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Red Sox’ newly signed reliever throws bullpen, expects to be ready for opener
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- Red Sox’ newly signed reliever throws bullpen, expects to be ready for opener
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Danny Coulombe took a long time to find his new baseball home this winter. But he doesn’t believe it will be long before he’s able to contribute.
Coulombe, signed to a one-year, $1 million contract Thursday night, was in Red Sox camp Friday and threw a quick bullpen in front of the coaching staff.
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He’d been home in the Dallas area, waiting to sign somewhere. Now that he’s here, he believes he’ll be ready for Opening Day, less than two weeks away.
“I think this is No. 15 in spring trainings, so I kind of understand what I need to do (to be ready),” he said. “You do what you’ve got to do.”
Manager Alex Cora credited the Red Sox front office for signing Coulombe, “for trying to add and make us better. (This was a need) we recognized over the course of the offseason and in camp. He had a great season last year. He’s able to spin the ball and avoid damage from the left side. We’re happy with way he went about it and happy that he’s here. Having Danny here makes us better.”
Coulombe was unsure of how many Grapefruit League appearances he would need to be set for the season opener, but reiterated he believes he will be ready for March 26.
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“It’s day-by-day at this point,” he said. “I don’t want to give a number (of appearances) exactly, but as long as we stay on track, we should be ready to go. That’s the goal.”
Coulombe was one of a handful of lefty relievers who rode out the market all winter and early spring before finally coming to terms.
“We talked to (the Red Sox) a little bit all offseason,” said the 36-year-old veteran, “so we knew it was a great fit, even early on in the offseason. So, I’m glad we can make it happen. Obviously, it was getting a little interesting in the end there — the season’s coming up.
“But I’m glad it worked out.”
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Coulombe has pitched mostly in the American League over his career, and is quite familiar with pitching in Fenway.
“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’ve always loved to pitch in Fenway. There’s so much history there. It’s Fenway Park. So, when this was an option, it was a no-brainer. It was early November and we kind of stayed in touch the whole offseason. It just happened that we couldn’t get a deal done.
“You can only do so much at home, but I got to take advantage of some great family time. I’ve got two kids and got to be Dad for a while and be involved in their sporting events.”
Coulombe was once classified as a lefty specialist, but a few years ago, MLB introduced a rule in that mandated every pitcher must face a minimum of three hitters. That’s forced him to be able to figure out how to get righthanders out, too.
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“You have to have weapons against righthanders now,” said Coulombe, “especially because there’s so many pinch-hitters. I think I faced double the amount of righties as I did lefties last year, so you just have to be ready to get righties out. I feel like throughout the years I’ve learned what makes me good and part of it is, I can get righties out and be tough on righties. That’s where a lot of the value is.”
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