Red Sox Officially Non-Tender Veteran Hurler After Surprisingly Short Stint With Club

The Major League Baseball non-tender deadline has passed and the Boston Red Sox were busy.

Boston traded away infielder Luis Urías -- who was a non-tender candidate -- to the Seattle Mariners and also non-tendered veteran reliever Wyatt Mills, according to the club.

Mills was the lone player non-tendered by Boston ahead of the deadline. Clubs had until Friday night to decide whether or not they wanted to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. If a club decides not to tender a contract, those players have the opportunity to enter free agency. 

Boston acquired Mills in a trade with the Kansas City Royals ahead of the 2023 campaign but he never actually appeared in a game with the Red Sox. Mills began the 2023 season on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation but eventually underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season. 

The 28-year-old now will have the opportunity to find an opportunity elsewhere. Mills was drafted in the third round of the 2017 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by the Seattle Mariners. The righty impressed in the minors and eventually made his big league debut in 2021 with Seattle. He was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2022 and then traded to Boston ahead of the 2023 season. Overall he has made 38 appearances at the big league level and has compiled a 6.21 ERA across 42 innings pitched.

Mills likely will find another opportunity at the minor league level with a club this offseason. Hopefully, he can work his way back up to the big leagues and find success.