The Astros signed Walter (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Walter has been sidelined all season with a shoulder issue and was released by the Red Sox earlier this week. It's not clear what his current health status is, but the Astros have added the 27-year-old southpaw as a depth piece.
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Brandon Walter: Becomes free agenet
Rotowire
The Red Sox released Walter (shoulder) on Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Walter has been on Triple-A Worcester's 60-day injured list since May 9 due to a left shoulder strain. He was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Tuesday, and rather than stay in the organization, the 27-year-old left-hander will opt for free agency. Walter made nine appearances for Boston in 2023, posting a 6.26 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 23 innings.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Shifts to Triple-A's 60-day IL
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Triple-A Worcester transferred Walter (shoulder) from its 7-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
Walter possesses a spot on the Red Sox's 40-man roster, but he's currently residing on the Triple-A club's IL since he was optioned to the affiliate in early March. He strained his left shoulder toward the end of camp and has yet to pitch for Worcester. His season debut now doesn't appear as though it'll come until at least June as a result of his move to the 60-day IL.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Shut down with shoulder strain
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Walter will begin the season on the injured list due to a strained left shoulder, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Walter will remain in Fort Myers for extended spring training as he works his way back from his injury. The 27-year-old southpaw will head to Triple-A Worcester once he's healthy and could contribute out of the Red Sox's bullpen at some point in 2024.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Impresses Tuesday
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Walter struck out two over two hitless and scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring game against St. Louis.
Walter was impressive in his Grapefruit League debut, getting all six batters out, with one ball leaving the infield. He followed starter Kutter Crawford, pitching the third and fourth innings. The left-handed Walter had a rough introduction to the majors in 2023, charged with 16 earned runs on 32 hits and seven walks over 23 innings. That experience shaped his offseason preparations, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. "I was able to reflect on it and see why I wasn't successful," Walter said. "I'm so used to being successful in the minor leagues. Making adjustments on the fly is something I need to improve on. I focused on attacking with all my pitches and throwing strikes. I was too consumed with velocity instead of doing what I do best." The 27-year-old Walter is expected to be part of the rotation at Triple-A Worcester to open the 2024 season.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Optioned to Triple-A
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Walter was optioned Friday to Triple-A Worcester, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Walter worked three scoreless innings of relief Thursday against the Yankees and wasn't going to be available for the next few days. Chris Murphy will fill the vacant spot in Boston's bullpen ahead of Friday night's series opener in Toronto.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Recalled from Worcester
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Boston recalled Walter from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Walter is replacing Kenley Jansen, who landed on the COVID-19-related injured list Wednesday after testing positive for the virus. Walter, 27, has allowed 17 runs -- 16 earned -- on 30 hits and seven walks in 20 major-league innings this season.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Recalled from Worcester
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Boston recalled Walter from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Enmanuel Valdez is the other September call-up for the Red Sox. The 26-year-old Walter holds a 3.07 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB through 14.2 relief innings in the majors this season.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Demoted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Red Sox optioned Walter to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
After being called up from Worcester on July 4, Walter worked exclusively as a reliever for Boston, covering eight innings over five appearances while allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits and one walk. He'll likely get stretched back out and transition into a starting role as he returns to Worcester.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Could return to Boston
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Walter is a candidate to be added to Boston's active roster this week, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox have a rotation crunch this coming week after Garrett Whitlock left Sunday's start with elbow tightness. That injury along with the expected paternity leave of James Paxton could result in Walter returning to the majors. The left-hander made a spot start for Boston on June 22 and most recently pitched two innings June 30 for Triple-A Worcester.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Sent back to Triple-A
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The Red Sox optioned Walter to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Immediately after making his MLB debut Thursday, the 26-year-old lefty will return to the minors. Walter gave up three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two batters across 6.2 innings out of the bullpen. Chris Murphy will come up from Worcester to take Walter's spot on the roster.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: In mix for spot start
Rotowire
Walter is in consideration to start for the Red Sox on Thursday at Minnesota, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Boston is in desperation mode after Tanner Houck suffered a facial fracture on a comebacker last Friday versus the Yankees. Walter, 26, has never appeared in a major-league game and holds an ugly 6.28 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through 61.2 innings of work this season at Triple-A Worcester. He wouldn't be a recommended fantasy streamer versus the Twins.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Red sox optioned Walter to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.
Walter pitched well in a pair of appearances in the Grapefruit League with two scoreless innings and five strikeouts against no walks, but he wasn't ever likely to start the season in Boston. The left-hander is one of the better pitching prospects in the Red Sox system, and in 2022 he posted a 3.59 ERA over 11 starts with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester across 57.2 innings. There's a good chance Walter makes appearances of some sort for Boston before the 2023 season comes to a end.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Shielded from Rule 5 draft
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Walter was added to Boston's 40-man roster Tuesday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
The 26-year-old southpaw dominated in nine starts at Double-A (2.88 ERA, 68:3 K:BB in 50 innings) before struggling in two starts at Triple-A and missing the rest of the season with a neck strain. He has resumed throwing and should be ready for spring training. If Walter regains his form from Double-A, he could pitch in the big-league rotation in 2023.
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Red Sox's Brandon Walter: Promoted to Worcester
Rotowire
Walter was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Walter, a left-hander selected in the 26th round of the 2019 draft, has seen his stock rise rapidly since 2021. After the pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor-league season, Walter posted a 2.92 ERA over 25 games (14 starts) between to stops in the minors. He opened 2022 at Double-A Portland and has a 2.88 ERA with 68 strikeouts and just three walks over nine starts, spanning 50 innings. His fastball tops out at 95 mph, and he supplements that pitch with a changeup and slider.