The Red Sox are expected to designate left-hander Danny Coulombe for assignment, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, after the veteran finished out Saturday’s win over the Mets by working the final two innings.
That appearance mattered for more than just the box score. Coulombe’s deal was built around performance bonuses that kick in at 30 outings, and Saturday night was his 29th game of the season.
He was in line to collect $75K once he reached 30 appearances, with another $75K coming at 35, 40 and 45. The payout then jumps to $150K at 50 games, with the incentives continuing at 55 and 60.
His contract also carried roster-based bonuses: $250K after 30 days on the active roster or injured list, so long as the injury wasn’t tied to his throwing arm, and another $250K at each 30-day mark through 150 days.
Boston originally signed Coulombe to a one-year, $2.25MM contract with $750K in appearance incentives, but the agreement was changed after medical review issues came up. The revised deal became a $1MM guarantee with the roster bonuses that brought the total to $1.25MM.
Coulombe’s outing against New York trimmed his ERA to 4.50, and it was the first time this season he worked more than an inning. He allowed three walks in those two scoreless frames.
Through 24 innings with Boston, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is 10:18. The 36-year-old also missed time in May because of a neck injury.
Now he heads into DFA limbo, but there’s a decent chance another club takes a shot. Coulombe has pitched for six teams across 12 major league seasons, and while he doesn’t bring overpowering stuff, he has put up a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the last four years.
Boston has five days to work out a trade or put him on waivers. If he clears, his service time gives him the ability to reject a minor league assignment and become a free agent.
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