Former Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier has “talked” with the Yankees who have interest in him as a free agent, New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported recently.
The 36-year-old righty remains unsigned after a resurgence with the Dodgers last season. Boston designated Brasier for assignment May 14, then Los Angeles signed him to a minor league contract June 4 after he went unclaimed on waivers and Boston released him.
Brasier appeared in 39 games for the Dodgers, posting a 0.70 ERA (38 ⅔ innings, three earned runs) and 0.72 WHIP. Opponents batted just .140 against him.
Brasier’s turnaround came after the Dodgers encouraged him to add a cutter.
“Just working on the cutter and getting my slider where I want it,” Brasier told MassLive in August when the Dodgers were in town to face Boston. “But just trying to pound the strike zone with my best stuff. Results play out as they will but really just trying to fill up the zone.”
Brasier recorded a 4.55 ERA in 222 regular season outings (209 ⅔ innings) with Boston from 2018-23.
He was crucial to the 2018 championship team. He posted a 1.60 ERA and 0.77 WHIP in 34 regular season outings. He then allowed just one run and recorded five holds in 8 ⅔ innings (1.04 ERA) over nine postseason games.