Red Sox DFA Former All-Star & Rookie of the Year

All it took was 2 2/3 innings for the Boston Red Sox to make up their minds about former All-Star, Rookie of the Year, ace starter and closer for the Detroit Tigers, Michael Fulmer. They've designated the right-hander for assignment.

The Red Sox have DFA’d RHP Michael Fulmer, per @ChrisCotillo. pic.twitter.com/9lUTeGiZoG
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) April 18, 2025

Fullmer signed a two-year minor league deal with the Red Sox in early 2024, even though he had just undergone Tommy John 'revision' surgery, which would keep him out of the entire '24 season.

But they had hopes that Fulmer could actually make the Boston rotation for 2025, and at Spring Training with the Red Sox this year, he posted a stunning 0.79 ERA in 11.1 innings, with an 11:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He followed that up with a strong start to the season at Triple-A Worcester, where he posted a 3.09 ERA in 11.2 innings, while striking out an eye-popping 18, but also walking six.

The 32-year-old was called up last weekend and made his Red Sox debut on Monday, giving up three runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.

After the DFA today, the BoSox will now have a week to either trade Fulmer or put him through waivers if they hope to send him back down to Worcester.

With the Tigers, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2011 MLB June Draft, he was the Rookie of the Year in 2016 as an ace starter, then after his first Tommy John surgery forced him to miss the 2019 season, he eventually transitioned to the bullpen in 2021, where he was a closer for half of the season in Detroit, posting 14 saves while striking out 10.3 batters per nine.

Overall, Fullmer has registered a 3.96 ERA in 263 appearances in the big leagues, including 90 starts.