Red Sox boot former Phillies reliever Jeurys Familia off roster

Jeurys Familia has now been cut by the Phillies and Red Sox in 2022.

More than 40 days have passed since the Philadelphia Phillies designated right-handed reliever Jeurys Familia for assignment to clear room on the active roster for the recently acquired David Robertson.

The former longtime New York Mets closer struggled in red pinstripes — after signing a one-year contract with the Phillies in mid-March. In 38 appearances and 34 innings, the 11-year veteran posted a 6.09 ERA, 1.853 WHIP, and 33-15 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

After the Phillies cut ties with Familia in early August, the Boston Red Sox signed him to a minor-league contract about a week later. A change of scenery was not beneficial for the 32-year-old Dominican Republic native.

Through Tuesday, the right-hander posted a 1-2 record, 6.10 ERA, 8-7 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, and .263/.391/.421 opposing slash line across 10 appearances and 10 1/3 innings for the American League East club.

Familia surrendering three runs (two earned) on a hit and three walks in a 10th-inning appearance against the New York Yankees on Tuesday was the final nail in the coffin. After the game, Familia broke news to reporters himself that the Red Sox had designated him for assignment. He aims to return home and continue working so he will be ready to go for the 2023 season.

The essentially eliminated Red Sox giving all of those innings to a veteran who they probably knew would not be back next season — instead of seeing what an arm in Triple-A could contribute — is a questionable decision.

Yet again, current Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski is no longer making their front office decisions. Dombrowski seems to have found some lighting in the bottle with Edmundo Sosa, and even Robertson, who closed the door in the Phillies’ 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

The Red Sox and Phillies and currently headed in opposite directions. In years past, that meant Boston being postseason-bound. That is not the case in 2022.