Free-agent left-hander Lucas Luetge announced on Saturday that he has signed an undisclosed deal to join the Boston Red Sox for the 2024 campaign. The 36-year-old southpaw had a rough 7.24 ERA (4.86 FIP) and 1.76 WHIP with seven walks and 14 strikeouts in just 13 2/3 relief innings for the Atlanta Braves last year. As a result, the Braves outrighted him to Triple-A Gwinnett after he went unclaimed following being designated for assignment. In 22 relief appearances for Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi, Luetge had a 3.51 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with nine walks and 29 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings pitched. He'll represent relief depth as a lefty for Boston entering the 2024 season and he has a career 3.60 ERA (3.55 FIP), a 1.37 WHIP, five saves and 226 strikeouts in 232 1/3 innings over seven major-league seasons with the Braves, Mariners and Yankees.
The Atlanta Braves selected the contract of left-hander Lucas Luetge from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday and designated right-hander Roddery Munoz for assignment in a corresponding move. The Braves sent Luetge to the minors in early June after he allowed 11 earned runs on 15 hits while walking six and striking out 10 in 9 2/3 relief innings earlier this year. But the 36-year-old southpaw reliever has earned another shot at the major-league level by posting a 3.18 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, one walk and 11 strikeouts in 11 1/3 relief innings for Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. For the time being, Luetge will give the Braves bullpen some extra depth to begin the second half of the season with Nick Anderson (shoulder) going on the 60-day injured list on Thursday.
Lucas Luetge Gets $1.55 Million To Avoid Arbitration
Left-hander Lucas Luetge and the Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration after agreeing to a one-year, $1.55 million deal. Luetge was waived by the Yankees during the offseason and traded to the Braves a few weeks ago. The 35-year-old made quite an impact for the Yankees in 2022 after molding a 2.67 ERA across 50 appearances. He whiffed 60 batters with a 23.9% strikeout rate. Along with Wandy Peralta, Luetge was the only lefty arm out of the Yankees bullpen. He provided consecutive sub-three ERA's in the two years that he spent in the Bronx, and the southpaw will likely display similar numbers in Atlanta. Luetge will make a fantasy impact if you are looking for a dependable bullpen arm.
The Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Lucas Luetge from the New York Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Braves designated infielder Lewin Diaz for assignment. Luetge finds a new home after he was designated for assignment by the Yanks last week. The 35-year-old southpaw reliever was sharp in 57 1/3 relief innings in the Bronx last season, posting a 2.67 ERA (3.02 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, two saves and a 23.9 percent strikeout rate in his 50 appearances out of the bullpen. He also had a sub-3.00 ERA for the Yanks in 2021, but before that he hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2015 for the Seattle Mariners. Luetge will have a shot to give Atlanta some left-handed relief depth in 2023.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Lucas Luetge will serve as the opener for Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The lefty will get the starting nod, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect more than an inning or so out of him. It'll be a bullpen game for the Yankees, but the Royals offense isn't normally a significant threat. Luetge likely won't pitch long enough to warrant using as a streaming option.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Lucas Luetge picked up his second win of the season in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Astros. Luetge entered the game in the sixth inning and worked a scoreless frame, allowing one hit and lowering his season ERA to 3.78. The veteran hurler allowed a run in each of his first five appearances but hasn't surrendered one in his six outings since. Luetge also owns a strong 17:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's a fine reliever for New York but can be ignored in fantasy formats unless he really begins to pick up steam in the wins and holds categories.
Lucas Luetge
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Red Sox
