Fister claimed by Red Sox, will start Sunday vs. Angels
Doug Fister will get a chance to make the Los Angeles Angels regret not calling him up sooner.
The Boston Red Sox claimed Fister off release waivers from the Angels on Friday, just days after he opted out of his minor-league deal with the California club. Boston is bringing Fister directly to the big leagues, where he'll make his 2017 MLB debut on Sunday at Fenway Park, against - of all teams - the Angels.
It appears the Red Sox had eyes on Fister for some time. President Dave Dombrowski said Friday his team tried to sign the 33-year-old in May, but that the Angels beat them to it "by a day," according to Tim Britton of the Providence Journal.
There's already a history between the player and club, as it was Dombrowski who traded for Fister while running the Detroit Tigers in 2011; Dombrowski then dealt him from Detroit to Washington three years later.
Fister made three starts this season for the Angels' Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City, where he posted a 4.02 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings before electing to opt out of that deal.
Last season, he pitched for the Houston Astros, where he struggled to a career-worst 4.64 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts over 32 starts.
Boston is hoping Fister can provide some depth for a rotation that's struggled behind Chris Sale this season.