Justin

Slaten

Slaten did allow two hits and a walk but struck out two on the day and lowered his season ERA to 0.63. He has been Boston’s best reliever with 13 strikeouts and just three walks in 16 1/3 innings for the Red Sox this season. Considering both Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin are in the final year of their contracts with the Red Sox, there is a chance Slaten could get a chance to close in the second half of the season if the Red Sox trade the veterans away. Even now, he is a great add in fantasy leagues if you’re looking for ratios from the relief spot.

Slaten has been simply magnificent this season as a Rule 5 pick, reeling off 7 2/3 consecutive scoreless frames with a 7/1 K/BB ratio across five relief appearances to open his career. The unheralded 26-year-old righty might be earning some higher leverage opportunities in the near future.

Slaten was taken by the Mets in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason and then immediately traded to the Red Sox. The 26-year-old was lights out during the spring, allowing two hits and no earned runs in 6 1/3 innings while striking out six batters. In his MLB debut on Sunday, he struck out one, walked none, and gave up no hits. With Kenley Jansen nursing a bad back and Chris Martin a likely trade candidate this season, Slaten is emerging as a name to watch in the Red Sox bullpen. He pairs a 96 mph fastball with a solid sweeper he throws 33 percent of the time and a 90 mph cutter that had a 33 percent whiff rate on Sunday.

The Red Sox probably would have gotten Slaten, a Rangers prospect, in the Rule 5 Draft anyway, but they just couldn’t take that chance that he’d last until the 12th pick. So, they moved up to the Mets, who were slotted in eighth and made him the seventh player selected (after the Angels passed). Slaten will audition for a spot in the Red Sox pen during spring training. If he fails to secure one, he’ll go on waivers and then, assuming he’s unclaimed, be offered back to the Rangers.

Slaten was regarded by some scouts as the top available prospects in the entire Rule 5 player pool. He started his career as a starting pitcher but found his groove in the last few years while transitioning to the bullpen. Slaten posted an eye-popping 13 K/9 in 2023 across Double-A (51 1/3 innings) and Triple-A (8 1/3 innings), with a 2.87 ERA to boot. He’s far from cant-miss status when you factor in his overall resume in the minor leagues but if 2023 is any indication, then the Mets have a potential steal on their hands.