Red Sox latest move makes Chaim Bloom’s fleece of Phillies more impressive

After trading Brandon Workman to the Philadelphia Phillies last year, the Boston Red Sox have signed him back on a minor-league contract.

Last August, the Boston Red Sox traded pitchers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitchers Nick Pivetta and Nick Seabold. Nine months following this trade, Workman is back in Beantown.

According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have signed Workman to a minor-league contract, where he will begin his season with Triple-A Worcester. This signing comes a week after the Chicago Cubs designated Workman for assignment.

Red Sox: Brandon Workman returns to Boston less than a year after trade

Once Workman arrived in Philadelphia, he struggled mightily. Through 14 games, Workman accumulated a 1-4 record, 6.92 ERA and 2.46 WHIP, while striking out 15 batters and walking nine through 13.0 innings of work.

In the winter, Workman signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Cubs. As it turns out, Workman’s stint in the Windy City worked out just as poorly as it did in the City of Brotherly Love. Through 10 appearances, Workman recorded a 6.75 ERA, 2.38 WHIP, 11 strikeouts and seven walks in 8.0 innings of work. The right-hander was DFA’ed by the team just last week.

This is further proof that Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom fleeced the Phillies on their trade last season. Getting back Workman is nice and all, but they managed to get Pivetta in the deal, who has been stellar for the Red Sox this season. Pivetta has started six games, where he is a perfect 4-0 and holds a 3.23 ERA. That, and he has struck out 33 batters over 30.2 frames. Oh, and they have Seabold in the pipeline as their 14th-overall prospect, per MLB.com.

The Red Sox are taking a low-risk, high-reward chance on Workman that he can turn things around in his return to Boston.