucket for the busy
of the Neponset River as a Superfund
season — from May to October — were
site.
booked close to capacity for large
shipping trucks.

NFL BEN VOLIN | ON FOOTBALL

‘My place is still on the field.’ Tom Brady’s retirement never
Tom Brady says he’s returning to made much sense in the first
the NFL. place
The legendary quarterback isn't done. The real surprise is Brady is returning to
After 41 days in retirement, he's headed the Buccaneers.
back to the NFL and says he'll play for
the Buccaneers.

William Hurt, star of ‘Broadcast DAN SHAUGHNESSY

News,’ ‘Body Heat,’ dies With new Canadian mandates,
Hurt was three times nominated for an
Red Sox could be in a load of
Academy Award, winning for 1985′s
“Kiss of the Spider Woman.” trouble with unvaccinated
players
Unvaccinated players won't be allowed
to play in Toronto, and Boston has 10
games up there, including a late-
September series.

The show will go on: Boston’s KEVIN GARNETT CEREMONY

newest music venue is opening Fans and former players come
into a changed world for together to celebrate as Kevin
concerts Garnett’s No. 5 hoisted up to the
With a 3,500-person capacity, it’s the
rafters
bridge between smaller local spots —
Garnett's jersey will now hang alongside
Great Scott, Sinclair, Royale — and
all those championship banners,
arenas that cater to the biggest names
including the 2007-08 title that he
in music.
helped win.

MOST READ IN THIS SECTION

TARA SULLIVAN BEN VOLIN | ON NFL

Tom Brady’s return FOOTBALL ‘My place is still on
unsurprising, but Tom Brady’s the field.’ Tom Brady
still a thrill in every retirement never says he’s returning
way made much sense to the NFL.
in the first place

DAN KEVIN GARNETT ON BASKETBALL

SHAUGHNESSY CEREMONY Kevin Garnett set
With new Canadian Fans and former the bar when it came
mandates, Red Sox players come to intensity and
could be in a load of together to emotion, and he
trouble with celebrate as Kevin deserved this
unvaccinated players Garnett’s No. 5 magical night
hoisted up to the
rafters

NFL LIVE UPDATES PATRIOTS

NFL players and MLB free agency Re-sign or let them
teams have a lot to tracker: Adam walk? Here’s what
say about Tom Brady Ottavino agrees to we think the Patriots
unretiring deal with Mets should do with their
free agents.

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