The Boston Red Sox appear to be taking a low-risk, depth-focused approach as they continue to shape their pitching staff for the upcoming season, reportedly bringing in a veteran right-hander who spent all of 2025 outside the major leagues.
While the move is unlikely to make headlines or dramatically alter Boston’s immediate plans, it reflects the organization’s ongoing effort to reinforce its pitching depth and identify potential contributors in camp.
According to Ari Alexander of 7News in Boston, the Red Sox have agreed to a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Vinny Nittoli. The deal reportedly includes an invitation to major league spring training, giving the 35-year-old a chance to compete for a roster spot or, at the very least, put himself on the radar as a potential depth option for the organization during the season.
At this stage of his career, Nittoli is best described as a journeyman reliever who has quietly carved out a role for himself across multiple organizations.
Though he has never been a high-profile prospect or a bullpen anchor at the major league level, his experience, adaptability, and persistence have allowed him to stick around professional baseball for nearly a decade. For a Red Sox team that has faced pitching inconsistency and injury concerns in recent years, bringing in a veteran arm with extensive organizational experience could prove useful over the long haul.
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Nittoli’s major league résumé, while limited in volume, is respectable when viewed in context. Over parts of four seasons between 2021 and 2024, he appeared in 15 big-league games, posting a 2.41 earned run average. During that span, he suited up for five different teams: the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, and Seattle Mariners. While he was rarely used in high-leverage situations, he generally performed well in the opportunities he was given, keeping runs off the board and limiting damage.
Despite those encouraging surface-level numbers, Nittoli has never been known as an overpowering pitcher. Across his 18.2 major league innings, he recorded just 13 strikeouts, underscoring the fact that his success has relied more on command, pitch sequencing, and situational execution than raw velocity or swing-and-miss stuff. In today’s game, where high strikeout rates are often prized, that profile has likely limited his staying power at the major league level.
The 2025 season was a challenging one for Nittoli, as he failed to make an appearance in the majors and instead spent the year bouncing around Triple-A. Splitting time between the top affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers, he made 37 appearances and finished with a 4.58 ERA. While those numbers are not eye-catching, they also do not tell the full story of his performance or his role.
Notably, despite struggling at times with run prevention, Nittoli showed a significant uptick in strikeout production at the Triple-A level last season. He averaged an impressive 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings, a notable jump from his major league track record and an indication that he may have made adjustments to his approach or pitch mix. That increased strikeout rate suggests there could still be some untapped upside, particularly if he can translate those gains against higher-level competition.
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In August of 2025, Nittoli opted out of his contract with the Orioles, choosing free agency rather than remaining in the organization’s minor league system. The decision indicated a desire for a fresh opportunity, perhaps with a team willing to give him a clearer path to the majors or a chance to impress in spring training. That decision now appears to have paid off, as the Red Sox have offered him a new landing spot and an invitation to camp.
Nittoli’s professional journey has been anything but straightforward. Originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 25th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, he entered pro ball without much fanfare. Like many late-round picks, he faced long odds from the outset, needing to outperform expectations simply to stay afloat in the minor leagues.
Over the years, Nittoli moved frequently, signing with multiple organizations as he tried to climb the ladder. After his initial stint with the Mariners, he spent time with both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Toronto Blue Jays, continuing to work his way through various minor league systems. Each stop brought new coaching staffs, new philosophies, and new competition, requiring constant adaptation.
In November 2020, Nittoli returned to the Mariners organization, a move that ultimately led to his long-awaited major league debut. He made his first and only appearance for Seattle in June 2021, a brief taste of the big leagues that ended with a return to the minors shortly thereafter. While the debut itself was fleeting, it represented the culmination of years of persistence and professional resilience.
Beyond his time with Seattle, Nittoli’s career has included stops in the minor league systems of several other franchises, including the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Minnesota Twins. In total, he has pitched within the minor league ranks of at least eight different organizations, a testament to his ability to remain relevant and employable despite constant roster churn and fierce competition.
One of the more unique highlights of Nittoli’s career came in 2023, when he represented Team Italy at the World Baseball Classic. Appearing in three games during the international tournament, Nittoli showcased his skills on a global stage and gained valuable experience competing against elite talent from around the world. For a player who has spent much of his career grinding in the minors, the opportunity to pitch in the WBC was a notable milestone and a rare moment in the spotlight.
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Nittoli’s most recent major league action came in 2024, when he made brief appearances for both the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics. Across nine total games—two with Baltimore and seven with Oakland—he allowed just two earned runs over 12 innings. While those outings were limited in scope, they reinforced the idea that he can still be effective in short bursts at the highest level when put in the right situations.
For the Red Sox, the signing represents a classic low-cost gamble. Minor league contracts with spring training invitations are designed to provide flexibility, allowing teams to evaluate players without committing a 40-man roster spot or guaranteed salary. If Nittoli impresses in camp, he could earn a role as a bullpen depth piece or shuttle arm. If not, the organization loses little and still benefits from added Triple-A experience.
From Boston’s perspective, depth has been a recurring concern in recent seasons, particularly when injuries or underperformance have forced the club to rely heavily on unproven arms. A veteran like Nittoli may not project as a long-term solution, but he could serve as a stabilizing presence at Worcester or as a reliable call-up when innings are needed.
At 35 years old, Nittoli is clearly in the twilight of his playing career, but his continued ability to find opportunities speaks to his professionalism and adaptability. Many pitchers with similar résumés have already stepped away from the game, yet Nittoli continues to pursue his craft, refining his approach and seeking environments where he can contribute.
Whether or not Nittoli ultimately reaches the majors with Boston remains to be seen. Competition for bullpen spots is always fierce, and younger arms with more upside often receive priority. Still, his experience across numerous organizations, his recent uptick in strikeouts, and his willingness to embrace any role could give him an outside chance to stick.
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In the end, this signing is less about immediate impact and more about organizational depth and insurance. For the Red Sox, it is a small but sensible move that fits within a broader strategy of accumulating pitching options. For Nittoli, it represents yet another opportunity to extend a career defined by persistence, adaptability, and a refusal to give up on the dream of contributing at the major league level.
Even if his time in Boston ultimately comes at Triple-A, the move underscores the reality of professional baseball: success is not always measured in stardom or longevity at the top, but in the ability to endure, adjust, and remain ready when opportunity knocks.
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